| Model railroaders who live in big cities - and others | | | | train layout in this size can fit into a briefcase or on the |
| whose living space is restricted - face big challenges. If | | | | top of a small table. At first, the Z scale trains suffered |
| you love model trains but live in cramped space, what | | | | from the image of being just a novelty and something |
| should you do? What are your options? | | | | only for the rich. In recent years, however, the cost of |
| Fortunately, you have several good ways to go. There | | | | extreme miniaturization has moderated and more and |
| are three important scales that are available | | | | more prototypes are available (not only European |
| commercially and still not as well known as the HO | | | | ones). Hobbyists with poor eyesight or those who |
| (1:87 scale) and N (1:160) sizes. | | | | have difficulty working with very small objects will not |
| TT (1:120), sometimes called the "table top" scale, runs | | | | enjoy Z scale trains. An important feature of Z scale |
| on 12 mm gauge track and is a little bigger than N. The | | | | trains is that they enable realistically long trains to run |
| TT scale has an unusual history, which may explain | | | | on a moderately sized layout. Those who live in very |
| why it is sometimes referred to as an "American | | | | cramped space - or others who require portability of |
| orphan". It was introduced to model railroading in 1945 | | | | their layouts - are avid Z scale model railroaders. |
| as the smallest available scale. The originator, an | | | | T (1:450) is the smallest commercial model train scale in |
| automotive engineer named Hal Joyce, formed a | | | | the world. KK Eishindo introduced the first T scale train |
| company that produced model railroad kits in TT scale. | | | | at the Tokyo Toy Show in 2006. The T stands for |
| Competing manufacturers focused on kits as well. The | | | | "three", which is the gauge of its track in millimeters. It is |
| TT scale was pushed out of the U.S. market in the | | | | still early in the development of this model size, but |
| 1960s and early 1970s by aggressive marketing of N | | | | more and more components are available for |
| scale products. Because the makers of TT scale | | | | consumers: train and track sets, power accessories, |
| equipment had restricted their activity to producing kits, | | | | structures, scenic accessories, vehicles and special |
| there were no ready-to-run TT scale trains available | | | | tools. Anyone who delights in small-scale work and |
| on the market. Surprisingly, the TT scale was | | | | likes to be on the cutting edge of a new direction in |
| accepted in the then Soviet Union; it remains popular | | | | model railroading may be suited for the T scale. |
| today in Russia, Germany, and Eastern European | | | | If you're living in an apartment or other smaller space |
| countries. | | | | and yearning to return to your favorite hobby, give |
| Z (1:220) was introduced in 1972 by the prestigious | | | | some thought to the small scales. You might be in for |
| German model train manufacturer Marklin. A simple | | | | a pleasant surprise. |