How will TT:120 differentiate itself from N, OO and 3mm scale?

[NCB]

On 13/03/2023 at 14:12, Keith Addenbrooke said:

Some interesting thoughts.  Perhaps worth remembering this thread was started - and the question posed - last June,  following the initial Peco launch and several months before Hornby made their announcement.

 

I’ve been back and read the contributions I made on page 1, and it’s hardly news to say Hornby’s “go big or go home” approach has since changed the game.  I stopped trying to keep up with the debate about Hornby a long time ago, and I don’t want to bring it in here (please), so I hope I can avoid controversy by simply stating that it looks to me as if Hornby’s aim is to offer a similar range to their OO lines rather than a radically different one, but with the space saving that comes with TT and using a business model designed to appeal to new entrants as much as (or more than) it does to established modellers.

 

If that’s OK, Les’ comment above makes a lot of sense: r-t-r stock and rtp buildings will feature in the “mainstream” here too. 

 

 

I think that is a measured reflection on how the TT:120 land lies at the moment.

 

The only bad news I have for Les is that use of N-Scale Micro-Trains Couplers seems to be common amongst North American TT modellers in 1/10” scale too - you may not have escaped very far (and I say that as someone else who tried a return to N-Scale last year and found the couplings and detailing too small now, so I’m with you on that one).

 

 

I also agree with Hobby on this point too: I think we’re seeing the same patterns emerge in TT as in the other main scales.  European modellers have long had access to a wide range of mainstream plastic kit brands, led perhaps by Faller and including Vollmer, Kibri and Auhagen (who already treat TT as a main scale), and going on to include Piko, Pola (now focusing on G), Busch, Noch etc.  I don’t think we’ve ever had quite such a choice here in the UK?

 

The kind of card kits we have from Superquick and Metcalfe (and have had from Prototype Models, Bilteezi and others) seem to be more uniquely British in their widespread use.  Tooling costs mean they may not appear in TT:120 for a while, especially as laser cut kits are already available (Peco and others), as well as Hornby’s rtp (ready to plant).  For those who specialise in card, print your own kits only need rescaling to be available, but may have more appeal to established modellers? (Just a guess, and there will be exceptions).  To me this suggests the market is there for rtp as Hobby and Les note.

 

So how would I answer the question now: “How will TT:120 differentiate itself from N, OO and 3mm scale?”  I think my answer would be that, although still very new, TT:120 could one day end up simply differentiated from N and OO on the grounds of size, and compared to 3mm on the grounds of wider commercial r-t-r support.  Just a thought, Keith.

 

 

Suspect that Bilteezi TT kits are 1/120.

[Les1952]

On 31/03/2023 at 17:57, NCB said:

Suspect that Bilteezi TT kits are 1/120.

 

Needs someone who has one to measure the doorway heights and then times by them by 100 and by 120 to see what they scale up to.

 

Les

[NCB]

On 12/03/2023 at 16:28, NCB said:

Here's some common wheel sizes, TT120 equivalent, and 3mm SQ wheel close fit where it exists.

 

Prototype       TT120           3MM#

 

4'0"                   10.16mm     

4'6"                    11.43mm      

4'8"                     11.85mm      12mm

5'0"                      12.7mm

5'3"                      13.35mm      13.5mm  

5'6"                       13.97mm      14mm

5'8"                        14.39mm        14mm

6'0"                        15.24mm      15mm;  15mm BFB

6'3"                        15.87mm       15.75mm

6'6"                         16.51mm      16.5mm

6'8"                         16.93mm       17.0mm 

 

3mm Intermediate wheels should be ok on TT track. I wondered about 3mm Fine so regauged a 14.2 GW van to 12 mm Fine. One wheelset was slightly over-gauge and bumped slightly on the crossing nose, but once corrected sailed through fine. Could be useful. 

[luke_stevens]

1 hour ago, NCB said:

3mm Intermediate wheels should be ok on TT track. I wondered about 3mm Fine so regauged a 14.2 GW van to 12 mm Fine. One wheelset was slightly over-gauge and bumped slightly on the crossing nose, but once corrected sailed through fine. Could be useful. 

 

What are the axle lengths like? I'd assume a 3mmgauge axle would be longer than a TT120 axle?

 

Luke

[Hobby]

Deleted

Edited April 8, 2023 by Hobby

[NCB]

4 hours ago, luke_stevens said:

 

What are the axle lengths like? I'd assume a 3mmgauge axle would be longer than a TT120 axle?

 

Luke

20.05mm for  pin-point. p

[luke_stevens]

3 hours ago, NCB said:

20.05mm for  pin-point. p

 

For TT120 it should be 18.4 to 18.6. https://www.morop.org/images/NEM_register/NEM_E/nem314_en_2006.pdf

 

I wonder if they can be got to the correct length? They should also be on a 1.5mm axle.

 

Luke

[NCB]

17 hours ago, luke_stevens said:

 

For TT120 it should be 18.4 to 18.6. https://www.morop.org/images/NEM_register/NEM_E/nem314_en_2006.pdf

 

I wonder if they can be got to the correct length? They should also be on a 1.5mm axle.

 

Luke

18.4 seems a bit long compared to 3mm practice.

[luke_stevens]

3 hours ago, NCB said:

18.4 seems a bit long compared to 3mm practice.

 

Probably says more about 3mm practice :)

 

Luke

[NCB]

20 hours ago, luke_stevens said:

 

Probably says more about 3mm practice :)

 

Luke

... or continental v British