When I first came here, I was impressed by the fact that TT scale was listed in the "other scales" on this forum's heading. Because of the confusion some people have shown between the tiny new Japanese T gauge (new in 2008) trains being discussed here and TT scale, I thought I'd post a primer on TT for you all.
TT scale is 1:120 scale (although British TT, more commonly known as 3mm scale is 1:101). This places TT scale in size between HO at 1:87.1 and N which is 1:160. At 1:120 scale one inch equals ten feet; a scale which I believe was commonly used in drafting. TT was invented by Hal Joyce, a former automotive engineer, in 1946. His company, H.P. Products (not affiliated with Hewlett Packard) produced American prototype trains in kit form. Most of the competition in TT also emerged in kit form. TT was pushed out of the North American market in the late 1960s or early 1970s by companies evangelizing N scale. However, many people believe that this would not have occurred if there had been Ready To Run TT products available.
What is interesting is that, while TT was invented in the United States, it caught on in the Soviet Union and remains popular in that part of the world today. In Europe Ready To Run TT scale items are still readily available, but the prototypes are all European.
The largest manufacturer of TT scale is probably the German firm Tillig. In America, Tillig products are available from EuroTrain Hobby. No, I am not affiliated with them.
Another manufacturer of many TT items is the Slovenian firm Mehano. Sadly, because they have OEM'd many low-end products for the North American market, Mehano doesn't receive a lot of respect in this part of the world. However, their high-end products for the European market are quite respectable. On many they include LokSound DCC decoders.
In North America TT scale has become a cottage industry, still primarily marketing kits. Possum Valley Models hosts TT Scale On-Line and offers a number of American prototype kits, including conversion kits for Lionel's TT scale "Big Rugged Trains" push toys. North American rolling stock is available from Gold Coast Railway Co.
There seems to be some renewed interest in TT here in the U.S. today. I'm hoping that one or two of our manufacturers will some day soon test the waters by offering an inexpensive starter set. This scale is great for children. It's just enough bigger than N to make handling much easier, and doesn't take up as much room as HO.
TT scale is 1:120 scale (although British TT, more commonly known as 3mm scale is 1:101). This places TT scale in size between HO at 1:87.1 and N which is 1:160. At 1:120 scale one inch equals ten feet; a scale which I believe was commonly used in drafting. TT was invented by Hal Joyce, a former automotive engineer, in 1946. His company, H.P. Products (not affiliated with Hewlett Packard) produced American prototype trains in kit form. Most of the competition in TT also emerged in kit form. TT was pushed out of the North American market in the late 1960s or early 1970s by companies evangelizing N scale. However, many people believe that this would not have occurred if there had been Ready To Run TT products available.
What is interesting is that, while TT was invented in the United States, it caught on in the Soviet Union and remains popular in that part of the world today. In Europe Ready To Run TT scale items are still readily available, but the prototypes are all European.
The largest manufacturer of TT scale is probably the German firm Tillig. In America, Tillig products are available from EuroTrain Hobby. No, I am not affiliated with them.
Another manufacturer of many TT items is the Slovenian firm Mehano. Sadly, because they have OEM'd many low-end products for the North American market, Mehano doesn't receive a lot of respect in this part of the world. However, their high-end products for the European market are quite respectable. On many they include LokSound DCC decoders.
In North America TT scale has become a cottage industry, still primarily marketing kits. Possum Valley Models hosts TT Scale On-Line and offers a number of American prototype kits, including conversion kits for Lionel's TT scale "Big Rugged Trains" push toys. North American rolling stock is available from Gold Coast Railway Co.
There seems to be some renewed interest in TT here in the U.S. today. I'm hoping that one or two of our manufacturers will some day soon test the waters by offering an inexpensive starter set. This scale is great for children. It's just enough bigger than N to make handling much easier, and doesn't take up as much room as HO.
