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Firstly, I'm keeping to the 90 cm square layout footprint, it'll relate to people living in small apartments with limited room to swing the cat. That's what's Hornby are hoping to attract its customers with its entry into TT. It's a challenge to me, even when I'm modelling in N. I'm not afraid to ditch modelling conventions if the end result means having a layout that works in a small area, eg the need for robustness over fragility.

Two traction tyres are fitted to the Traxx loco - one fitted per bogie on the axles nearest the centre tanks/battery boxes, bottom left and top right.

Today a half circle of 353 mm radii pieces arrived by post, I'm still waiting for the remainder from two German suppliers. However, the 90 cm square layout will be a pilot concept. It'll won't be 100% British, I'm going for carefully selected West German prototypes until Hornby and other manufacturers start bringing out more RTR British models and accessories. Incidentally my last post featured a secondhand Tillig V200 (later BR 221) which I'm OK with that because the Warships were derived from that loco.

They'll announce a new model available simultaneously in OO and TT

This is my modular solution. Tracks on 3mm thick styrene modules which are capable of expansion. They are intended for a table top or other large flat, even, smooth surface. Corners are 388 mm square with cutouts. Straight tracks are 83 x 194 mm and 166 x 140 mm. I've provided for an additional track outside this oval but will first test this circuit. Track lightly glued down but allowing for adjustments if required. The centre of this oval will have separate scenic modules. Modules can be dismantled and put away after use.

My one and only (approximately?) 1:120 scale vehicle. This Enviro 400 bus was bought as a cut-price souvenir after the London 2012 Olympics finished. I got rid of my old Matchbox vehicles years ago, some may have been modelled at or near to 1:120 scale but have no idea which ones they were.

My set has a straight track section containing a suppressor that also has a pair of railjoiners with contact strips which you plug the wires from the controller. I cut a small aperture to let the wires out from the side of the ballasted base.

I live in a small flat and the 90 cm square setup just fits in my living room, albeit will have to be moved if more than one person is present. The tables were brought from my spare room and I'm working on plans so that a layout can be set up and put away after a running session within minutes. Over the years I've preferred pre-ballasted track in N and OO. I was pleased that Tillig offers that option in TT. Although costing more, It means I don't have to spend hours ballasting and can reuse track on future projects.

Tonight I laid a temporary oval circuit of my recently acquired Tillig train set, with track of 310 mm radius, on two of my B&M coffee tables (90 cm square in total) I commandeered a Gaugemaster controller instead of the supplied Tillig unit because I didn't have a spare adaptor for Tillig's transformer which has a 2-pin plug. The Traxx loco ran quietly, superbly and slowly with working directional head/tail lights. I bought two extra 83 mm Tillig track pieces from Golden Valley Hobbies. Another parallel circuit of oval track with 353 mm radii is on order. My plan is to build a modular double track circuit, initially as a test track, no name has yet been decided.

According to Hornby's TT:120 forum, there's a live Q&A session on YouTube from midday today.

https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/news/Hornby-tt-model-prototypes-examined/ At the very least their carriages and most wagons have moulded on handrails and door grabs. However the LNER Toad brake van has separate handrails.

According to my invoice, the train set cost Euro 128.61 including postage, but without tax. So I guess they'll invoice me for the tax due soon.

No issues at all

This is my entry into TT:120. I bought a Tillig starter set from Modelbahnshop Lippe for about £115 including postage. My primary reason for buying the set is its track. Its curved pieces are 310 mm radius. There's also a pair of 166 mm straights. Included is a PKP Cargo Traxx diesel plus three wagons. Hovever over time my future collection will primarily be of British prototypes.

Today I received the club magazine. According to pages 13-14 when Prad Gurung contributes as part of SK's conversation, I'm pleased the class 66 is being designed from scratch and not based on the ex-Lima tooling. I hope Hornby caters for its variations especially the low-emission versions. So far I've held off preordering examples. The only loco I've preordered at this stage (of the diesels) is the rail blue 08 because there are finished pre-production models.

I looked at their Train Terminal blog 10th October entry (members only) at the end of the blog, is an image of the van with the running number E145841, it's a GWR 10T version with planked ends. Should be numbered with W prefix. However their shop lists it as TT 6006, running number E156874. Unfortunately Hornby's not posted any end or 3/4 views of their van TT6007, running number B777345, which should be a BR version with corrugated steel ends. Unless Hornby releases more images I'm still none the wiser which versions are actually modelled. I'm hoping Hornby will model a GWR version with planked ends and a BR version with corrugated ends

I've taken the plunge and pre-ordered 3 TTA Total tanks and 3 Mk2 Intercity swallow air-cons. Now I'll patiently wait for Hornby's 37s and 47s to appear

I'll find out when I receive my parcel from Germany in the next week or so. Then I can compare with my Kato specimens, will let RMwebbers know if that's the case

I'm awaiting delivery of a Tillig starter set with an oval circuit of ballasted track from Modelbahnshop Lippe in Germany. It appears they use similar rail joiners to Kato's Unitrack because in N I know they're robust and allow quick assembly and dismantling see this link https://www.hattons.co.uk/73329/tillig_1833_track_extension_a_passing_loop_pre_ballasted_roadbed_/stockdetail If things go to plan I may reduce my N and OO collections too. I would also go modular too based on Tillig's track geometry.

Thanks for clarification, apologies for repeating some points, I haven't read all the 90 plus pages on this topic yet

I'm curious what advertising Hornby plans later this year on non-model railway media. However I hope the train sets arrive before Xmas, or even by "Black Friday" to capture maximum online sales and that Hornby is prepared for a deluge of customers requiring help and assistance.

If Hornby under its own brand name in the UK doesn't want to take the lead for some models, Arnold could introduce them instead. I'm thinking of S160 2-8-0, WD 2-8-0 and 2-10-0, many of which spent time in Europe. Also other train ferry stock such as Night Ferry sleeping cars plus wagons. A Night Ferry sleeping car might not be viable in OO however many people request it because of its limited market, but release one in TT, it's much more feasible financially from their point of view. PS - a few J94s served on the continent so could be rebadged as an Arnold model

And the original EM1 Tommy which ran in the Netherlands between 1947-1952, and its later British companions. I found out Arnold produces epoch II and III train ferry wagons as well. No worries about scale incompability, unlike N or OO/HO any longer!

Rather late to this topic, but Hornby made a bold move into 1:120. It's the one scale that allows true compatibility across international boundaries - as opposed to 1:148, 1:150 or 1:160 representing N. To start with I ordered a Tillig starter set because I prefer their pre-ballasted track. So far I've held off preordering Hornby stock because I'm interested in a class 47 and they won't appear yet. I'm also curious about their tank locos. I can understand Hornby wanting to appeal to a wide market, so Gresley pacifics make up both starter sets. However apart from the 66s they could have offered a class 92 and wagons compatible with Channel Tunnel use to take advantage of some of the Continental European models available. Overall I hope they make a success in their latest venture.

In the past week, on the "Glensley Celtic" 1920s-30s era football ground module, I completed much of the construction of the main office/changing room; the brick walls around the ground; set out the road layout including provision to bed the structures into the ground, all now awaiting painting. However I've still to construct the large exit gates.