I downloaded the Atlas track planning program last night and was playing around with it for a pretty good amount of time. I didnt find it very easy at all. Is there another one out there that might be a little easier. I’m not a computer cad wiz so maybe it was just me but some things on it were easy but i found the tutorial part to be to vague. I could never see the L shape layout that i was trying to configure. Laying track was easy but i couldnt see were it would be in the layout plan i wanted. Any help or comments are appreciated.
There are several places on the web that used the Atlas RTS software to create layouts. I have a collection of a few that I discoveres, and a few that I created using this software.
As with any software, the best way to become proficient is to use it. Learn by making misteaks… If you’d like I can send you the groups of layouts that I have accumulated.
If you’re interested, send me an email and I’ll send off the zip file.
Drawing the edges of the bench work was the last thing I managed to do with the Atlas program and the first I learned with XtrkCad. My advice is to download XtrkCad, register it, watch the tutorials and invest your time in learning it. It is a much more powerful program.
I will confess that a month ago I had given up on XtrkCad as being imposable to use but after a little encouragement here I am doing very well with it.
I agree with Bukwrm. XtrkCad is the way to go. It’s free. Be aware that learning any of the layout programs is not trivial. It will require reading the tutorial, spending time experimenting, and referring to help files as you go. But once you “get it” it’s a magnificent tool. Worth the effort!