Well, the backdrop is basically done, sky is done, clouds have been added. Foam has been almost totally installed. Now comes the challenge of moving the track plan from paper to reality. The military says, "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy." The model railroad version seems to be "No track plan survives contact with the benchwork." Anyone have a great idea how to make templates for drawing full size large radius curves? I need to draw 22" radius curves, where the center point of the curve is off in the middle of the aisle. This means the yardstick compass won't work. I don't have a jig saw, so making one from masonite is not a real option, unless I borrow one. Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
Hi Jeff, What I did was download the free track planning software from Atlas along with the code 55 track library. This library will give you the curves with the larger radius. After I FINALLY came up with an acceptable plan, I printed it at a 1:1 ratio. Then I laid it out in the board and was able to draw it out on the foam with no problem. Now I have to lay the roadbed but the template is right there on the table. (does this make sense?) Hope this helps, John
Get some posterboard and draw your radius on that. This way you can draw it anywhere, cut it out, then trace your line onto the benchwork. Just did it on the NEB&W for the same reason.
I cut my radius out of cardboard, half a circle. The edges aren't as smooth as you would like when you draw it on with a pencil, but it doesn't matter because when you lay your roadbed, the roadbed will be proper. I have made a couple of different radius, I am lazy so I use an 18 inch radius as a transition curve into the 16 I am using for the mainline. I also have some smaller radius for yards, etc. I am drawing my plan directly onto my bench top material, and forgetting the paper rough plan.
