Laying track to fit the plan of 'Bletchford'

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?msg=879204

Another small revision today to avoid a batten just where a point was required. I looked at moving the batten but would have had to dismantle too much so I just moved the point so as to be able to fit underboard point motors

Quote from: middlefour on March 05, 2026, 11:32:44 AMSetting up the TT range has cost them a lot and talking to the owner of the model shop I use its not selling anything like what Hornby hoped for.

Do you have any facts/evidence to support the setting up costs and current sales levels?

It (Hornby TT120) does currently seem to be heavily promoted in Social Media, forums and magazines. And I get the impression they are providing support and product to a number of modellers and magazines to build TT120 layouts and have them featured in magazine articles and on model railway forums.

It'd be nice if N gauge got the same level of support and promotion. Still, hopefully it'll be a relatively short lived interest and marketing activity and the spotlight for small scale model railways will turn back to N.

So, the Union Mills discussions have got me wondering:

I only need (need  ) one steam for my purposes. The old concerns about N Gauge steam is what drove me to Union Mills in 2014.

But, the threads of late seem to suggest the modern steam offerings have come a long way.

What one steam locomotive that could have reasonably been seen in South Lanarkshire should I target?

I'm talking strictly model performance and reliability.  Looks be damned; I want a runner!

Swearing a lot at some old track.

I had a space, a plan and a piece of board plus a pile of old Fleischmann piccolo track (Set track type stuff but not quite so set-track as Peco). Having assembled it all and started testing I've discovered all the double slip crossings I cunningly used to make the fiddle yard extra effective don't actually power route.

Going to have to do some rearranging.

Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 11:24:25 AMBeing completely unable to perambulate to the dunny, I thought I'd share this view of Bealman's night buddy in hospital 

Modelling opportunity

Quote from: lil chris on Yesterday at 06:11:52 PMYes  I agree with a lot of the comments here. I do not think Hornby did themselves any favours excluding dealers from selling the TT range.

Dealers would have killed their pricing. They know exactly what they are doing and I imagine like any business they'd love to get rid of all their dealers the day they are not adding enough value.

Quote from: Roy L S on March 05, 2026, 09:02:07 PMI think the reality is that TT120 is encountering economic "headwinds" just like any other scale.

Roy

I think everything is entering economic headwinds (and about to get a lot worse) but any new scale will take time to get traction. TT is a lovely scale and they've thought pretty hard about building a product range for it.

I do wonder whether it will just go the way of Z though.

Yes  I agree with a lot of the comments here. I do not think Hornby did themselves any favours excluding dealers from selling the TT range. Plus they have brought out the cheap range of sound decoders which maybe pretty good but they do not abide by the NMRA standards set. Of course being in n gauge it does not affect us too much, although I have heard of Hornby decoders being fitted into a n gauge loco, I will stick with Zimo thank you.
Chris H.

Quote from: Newportnobby on Yesterday at 11:36:45 AMLovely. Thanks for sharing that
There's absolutely zero dignity when you're in hospitals

Better than doing it in bed!

Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 11:24:25 AMBeing completely unable to perambulate to the dunny, I thought I'd share this view of Bealman's night buddy in hospital 

I have both of those aids in my flat, raised bog seat with handles and wheeled walker. So you'll be getting some practice in for when old age creeps up on you