Newbie Alert!

[GibbModels]

Greetings all. I'm fairly new (scratch that, completely new) to T gauge and I'm wondering where I can get help. I'm quite young so I don't have the money to buy elaborate sets etc, so I was wondering how I might get started.

Although there are starter sets around, can anyone point me towards where I can buy a class 66 body for a motor chassis. I'd rather buy that than a HST as modern freight is my interest!

I got introduced to T at an exhibition along the Great Central. The guy running the T layout gave me some tips and advice, then pointed me to these forums. He mentioned, instead of buying locomotives, you bought powered chassis and bodies.he said you could get bodies and scenery 3D printed. Anyhow, again, can someone point me in the right direction where to buy:

1.A class 66(60 or 58 would suffice here)
2.Container 'flatbeds' and containers
3.Track, controllers and scenic stuff.

I'd like it to be as cheap as possible, because I intend to show T gauge on my YouTube channel to popularise it.

Thanks all,
Gibb(Models)

[mattd10]

Hello! And welcome to T!

T is exactly the same as any other scale when it comes to tight budgets....if you know what you want it's best to buy it separately!

Shapeways is a 3D printing service where people have uploaded their designs which you can buy. There is a load of T gauge stuff on there, specifically the modern image freight loco's you're after (class 66+67)

http://www.shapeways.com/product/8MXCBS ... Id=1990013
http://www.shapeways.com/product/YEMSW3 ... d=56768722

In order to motorise these you will need a motorised chassis available from several places. In the UK you're looking at these guys http://www.tgauge.com/ Also on there are brass etch containers and the adjustable chassis to create container trains. Bear in mind that one loco can haul a maximum of 3/4 coaches really so you may need to consider double heading and shortened consists. I'm in the process of designing a container wagon that fits over a motorised chassis to provide hidden power but this is very much still on the drawing board.

Other great ways to save money is to use printed buildings (from various sources online) and maybe even try and scratch build yourself using plasticard or similar.

Hope that helps!

[henningz]

[...] I got introduced to T at an exhibition along the Great Central. The guy running the T layout gave me some tips and advice, then pointed me to these forums. He mentioned, instead of buying locomotives, you bought powered chassis and bodies.he said you could get bodies and scenery 3D printed. [...]

Sounds as if it was Doug, the administrator of this forum, who you met at the GCR

[JBModels]

Welcome GibbModels,

I too am a new member, only joined the day before. So a warm welcome to you. Whilst I am not new to model trains, I am new to T gauge. If you need me to design any models for you, please let me know. So do PM me if you even need anything made.

Regards,
JBModels.

[GibbModels]

Thanks All for the great response!
I will soon post info on my T activities!

[NeilM]

Regarding your question about containers and flat beds.

http://www.tgauge.com/ sell adjustable chassis which should be able to be constructed to be the correct length for a container wagon. They also produce etched brass containers.

The above are available currently, however I am also working on some printed containers. Still in progress at the moment but I have run a test proving that they will print OK, but just waiting for me to add the full detail to the end door before I order another test print. After that, if they are still looking good, I will add them to my shop.

Assuming the basic containers are OK, I then plan to try and print the wagon bodies and containers in one piece. Also hoping to try containers on road trailers as well.

[GibbModels]

Okay, I've looked around, but what chassis length fits http://www.shapeways.com/product/YEMSW3 ... d=42992404 Bec amuse I don't know

[mattd10]

Unfortunately I never ordered one from tgauge.com (they were on there for a while) so I don't know which chassis is needed. Someone else here might, alternative message Jesse (the designer) who is sure to know. Just bear in mind that the class 66 is a co-co and only bo-bo chassis are available. Not the end of the world but rivet counters would not be pleased

[GibbModels]

Cheers anyway! Me, I don't care. As long as it runs a-ok, I'm fine.