3D PlanIt

[SilverSpike]

Mangus,

Now the learning curve is quite heavy at first but if you touch the product often and just play around with it you start to pick up the tips and tricks here and there. I have started a few short tutorials on my web site for 3rd PlanIt, but need to post more.

The program also has a tutorial that is quite helpful, also the help feature will walk you through some common techniques. Again, it takes some patience and practice, but once you get the hand of it I found it worth the effort.

Cheers,

Ryan

[Lillen]

1. Yes, I use 3rd PlanIt as my only track planning software.

2. The current versions are available only from the manufacturer elDorado Software, the links have already been posted.

I purchased the product about 3 or 4 years ago and have just upgraded to the latest version 8.01 and find that it has resolved some of the bugs from earlier versions.  And it is the only track planning software that I recommend.

Thanks for the info. I apreciate it. How long did it take you to get to grips with it?

 

Magnus

[Lillen]

You're paying for the developer's time and investment in creating the software, not for a "serial code". Whether you get a paper manual and a physical CD is not significant. I don't get your point at all.

So many people nowadays steal material and place it on the web for free (music, videos, etc.), I guess that we now expect we should be able to get anyone's intellectual property for free just because we don't want to pay for it.

Suit yourself. Just don't begrudge an independent software developer a right to try to make a living.

 

You can try 3rd PlanIt for free.
http://www.eldoradosoft.com/download.htm

You can try it, then decide if it is worth it. Anyway, weren't you the person planning to rent the house next door to build a model railroad? How expensive will that be?

3rd PlanIt is not easy-to-use by any means. It does a number of subtle things better than XtrakCAD, in my view, or I would be using XtrakCAD. But if XtrakCAD does all you want, stick with it.

 

Ok,

 

First, i know that I pay for the work that went behind the software and not the code in it self. It's just that a lot of companies now days offer a lesser price for downloads. Which I think is reasonable. I do not personally think that 150 dollars is worth it for a download with a proper actual manual in the real world. Now that is how I feel. For me, a CD with a printed manual ads value, that you do not understand it doesn't change that fact for me.

I do not support piracy and just because I not share your opinion about this programs price tag doesn't mean that I do. Where have I begrudged the developers right to make a living. As far as I know I live in a free market system that allows me to find the items at price that I'm willing to pay. I have not complained about them or anyone else using their products. That I think it's to expensive doesn't mean that I do not think it's their right to charge what ever price they want. I just won't buy it.

 

If you had read my post instead of just reacting to it you would have been able to figure out that I had already downloaded the demo.

 

And no, I'm not the guy trying to rent a house, I'm the guy trying to buy the house next to me. Yes that will cost me but that doesn't mean that blowing 150 dollars on something makes that a good deal. Let me worry about how I spend my money.

 

For me, ease to use is more important then graphics.

 

 

And you are absolutely right, Joe do not advocate using it alone, he advocates using it with an other program, such as 3rd Rail which is why I'm interested in it.

 

Listen, I do not want to get in to an argument over this. I'm sure you are right that it is an excellent program when you learn how to use it. But for me, at this point it's not worth it, which doesn't mean that I support piracy.

Magnus

 

 

[SilverSpike]

Anyone here using 3D PlanIt?

 

It looks nice but rather expensive. Can you get it from somewhere else but the manufacturer?

 

Magnus

1. Yes, I use 3rd PlanIt as my only track planning software.

2. The current versions are available only from the manufacturer elDorado Software, the links have already been posted.

I purchased the product about 3 or 4 years ago and have just upgraded to the latest version 8.01 and find that it has resolved some of the bugs from earlier versions.  And it is the only track planning software that I recommend.

 

[cuyama]

That's why I asked if it was available anywhere else, for example a place like Amazon could have it and sell it at considerable discount. I think 150 is to much when that do not even give me a CD and a manual in physical world. I might pay that for an actual copy, not for a serial code which is all that I'm missing since downloading the demo. You get my point?

You're paying for the developer's time and investment in creating the software, not for a "serial code". Whether you get a paper manual and a physical CD is not significant. I don't get your point at all.

So many people nowadays steal material and place it on the web for free (music, videos, etc.), I guess that we now expect we should be able to get anyone's intellectual property for free just because we don't want to pay for it.

Now, I do believe you are very right in your statement that it's not a huge cost in comparison to the cost of a layout. But it is still 150 dollars and Xtracad can supply the basic functions that I need.

Still I am tempted by 3D planit due to it's nicer graphics, but for me, that advantage do not translate into 150 dollars. As you say, we are selectively cheap, I rather buy a another engine that I don't need or will use.

Suit yourself. Just don't begrudge an independent software developer a right to try to make a living.

But there seems to be some people, I have read about several, who have chosen Xtracad over 3D planit despite having both so I guess the door swings both ways. But, yes, if both where free I would probably try 3D Planit due to it's better graphics.

You can try 3rd PlanIt for free.
http://www.eldoradosoft.com/download.htm

You can try it, then decide if it is worth it. Anyway, weren't you the person planning to rent the house next door to build a model railroad? How expensive will that be?

3rd PlanIt is not easy-to-use by any means. It does a number of subtle things better than XtrakCAD, in my view, or I would be using XtrakCAD. But if XtrakCAD does all you want, stick with it.

Why are Trainz so unsuitable? Joe Fugate recommends it and so did MRR planning 2007. I would be interested to know why you think it's bad?

It's not a bad video game, but it's not a design tool in the real world. It doesn't take into account any physical paramaters like radius, easements, turnout number or dimensions, track-to-track spacing, room size, etc. I'm pretty sure that Jim Richards' article in MRP you mentioned described using Trainz to simulate a layout designed by other means, not as a layout design tool in the physical world.

I'd be very surprised if Joe is recommending Trainz as the sole layout design tool for a physical layout, but I could be wrong.

Byron
Model RR Blog

[Lillen]

I may be wrong, but thought that MR recommended it to test the operation of your layout rather than to use the program to design it.

 

Yes, not as a substitute but to try things out. I was planning to use Xtracad and then test in Trainz to see if it works.

 

Magnus

[SpaceMouse]

I may be wrong, but thought that MR recommended it to test the operation of your layout rather than to use the program to design it.

[Lillen]

Sometimes people get confused between cost and value. 3rd PlanIt is far from perfect, but I think there are good reasons that many prefer it over "free" XtraCAD. And if you don't want to pay anything, why are you asking about a commercial product anyway?

 

I never said I wouldn't want to pay anything!

 

There is huge difference between not wanting to buy something for 150$ rather then not paying say 75$. That's why I asked if it was available anywhere else, for example a place like Amazon could have it and sell it at considerable discount. I think 150 is to much when that do not even give me a CD and a manual in physical world. I might pay that for an actual copy, not for a serial code which is all that I'm missing since downloading the demo. You get my point?

 

Now, I do believe you are very right in your statement that it's not a huge cost in comparison to the cost of a layout. But it is still 150 dollars and Xtracad can supply the basic functions that I need. Still I am tempted by 3D planit due to it's nicer graphics, but for me, that advantage do not translate into 150 dollars. As you say, we are selectively cheap, I rather buy a another engine that I don't need or will use.

 

But there seems to be some people, I have read about several, who have chosen Xtracad over 3D planit despite having both so I guess the door swings both ways. But, yes, if both where free I would probably try 3D Planit due to it's better graphics.

 

Why are Trainz so unsuitable? Joe Fugate recommends it and so did MRR planning 2007. I would be interested to know why you think it's bad?

 Magnus

 

[BlueHillsCPR]

Have anyone of you used Trainz to build layouts? I've ordered it today since it was very cheap and is keen to see if it's good as a planning tool.

Magnus

Magnus,

I have used trainz extensively in the past when I did not have a space for a layout.  My opinion is that Trainz is a model railroad simulator.  It has what I think are decent abilities when it comes to scenery but I would not consider it as a track planning tool really.  It's more of a game than a track planning CAD program.  I have been working with XTrkCAD and like it. Just my

[cuyama]

I use Xtracad and I'm learning it as I go along. I can do most basic things now but I'm learning. I'm not prepared to pay 150 bucks or something for a download from the Internet when I got Xtracad.

Have anyone of you used Trainz to build layouts? I've ordered it today since it was very cheap and is keen to see if it's good as a planning tool.

Sometimes people get confused between cost and value. 3rd PlanIt is far from perfect, but I think there are good reasons that many prefer it over "free" XtraCAD. And if you don't want to pay anything, why are you asking about a commercial product anyway?

The major cost for any CAD system is the time spent learning it, not the purchase price. When one considers all the other costs in model railroading, a hundred bucks or so is a pretty small price to pay for a tool. I guess we are all "selectively cheap".

In my opinion, Trainz is wholly unsuited to designing a railroad that one is actually planning to build.

Regards,

Byron
Model RR Blog

[jktrains]

Contrary to SpaceMouse, I find it very easy to use.  Everything is laid out using a X,Y,Z cordinate grid system. It's a simple question of understanding some coordinate plane mathematics and geometry.

If I want a length of track to be, for ease of discussion, 100" long.  I draw a track line from my start point 100" long in the direction I want it to go.  If my beginning point is X=0, then I know my end point is X=100.  If i want to make it a 2% grade all I need to do is change the Z coordinate of the end point to be 2" higher than the Z coordinate of the beginning point and I'll have a 2% grade.  it is actually very easy to do and the manual is very well written with numerous tutorials to explain how to draw anything.

[Lillen]

I used it for over a year and it drove me nuts. I did get used to it, but some things bothered me right up to the end. At that time, if someone would have asked I would have said, "You can do some prettty cool things with it, but it's not intuitive."

I had "graduated" to 3rd PlanIt from XtrkCAD and so I knew that program. I offered to help someone with a layout design and they sent me their XtrkCAD file. When I started working on his file, I was amazed at how easy everything was.

I have not used 3rd PlanIt since.  

 

I use Xtracad and I'm learning it as I go along. I can do most basic things now but I'm learning. I'm not prepared to pay 150 bucks or something for a download from the Internet when I got Xtracad.

 

Have anyone of you used Trainz to build layouts? I've ordered it today since it was very cheap and is keen to see if it's good as a planning tool.

 

Magnus

[SpaceMouse]

I used it for over a year and it drove me nuts. I did get used to it, but some things bothered me right up to the end. At that time, if someone would have asked I would have said, "You can do some prettty cool things with it, but it's not intuitive."

I had "graduated" to 3rd PlanIt from XtrkCAD and so I knew that program. I offered to help someone with a layout design and they sent me their XtrkCAD file. When I started working on his file, I was amazed at how easy everything was.

I have not used 3rd PlanIt since.  

[jktrains]

I use it.  Its a nice program, a bit of a learning curve, but once you understand how it works its relatively easy to use.  I'm not aware of any other sellers besides the manufacturer.

[Lillen]

Anyone here using 3D PlanIt?

 

It looks nice but rather expensive. Can you get it from somewhere else but the manufacturer?

 

Magnus