Cadd drawings for a model railroads are GREAT the problem is it is to easy to get in BIG trouble. Aisle WIDTH and Access Hatches. The books warn you but with Cadd the operator is the book. 24" MINIMUM Aisle width, 30" MAXIMUM REACH. This is a reminder that no matter how nice on Cadd the real world is where it is built. I used a carboard mock-up and found the problems before making sawdust.
If this keeps one person from wasting as much time as I did it is a worth the time to type.
George P.[:I]
George,
Thanks for the warning.
I’m using a computer program to help design my layout. There have been instances where I designed a nice looking section only to learn that it is much more than 30" deep. Back to the ol’ drawing board. [sigh]
I know I will have to have some sections that are about 34-36" deep to allow for reversing loops (with 15" radius curves in N-scale). I just have to figure out how to deal with them. I’m not really keen on pop-ups. [:(]
Since you are using 3rd PlanIt, have you checked out www.3pi.info? In one of the file sections they have people objects you can add to your libraries and stick an actual person-size object in your drawings to check clearances. Or just draw some circles as big around as you are and drag them around to see if they fit.
–Randy
I am now 60 and am forming new rules not considered earlier in life:
- No duckunders period! I’ll quit the hobby rather than have another one.
- Aisles as wide as possible. Eight feet should be the norm. Bellies increase with age.
- No superdetailed anything. Vision goes down exponentially. If it runs it is OK with me.
- No gotta have it today. I may not be the first to have sonthing but I bet I paid less for it.
I layed out the plan full size on the floor with blue masking tape. Avoided lots of problems.
So there is one problem that both CAD and the old fashion pencil and paper system (version 11.3) have. lol. The more things change the more things stay the same!
THAT BIG OF A CIRCLE! WOW [:D][:D][:D] I used an Autocadd guy but he was on a DIET!
Randy,
Funny, it seems that as I get older aisles get narrower. Kinda like the cleaners seem to constantly be shrinking my clothes (funny how the length doesn’t shrink - just the waist).
Of course if using your method shows the aisle is too narrow - just pull the tape a little tighter when measuring yourself. Can’t be any worse than “Yeah, my minimum radius won’t quite fit there - but if I just tweak it in - just a bit . . . . . .”
HINT: Don’t breath deeply; take shallower breaths. That way you gain anywhere from 1/4 to a full inch. [swg]
There is a VERY OLD Cadd Trick I will translate to Railroad Terms. Use “N” Scale Buildings on an “HO” scale layout and guess what ALL THE TOWNS NOW FIT!!
The sayings was 1/8" furniture always fits in a 1/4" house with plenty of space![:D][:D]
Or think, “Hey, if I go on a diet, I can add a penninsula here”
Randy, thanks for the link to 3rd planet. the had a Cab Forward which allowed me to see the boiler overhang on the turns. Can you say 36" min!
Thanks!!