Anyone know which software would be the best to buy for designing layouts?
If you have a Mac, Empire Express is a simple, inexpensive 2D program. Not great by any means in terms of bells and whistles, but easy to use and fine for the basics. You can relatively easily add your own components, e.g., I added a number of Walthers/Shinohara code 83 curved turnouts based on the real things and therefore, more accurate than generic.
XtrkCad is a free download (http://www.sillub.com) and works quite well. It has all kinds of templates, but you don’t get all the fancy 3D stuff with programs that you would pay for. But if all your wanting is to design a 2D layout diagram, this program is great.
I’m kinda a cheapskate, and have used Atlas’ Right Track Software (not the latest version) with some success. However, since I’ve found out that xtracad is a free download, when I get home next week I’ll give it a try on my next layout design.
I went with 3rd PlanIt.
I use Cadrail. I’m totally satisfied with it and although it costs something, as the saying goes: “You get what you pay for”. The learning curve is a little steep, but once you get the basics down, it really has been invaluable for planning my club modules, my home layout, fitting my workshop stuff into my new home and I use it in my work designing tactical night vision devices (haha). I can also run trains on what I’m designing and get a rather crude 3D view of what I’m working on when I’m designing trackwork, benchwork or how to arrange rooms in my home.
Hope this assists you.
Bob Gilmore, Eden, UT
I’m using CADRAIL to design my layout (29’ x 22’) and find that it is great for refining and detailing trackwork. The learning curve was fairly steep as I hadn’t used CAD before although I am computer literate. Now as I’m into construction I find it great for making changes, checking grades, curves, in fact all dimensions and best of all for switching quickly between feet and inches and metric. I’ve used it to make sure everything fits as it should - that there is no “fudge” factor in maximum/minimum grades or curves. At an early stage in the planning process I found I had to flip the layout design in the room as it was the wrong way round for access to the electrical switch board - no problem, I found a function that flipped the drawing. This would have been a complete redraw on a manual plan. You can use the track libraries to make sure your choice of switches actually fit. There are plenty of features I am not using yet - but could do if I want to become a “power” user. So it does everything I want to do and much more, and I don’t begrudge the purchase price. Someone had to put a lot of time into developing and supporting this and they deserve a fair return.
What I can’t tell you is how it compares with other systems as I haven’t used them - only that I am very happy with my choice.
Bruce.
Are they giving keys again so you can activate what you have bought? U used it also and wanted to upgrade for the AS-Built drawings, that was 1 year ago.
I’ve been trying XTrkCad–I like the fact that it’s free and runs under linux (also Windows). I was able to install it under Red Hat 9 (someday I’ll get around to upgrading) without a hitch. It is more powerful than the Atlas software (Right Track?), which I also tried and found to be pretty awkward.
Beware of the learning curve–although I have considerable experience with computers (although not CAD), it’s taken me many hours (and many times through some of the demos) to learn how to get the program to draw tracks where I want them.
I use the Cadrail 8 demo. Once you figure everything out its a great tool to use. You can use templates for turnouts and sectional track and you can make your own templates so you can be sure everthing fits perfectly. The only problem in the demo is the maximum object number is 30 but there are easy ways to get around that. Plus its free so it fits my budget perfectly [:D]
Here is a link to the demo, http://sandia.stores.yahoo.net/cadrail7demo.html
[%-)] I visited the XTRKCad website today and was impressed with the presentation, but not being a computer genius I’m at a loss about attempting a downloading of XTRK Cad’s program. I’m using the Windows XP system and I recently had trouble with the Train Player-Track Layer demo program, twice locking my computer up before I could uninstall the Train Player-Track Layer demo program. I am both interested and also apprehensive. Do yo have any advice? i agree that the Atlass system is awkward to use. Thanks for any response. Bemused
I use 3rdPlanit sometimes, but I prefer Atlas RTS 5.0 if I just need the basic plan.
I designed my rather complex layout using CadRail. The technical / engineering feel to the user interface made me feel right at home (I use CATIA at work all the time, and I’m an engineer). It’s extremely accurate, but it lacks a lot of the “gee whiz!” visualization stuff (not a bad thing, for me).
[#ditto]
3rd PlanIT, been using it for over two years now, and it has a learning curve at first. Once you learn all the tricks you can draw some great plans. You can view two examples of my layout plans on my Piedmont Division URL link below my signature in this post. Both were drawn with 3rd PlanIT.
Cheers,
Ryan
Your have an internal computer problem. The programs that we are talking about are graphics intense and a MIN REQUIRMENT for each is listed. You must have a good graphics card and enough ram to run them.
Oh yea, I use 3rd planet and Autocadd.
[%-)] Thank you Claycts for yor response. Your answer is clear and concise, but that is just the rub. The first statment concerning Windows in the 800+ page operating manual for Lunix stated “first you must carry out the partitioning procedure”. program. That did it for me. And as mentioned I may not have the necessary hard dirve. Mine is listeded as i[40GB 5400rpm hard Drive}. However, I don’t believe I have internal problems as it was checked 3 weeksw ago. Also last week end RTS Version 7.0 tanked and Atlas had the free downlaid link disconnected for almost 2 days. It’s up and running now with some new improvements so i’ll stay with Atlas for now. Again thank you for your input to my question.
Bemused in Cordova, TN
You are welcome. Glad you found something. 3rd planet is a RAM HOG. You have plentry of hard drive. How much RAM? I am running 1 gig on the cad units and 2 gigs on the graphics unit (movie and photo edit)
A little computer logic. When your conputer RUNS LOW on RAM it does what is called paging (borrows space on the hardrive) this is when most high end graphics programs croak.
An EXPERT told me that the BEST Gaming computer is what is required for 3rd planet, AutoCadd and Corel. Look at the specs on One and you will see.
I’ve been using the demo for 3rd PlanIt for several years to plan many, many dreams and possibilities (sadly, school, a family, and many moves aren’t conducive to having your own layout - even a module is a stretch for now) and I really enjoy it. The learning curve was there, but not too difficult. When I finish a layout, I print it because the demo won’t let you save your work. That way I’ll have a record of my ideas for later.
I’ve also been trying the free XtrkCad (you guessed it - free is a major upside) and am slowly progressing along the learning curve. Of course, it’s a huge bonus that you can save your progress, but I find it more cumbersome to use with a little more effort to get the same results as 3rd PlanIt. And of course, it doesn’t have the 3D capabilities of 3rd PlanIt. But you can still run trains on Xtrk to figure out the operating potential for an idea.
I think for now, with a tight budget, Xtrk is the way to go. But if I was able to spend a little more and get something a little easier and a little more pleasing to the eyes, I’d spring for 3rd PlanIt.
That’s my [2c], and I hope it helps.
Product support is now very good, and very speedy. The programmer/owner of El Dorado Software, Randy Pfeiffer, is actively participating in the Yahoo discussion group 3rdPlanIt at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/3rdPlanIt/
You can read some of the posts in this group to get a feel for the current level of support, and how to work with the program. The achives of the group are public, but to post a question or a response you need to join the group, which is about as easy as joining trains.com.
You can download the free demo of the program from:
and try it out to see how it feels. I’ve been using 3rdPlanIt, and find it very useful, and easy to work with, after you practice with it for a while. This, by the way, is true of most of the track-planning programs.
-Ed
I use Empire Express on my Mac and I love it. The dimensions are right-on and the software is simple to use. Only runs on Mac (I love saying that!) so this might rule you out…