You can find a n scale guage in NZ but they are $40  dollars no matter where you get them from,  be it from the net overseas or in NZ, I have been thinking that the NZ120 Fraternity do need to  have a proper guage and have been looking at various methods, I Did down load the TT/TT3 guage from the NMRA web site, but unsure how useable this would be as I'm not sure of the clearences I need.

Does anybody know where I can get a N scale track gauge in New Zealand?

I ordered mine from the NMRA direct.

It an indespensible little tool unfortunately.

I had a look at the NMRA site and a few other US based sites. The price for the gauge isn't to bad. Around about US$12 but the cost of postage is crazy about US$30 to send a little piece of brass to New Zealand.

Might just have to suck it up and bite the bullet.

Mike

the postage is US $13.45 (which is still way too high for an envelope), where did you find US $30 ?

who else is interested in a NMRA gauge ? maybe we could order more and share the postage or we order and send it to an US address (US $2.58) which will then send it for $5 to NZ ?

Hi Guys,

The NMRA Track Gauge for N-Guage {9mm} will give you everything that you need for checking your track and wheel-sets, but it will not give the Loading Gauge for the Clearances around the track.

For a simple Loading Gauge there is The Golden rule for a loading gauge:

WIDTH 3.25 times track gauge

HEIGHT 5.25 times track gauge

From this you can cut out a bit of card that is 29.25mm x 47.25mm.  Mark the Track Center at 14.625mm.

This should give you the width and height of tunnel portals.

The 29.25mm is also for track centers on tangent track.

To simplify things, do the width as 30mm and the center at 15mm.

It does not look like there is any coverage of TTn42/TTn3.5/NZ120 on the NMRA webpage for Clearances.

Only TT and TTn3.  For Loading dock and Smoke-Jack clearance you'll want something close to the TTn3 dimensions.

The NMRA type Track Gauge is great for checking track that is already laid, but it is not very good for Hand Laying Track.

For that, you need a couple of 3-point Track Gauges to hold the rail while you spike and/or solder.

Micro Engineering makes them:

42-108  N  Code 70 metal 3 point track gauge  5.25      
42-109  N  Code 55 metal 3 point track gauge  5.25     
42-110  N  Code 40 metal 3 point track gauge  5.25     

A better option are the Rolling Gauges from Railway Engineering.

N Gauge for Code 40 and 55 rail.

Everyone should have an NMRA type Track Gauge in their tool box and for hand laying track you will also need a set of 3-Point gauges or Rolling-Gauges.

Keep in mind that you can't get too close to the track gauges with a soldering iron.  The 3-Point Gauges are white-metal and the Rolling-Guages are plastic.

However, if you do need to get in close to solder, you can use the N SCALE SOLDERING TOOL From Hobby-Worx.

This is ideal for folks who want to solder the rail to PC-Ties instead of spiking into wooden ties.  You can Hand-Lay by using a PC-Tie every couple of inches and then have plastic or wooden ties inbetween for cosmetic purposes.

Somewhere (maybe the yahoo roup archives) theres the Guild approved NZR standard loading gauge, which is what we use as opposed to NMRA standards. Basically the height is about 12' and the max width is 9" (or is it larger now days?)

Well, I was going to buy a set, but if this is true then they will be completely useless. Right up there with Jam trousers.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fui3H8j6phY

"MMmmmm......  Jam Trousers" Quothe Homer Simpson.

Well, speaking of jam trousers, here's the recipe for cooking your own 3-point gauges: http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/rp-8.html

And there is the N SCALE SOLDERING TOOL From Hobby-Worx which is also a track gauge for straight track.

Loading Gauge describes the size of hole that all equipment can fit through.

Width: 136.5-inches : 11-feet 4-1/2-inches : 1.365"
Height: 220.5-inches : 18-feet 4-1/2-inches : 2.205"

So, any equipment has to be narrower than ~11 1/2 feet and shorter than ~18 1/2 feet. 

If you are running under wire, then the catenary will be at the ~18 1/2 foot mark.

The equipment dimensions of ~9 feet wide by ~12 feet tall is reasonable and will fit through the loading gauge.

The best way to illustrate this is with the On30 Clearance Gauge.

 Mac's track in johnsonville has an n scale gauge on the shelf at the moment.  I neglected to check on the price though.

try trademe listing # 320027525  ($25.00). i have dealt with these traders on numerous occasions and they are brilliant!