let me start off by saying that ive had a lionel for 17 years, and since we moved about 10 years ago,its been in boxes. i recently decided to get back into the hobby. side note- about 4-5 years ago i got into r/c cars/helis, and i have a hobby towm about a mile from my house.
anyway i wanted to know what would be a good desgin software ive tried 3rd PlanIT, and Atlas's Right Track. i also have exprenice with several CAD programs - AutoCAD 2005, Inventor 11, and 2008, also Soildworks 2006. i would prefer downlodable freeware, or something thats not to pricey.
thanks.
vonhammer wrote:i would prefer downlodable freeware, or something thats not to pricey. thanks.
That sounds like Atlas Right Track software in a nutshell.
There is also XtrkCad
CadRail isn't too pricey I guess.
If you haven't tried XtrkCad you might want to as it is open source and free.
I use Right Track and I am learning to use XtrkCad right now. I've never used CadRail.
BlueHillsCPR wrote: If you haven't tried XtrkCad you might want to as it is open source and free.I use Right Track and I am learning to use XtrkCad right now. I've never used CadRail.
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The only advantage over Atlas Right Track I see in the XtrkCad is the additional track types Library that is available in XtrakCad. Atlas software is MUCH simpler to use, and is not limited to only sectional track as many people think. You can draw curves with easements(of ANY radius), yard track ladders, crossovers, and helixs of any radius by highlighting a cell and typing in your dimensions ( *the drop down menus are limited to sectional track radii, you must HIGHLIGHT the cell and type in your dimesions. ).
KingConrail76 wrote:Atlas software is MUCH simpler to use
No doubt about it, the right track software has a fairly easy learning curve. There are some things about the program that could be improved I think but hey it's FREE so one can't complain too much.
I haven't been going with XtrkCad long enough to talk about the advantages it has over R.T.S. It has a steeper learning curve but then it acts more like a CAD program than R.T.S. does so it's not too surprising. I spent about an hour with XtrkCAD last night and I am interested enough to keep going with it.
Commands like the modify track command and the way XtrkCAD handles flex track are areas where the R.T.S. software could be improved, in my opinion. After spending some time with XtrkCAD I may find more to like about it over R.T.S. but I may also find more to not like. R.T.S. is probably going to have you laying track faster than any other program I have tried so far.
Just my
Kevin
Since you are already familiar with AutoCAD you might think about using AutoSketch - also by Autodesk.
http://store.autodesk.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=adsk&id=ProductDetailsPage&productID=78863600
It is not too pricy @ $129.00 retail. The nice thing about AutoSketch is that it is a full general purpose CAD package. I have been using AutoSketch for over 10 years for everything from producing complete house plans for residential construction to Model Railroading. That is the positive about using AutoSketch - you can use it for any CAD purpose.
Of course the negative side is that AutoSketch is not Model Railroad specific. You will have to create your own templates for turnouts, etc. but if you are going to be using your Lionel O/O-27 gauge equipment the availability of templates may be limited anyway.
Good Luck,-John
After looking at a few of the others online and demoing two of those, it was the XtrkCAD software that performed they way I needed.
The learning curve issue simply was not one for me. The tutorials are pretty good, online how-to, although incomplete, gets you started, and the internal help is almost adequate.
I messed with it for a few hours the first week and by second week was putting my ideas into layouts I have saved and rearranging with ease.
I have since laid track on one of the designs, and found that the track is where the CAD said it would be-and that includes a yard ladder using Atlas Custom #6's (for crossover to main) and #4's for the small yard; and these lengths, spacing and angles were the critical dimensions for me. My track spacing differed slightly from the CAD, but also differed slightly from my own measurements (I swear those turnouts swell and shrink until you mount them on cork!)
I have also added the Atlas Custom Wye to my parameter files as it is not included in the Atlas library supplied. It took less than a minute because they made it easy to make your own turnouts.
Crews
rustyrails wrote:Since you are already familiar with AutoCAD you might think about using AutoSketch - also by Autodesk. http://store.autodesk.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=adsk&id=ProductDetailsPage&productID=78863600It is not too pricy @ $129.00 retail. The nice thing about AutoSketch is that it is a full general purpose CAD package. I have been using AutoSketch for over 10 years for everything from producing complete house plans for residential construction to Model Railroading. That is the positive about using AutoSketch - you can use it for any CAD purpose.Of course the negative side is that AutoSketch is not Model Railroad specific. You will have to create your own templates for turnouts, etc. but if you are going to be using your Lionel O/O-27 gauge equipment the availability of templates may be limited anyway.Good Luck,-John
actually i was thinking about using Inventor, since i am amember of the student community, i can get a bunch of autodesk stuff for free. then i rembered that i have had issues with inventor and my wireless card. to solve those, ive had to do 3 COMPLETE SYSTEM RESTORES!!!.
anyway one prefernce i have is to have a 3D view, which is one thing i dont like about XTrkCad. has anyone tried RR Track yet?