3rd Planit - Cadrail, Etc... ?

[SpaceMouse]

I run XtraCAD on XP...

A note on upgrading. I run 5 Pentium II 400's on a Pentium II 450 server with Netware 5,  Windows 98 SE on the workstations. They are just as fast on the processing--scanners bring up products from a database of 42,000 faster than you can look from the UC code to the screen. All the computers were built by me between 1995-1998. I think upgrading is over-rated.

[grayfox1119]

I noticed that XtraCAD is spec'd for Win98, Win Me, I didn't see any mention of Xp or the new Vista OS which I have. I need to check on CADRail 8 to see if it will run on Vista. Microsoft no longer supports Windows 98 or Windows Me, so sooner or later people are going to have to upgrade anyways.

[accord1959]

Thanks again Chip, I was able to download XtraCAD at the site below from your previous post.

http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?27000000038012

Jerry

[CSXFan]

 

I use Cadrail 8. I started out with the Atlas software, but like Chip I found it limiting and awkward. I found a site where you could download a free demo of Cadrail 8 and never looked back.

(http://sandia.stores.yahoo.net/cadrail7demo.html)

Since I was designing a rather small layout, I didn't need to buy the actual product. Because it is a demo, there are some limiting and annoying things about it. For example, you can only create 30 objects but there are ways around this. If I had to design a layout again I would definitely spend the $60 for the full program. I thought Cadrail was very easy to learn, and because it is a CAD program you can be very precise with your track plan or scratch building project. There is a 3-D function, but I've never really needed or used it. I hope this helps!

 

[SpaceMouse]

Chip,

I can't seem to find a site to download XtraCAD. Do you know a current location for download the Windows version of it? The Sillub site links no longer apply.

Thanks.

This is an international sit. I haven't checked it out.

http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?27000000038012" target="_blank" title="http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?27000000038012">http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?27000000038012

The main place it is available is through the Yahoo users group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/" target="_blank" title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/

 

 

[WickhamMan]

Chip,

I can't seem to find a site to download XtraCAD. Do you know a current location for download the Windows version of it? The Sillub site links no longer apply.

Thanks.

[accord1959]

Thanks Chip,

That is exactly the kind of info that I needed, I was considering 3rd Planit but the cost is what made me decide to ask questions first. You say XtraCAD is free, I will download the program and get started with the tutorial.

Thanks again for this very insiteful information.

Jerry

[SpaceMouse]

Can anyone tell me from experience which of the available computer assisted design software for model railroading is the best buy, and why? I'm looking to buy software and would appriciate any help you can give me.

Thanks 

I have not tried CADrail, but of the other three I own, Atlas RR, XtraCAD, and 3rd PlanIt, I am now using XtraCAD,

I started with Atlas RR (free) and found it easy to learn, but clunky and since it limits you to Atlas track, restrictive. I designed a few layouts with it and when I decided to build found that the 4 x 8 I designed needed a 4.5 x 8 to work and hand to rebuild my benchwork.

I then went to XtraCAD (free) and after taking the 4-hour tutorial found it both easy and intuitive.

I like the idea of 3-D rendering and after asking a question like you are doing I paid $109 for 3rd PlanIt. It also has a 3-4 hour tutorial. However, this program I found to have a steep learning curve and is to put it bluntly, highly counter-intuitive. Since I paid for it, I kept working with it for over a year fighting with it the whole time. Then when helping some one with a layout design, I tried XtraCAD again and was amazed. 

Things that took quite a few minutes to do in 3rd PlanIt, like building a yard, I can do in 20-30 seconds. But the basic stuff, like setting turnouts and joining track is so easy...

I basically, scrapped the $100 product, 3rd PlanIt and have returned to XtraCAD. The only thing it I miss is the 3d rendering, but everything else is so much more efficient with XtraCAD, that I'll do without.

[accord1959]

Can anyone tell me from experience which of the available computer assisted design software for model railroading is the best buy, and why? I'm looking to buy software and would appriciate any help you can give me.

Thanks