Hi Everybody,
Just posted this to see if I was the only one who saw the possibilities of a new scale… Thanks
Hmm not to sound like I am flaming cause Im not but this was brought up about a month maybe 2 ago and If memory serves me right there is a scale between HO and N. Yes there is it is called TT scale I just looked it up on NMRA site. TT is 1:120 scale. guess there is one out there already.
Yes it may have been brought up, its been awhile for me on the fourms… I have heard of TT scale but was not aware that is was between HO and N. Is it EXACTALY between HO and N because thats what im asking here. Thanks
TT scale, 1:120, is one of those brilliant ideas that didn’t achieve flying speed before it ran out of runway. I still have a couple of old TT trucks in my junk box, purchased around 1950.
Another scale that didn’t happen was ‘Pica scale,’ 1:72. The idea was that a printer’s rule, laid out in picas and points, would have made a perfect scale rule. It was mentioned in MR, probably tongue in cheek, about the time that the first N scale items appeared.
Japan, of course, marches to a completely different drummer. HOj is 1:80, and N scale models of most Japanese prototypes (including several small steam locos with 6-wheel tenders sold in the US) are actually 1:150.
We have enough scales now. As seen by the posts of the “Newbees” adding/or making another scale would add more confusion. Lets be happy with what we have.
The common wisdom has been that the scales falling between the major ones (S between O and HO, TT between HO and N, and Z between N and… bacteria? (sorry, couldn’t pass up the joke! [:o)])) never reached wide spread popularity because there was simply not enough difference to create an advantage. Especially when the established neighboring scales offered a wide array of products in locos, cars, track components, buildings, etc.
Common wisdom seems to have prevailed in this case as S scale has only a tiny group of loyal followers - probably less than a half percent of the hobby, and the only place you’ll find TT now is on eBay (I apologize if I’ve offended the sole TT modeler out there… but its been a really long time since I even seen TT mentioned in MR Magazine).
As either a modeler, business person or investor, I’d have much more interest in seeing marketing efforts devoted to serving a niche market in an existing scale rather than venturing out into a decades-long path littered with failed prospects.
Consider this as a “No” vote in your poll.
The current in between scales are TT, S, and #1. S has has a large and growing following spread across the toy train, hi rail, scale, and narrow gauge. #1 has been around for a while, but had been in decline. Recently MTH has been producing #1 engines and cars. TT was started after WWII and had some early support in this country. It became very popular in eastern europe. There are still some manufacturers here.
See this page for what’s available in S scale http://www.trainweb.org/crocon/sscale.html
For TT see http://www.ttscale.com/
for MTH see http://www.mth-railking.com/
Enjoy
Paul
As has already been pointed out, potential new scales sized between existing major ones have historically done very poorly and none have thrived. The viable scales (O, S, HO, N) were all locked in by the late 1960’s and anything appearing, or being seriously suggested, before or after simply couldn’t garner any significant percentage of established hobbyists. OO, TT, Z, all still exist but on the very margins of the hobby and, despite the claims of some, are today essentially stagnant in their tiny hobbyist numbers. Several other purposed scales appeared briefly over the years to quickly rise and fall. Only G (multi)scale gained any real favor, by coming in on the high side of the established range of model sizes and through operating in a unique enviorment (outdoors). To have any hope of success, a new scale must fill a decided void in the existing range of scales and this was already done years ago. Based on historical precedence, we have seen all the major scales we are ever likely to.
CNJ831
Sad but true- TT is a great size to work in, but there are few manufacturers that will do anything. There are a little over 300 TT modelers in the Yahoo group I’m in, both in North America and overseas and there are more that aren’t online but the numbers aren’t huge. It’s a Catch 22, no major manufacturer is willing to do anything new because the market is small, but many modelers that like the scale don’t get into it because nothing is available RTR. They don’t want to spend their time building everything (or just don’t have the skills to do so). Finding parts for a 50 year old steam loco and restoring it isn’t fun for everyone!
I see that another HO scale manufacturer is going to do their version of F units, like they’re needed! I wi***hat Atlas, Athern, or Stewart /Bowser would do ONE TT scale loco just to see how it goes. There is a ton of European prototype equipment available, not real useful for US roads. We have flex track and switches, some nicely done plastic and resin freight car kits, laser cut building kits- everything except locomotives. S scale took off after a couple brave souls (S Helper and American Models) started building new locomotives- and S is bigger than ever!
Just gotta hit that Powerball!
And another sad fact- MR Magazine wasn’t big on TT when TT was a “major” scale in the late 40’s and 50’s- RMC had a monthly column, printed a lot of scale drawings in TT, and had a lot of advertising. I’ve collected most of the back issues of MR from the time, and it’s pretty apparent they were concentrating on HO back then too, instead of the other “Minority” scales of the time.
I would say that TT is the scale that I wanted to go into because of space and size but the Price of everything and the lack of products is what turned me away. IMO TT is the almost perfect size @1:120
its not like they have a 1:100 scale that would the the easyest scale for modeling because of the conversion for scratch building.
Why only considering TT as a scale change? Myself I’m a Z-scaler, and if I change (or when I change provided the Z layout I’m building will be completed in 20 or 30 years[:D]) it’ll be G scale in my 70000 square feet garden[;)]…
Dominique
No it is not. But think about it. A scale exactly between HO and N would be:
(1/160 + 1/87) / 2 = 1/123.5
That would just be a stupid size. Conversions are hard enough with out adding a decimal point to the scale size. Even calculations in my G-Scale at 1:20.5 are a pain in the butt. If we were going to start a “new” scale it should be based on something reasonible. A nice number for the distance between the rails (like HO and N) is NOT one of those things, because that throws everything else in to whacky numbers. Set the scale to something nice, like Proto:48 is, and let the distance between the rails fall where it may.
Ok Guys you all had valid points on this subject. I agree with most of what has been said and kinda see your points on the subject. But If Atheran, Kato, Atlas, Lifelike-Walthers, etc all got together and said alright lets mass produce stuff for a year just to see if it takes off would anybody even be interested? Like I said I agree with what everyone has said but I still think there could be some perpose here for a new scale that would catch on quick if what I described above would happen, Though not that it is ha ha. Thanks Guys