I Play Hookey from Work! T Gauge Today!

rray Aug 4, 2008

  1. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm not sure. The miniature series varies quite a bit in "scale" based on the prototype. I have a couple at home (where I'm not) that are extremely tiny. I can't remember what type of loc the blue one is, but the other is an N&W 4-8-4:

    Hallmark Ornament Lionel Train Miniature N&W #1 1999 - eBay (item 130244071122 end time Aug-10-08 19:12:56 PDT)

    They also made a Polar Express set in the miniature series. Like I said, without looking at them, I can't be sure, but the blue one that have is probably about half-Z.

    Dan S.
     
  2. Benny

    Benny TrainBoard Member

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    I'm aware of the side detail - and that was a onsideration I was still trying to work out - how to get the color on there in addition to the laswerwork.

    Too bad flatbed laserjet printers aren't common!
     
  3. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    When the price of those solvent jet printers gets lower, I will look into one.
     
  4. animek

    animek TrainBoard Member

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    Kurt Moose likes this.
  5. Cleantex

    Cleantex TrainBoard Member

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    The Pennsy B6 looks great, but are there some details available ?
    moving wheels - general dimensions - needed track size - and so on ...
     
  6. Glenn Woodle

    Glenn Woodle TrainBoard Member

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    The 2008 ornaments will be available in October. Hallmark has a Southern like Pacific with a candy stripe tank car.
    2008 Holiday Railroad Lionel Hallmark Minature Ornament at Hooked on Ornaments

    My B6 appears to have about 6mm width wheels, not sure about size. The "couplers" are a hook & eye style similar to last year's AFT cars. Not sure about "track size", they are ornaments smaller than Zscale. Those freight cars from 2000-2001 seem to be scarce.
     
  7. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

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    Robert,
    What are the scale lengths of the stock T cars?
    Dan S.
     
  8. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    If they are T Scale of 1:450, then the cars are 65' long, but I was able to fit the carsides on as about a 1:600 scale? 1:585 scale? Anyways, I drew up the carsides to scale, then did a shrink till it fit the length of the T Gauge 65' car, then stretched slightly to fit the 1.74" x .706" needed to cover the car.

    The roof is 1.74" x .267", and the car sides are 1.74" x .224", not including the skirts.
    The overlay carsides and roof as 1 piece are 1.74" x .706" total, not including the skirts.

    If I call it scale, it would be more accurate to call it a 1:585 scale almost. The what do you call the track gauge? 5 foot gauge? Oh well, it catches the flavor of the cars nicely. :D
     
  9. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good point. Actually, I forgot about the narrow gauge thing. And, since the T cars are actually narrow gauge, then 1:585 Is really pretty close to standard gauge. At least compared to Nn3 vs Z. I was just curious because your car sides looked very proportional and the japanese cars didn't "look" that long. But, Lik I sai, I sort of forgot the narrow gauge thing.
    Thanks.
    Dan S.
     
  10. Mike Skibbe

    Mike Skibbe TrainBoard Member

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    What are you guys going to settle on for American scale T-gauge?

    If the track gauge is 3mm, that puts standard guage 4' 8-1/2" equipment at an apparent 1:478.4 scale. ... or maybe round off to 1:478

    At that scale, the 1.74" long cars are just under 70' long.

    Or backwards... an 85' passenger car would be 2.13" long.

    Anyway, still waiting for my set to show up. I might try stretching mechanisms and shooting for 1:478 and see what it looks like.
     
  11. DanMacK

    DanMacK TrainBoard Member

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    Could round that to 1:480. The late A.A. Sherwood did a British 0-6-2T and a Reading 4-6-2 in that scale. Bear in mind this was in the 70's and was completely scratchbuilt, but it can be done. There also appears to be alot of 1:480 architectural modeling material out there including cast metal trucks and people.

    The Sherwood stuff is detailed at http://www.zen98812.zen.co.uk/480scale.html and is truly amazing. Possibly Z scale pilot wheels could be used for T Gauge drivers?
     
  12. Mike Skibbe

    Mike Skibbe TrainBoard Member

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    Ah, excellent call. 1:480 makes it 1"=40'. Therefore, all you need for a scale ruler is one of these!

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Cleantex

    Cleantex TrainBoard Member

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    I made some times ago a picture from this Z guy, with a Herpa 1:500 fire engine.

    [​IMG]

    Herpa has in the airport progam some other nice things in 1:500, old style cars, very nice, and also some modern halls that it is possible to use as railway station.
    And also heli's, for the freaks.
     
  14. DanMacK

    DanMacK TrainBoard Member

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    Herpa actually has a 1:500 scale ICE train and coaches, plus station. The ICE is crude compared to T gauge equipment, but offers alot of possibilities.

    I've been thinking about T gauge freight cars and the 1:480 scale issue. With a 36" diameter wheel, we're looking at approximately 3/32" diameter. Given a 6' wheelbase, that's approximately a 5/32" wheelbase in T gauge. I don't know how large a T gauge wheel is but I'm betting it's larger than 3/32" diameter, can anyone clarify size here?

    Would it make sense to have a dummy sideframe in etched brass or something similar and just have a 2 axle freight car? We're not going for contest qualiyt models, and this would allow one to get 2 freight cars out of one dummy passenger car frame. It may not be possible with longer cars (racks, Hi cubes, etc), but it's an idea.

    With the announcement of switches a whole lot of new possibilities are opened up. I can't see T ever becoming a "switching" scale, but an operating scale with full length passenger trains and nice long passing sidings would be a distinct possibility. A mile is 11' long in T gauge.

    I'm seriously hoping on getting some T soon and joining this interesting frontier. What Robert and David have dsone for the scale so far is amazing. Can't wait to see more.

    Regards,
    Dan MacKellar
     
  15. Cleantex

    Cleantex TrainBoard Member

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    Today my sets also arrived from Plaza.
    My god, how tiny they look in reality, freaking small.
    2 wheels have even antislippering rubbers on every drivetrains.
    The drivetrains could be the easiest way to narrow scale Zf.
    But first to find a solution for the speed issue.

    I have the 132,5 rail set, but will buy 120, or smaller if exist,
    on next opportunity.
     
  16. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I have both the 132.5mm and 120mm radius sets now. We ran both this weekend, and while they run ok when going fast, they really need a good slow speed circuit.

    None of my wheeks have rubber on them, but the geared trucks are magnetic to hold to the rails better.
     
  17. Cleantex

    Cleantex TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, Robert, you were right, no lubbers.
    It was some pink color on the drive wheels, perhaps some contact spray rest ?

    Better news for the power supply.

    I tested with my standard pulse drive, and with 3Volt basic, he run slow, yes.
    Tomorrow I will try also with Brandon´s circuit 1, powered the same just with 3Volt.
    But the Brandon (or Jörger 1) gives more saw like pulse, that becomes smaller
    with higher regulation.
    -So, pulse wide modulation, as I tried today works good, still no long term try
    with heat.
    -Fixed Pulse wide with Jörger 1 will pass tomorrow, and some video, I think.
     
  18. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I found this on Youtube:
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoEhR02uhJc"]YouTube - Tゲージの走行テスト画像 驚異の登坂能力編(笑)[/ame]

    Reminds me of my old Tyco slot car track that curved and when up the wall. "Cliff hangers".
     
  19. Cleantex

    Cleantex TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, and if you return completely, we have this ;)

    [​IMG]
     
  20. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Yes, they do stick to the rails that well.
     

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