Software or Hand drawn

Hi folks anybody use this RTS7 software from Atlas doesn't seem to have a tutorial so I'm trying to figure it out. I am trying to do an N scale layout L shape 5x2 am I better to do it by hand and if so what drawing tools do I need I'm new @ this so any help is appreciated.:tb-err:

 

I use it and I'm totally new to the hobby. I understand your frustration. It took me the better part of a day to figure out how this somewhat counterintuitive piece of software works. After fiddling with it off and on for a couple of weeks, I can now do simple layouts such as this 5x3 layout in about ten minutes. I still don't know how to do elevations, scenery, etc. in it. But I'm beginning to like the program.

If you go to the Help menu at the top, there's an HO tutorial in there that's not great, but does give you just enough info to get started. You can also hover the cursor over each button and text will pop up telling you what the button does.

 

I use CAD software in my daily work-a-day world and I have no problem picking up new programs in a short time, but I am a firm believer in the power of sketching ideas out when it seems like the technology is getting in the way.

In fact, that's how I do a lot of my thinking, and then I use a computer rail CAD program (in my case, RailModeller on my Mac) to lay it out and make sure that I haven't been "cheating" on turning radiuses or turnout lengths and that sort of thing. Since I am basically a "flextrack with turnouts" modeler, I don't really get wrapped up with what sectional track will fit where.

There's a certain amount of unreality that works its way even through the best laid computer plan, and you'll end up doing some adjustment once you start laying out actual track, too.

I say do what works out best for you.

 

I use MS Paint but it has taken years to get as good as I am with it and even then it is not to scale. The lack of scale is not as important because I use Kato track and have a good feal for hot it fits.

Generic steps:
Design your table space
Put your curves in
Connect the curves with straights
Put your yard in
Place your industries.

Rule number one:
Have Fun.

 

I've used the Atlas software and not been happy with it. Sometimes it won't let me (or I don't know how to make it) do things I know are possible. I tend to lean towards hand drawn, but you have the "fudge factor" to account for and sometimes what you draw doesn't work in real life. I recently drew my switching layout on brown butcher paper because it was 2 1/2 feet wide (what my layout will be) and I just cut it to length and went to town. I used a yardstick from Home Depot since it's about as wide as track on roadbed and got a left and right switch out and traced them where I needed. Seeing things in real size and not graph paper made a difference and I've refined my plan to one that will work. I also used the Walthers website for building footprint size and drew it accordingly on my paper.
I actually think I might try CadRail and there is a free discussion about how to use it in a week or two at the library put on by one of the local clubs I may attend. I think it would be cool to hae a three dimensional rendering of your layout for a webpage or whatever.

 

RTS isn't always the friendliest program, but it will give you accurate results for what will work and what will fit in a given space. I find it easiest to design with the standard track pieces instead of the flex track. Learning the keyboard shortcuts helps too.

Peter

 

My wisdom gained the hard way-

It is easier to learn than XTrack Cad or the other one out there that actually costs money.

Get your thought down with pencil and paper and then use the program to make sure that what you have in mind will comfortably fit in the space you have for the layout.

Think twice or three times about making your curves too tight. There are certain trains (and longer passenger cars) that will not do well on 9 3/4" radius turns.

 

Railmodeller is a great piece of software. Mac only.

 

I generally sketch out rough ideas, then go to an architectural program to really figure things out. Because my layout is on three levels, a powerful CAD program helps me figure out the geometry. There's a lot of hidden information in the following illustration that automatically calculates path lengths and grades:



Sure, it's pretty, because I'm also a graphic artist. But all the calculations are there to go from level to level. If I could have built the layout as accurately as the calcs, I would have been far better off!