Re: Peco / UK outline TT gauge Models

[Bealman]

I see in the latest Hattons flier that Peco are ressurecting TT gauge. I'm not sure of why! 

[Bealman]

It seems to be a pretty radical gamble which I honestly can't see paying off. Sorry for the negativity.

[nobby]

for TT gauge track wise maybe a good move as peco are well known for track systems so another string in the bow for them  , in N GAUGE a few more options wouldnt go amiss tbh , concrete points and longer express points would be nice , who knows 

[Bealman]

How many folk model 3mm scale these days?

I reckon they'd be sparse! I may be wrong... does the 3mm society still exist?

There's no stock, unless you build it yourself!

[Paddy]

for TT gauge track wise maybe a good move as peco are well known for track systems so another string in the bow for them  , in N GAUGE a few more options wouldnt go amiss tbh , concrete points and longer express points would be nice , who knows

Hi @nobby

Agreed on N Gauge track. I also think it would be good if PECO released a code 55 Setrack with revised geometry so you can avoid 1st radius. Alternatively, add a second radius point to the existing code 80 Setrack (and associated pieces).

As for TT, if the models (when they arrive) look as good as the few locos CORGI released then it could be tempting. As my eyes get older, N Gauge becomes harder to see...



Kind regards

Paddy

[Newportnobby]

@Bealman
You were beaten to it, George

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=57047.msg763436#msg763436

[Tfc49]

Regarding Peco's entry into the TT market, it's a common misconception in the UK and related countries that TT is a scale of 3mm:1foot, i.e. 1:100. In fact TT scale is 1/10inch:1 foot (2.5mm:1foot), i.e.1:120 and track gauge of 12mm, and has been so since its first development in the USA around 1950.

The discrepancy arose because when Tri-ang first developed what they erroneously called TT in the late 1950s they were unable to  cram the mechanisms they were able to produce into body shells of UK prototype locomotives scaled at 1:120, and so they increased the scale from 1:120 to 1:100 but kept the same track gauge of 12mm.

In this respect Tri-ang went down a similar path to Hornby in 1938 with Hornby-Dublo (1:76 scale models on 1:87 scale 16.5mm gauge track), a path also followed Peco in the late 1960s when they launched their British N gauge body kits and wagons (1:148 scale models on 1:160 scale 9mm gauge track).

Although the following of 3mm scale is both distinctly British and small in number, interest in TT is large (and growing) in central and eastern Europe, and Peco's introduction of proper TT scale track can be viewed as a move to enter that important market. Their parallel launch of a single British wagon and some GWR building kits can be seen as an inexpensive testing of the water of a possible future UK market (laser-cut building kits are very cheap to produce, and Peco's recent purchase of advanced robotic production machinery has probably enabled them to produce the tooling for TT wagons from the CAD produced for their new range of N gauge wagons much more quickly and cheaply than could be done by earlier methods).

Hope the above from a former member of the 3mm Society clears up any confusion.

Anyway, back to N gauge...

Best wishes,
Tfc49

[Bealman]

Ah well. I live in Australia, remember. 

[Railwaygun]

this thread continues here:

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=57048.msg763342;topicseen#new

[joe cassidy]

Got a message from Hattons informing me that Gaugemaster have launched a range of TT scenic accessories/figurines.

Will Farish announce some rolling stock ?

[Shropshire Lad]

I doubt it, they struggle to get in the production queue as it is.
Cheers Colin

[Tfc49]

Looking at said items on Gaugemaster's website, they appear to be re-badged existing products from Noch and Viessmann, both of which are established suppliers of TT scenic parts.

Whilst hopefully not dragging this forum into another scale, I wonder if any people are now giving thought to using TT in the foreground of a layout with N in the background, to create forced perspective (doubtless already tried in Europe, but not perhaps in the UK)?

Best wishes,
Tfc49

[Woodenhead]

Will Farish announce some rolling stock ?

Really hope not, they are painfully slow to release stuff now, add in another gauge and we'll be waiting forever for new releases.

[ntpntpntp]

Will Farish announce some rolling stock ?

I doubt it would be under the Farish brand as that's associated with British N (yes I know GF originally did OO to back in the 50s -70s)

I don't think the Bachmann empire has a foothold in TT with any of its brands (but I may be wrong).   Even to produce rolling stock you've also got to tool up or source wheels, standard couplings etc. So it's a big investment.

[Paddy]

If Bachmann UK wanted to enter this market, they have the EFE brand which they could use...

Kind regards

Paddy