TT scale is a live and well. Although not much modeling is done in the US, Europe has a large following of the 1:120 scale.
One of the reasons for TT not being popular besides what was mentioned in the article is the fact that tiny motors were not available back then like they are today. When Treble O (N scale) came along with the smaller motors it was to late for TT scale to catch up.
There are forums available for the modeler that might be interested in TT scale. One is TTnut.com, there are several Yahoo TT scale forums available also.
Several individuals are interested in getting TT scale back on the map. There are several vendors who provide North American models.
I got intereste in TT scale a couple of years ago. It’s a nice size for a layout in a smaller space but yet bigger equipment for the seeeing challenged.
There seems to be a ripple of interest in Japan, 1:120 scale on 9mm (N gauge) rails. Looks good in the examples which appeared in Tetsudo Mokei Shumi, the Japanese model railroad magazine.
It makes sense. 1080 scale millimeters (model) versus 1067 1:1 millimeters (prototype) is closer than any of the popular scale-gauge combinations now in use for Japanese prototype models of that country’s ubiquitous 42 inch gauge prototypes. Until now, the only Japanese models with accurately gauged wheels were model of Shinkansen trains - in scales that aren’t used for anything else except dinky 30 inch gauge loggers and country tramways.
If you get the idea that Japanese prototype modeling is a hodgepodge of oddball scale-gauge compromises, you got it in one.
Consider this: If you fiddle around with scale rules and conversion factors, contemporary North American TT models, like SD90s and auto racks, are about the same length as HO GP9s and 40-foot freight cars were 50 years ago. What we model in HO now works well on railroads built to the minimum curvature of S scale layouts in the 1950s.
Actually that’s common, in New Zealand they use NZ120, TT scale on N scale chassis and track.
And standard gauge TT is common in Europe, and it’s getting a little better in North America as well. American prototype TT is in a Catch 22- no manufacturer wants to make anything since there aren’t that many modelers, and few guys want to get into it because there’s not much available! But there are a few individuals and small companies still making goodies, we recently got our first RTR diesel (an SW1200) and with the newer technologies of 3D printing, laser cutting aand resin casting small scale production is possible.
To see what’s “new” in TT, here’s a Youtube video of some of our German TT friends and their NA prototype modular layout, the Iris Creek RR-
I have watched TT struggle to gain a footing in the U.S. over the years. I think it’s a pity that it isn’t more popular. It’s the perfect size for the sheet of plywood (4’x8’) layout.
I think there is some confusion on TT, I certainly am. I have seen the guitar case layouts that Brent showed and they were called TT. I have a 1952 edition of “Model Railroad Handbook,” edited by AC Kalmbach (who), that lists TT as 1/10" a scale just smaller than HO (3.5mm). (N and Z are not listed) It appears to me that the new TT is much smaller than the TT of 1952.
American TT scale, the country that started it, is 1:120 or 1/10" to the foot. I believe there is British TT scale of 1:100. TT scale is 27.4% smaller than HO.
Here’s a two minute video of the Guitar Case layout.
What I’ve seen in guitar cases is smaller than Z, but the fellow displaying it called it TT (Tiny Train - which it was). I’m not sure what it’s scale was. Next time I see one I’ll have to ask.
TT scale is alive and kicking in my country. Quite a number of new players have entered this growing market in recent years.
I West Germany, TT scale was the unloved stepchild with only one manufacturer in the market. Rokal went belly-up in the late 1960´s and that was more or less the end of that scale in the West. Eastern Germany was quite different. There was also only one manufacturer - Zeuke, later BTTB and now Tillig, but the people were used to that in the communist part of my country. Auhagen provided accessories and TT scale enjoyed a quite large market share - without the competing N scale. Piko dabbled a little in that scale, but it never got off the ground properly.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, TT scale made the march into the basement and spare bedrooms of the West. We now have Tillig, Roco, Piko, Kühn, Gützold, Auhagen, Faller, Kibri, Viessmann and lots of smaller, cottage type businesses to cater for the TT scale aficionado.
Tillig has some great TT items. There is one dealer that I know of here in the states that carries a fair amount of TT items (eurotrainhobby.com). From what I have seen, it is perfect for those with limited space. The models are nicely detailed. I only wish I had discovered it before launching into HO scale. If I am not mistaken, both Tillig and Auhagen are still made in Germany.
Here are some pictures of two projects I’m working on in TT scale. I also model in HO.
One other thing lacking in TT scale is North American style flex track. Although flex track is available through Euorpean dealers, I like to keep my money at home. Also the smallest size available in TT scale is Code 80 as far as I know and have found. What to do? Well, make your own. I had the idea of trying resin cast TT scale sections. Something similar to “Atlas Snap Track”. I made a mold to pour resin track sections.
Tie plates are cast in to hold the Code55 rail. Pliobond glue is used to glue the rail to the resin track panels.
The resin track is quite flexible. It will easliy bend into a 10" radius curve without breaking.
Aleenes tacky glue is used to glue the track down. T pins are used to hold the panels in place until the glue dries.
Once the glue dried a quick spray of brown paint to give the ties a base coat.
The rails are glued down. I used Micro Spikes to hold the rail down until the Pliobond set up.
I added some rock formations and a some coloring. Still needs vegatation.
Yes and no, as Zeuke/BTTB was the only source of product available in the eastern block countries. As I wrote, TT scale hardly played a role in West Germany resp. Western Europe.
