Question for 12-14

[MasonJar]

Do you use track planning software or pencil and paper (or something else) to create your track plan?

I have used both. First a pencil sketch of what I want to do, and then track planning software to be sure that it will fit in the space I have...

Andrew

 

[railohio]

Pencil and paper. The price of the software will buy a lot of paper.

 

[Gil Finn]

I set down in the floor with a box of track and begian to connect.

 

[Nomad]

Xtrkcad for me.

 

[shortliner]

XTrkcad - cheaper than pencil and paper even, and a darn sight more accurate
Shortliner(Jack)away up here in the Highlands

 

[Cannonball]

I set down in the floor with a box of track and begian to connect.

That's the best way.

 

[ezdays]

I have tried using at least two of the free track planning software and just got frustrated. I use Turbocad for other things, so I've created my layouts in it just using the 2D functions. I have also sketched out full-sized curves and structure footprints on paper, just to make sure things fit the way they should.

With all this planning, I still find myself pulling up and relaying tracks. wall1

 

[nolatron]

I'll usually just squiggle a line out on a piece of paper to get an idea of a general mainline plan. Then I use RailModeller on my mac for track planning to lay it out.

I also recently got Empire Express for the mac, but find the interface not as friendly as RailModeller. Although it's a little easier to set min/max radius when using flex track.

 

[shaygetz]

Whutsza track plan?:thumb:

 

[santafewillie]

Pencil and paper, then like Gil, start to connect track pieces.

 

[MasonJar]

Shaun,

Tell me more about your Mac software please! I have an iMac G3 (OS9) and G4 (OSX 10.4) and would like to have something compatible. Right now I rely on a friend with an old PC and XTrkCAD to do my drawings...

Thanks!

Andrew

 

[N Gauger]

Colored drawing pencils and 1/4" graph paper.... 4 squares to a foot....

I color code the mains and sidings different colors, then I use the track plan to help in wiring the blocks.... Never failed me yet

 

[railohio]

XTrkcad - cheaper than pencil and paper even, and a darn sight more accurate

Only if you run Windoze

 

[oldtanker]

I tried a couple of the free track planning programs, want to attack my puter with a hammer....so I ask for a lot of help on here!

Rick

 

[cedarcreekrr]

I use autocad for the benchwork and pencil and graph paper for the track plan.

 

[FiatFan]

I put in a three track yard. Then I put some buildings on the layout and laid track to them. Then I put in the mainline and passing siding through town. Then I build another town using the same method as above. Then I put in the rest of the mainline to connect the two towns.

In other words, I used neither software or pencil and paper.

Tom

 

[Collyn]

I use everything. Pencill to get a general idea. 3D railroad to refine it and to make shure the plan will work, gradeints and such. And then i lay the track out to make sure everything looks good in the real world.

 

[zedob]

I'm with Collyn, except I use 3rdPlanit for the trackwork. I'll doodle up some ideas, draw them up on the computer then print out the plan, doodle it to death, adjust the compter plan, print it, doodle it to death and so on. I've been working on the same plan for some months now. I can't get into any benchwork at this time, so I'm just taking my time fiddling around with it. Once the benchwork is up then I'll lay out some track to get a real 3D perspective (3D on the computer just doesn't quite do it).

It's taken time to learn the program, but worth it. It's fun to try different ideas without having to "trace and erase". Eraser crumbs are almost a thing of the past over here.:thumb:

 

[Jim Krause]

Legal pad, pencil or pen. I usually end up with a bunch of scribbled notes, sketches and I can't understand them a month later.