Introduction
I have always had an interest in model railways such as Minatur Wunderland in Hamburg, but we have always been tight for space. Then Hornby launched it’s TT:120 range, the TT standing for Table Top and 120 the scale of 1:120, the idea that you can build a model railway which will fit onto a family dining table and then when you finished “playing trains” you can then put it way, behind something or under a bed out of the way until next time.
This got me thinking and I started looking on the Hornby Website, and discovered there is a TT:120 Club, as well as lots of information to get you started on the TT:120 journey. I decided the club fee of £30 was worth a risk, it also comes with some great benefits if you want to make use of them, one of them is a quarterly magazine, and in the first issue is an articles that looks at getting started with a layout, which includes some basic size information, which takes into track expansion packs. Out came the tape measure and I decided we have enough room for the recommended size of one meter by one and a half meters and so the journey begins.
N.B. Where an item reference is included this will refer to Hornby unless otherwise stated.
This got me thinking and I started looking on the Hornby Website, and discovered there is a TT:120 Club, as well as lots of information to get you started on the TT:120 journey. I decided the club fee of £30 was worth a risk, it also comes with some great benefits if you want to make use of them, one of them is a quarterly magazine, and in the first issue is an articles that looks at getting started with a layout, which includes some basic size information, which takes into track expansion packs. Out came the tape measure and I decided we have enough room for the recommended size of one meter by one and a half meters and so the journey begins.
N.B. Where an item reference is included this will refer to Hornby unless otherwise stated.
Research
The decision has been made to start a new hobby, but where to get started? Well firstly I had a look at the information in the TT:120 club magazines, the Hornby website and of course YouTube.
1. Layout Baseboard - I had learned that a base of one meter by one and a half meters should be big enough as a starting point, sufficient to accomodate a basic oval but leave room for expansion. I used the article in the first issue of the Club Magazine to work out what would be needed and an approximate cost of £100.
That’s the layout base planned and costed out, for me that was the easy bit. Hornby offer four train sets, a good starting point as they come with everything to get you started in one box. The dilemma is do you go Digital or Analoug.
2. Analog or Digital? - Analog is as it describes, you have a controller which is at one end connected to the track and the other end to a transformer for the power. A basic controller has switch for forward and reserve running and a speed dial. Along side the TT:120 launch Hornby have also launched a new Bluetooth App based controller, the main differences are that rather a variable power source to control your model’s speed it has a set track power setting and a bluetooth control chip within the model varies the amount of energy taken to control the speed based on inputs from a smart device.
Digital control is definitely for me, but I started to get confused as Hornby offer Digital and Analog, sets and locomotives, it is worth noting that all TT:120 Analog sets come ready to be converted to Digital with chips which can be easily installed at a later date, but this will mean taking your locomotives apart for installation. Their site also offer pieces of kit to covert legacy controllers to the new HM7000 system, but don’t let these confuse you. If you buy a TT:120 digital train set it is ready to go out of the box all you need is the app downloaded.
Hornby offer train sets and locomotives with Digital so everything is installed for you, some don’t but as previously mention all TT:120 locomotives are DCC ready (this means they have the capability to be converted to make use of the HM7000 system) and the website states which bit of tech you will need making it simple. The cheaper option is to buy a Digital set, I looked at the individual component prices and the prices are slightly higher and you might as well save the money to buy more track, models or dare I say more trains. Digital sets also allow for sounds to be played if the locomotives have a speaker installed. Digital sets and even some none Digital sets come with speakers pre-installed.
Digital it is, now the more difficult decisions which train sets, locomotives and rolling stock do I want on my layout.
1. Layout Baseboard - I had learned that a base of one meter by one and a half meters should be big enough as a starting point, sufficient to accomodate a basic oval but leave room for expansion. I used the article in the first issue of the Club Magazine to work out what would be needed and an approximate cost of £100.
That’s the layout base planned and costed out, for me that was the easy bit. Hornby offer four train sets, a good starting point as they come with everything to get you started in one box. The dilemma is do you go Digital or Analoug.
2. Analog or Digital? - Analog is as it describes, you have a controller which is at one end connected to the track and the other end to a transformer for the power. A basic controller has switch for forward and reserve running and a speed dial. Along side the TT:120 launch Hornby have also launched a new Bluetooth App based controller, the main differences are that rather a variable power source to control your model’s speed it has a set track power setting and a bluetooth control chip within the model varies the amount of energy taken to control the speed based on inputs from a smart device.
Digital control is definitely for me, but I started to get confused as Hornby offer Digital and Analog, sets and locomotives, it is worth noting that all TT:120 Analog sets come ready to be converted to Digital with chips which can be easily installed at a later date, but this will mean taking your locomotives apart for installation. Their site also offer pieces of kit to covert legacy controllers to the new HM7000 system, but don’t let these confuse you. If you buy a TT:120 digital train set it is ready to go out of the box all you need is the app downloaded.
Hornby offer train sets and locomotives with Digital so everything is installed for you, some don’t but as previously mention all TT:120 locomotives are DCC ready (this means they have the capability to be converted to make use of the HM7000 system) and the website states which bit of tech you will need making it simple. The cheaper option is to buy a Digital set, I looked at the individual component prices and the prices are slightly higher and you might as well save the money to buy more track, models or dare I say more trains. Digital sets also allow for sounds to be played if the locomotives have a speaker installed. Digital sets and even some none Digital sets come with speakers pre-installed.
Digital it is, now the more difficult decisions which train sets, locomotives and rolling stock do I want on my layout.
Wishlist
1. Train Set
The two train sets on offer are “The Scotsman” and “The Eastern” which are available in Analog or Digital.
The Scotsman contains the A1 class “Blink Bonny” locomotive with pullman carriages representing the Flying Scotsman Service running the on the East Coast Main Line from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh’s Waverley.
The Eastern contains the A4 class “William Whitelaw” with BR Maroon MK 1 coaches. Based on East Coast Mainline Services. The A4 is a no brainier for me, the evocative streamline curves has the feel of the ArtDeco period as well as a stablemate of “Mallard”.
2. Locomotives
After perusing the TT:120 site the following locomotives have been added to my wishlist.
3. Rolling Stock
I have my locomotive wishlist now what rolling stock will I need.
4. Scenery
For me still a work in progress and one where some more work is needed. There is a selection of scale scenery online from station buildings to platforms some things have already been added as a start to get the layout going.
The two train sets on offer are “The Scotsman” and “The Eastern” which are available in Analog or Digital.
The Scotsman contains the A1 class “Blink Bonny” locomotive with pullman carriages representing the Flying Scotsman Service running the on the East Coast Main Line from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh’s Waverley.
The Eastern contains the A4 class “William Whitelaw” with BR Maroon MK 1 coaches. Based on East Coast Mainline Services. The A4 is a no brainier for me, the evocative streamline curves has the feel of the ArtDeco period as well as a stablemate of “Mallard”.
2. Locomotives
After perusing the TT:120 site the following locomotives have been added to my wishlist.
- Class 08 Shunter, good for playing with goods wagons.
- Class 66, good for running the goods wagons you made up with the shunter.
- Class 43, InterCity HST, a locomotive of my era reminiscent of my childhood visiting numerous places with family. This one is a must have for me.
- Class A4, Mallard, the recorded breaker for fastest speed of a steam locomotive, is another must.
3. Rolling Stock
I have my locomotive wishlist now what rolling stock will I need.
- Goods wagons - there is a good variety to choose from, tankers, open wagons, coal wagons and vent wagons, a nice selection of these will make good use of the shunter.
- HST Coaches - Starting off with 4 Mk 3 coaches to match the locomotive. Hornby do offer a different variety making it easy to match them to the locomotive set.
4. Scenery
For me still a work in progress and one where some more work is needed. There is a selection of scale scenery online from station buildings to platforms some things have already been added as a start to get the layout going.
- Platform
- Dent - station, waiting room and signal box
- Engine shed
This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.
Opt Out of Cookies