I am looking for information and recommendations on layout planning CAD software that includes track, landscape, and 3D. I see there are a few out there but before I purchase one I would like to get some opinions from folks who have used them. I am a retired software engineer and electronic technician, and want to get into building my first HO layout on a 4 x 8 table.
A nice free program you can try is SCARM. It is a free download and is constantly being updated. http://www.scarm.info/index.php
Joe
Track planning software varies from fairly simple to very complex CAD.
You might want to check out: http://www.atlasrr.com/software.htm
I use 3rdPlanit from El Dorado Software and is extremely powerful but it has a steep learning curve (like most CAD software). http://www.eldoradosoft.com/3pi.htm
Also: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xtrkcad-fork/
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
The atlas program uses only Atlas track. SCARM has some good educational videos on the site, but I am having issues using flex track, sometimes it connects easy from one side but not the other. Xtrkcad is popular and has written documentation but the so called tutorials on youtube are lame. I've made no progress there at all. Neither program quite adheres to mouse drag and drop standards that you might be used to.
What is not popular around here is the 4x8' despite the last issue of MR. There are a number of threads asking for opinions on layout design. You should browse through those, even if you have no desire to create an empire layout.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
You will get all kinds of suggestions for a trackplan program, I use xtrackcad . I like it because what you see or design is what you get and can print out the trackplan. You can also make up trains and run them to try things out.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
I used the Atlas software tool b/c it's free, VERY easy to use, and provides me a rough idea of how the layout can look. While you can only use Atlas track, that didn't matter since my turnouts were Atlas and track was ME.
Rest assured that regardless of the software you use, you'll have to reconfigure things when you start actually drawing the layout on foam or wood. Heck, you'll need to change things even after the track's secure. Pls don't ask how I know
It does not include 3D, but if you have a Mac, Empire Express by Haddon is a very good app that is very easy to learn and use and modestly priced. It is also very accurate when printed full scale, facilitating executing the plan.
Dante
Hi BPinNH:
Welcome to the forums!!!
I have 3rdPlanIt and I really like it. It is fully featured.
I haven't started to build yet but my track plan has been more or less finished for a while. However, I am still using the program to refine things. For example, recently I mapped out where all the Tortoise switch machines are located and I have used that to position the benchwork components so that they don't interfere with mounting the Tortoises.
The program seems to be accurate in terms of proper sizing of things like turnouts. I have heard others say the some of the CAD programs undersize turnouts so when the track is finally being assembled things don't fit as planned. I did a test with a mocked up yard ladder using the actual turnouts and the plan was right on. In fact there was a bit of leeway with the turnout placements.
I have been able to design my helicies with proper clearances, reasonable grades and radii, and I even worked out the cutting pattern for making the individual sections out of a 4 x 8 sheet with very little waste.
The program allows multiple layers so various details can be seen in isolation. There is a lot of flexibility in terms of how the screen and the tool bars are laid out, and there are several options for how the mouse operates.
Overall, I think it has been a good investment.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I wouldn´t waste any money on a track planning software, as there are plenty of freebies around.
RTS from Atlas and SCARM are basically the same, only RTS is limited to Atlas track alone, while SCARM has a large track library. Both are quite easy to learn and there is a nice video tutorial available in the Web.
I have tried XtrakCad and found it difficult to work with. AnyRail is limited to 50 pieces of track, unless you pay for the full version.
Should I have to make a recommendation, I´d suggest SCARM. It´s free, it´s constantly getting new features and it´s easy to learn.
Btw, I planned my small narrow gauge layout using SCARM.
I use the Atlas software. Then export the design and import it into Trainplayer, reconstruct it with that software and run the trains with it to test out the functionality of the design. Being able to run the trains, switch the cars, operate just like it's a real layout helps in the design process plus it is fun. You can design on Trainplayer but the turnouts are 'handmade' by the user and end up not matching commercially available turnouts. They could actually be as sharp as 90 degree right angles. Atlas software is free. Trainplayer is free 30 day trial.
j............
Milen, who is the friendly Bulgarian (?) guy behind SCARM, informed SCARM users, that his next (still free of charge) release will incorporate the functionality of being able to run a train.
Btw, the old RTS was 2-D only, the new one (SCARM) is full 3-D.
I'd like to cast a vote for Anyrail https://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html
It's free for the trial version (which is probably as much as you'll need) and is super easy to use. It also has quite a few track libraries loaded so there is no restriction to a particular track make.
And yes you'll find quite a few people here are a bit sniffy about 4x8 track plans (but generally very helpful nonetheless).
Sir Madog Milen, who is the friendly Bulgarian (?) guy behind SCARM, informed SCARM users, that his next (still free of charge) release will incorporate the functionality of being able to run a train. Btw, the old RTS was 2-D only, the new one (SCARM) is full 3-D.
Yep, that is the idea. See one sneak preview of that upcoming feature here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZz_U9d6GtI
The simulation feature will also work in 2D, but I still have a lot of things to do and code to write in order to complete it and release for public tests.
Mixy
SCARM - free and easy to use model train layout editor with 3D preview
Free track plans and railroad layout designs >> O gauge - HO scale - N scale