Since I have changed employers, I'm going to be home at lot more. Not much over night travel. The INDIANA RAILWAY has been TRASHED. Am starting out with a open layout room. This will be a CLEAN SLATE rebuild. Now the FUN starts! Am looking at layout planing software and wondering what all programs are out there. 3rd Planit, XTrackCAD, Anyrail ( am currently trying out), and other programs. Am wanting a SIMPLE program, that will guide me, but will be adaptable to my room space. Some of these programs have a steep leaning curve, and I want to get on with designing, not spending the next six month learning a program. COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS ANYBODY?
Hmmm ... can't be much help to you here, Porky. I'm still doing everything 'old-school'. Learning software programs is too difficult for me at my age! hboy: Good luck with your endeavor though.
"Real" CAD Package I use a free program called DoubleCAD. It's not a model railroad CAD package, but is similar to AutoCAD. It's probably not what you want, but I've been working as an engineer (mechanical, not a train driver) for nearly 20 years and don't much like the model railroad CAD systems. They won't let me do things the way I want to. Tim Rumph
Anyrail has a good learning curve and provides excellent rendering of just about every track out there. includes many structures. constructs grades. can export as graphic file. can be used in TrainPlayer. much easier than any CAD. much more accurate than some of the cheaper ones. I would not design without it! respectfully Gary
I was just the opposite. But what really helped me with SCARM was the video tutorials on youtube for it. Here is the 1st in 7 or 8 quick ( less than 10 mins each ) lessons that will get you up and running SCARM pretty quick: http://youtu.be/avyh4bRntfQ
Hi Mark - Like SCARM, XTrackCAD has the advantage of being free, so you can try it without investing anything but your time. The up-front learning curve is challenging, but the built-in demos and the tutorials on the XTrackCAD web site were all I needed to get going with the program. Like any software, once you grasp a few basic concepts, you are off and running. XTrackCAD is very accurate. I printed my track plan full size, and used the printout to transfer my track plan to the layout. Everything lined up exactly as designed. That was impressive. Track libraries for many brands of track are included, and being open source, new track pieces can be added to the program by anyone with sufficient skills. You can run trains on the track plans you create on screen. There is no 3D rendering, about the only feature that's missing. - Jeff
I use 3D Railroad Concept and Design. http://www.theliquidateher.com/3drrconceptanddesign-windows.html Tasks are mostly done with the mouse with elevations, grades, radius being set with simple entry. I am not technically trained and found it easy to learn and use. I ventured into the 3D part of the program a little, but found it of little use to me. Its just eye candy and does little for me. I found all the free programs very frustrating, but it may be because of my experience with 3D RR C&D. 3D has no support that I know of and there have been few updates, but I still use it and like it. I can build custom turnouts if needed which is handy. I am sure I could build structures too but I have not tried it. Another option is to find a friend who already has the skill with a program and hash out the plan together. I bet there are some here who may be interested.
I'm 65 and I've been using Cadrail for about 15 years. Does everything I need it to do and more. I also use it to design my benchwork, and while I was designing weapons-mountable NVD's and scope cams, I did my CAD work using Cadrail. I know some modelers who I highly respect who swear by Anyrail and if you're looking for a powerful program both of these will work great for you. However, you gotta pay for 'em, but...in my estimation they're worth it. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
