When TT120 was announced it caught my attention. A scale between N and OO/HO appeals to me particularly if the quality of products are good. My plan for a Forest of Dean system layout is one that at the moment is planned, or assumed to be built in OO, because that’s the best scale to get locomotives and stock easily, and I’ve been working towards it for a few years now. N wasn’t really considered, the Dapol panniers have been a bit hit and miss for running qualities, and until British Finescale started their point kits in N with code 40 rail, the track wasn’t of great appearance either.

So here’s another Shelfie, TT120 and based on an idea for Snowdonia North Wales, or out onto the Llyn peninsula. No idea what number this one will be, are we in double figures yet? The ‘problem’ with TT120 at the moment is a lack of ‘stuff’ to build a layout with. Had the scale started with a Pannier 9ft private owners and a brake van, I’d have been in, big time. It hasn’t though. The good thing however is the Peco Streamline track that has been introduced.

Being quick off the mark Peco introduced set track and streamline ranges, I’ve not seen the set track but the Streamline is excellent with one issue. The plastic base on the track almost needs a gas cutter to cut it, its model railways cryptonite. The points are of the unifrog design with nickel silver rail, and jointed rather than one piece switch rails. It would have been nice for the blades to be one piece but possibly with this being a ‘new’ scale Peco took the tried and trusted route.

The build quality is up to Peco’s excellent standard and reliability, there are no surprises with them, the switch having an over centre spring so after throwing them manually, they are held firm against the stock rails.

The unifrog crossing has neatly welded wires, and the V crossing being inert hasn’t given any issues with consistent slow running with a Hornby 08. Obviously a shorter wheelbase locomotive might require the crossing to be live, it’ll be interesting to see how the Hornby Terriers fare.

At Railex Tim Horn had one of his demo boards for sale and one found its way past the till and into the back of the car, and not for the first time. I must be standing too close or something…

So once home the planning started. I’d bought it on a flyer, knowing I’d find a good use for it, and three scales were under consideration, N, TT120 and OO/009. I pushed around my N gauge 08 some wagons and a couple of points from British Finetrax, but nothing grabbed the imagination vibe.

I’d revisited a long lost 009 Muse, Snailbeach, and pushed around some 009 and buildings to no avail, no spark of ignition.

I tried OO in it too, but there wasn’t enough twitching of the trigger finger to make it work, the design lacked something . Flipping through Facebook a picture came up which has subsequently eluded me finding it again, one of the most frustrating aspects of Facebook. But that image was the element that was missing, it was like Goldilocks and the three bears, for the volume of space N gauge wasn’t right, neither was 009/ OO, but TT120 was just right.

The design could be worked to retain the nuances of the original image, the physical properties of TT120, the 08’s and mineral wagons will work for this project, which is essentially a test piece.

I then found MS Models and their exquisite 3D printed buildings, that’s one of mine painted above, and bought a couple to try. That was the trigger pull moment.

From them arriving in the mancave, track is formed, cut and painted ready for first fix. New point motors arrived, soon to be followed by switching gear, and then cutting the structure and backscene to allow trains to run on and off scene.

So from an impulse purchase of the board, pushing a few trains around, and the arrival of the fire starter buildings, this test project has gained traction quickly. It’ll be a relatively quick one too and an opportunity to try TT120 with a small layout, finescale mindset.

The only problem is, if it works like it may well do, and Hornby’s promised Pannier arrives, Peco’s 16t minerals, and the manufacturer who hasn’t yet officially announced the standard 20T brake van all turn up, do I change scale for the Forest of Dean project….

That’s the thing with making stuff, it opens up tons of opportunities!