Hi all, I hope you don't mind a European Train modeler jumping in. I have a BEMO train set which operates on 12mm track. I have found that TT track is also 12mm. Now, I use TT track because it is less expensive that BEMO 12mm track. I purcheased the BEMO train in the late 80s on one of my USAF missions to Germany. I saw this nice train set and the box had HOm printed on the side. What I didn't see was the little "m" and when I returned to CONUS and put it on my HO track I had a big supprise. I also have some HOac Marklin & HAG Swiss items which I operate on a club layout. My home train layout is Z scale. Robert
Robert; I'm fascinated that there's a club in Hemet running AC HO. Do you use the Marklin system track with the studs in the ties instead of a center rail? Please tell us more. Maybe you could start a new thread here in the Inspection Pit about your European modeling club. And pictures would be awesome! I believe that HOm is meter gauge, isn't it? That's why your train would run on TT track, being several real life gauge inches wider than HOn30 / HOe which runs on N gauge track, but still a narrow gauge. Best!
On the question would I go from N to TT if the product offerings were greater than they are now, I'd have to give a resounding maybe. Being a 50+ diabetic, the larger the equipment the better. Basically my main focus of interest has always been 20th century passenger trains, mainly the 1950s through early 60s...with growing interest in 1930s & 40s stem. Given the budget I'd go with the largest scale that allowed me to run those in the space I have available. Right now, that is N...and right now based on my space and some quick calculations, TT would not be an option. Having said that, and having been dabbling in N for a little over a year, the only thing I find disappointing at all is the lack of 1930s & 40s steam (or any steam) at a price and quality control level on par with Kato or Atlas's diesel offerings....but I can live with that.
Not at all Robert and I'm glad to here your views on this and maybe you can share some images of your TT stuff here with us... :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
In the '70s I belonged to an HO club. In '01 I got back into modeling in N scale because HO was to large for my space. I had never heard of TT before but it definitely sounds like it would fit my needs better. N is a bit difficult for these old hands. But by the time there was enough to be practical I will be in the retirement home.
Maybe not, ON30 dint take too many years to get going and look how close it is to ON3 so it was not really even needed! I've got a few years to wait and see but I'd like to be able to build a TT layout someday when I move to a smaller house. N is marginal in it's handling characteristics for me........dave
Actually, On30, (formerly On2&1/2), has been around a long time. Many decades. It was populated by a few a scratch builders. What happened, was one major model railroad manufacturer entered the scale. That opened the flood gates. Now On30 is growing like a weed... Boxcab E50
I stand corrected. I'll be sure and let Atlas and MTL know that the potential market for TT has virtually doubled overnight. From 1 to 2.
Yes, B'mann came out with narrow gauge O scale that would run on HO track and gave narrow gauge a real boost. Now if they would only come out with narrow gauge TT that runs on N gauge track. They already have the experience in both N gauge and narrow gauge prototypes... Actually dream layout would be to have dual gauge TT like Elmer Mckay's.
Yes, A very good growth rate! Also tell them that they would have the market all to themselves, no competition!! So everything they built would instantly sell!!!....dave
That would make it NZ120 now wouldn't it? :tb-biggrin: I have some stuff already in that configuration, hmmmm .... I must live in New Zealand eh mate!!
Only a few- some of us are open-minded enough so that the presence of other scales don't bother us. I realize the present inventory of TT is very small, at least in this country- I dare say it would be a scratchbuilder's scale in the States as far as US-prototype equipment is involved. That said, wouldn't bother me if someone were to offer TT stuff in small amounts, if the market were there (and I'm sure there are more than two folks interested ). As for a TT forum, perhaps it would be best to continue this discussion in the Inspection Pit. We can talk about all scales here . Personally, I have both HO and N scale equipment, and presently model in N scale due to space considerations. I've seen some great layouts in all scales and both US and foreign prototypes, and even a neat AC- powered HO layout or two. Would TT make sense, market-wise, for the big manufacturers? I doubt it, but I'm sure a few cottage-industry types could do something in this scale should the demand be there, even from a few die-hards. I believe there's enough room at the table for all scales, and no reason to belittle someone for being in a different scale (this is as close to being PC as I wil ever get, anywhere). This is supposed to be a hobby, dagnabbit- not something serious.
A few TT-scale websites Since TT seems to have drawn a bit of interest, here are some websites that may help the interest factor; mind, there really isn't very much out there re: TT-scale. First and foremost of course is the ubiquitous, obligatory WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TT_scale http://www.ttscale.com/Frame-top.html http://www.thortrains.net/ttscale/ttdex.html http://www.railserve.com/Models/Layouts/N_Scale/ If anyone has anything else ... Please! By all means post it. :tb-biggrin: Have an 'N' Joyable Day!! :tb-cool:
TT *is* a cottage industry in the United States. But it is all in kits. Dave and I have hopes for a few RTR American products. Lionel makes 1:120 push toys GP9 and F3As for small children. Possum Valley Models markets conversion kits for these, but that's as close as we get. Someone, I believe its Matua, makes 1:120 battery operated trains for small children also. Neither of these companies label the products as "TT Scale", though that's what they are. These companies recognize the virtues of the scale obviously. We just want them, or someone, to come to the serious model railroading table with a few RTR 1:120 products. In the meantime, I'll still enjoy my German TT, wish my American prototype N stuff was 33% larger and continue trying to bash together an E7 and a set of passenger cars.
Actually I was thinking of American prototype 3' narrow gauge instead of NZ 3.5 foot narrow. But I'm glad to know we have a New Zealander here with some NZ120. Please post some pics and start a thread. I'd love to see what you're doing.
I think that the question could be expanded. I started out in the 70's as a member of an HO club. After a move from the area in the late 70's I switched to N and setup a small layout (no room for my HO). Number of moves later and the kids are out of the house I am starting back into RR. I setup my N trains on a table top, but found that for my large aging hands that N is hard to work with. So I am selling it on eBay and starting work on an HO layout. I will have enough room to setup a nice layout, but if I were doing it in TT I think that I could make it even nicer. I think that I could handle the (as in my hands) size of TT. As there is almost nothing that I can buy in TT, I will be going in HO. Kent
I suspect that a wider availability of TT might win more converts from HO than from N. Still, I think the main influx would be of people new to model railroading. Yes, it would be slow to take off. But I see the utility of having scales in between the common ones. And hey, if Z is different enough from N, isn't TT different enough from both N and HO? The problem for North American modellers regarding narrow gauge: On the "standard" progression (G/F, 1, O, S, HO, TT, N, Z), using track one step down produces metre or 3'6" gauge. Using track two steps down produces a gauge suitable for the 30", 75cm or 76cm railways found in many places. However, these aren't the usual narrow gauges in the USA.
