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TEMPLOT 3D PLUG TRACK - To get up to speed with this experimental project click here.   To watch an introductory video click here.   See the User Guide at Bexhill West.

  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed. Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.
  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.

TT120 Track Standards.

Quick reply >
Martin,

Have you found out what the PECO track and wheel standards are for TT120? I've had a look at the NMRA and MOROP standards for TT and there appear to be coarse and fine standards from both organisations. The publicity picture of the turnout seems to show quite fine standards around the crossing nose.

Jim.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

In the Peco launch video it was briefly mentioned that they were using the MOROP NEM TT:120 standards.

I can find only one MOROP standard showing dimensions for 12mm gauge:

https://www.morop.org/images/NEM_register/NEM_E/nem110_en_2009_20111116.pdf

which shows a flangeway of 0.9mm min , 1.0mm max and check gauge 11.0mm min.

In Templot I currently have the flangeway at 0.85mm. I must have got that from somewhere 25 years ago when I first compiled the list, but I can't remember where. I will change it to 1.0mm in the next update.

(MOROP seem to have made the same mistake as NMRA and mixed up a compliance standard with a manufacturing drawing.)

Are you planning a TT-120 layout?



From Wikipedia:

"Commercial support for British outline TT:120 was introduced in June 2022. It has a scale of 2.54mm to the foot or one tenth of an inch to the foot and uses 12mm gauge track, just like the TT scale used both in the USA and continental Europe. The new scale was announced in June 2022 by the UK manufacturere PECO. The company launched its new TT:120 scale 12mm gauge code 55 track and UK prototype accessories. Writing in the Peco Publications & Publicity magazine, Railway Modeller, editor Craig Tiley stated, 'To explain: rather than perpetuating the hybrid combination of 3mm:1ft scale and 12mm gauge track that was adopted by Tri-ang for its TT range during the 1950s and '60s, Peco has instead chosen the accurate scale and gauge combination of 2.54mm:1ft on 12mm track. This equates to a ratio of 1:120 (hence the term TT:120) which represents a brand new scale for commercial items in British outline.
On the same date UK-based manufacturer Gaugemaster announced plans to introduce a new range of products for TT:120 scale, which could include Class 66 locomotives, subject to demand.​
A few days later Danish model railway manufacturer Heljan announced plans to produce a British Rail Class 31 locomotive with possible future developments of a British Rail Class 08 locomotive and a Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST locomotive, all in TT:120 scale."​


cheers,

Martin.
 
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Martin,

I found the same NEM 110 and and also NEM 310 for wheels :-

https://morop.org/images/NEM_register/NEM_E/nem310_en_2009_20111116.pdf

I also dug out the NMRA standards and it looks as though that might be where you got your settings - i.e. they state a flangeway of 0.85mm

https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/standard_3.2_corrected_hmin.pdf

So Peco have probably applied a wee bit of a fudge to satisfy both standards. :)

These days we always hope for finer standards but I dare say Peco has to go with the accepted standards. I note that the NMRA spec shows a tolerance of -0.13mm for the flangeway in TT, so working down to that would give a flangeway of 0.72mm.

The MOROP spec gives a wheel width of 2.5mm but the NMRA spec gives a wheel width of 2.01mm but with quite heavy flange dimensions. But it might be possible to use the NMRA RP25 Code 79 wheel spec which gives finer flange specs.

https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/standards/sandrp/pdf/RP-25 2009.07.pdf

There's a whole load of fudging going on here. :) If I can get the flange dimensions down a natz further I could use my S scale form tool where the flange is 0.45mm x 0.45mm :)

I might be tempted to build something in the scale - it would give me some space to run decent lengths of passenger trains which my present house won't allow in S scale. I had a quick experiment with a CNC machined Drummond Caledonian 28ft coach. :)

CalTTCoach-07.jpg


CalTTCoach-09.jpg


Don't need no steenkin wishlists. :)

Jim.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

In the Peco launch video it was briefly mentioned that they were using the MOROP NEM TT:120 standards.

I can find only one MOROP standard showing dimensions for 12mm gauge:

https://www.morop.org/images/NEM_register/NEM_E/nem110_en_2009_20111116.pdf

which shows a flangeway of 0.9mm min , 1.0mm max and check gauge 11.0mm min.

In Templot I currently have the flangeway at 0.85mm. I must have got that from somewhere 25 years ago when I first compiled the list, but I can't remember where. I will change it to 1.0mm.

Are you planning a TT-120 layout?



From Wikipedia:

"Commercial support for British outline TT:120 was introduced in June 2022. It has a scale of 2.54mm to the foot or one tenth of an inch to the foot and uses 12mm gauge track, just like the TT scale used both in the USA and continental Europe. The new scale was announced in June 2022 by the UK manufacturere PECO. The company launched its new TT:120 scale 12mm gauge code 55 track and UK prototype accessories. Writing in the Peco Publications & Publicity magazine, Railway Modeller, editor Craig Tiley stated, 'To explain: rather than perpetuating the hybrid combination of 3mm:1ft scale and 12mm gauge track that was adopted by Tri-ang for its TT range during the 1950s and '60s, Peco has instead chosen the accurate scale and gauge combination of 2.54mm:1ft on 12mm track. This equates to a ratio of 1:120 (hence the term TT:120) which represents a brand new scale for commercial items in British outline.
On the same date UK-based manufacturer Gaugemaster announced plans to introduce a new range of products for TT:120 scale, which could include Class 66 locomotives, subject to demand.​
A few days later Danish model railway manufacturer Heljan announced plans to produce a British Rail Class 31 locomotive with possible future developments of a British Rail Class 08 locomotive and a Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST locomotive, all in TT:120 scale."​


cheers,

Martin.
For what it's worth, those standards seem spot on for 3mm Society Intermediate standard.
 
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Any source for the wheel standards they might have in mind?
@Nigel Brown

Hi Nigel,

The Peco launch video mentioned MOROP NEM for the track, so presumably they are expecting the MOROP NEM 310 wheel dimensions at:

https://morop.org/images/NEM_register/NEM_E/nem310_en_2009_20111116.pdf

But it would be wise to do some trial and error before making any assumptions about what will or won't run. No doubt anything you can buy RTR off the shelf in a model shop will be ok, Peco know their market.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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I suspect that a finer version might have to come about if modellers want to scratchbuild steam locomotives or other models where the distance over wheel faces is important - in typical British fashion as has happened with most other popular scale/gauges. :) I dare say we could adopt the 3mm Society fine standards which contain a set for 12mm gauge to avoid yet another set of standards.

Jim.
 
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@Nigel Brown

Hi Nigel,

The Peco launch video mentioned MOROP NEM for the track, so presumably they are expecting the MOROP NEM 310 wheel dimensions at:

https://morop.org/images/NEM_register/NEM_E/nem310_en_2009_20111116.pdf

But it would be wise to do some trial and error before making any assumptions about what will or won't run. No doubt anything you can buy RTR off the shelf in a model shop will be ok, Peco know their market.

cheers,

Martin.
Thanks, Martin. 3mm Society Intermediate wheels mostly meet MN 310 (but not vice versa); the exception is wheel width. 2.0 - 2.3 versus 2.3 - 2.5 (2.0 min allowed with a fudge). IMHO Peco et al need the fudge to come anywhere near catering for UK prototypes. I'd go further; I think 3mm fine standards are the minimum needed. We shall see.
 
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Here we go, today's big news:


Martin.
 
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Here we go, today's big news:


Martin.
Hi Martin,

That changes things! I have to wonder if Peco had already spoken to the likes of Hornby before announcing TT:120 track to ensure there’d be support for UK outline stuff.

I still think it’s a shame (as do the 3mm Society!) that it wasn’t 3mm:ft, but I know there are good commercial reasons for the decision. 1/10in:1ft is at least firmly “English” in its scale, betraying its American origins, without the mish-mash of metric/imperial measurements!

Cheers,
Paul
 
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That changes things! I have to wonder if Peco had already spoken to the likes of Hornby before announcing TT:120 track to ensure there’d be support for UK outline stuff.
@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,

Today's edition of Railway Modeller (Nov 22) has full coverage of the Hornby announcement.

Hornby are saying that their new TT track is already in stock in their warehouse. Everything else is "on its way".

That suggests the track may have been made closer to home.

Here's a plastic moulding company with a familiar address:

https://www.yell.com/biz/sycon-ltd-seaton-111272/

cheers,

Martin.
 
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message ref: 5024
@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,

Today's edition of Railway Modeller (Nov 22) has full coverage of the Hornby announcement.

Hornby are saying that their new TT track is already in stock in their warehouse. Everything else is "on its way".

That suggests the track may have been made closer to home.

Here's a plastic moulding company with a familiar address:

https://www.yell.com/biz/sycon-ltd-seaton-111272/

cheers,

Martin.
Hi Martin,

That is interesting! I've only just picked up that Hornby are also doing TT:120 track - I hope it's fully compatible with Peco's! Peco's does look better though, without huge lumps of plastic where rails should be!

Despite Hornby's reputation for trying to pull the rug out from under competitors' feet, I think on this occasion the timescales suggest that the two companies must have cooperated.

A complete aside, Worsley Works are already producing scratch-aid etches for British outline stock for TT:120 and are looking for suggestions for other etches to produce.

Cheers,
Paul
 
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As if I need another feasible scale to think about. Is the Templot setting bang on for the proposed wheel standards? Could we do complete timbered and chaired templates on a resin printer? *settles down for some more Templot pie in the sky designs.
 
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As if I need another feasible scale to think about. Is the Templot setting bang on for the proposed wheel standards? Could we do complete timbered and chaired templates on a resin printer? *settles down for some more Templot pie in the sky designs.
@Bunchie3174

Hi Ian,

The Templot settings are correct as far as it's possible to pin down the TT-120 standards.

Yes, you should be able to do one-piece chaired timber bases on a resin printer. Switch off the plugs, sockets and chair supports in the Templot dialog. Your difficulty is going to be finding some Code 48 bullhead rail.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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What does Code 40 scale out at? Is there a way of scaling the chair gaps up/down?
@Bunchie3174

Hi Ian,

0.040" x 120 = 4.8 inches.

Bullhead rail of that height would be approximately 62lb/yd. I don't know of any prototype using such small bullhead rail -- maybe the Festiniog? Light rails of that weight are usually flat-bottom.

Yes, you can set any rail section for the chairs -- click the set custom rail... button:

custom_rail.png



The difficulty you would have is in making accurate measurements from such small rail sections.

Also the chair designs are currently for 95lb/rail, so the rail would look very undersize in them. In due course it will be possible to enter custom chair dimensions, but we are not there yet. Also I haven't yet done the special crossing chairs, so you have plenty of time to source some Code 48 rail. :)

cheers,

Martin.
 
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