T = Tiny Scale

[Darren Jeffries]

Ok,

 

Out just last month is the new T Scale.... this makes N & Z look huge!!!

 

http://www.kk-eishindo.co.jp/

 

You'll need to set the English option top right of the page.

[Guest bill937ca]

And the verdict is....

 

http://1-450.blogspot.com/2007/12/and-verdict-is_16.html

[Bernard]

I had head about this scale and I couldn't believe that there was something smaller than Z. I give the Z scalers a lot of credit to work in that scale but the T would drive me crazy. For me that is one of the few times I've read a train review where they actually "pan" the product and list all it's faults. Maybe the next product line that comes out for T will address the problems.

It was a nice honest review with a video to illuminate what the reviewer was talking about.

[Guest bill937ca]

Hobby Search is accepting reservations on a number of T gauge items

from Eishindo for April delivery.  It is often necessary to reserve items in high demand when ordering direct from Japan.  Hard to say if these will go fast. T gauge is new and unproven. ON the other hand it is different because of the tiny size.

 

T Gauge 103 Series Jyoban line and Narita line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068650

 

T Gauge 103 Series Yamanote Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068649

 

T Gauge 103 Series Keihintouhoku Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068648

 

T Gauge 103 Series Sobu Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068647

 

T Gauge 103 Series Hanwa Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068644

 

T Gauge 103 Series Chuo Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068646

 

T Gauge 103 Series Kansai Main Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068645

 

T Gauge 103 Series Fukuchiyama Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068643

 

T Gauge 103 Series Osaka Loop Line (Basic 4 Cars Set)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10068642

[stevenh]

PlazaJapan just put both starter sets (2 different radii so that you can have a double-track loop) and the osaka loop and yamanote line sets on their eBay Store.

 

I just bought the outer loop and the yamanote... I would've stayed true to Kansai if i'd seen the Osaka loop set first :) extreme impulse buy!

 

Anyway, will tell you all what they're like :)

[Darren Jeffries]

I look forward to hearing about this. It seems the ultimate space saver, but the detail worries me a little.

[Martijn Meerts]

I'm more worried about running characteristics... I've seen video's of the things running, and more worries seem to be mostly justified :/

[Guest ___]

I might be able to give some feedback shortly. I've been in the mist of buying a set myself for a few weeks now. I plan to order a complete 135R and a set this week from HobbySearch.

 

I 've been following the 1:450 blog, but like any new product and model,. I think there will be little bugs that will need work through. After all look at all the time we take to fine tune our larger scale trains to run. (I model Z-scale, and can't believe I sued the term "larger" scale to refer to the EF-65 in Z I run!)

[kashirigi]

I wish I had seen this when I was in Japan. While I like N scale, this is better suited for my N scale apartment.

 

Or for having a layout in a box on my desk at work.

[Guest ___]

Yeah me too. While in Japan a few months ago, I only got to see the Pro-Z stuff, but I fell in love with it there, but knew I had no way to transport it home, nor was I budgeted for it. However if I saw the T scale, I could have bought and transported it with no problem

[stevenh]

I've just returned from Hong Kong to find the parcel in my mailbox.

Upon opening the box I was astonished to see the sheer tiny-ness of the train... the pictures do no justice. They are absolutely-ridiculously tiny.

I found 3 AA batteries and hooked up the track... after attempting (with minimal success) to get a trailer car on the rails... I got the power car on and it ... either goes full speed or not at all. I do need to tinker with this a lot more though.

It seems that the couplers on the trailers prevent the bogies from sitting level and due to the lack of weight they aren't ... convinced to sit nicely on the rails.

 

Initial finding: I'm much happier with N Scale but this is a good toy.

 

Let me get back to this thread tomorrow with photos after a little more investigation.

[Guest ___]

http://talkingtgauge.s2.bizhat.com/talkingtgauge.html

 

Dave just started this up.

[CaptOblivious]

http://talkingtgauge.s2.bizhat.com/talkingtgauge.html

 

Dave just started this up.

 

Beat me to it: by two months! I was just about to post that link. Here are some T-gauge blogs, for those interested:

 

1:450

 

More T Please

 

tgauge.ca

[Bernard]

Okay guys, now I'm getting confused.  Is this "zz" considered T scale or is it larger?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/BANDAI-ZZ-TRAIN-RAIL-0SERIES-SHINKANSEN-In1964-HIKARI_W0QQitemZ250318058655QQihZ015QQcategoryZ487QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

 

And is what Hobby Search has "Pro Z" just "Z scale":

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10078074

 

All I know is N scale is tough enough on the eyes, so I'll stay with N.

[CaptOblivious]

Okay guys' date=' now I'm getting confused.  Is this "zz" considered T scale or is it larger?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/BANDAI-ZZ-TRAIN-RAIL-0SERIES-SHINKANSEN-In1964-HIKARI_W0QQitemZ250318058655QQihZ015QQcategoryZ487QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

 

And is what Hobby Search has "Pro Z" just "Z scale":

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10078074

 

All I know is N scale is tough enough on the eyes, so I'll stay with N.

[/quote']

 

Bandai ZZ gauge is its own thing; it's been around a while, and as I recall, the tracks are entirely plastic and the trains are driven by internal watch batteries. It is 1:300, which is a good bit larger than the 1:450 scale T uses. The page you linked to has a picture that indicates the track gauge is 4.8mm, which is larger than T's nominal 3mm. I get the impression that the ZZ stuff is more toy-like in terms of quality and appearance, but I don't really know much of anything about it.

 

Pro Z is just Tokyo Marui's entry into the Z gauge market. The train sets will run on any Z layout, and you can run any Z rolling stock on a Pro Z layout. Their schtick is having complete ready-to-run layouts and very detailed rolling stock with full interior lights on everything. (see here: http://www.airsoftatlanta.com/images/pro-z_set.jpg) (And that container train is looking good!)

[Bernard]

Don - Thanks for setting me straight. It was getting a little confusing especially with zz & T scale.

[Guest ___]

Don - Thanks for setting me straight. It was getting a little confusing especially with zz & T scale.

 

Right. Z-scale is what I model. I have pix up in this board's gallery. T-scale is short for 3mm. This is the gauge between the rails. I actually bought a big and little loop width two train sets a few months back, but have yet to run them. They are insanely small. I have no idea how people put the figures down on the layout.

[bill937ca]

 

 

T-scale is short for 3mm. This is the gauge between the rails.

 

And N gauge (or Nine Gauge as it is sometimes called in Japan) is 9mm.  So the letters do mean something with these gauges.

[CaptOblivious]

 

 

T-scale is short for 3mm. This is the gauge between the rails.

 

And N gauge (or Nine Gauge as it is sometimes called in Japan) is 9mm.  So the letters do mean something with these gauges.

 

What does "Z" mean, I wonder? "Zounds! That's small! gauge"? :P

[bill937ca]

 

 

What does "Z" mean, I wonder? "Zounds! That's small! gauge"? :P

 

From Wikipedia:

 

"Letter Z was chosen to designate the new scale as it was thought at the time that there would not be a commercial model railway scale even smaller than Z, in the future. Hence the last character of the alphabet in German and English languages."

[Bernard]

I was looking at another forum I belong to and the majority of the members model American prototypes, but there is a big discussion on T scale now. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't most of the T scale trains based on Japanese Prototypes?

Does T scale make North American Prototypes?

[bill937ca]

I was looking at another forum I belong to and the majority of the members model American prototypes, but there is a big discussion on T scale now. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't most of the T scale trains based on Japanese Prototypes?

Does T scale make North American Prototypes?

 

No.  They can't see anything other than the same old same old.  Those American T are personal projects.

[Guest ___]

I was looking at another forum I belong to and the majority of the members model American prototypes, but there is a big discussion on T scale now. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't most of the T scale trains based on Japanese Prototypes?

Does T scale make North American Prototypes?

 

Most of those guys are kitbashing. The group started on the Yahoo Z-scale user group and sorta got to a point where it was overtaking the group. So, the creator of the 1:450 blog started up his forum, but most of the members are American. A good bit of growth occurred when the memberships started kitbashing an RDC. Then again this is all old news since a majority of us are on those user groups and on the T-scale forum.

[Bernard]

Shashinka - Have you kitbashed any of your T scale trains? I can't image kitbashing a prototype that small. They must use one heck of a magnifying glass. :o

[Guest ___]

Shashinka - Have you kitbashed any of your T scale trains? I can't image kitbashing a prototype that small. They must use one heck of a magnifying glass. :o

 

I can't even kitbash HO with any level of sucess. I have a war gamer on staff for that, LOL.-