Newsdesk: First TT:120 scale locomotive model announced
Heljan is the first manufacturer to reveal a new locomotive for TT:120 scale to run on 12mm track and it is a dieselelectric! Rapido shrinks its SECR rolling stock range to
‘N’ gauge, with BR liveried versions announced. Hornby delivers the first of its new BR Mk.4 coaching stock.
FOLLOWING Peco’s early June announcement to introduce a range of ‘New TT’ products including 12mm gauge track (TT:120), Heljan quickly picked up this huge opportunity for the industry to produce an entirely new range of locomotives and rolling stock models by revealing a new Class 31
The first batch of 12 models will include details such as bufferbeam fairings, the body side beading and four-character headcode boxes. No details of price or delivery times have been indicated at the time of writing. model which will be decorated in 12 liveries for the first batch. The models won’t be to 3mm/ft, but correctly scaled to suit 12mm gauge track at 2.54mm/ft.
‘Table Top’ gauge has been regarded as a workable compromise between ‘OO’ gauge and ‘N’ gauge. However, TT:120 scale corrects the old track to scale compromise where 12mm gauge track was not correct for British 3mm scale rolling stock. Furthermore, 1:120 scale will be attractive to modellers with smaller homes. The term Table Top originally came from the ability to fit a layout on a typical dining table and TT:120 scale will offer the same benefit.
The new 1:120 scale Heljan Class 31 represents the locomotive from introduction to mid-life with liveries ranging from BR green through to BR blue and the RTC departmental liveries. At the time of writing, no indication of price has been given with the models
An early to mid-life Class 31 model is Heljan’s first step into TT:120 scale with models correctly scaled to suit Peco’s new 12mm gauge track range.
still at the CAD stage. Nonetheless, the development is an exciting one for British outline modelling and to see a diesel-electric locomotive announced as the first off-the-shelf model bodes well for the D&E scene. The huge commercial risk being taken by Heljan deserves our fullest support.