Track Planning Software

[Ngoody]

HI

I have tried the Atlas and XtraCAD programs and find them very difficult.  Has anyone had experience with 3rdPlanit, and is it any easier to use. Is it worth the money?

I would like to design a multi deck layout and be able to print the plan 1:1 to transpose to the benchwork

thx

[rrinker]

 I use 3rdPlanIt and I would have to say it's every bit as difficult as XtrackCAD. Atlas Right Track is very easy, but more limited. Being able to work in a CAD program of any sort takes a bit of visualization skill. I mean no slight or insult, everyone is different. Some peopel are just better able to grasp the translation from a flat drawing on a computer screen to a 3D physical object. Just like some peopel excel at math, others at writing.  I can't even draw Mickey Mouse freehand - give me a CAD program, or a a T-square, straight edge, etc. and I can draw most anything. I say keep trying, you might just need to give yourself more time. Getting used to the way you typically use mouse clicks in most CAD programs takes some getting used to. Snap To and Snap to End Of Line are your friends when trying to lay track on a plan.

 BTW, on my web site is an image of the 3D rendering of my layout from 3rd PlanIt. Getting the benchwork to look right (including a pink close to that of the extrude foam I used) took literally LONGER than it took me to say the wood with a hand saw and glue and screw it together. The flat track plan, once I had an idea of what I wanted to do, didn;t take very long at all - but making that 3d rendition.. I am not kidding, I built the real thing faster than I drew the pictures.

                   --Randy

 

[loathar]

http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html

When they say easy, they mean easy! IMHO, well worth the $$$.
PS-They have a free demo download on that site.

[BlueHillsCPR]

FYI, the first in a series of articles on using 3rdPlanit is set to come out in January in a free online "mediazine".  If you are not aware of this already and would like to know about it, contact me and I'll give you the link.  I am prohibited from posting the link in this forum.

[Loco]

HA!  Welcome to the worst part of the hobby!  (IMHO)  I'm about a mouse click/shift/atl tab/drag corner tangent radius away from calling one of the adds I see in MRR and paying someone to design a layout for my room.

If you check out my thread you will see some XtraCAD drawings.  I am getting better, but learning by trial and fire IS painful.  In some respects it is why I like this hobby, it has literaly everything involved in it.  Some aspects we are better at, and some we are not.  I also have CadRail but it was just to much for me to start with.  I might give it another shot.  Never tried atlas or any others for that matter.

One thing to keep in mind - the price of the software IS NOTHING when you compare it to the hours you will spend doing it.  Free or not..

Hey, maybe I'll do an online contest and who ever comes up with the best design I'll buy a subscription to MRR for a year!!!  Yah, that's the ticket!

[jackwade]

I also use AnyRail and really like it. Give it a try.

Jack

[mainetrains]

I have used RTS, Xcad and 3rdPlanit and prefer 3rdPlanit. The basics are easy to pick up and like most things the more features you want to use the more complicated it gets. A lot of trial and error involved. Just be sure to safe your work every so often.

Mainetrains

[CSXDixieLine]

I have been a software developer for 16 years, do graphic art design for web development, am fluent in all the typical graphics applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, etc.), yet for some reason I just can not get the right touch when it comes to track planning software. I am using Microsoft Visio to put all of the track into the approximate correct alignments, but when I get to the point of laying track, the "official" track planning will be done on the actual benchwork. I am not trying to deter you from using any of the track planning applications--they are really fun and most everyone seems to get excellent results--just be aware that it does take a certain acquired skill to use them effectively. So don't be too frustrated if you are not having a lot of success just yet. Take a look at the other recommeded applications and see if they work better for you.

Here is a sample of my track plan that I did using the Microsoft Visio drawing/charting application. The track is not an actual "to scale" precise layout, but it will get me to the point where I can make the final track arrangements on the benchwork (including easements, vertical transitions, turnout positions, etc.):

Jamie

[Cannoli]

rrinker

Being able to work in a CAD program of any sort takes a bit of visualization skill. I mean no slight or insult, everyone is different. Some peopel are just better able to grasp the translation from a flat drawing on a computer screen to a 3D physical object.

 

You are certainly correct here, I am a very techincal person and can use pretty much any app you throw in front of me, and in some cases have written a new one because I can't find something that meets my needs. When it comes to CAD, I just don't seem to have any luck.

I have used RTS 6, 7 and now currently 8 with pretty good results. I have always used Atlas track for my layouts anyway so that helps. I gave Xtrk and CADRail a try a while back but didn't have the time to really sit down and learn either one. RTS was very easy for me to dive right into. The new 8.0 in particular has a handy feature of pre planning your benchwork and the ability to lay everything out using sectional track pieces and then convert to flex track later.

[Loco]

 If you ask me, they are all tring to do to darn much.  Just give me a simple,l basic point and clik to see if 32" curves are going to work in that corner.  And how much space the truouts are goin to be.  I don't want to run train in a 3d environment fully seciniced.  THAT"S why I'm BUILDING the real thing. 

[Ngoody]

Thanks everyone for the valuable input and suggestions so far.  I will give the other programs a go.  Sounds like I need to muster lots of persiverence (sp?) to get up the learning curve.

Chris

[rrinker]

 Yikes on the Visio. I do Visio diagrams all the time on network proposals we do - no one else int eh office seems to want to be bothered, and it's fairly easy for me to draw up someone's proposed network. Yet I don't think I'd try to use it to design my layout. Obviously it works, and it looks nice, but still... 

 Then again, I did draw and print out in full scale my previous layout. In the end I figured it was all a waste of time. I don't need what's on the table to match to the tenth (.0001 - machinist style tenth) of an inch of what's on the drawn plan. The purpose of the plan is to make sure what I want will fit in the space, and have adequate clearance. If things being shifted by half an inch would cause it to not work - I probably have WAY too much track in that area. The basic plan shoulld be close to what you actually put down, but it doesn't have to be spot on accurate.

                          --Randy

 

[gear-jammer]

thx,

We used 3rdPlanit.  It came with a workbook that was helpful.  The simulator part was fun.

Sue

[Ngoody]

Hmmmmm......I wonder what program is used to "draw" all the layout diagrams published in MR? 

Based on the feedback so far I think I would like to use a program to get enough of an outline for the track plan that I could transfer to a sheet of plywood so I could do the cookie cutter work, and be reasonably close.  Or have the option for spline roadbed.  Yard areas I would want flat and could be designed as you go, so to speak.  Actually for these area's I will probably use tried and true designs plans available from several sources.

thanks again for all the comments so far.  I will try out all the recommended programs everyone has suggested

 

Chris

 

[Don Z]

Ngoody

I have tried the Atlas and XtraCAD programs and find them very difficult.

Could you give us examples of what you're finding difficult in XTrkCad? Many of us use it for designing track plans and I'm sure we could assist you if you gave us more information. Have you run the Demos on the program? They can be done either step-by-step or run automatically. Click on "Help" in the tool bar, select "Demos" and you'll find almost every possible situation you'll need in drawing your track plan.

Don Z.

[ClinchValleySD40]

A few years ago I used 3rdPlanIt to design my layout.   Pretty easy to pick up, lots of loaded track pieces like Atlas or Peco switches.   I could not have done my layout without it.

 

[Ngoody]

Thanks Don.  I dove right in trying to lay track and didn't even realize there were demo's in the help section.  So thats where I will start. 

Thanks for the tip

Chris