Developing a Model Railway in TT:120 Scale

The Market Deeping club confronts TT120 modeling challenges with a coastal scene at Holcombe Beach.

In this our fifth book in this modelling series we undertake an excursion into a new scale, modelling in TT120. Falling between the popular stalwarts of OO and N, the Market Deeping club were challenged to create a display layout in this scale, based upon the Devon Riviera coastal railway. In doing so they explored the arguments for and against the scale. Working with the challenges of ‘if I have X space what will fit into it?’ and ‘if I am depicting a scenario what space do I need?’ the club engineered the line alongside the famed red cliffs beloved of so many holidaymakers to run with full length HST consists. We illustrate a single day at ‘Holcombe Beach’ near Teigmouth, with the approaching Great Storm of 1987. The reward at exhibition is immediate recognition of the coastal strip and a flood of reminiscences from viewers. We also created a plan B practice layout based on County Durham to fit the early Hornby steam rolling stock releases. The Market Deeping Club commenced writing modelling books after experiencing extensive vandalism of their annual Stamford model railway exhibition in May 2019. The skills built up in rebuilding damaged, or replacing broken layouts, has led to a nimble team able to put their skills into a scale where initial perception of size is difficult, and resources feel thin on the ground.

David Ashwood first visited a model railway show at the Central Hall Westminster in 1974 and has been through many iterations of layout type and scale through the years. At one time being a part time die cast and kits trader at model shows and exhibitions. He is now an active member of the Market Deeping Model Railway Club and Gauge O Guild. He is enjoying a personal model railway renaissance.