Talking T Gauge

Frank C · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

I read your initial review of T equipment, and you seemed less than impressed with the performance. Has that changed? Handlaying track seems like a big effort for a poor performer.

Why does it generate interest? Too much ready to run, even in Z scale. Kind of like Daniel Boone felt about Kentucky, eventually. Got to civilized for him, so he went onward looking for another place where he could be a pioneer.

Thank you for the forum, and good luck frontiersman!!!

Frank

DanMacK · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject:

I think it's precisely for the reasons you described Frank. There's alot that hasn't been done in Z I'll admit, but far less has been done in T gauge. Right now Robert Ray's NP passenger cars are about the only customization we've seen so far.

For several reasons, I don't see T ever in a million years becoming a "switching" scale. Couplers and size of the rolling stock being the main factors. That said, the same thing was said about N and Z. Regardless, I see T being more of a runner's scale. With a mile equal to 11 feet, long freight drags are a definite possibility. Magnetic wheelsets will help keep them on the rails and ghost cars could be spaced out every 10 or so cars for equal power distribution.

Think of the possibilities... Tehachapi loop on a 4X8 sheet of plywood...

Seriously, T has tremendous potential, and I can see modelers like David Smith and Robert Ray being at the forefront of this new frontier. Some may look on it as a novelty, but I see it as becoming a serious modeling scale, especially over here in North America.

Regards,
Dan MacKellar

shashinka · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 24 Location: Maryland

I got to see the T-Guage train set in action at a recent JMR lunch meeting, and it ran really well. I hate having to wait for Plaza to ship my two train sets and look forward to seeing how they run out of box on my loops.

David K Smith · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject:

Yes, my opinion of performance is improving--as is the product, I believe. Eishindo is listening to customers, and making improvements as they go, which is exactly the kind of responsiveness we need. Take couplers, for instance: they're on their third generation, and with each step they've gotten better. The couplers, I believe, were the weakest link (no pun intended) with the original release.

As for its popularity, I think some modelers just instinctively gravitate toward new challenges, and T is certainly a challenge. Some have said that the size is a distinct advantage for modelers with severe space crunches.

And I agree T will likely never become a "switching" scale, as the phyisics involved are likely impossible to overcome--at least from a practical/affordable standpoint. That said... I have some ideas...
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—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

shashinka · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 24 Location: Maryland

I recall reading your review and commenting about the original couplers. And, but I can not recall the 2nd generation couplers at all. How are the second and third generation differ?
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David K Smith · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

DanMacK · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:04 am Post subject:

Comparatively, how big are the Eishindo couplers to, say, a Micro-trains Z coupler?

Allan Wright · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Norfolk, UK

Hi all.

David said...
[quote] As for its popularity, I think some modelers just instinctively gravitate toward new challenges, and T is certainly a challenge. Some have said that the size is a distinct advantage for modelers with severe space crunches. [unquote]

It immediately'hit' me because I had thought Z Scale was the smallest system made commercially. I was fascinated later when I saw Z stuff and then more so when I saw the even smaller Zz gauge andthen blown away when I saw T gauge.

I am in fact a live steam Gauge 1 modeller with a garden railway, but I seem to have spent a lot of time with T gauge since I bought my first one from Hobby World. <g>. Like most, I am still at the collecting stage in T and waiting for new T items to appear, but I have a large 14 x 14 ft 'all weather' shed in the garden that the G1 runs through and I have ample space for a scale mile of T track. I'm excited with the idea that I can build a layout in T and I chuckle too every time I look at the power cars and coaches - they are so tiny.
I just couldn't resist buying some T especially at the prices they are, but what was just a curious modellertostart with has changed and I find I am getting serious about it now.
Best wishes to all of you.
Allan
Allan Wright, (Norfolk, UK)

David K Smith · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:15 am Post subject:

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

DanMacK · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

Size-wise, that's pretty close actually... Still would be too big though. It would probably be easier to figure out how to uncouple the Rapidos as opposed to the newer couplers.

David K Smith · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:12 am Post subject:

Skibbe · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 11

David K Smith · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject:

shashinka · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 24 Location: Maryland

It scares me is that sooner or later someone will try to 1-up T-scale and try to go smaller. Personally, I'm already terrified of trying to work with relacing T-scale couplers.
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Do not feed the densha.