Sure it just doesn't run? I could swear I've installed RTS since I've been running Win 7 (and always 64 bit, I never install Win 7 on any of my machines usign ther 32 bit version) and it just worked, without resorting to the XP VM compatibility mode.
As a matter of fact, just did a search to find a copy to download, and installed version 10 on my Win 7 64-bit laptop and it works fine, simply installed like any other app, no comptobility mode or VM.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I don't have a Staples near by, however I found Office Max in Bemidji, MN has a 22.5 X 17 inch graph paper tablet. Cost me $22.00 and not $7.00, however; but, this size will work for my needs.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
richhotrain BATMAN If you do go the pencil paper route, I bought this pad of giant graph paper at Staples for $7.00. On this drawing each square represents 1 foot. In my down time at work I would roughly draw things out on a small peace of graph paper on a clip board and move it on to this big one later. Please ignor the layout drawing in this photo as it is nothing like the one I ended up with. I had put in everything I wanted and then brought out the eraser when reality set in. I like designing houses with a CAD program and think they are great, however for some reason and I don't know why, I still like pencil and paper for designing layouts. Brent, thanks for the heads-up on that oversized pad of graph paper. I am gonna head over to my local Staples to pick up a pad. Rich
BATMAN If you do go the pencil paper route, I bought this pad of giant graph paper at Staples for $7.00. On this drawing each square represents 1 foot. In my down time at work I would roughly draw things out on a small peace of graph paper on a clip board and move it on to this big one later. Please ignor the layout drawing in this photo as it is nothing like the one I ended up with. I had put in everything I wanted and then brought out the eraser when reality set in. I like designing houses with a CAD program and think they are great, however for some reason and I don't know why, I still like pencil and paper for designing layouts.
If you do go the pencil paper route, I bought this pad of giant graph paper at Staples for $7.00. On this drawing each square represents 1 foot. In my down time at work I would roughly draw things out on a small peace of graph paper on a clip board and move it on to this big one later.
Please ignor the layout drawing in this photo as it is nothing like the one I ended up with. I had put in everything I wanted and then brought out the eraser when reality set in.
I like designing houses with a CAD program and think they are great, however for some reason and I don't know why, I still like pencil and paper for designing layouts.
Brent, thanks for the heads-up on that oversized pad of graph paper. I am gonna head over to my local Staples to pick up a pad.
Rich
Typical.
I think Staples is going the way of the LHS.
So, I will stick with my pad of one quarter inch squares.
Even with the larger pads of 1 inch squares, I still need to tape pieces together to achieve the size of my intended layout. And the smaller squares give you a better opportunity to correctly and accurate place turnout, structures, etc.
Alton Junction
richhotrain I went over to my local Staples to pick up a pad, but there were out of stock. Typical. I think Staples is going the way of the LHS. So, I will stick with my pad of one quarter inch squares. Even with the larger pads of 1 inch squares, I still need to tape pieces together to achieve the size of my intended layout. And the smaller squares give you a better opportunity to correctly and accurate place turnout, structures, etc. Rich
I went over to my local Staples to pick up a pad, but there were out of stock.
Rich, The pad I bought at Office Max has grids on the 1/4 inch and highlighted grids on the inch. However, even with this larger graph paper, I will also need to tape pieces together to get the full length I need.
Just to clarify a small point, my CAD program (3rdPlanIt) has grids on it as well. The program has main grid lines which are slightly bolder, and secondary grid lines which are a bit thinner. I use a 1' main and a 4" sub grid but you can set them up however you want, or turn them off.
There are some other things that are very helpful. As has already been mentioned, the ability to set up layers allows me to zero in on any specific details. I have about 35 layers in my plan so I can see things separately like the main line, secondary track, roads, structures, benchwork, room shape, buses.... you name it. When you put them all together (or however many layers you want to see at the same time) the layers can be shown in different colours so you can tell still things apart.
The program also has XYZ axis with scales so I can see exactly where a specific item starts and stops. For example, in 3D I can see how high my mountains will look.
To some that seems like overkill which it may be. However I can justify using CAD in two simple ways:
First, I can't remember how many potential problems the program has drawn to my attention. For example, when I build my bench work I am fairly sure that I won't be blocking track access to the lower level staging. No cutting and chopping to get a train through. I have a bit of a hard time envisaging things in three dimensions. CAD has helped me enourmously in that regard.
Second, CAD is fun! I have spent many hours playing with design options. I didn't have layout space available so I wasn't avoiding doing the actual work.
Please don't get me wrong. I admire those who can draw a plan on paper and make it work. CAD just works better for me personally.
NP2626:
Sorry, I hijacked your thread a bit.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I started this thread thinking it might be fun to mess with CAD. I have messed with AutoCAD when I was working; but, never got very far with it.
Computer stuff is maybe easier for you younger guys and at one time 25 years ago when I first started with computers software seemed far more intuitive (easier to learn) than it is now. It certainly may be my age, don't know. I simply find it easier to use what I know. For me, it is more fun, too!
hon30critter Second, CAD is fun! I have spent many hours playing with design options. I didn't have layout space available so I wasn't avoiding doing the actual work. Please don't get me wrong. I admire those who can draw a plan on paper and make it work. CAD just works better for me personally. Dave
Have you seen any of my track plans I've posted? Those are all 3rd Planit. For more finished ones - most of the ones Byron Henderon posts are also drawn with 3rd Planit.
I've never gone so far as to finish the scenery (except for that oen example I posted about doing the main line crossing ove rmy branch line) in CAD, but I do finish the plans. My older ones are on my web site.
3rd Planit lets you set up the room space with grids in feet and inches (or meters for those metrically inclined) or in Armstrong Squares. Or no grid at all, although I very moch prefer having the grid lines visible as a guide to placing tracks, especially along fixed room boundaries.
Rich:
Took me a while to figure out how to do it but here are a few screen shots of my 3rdPlanIt track plans.
The first is showing all the components of the plan except for the staging area:
I can't seem to copy the layer menu but here is a partial list of what the colours represent:
Blue track - main line
Grey track - secondary track
Green track - arrival/departure track
Pink track - drill track
Red track - caboose track and program track
Brown track - HOn30 mine track
Red structure outlines - structures that I have acquired
Purple structure outlines - structures to be acquired
Brown circles - tall yard lights
Green circles - short wood pole yard lights
Grey circles - metal street lights
Green lines - these simply show dimensions from one point to another point. I use them for checking things like reach in distances, aisle width...whatever
Red numbers - rather then type in descriptions for all of the structures I have just numbered each of the structures. I have a listing (done in pencil by the way) of what all the buildings are and what stage they are at in construction
Black numbers - control panels. I have a diagram for each control panel:
Here is a view of the staging track only:
Here is a 3D view with trees added in to give an idea of the topography:
I hope that gives you a bit of an idea of what the CAD program can do.
Dave, thanks for posting those track diagrams. Great stuff, I appreciate it.
I have only touched the surface of what 3rdPlanIt is capable of in 3D. I have experimented with the topography design elements but I didn't go into a lot of depth and, to be honest, I got a bit bogged down trying to create visible mountains. I decided that showing the trees at various elevations was adequate for my purposes, but the program is capable of much, much more.
Also, because of some recent revisions, I haven't gotten around to properly connecting all of the roads and the track in the helises yet.
Here's some more from my old layout - I even drew out the benchwork
ANd when built it looked like this:
I don;t have any overall view of the benchwork after the foam was glued on. But you can get some idea of what you cna do here.