Does anyone know of a easy design software.
I do not want to spend hours learning.
I just want to design a model railroad.
I use a scale ruler, compass, triangle, T-square, and pencil (and of course a BIG eraser). It couldn’t be simpler than that.
I aplaud your thoughts, my choice of tools also…
If you have a Mac, try Empire Express from Haddon Software. It is easy to learn and operate and is inexpensive. (No, I am not a sales rep!)
Dante
http://www.layoutvision.com/id40.html
Smile,
Stein
I used RTS, which is free, and downloadable from atlasrr.com. Although it is limited to 24" radius curves (which is the maximum in Atlas’ library, the flextrack tool is easy enough to use to create turns of wide radii).
Doesn’t get any easier than this.
http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html
There’s a free trial download. It’s well worth the money. Virtually no learning curve.
I made this with either Open Office or Microsoft Excel.
Not optimal, but you probably already know how to use a spreadsheet program.
Just make the cells square and use that as your 3" 6" or 12" grid.
I would second the AnyRail vote. Learning curve is pretty short.
Jeff
I’ll third the Anyrail recommendation. I have been using it for about 6 months now, after trying other planning programs, CAD programs, and freehanding in PowerPoint… I had no learning curve whatsoever, although I was familiar with the general conventions of track planning software and presentation graphics. If you’re less computer savvy, it may take a little more doing, but it’s incredibly easy. Maybe if I were MORE computer savvy, I wouldn’t mind CAD programs, but the two I tried I couldn’t even get basic track laid after spending an hour with the tutorial.
Along the same lines, is there a good software package that provides an injoyable operating experience? I assume as part of the design package. Or are those available less than enjoyable to spend time with?
Hmmm - interesting. OP in thread is a new poster, registered on the 25 of March, posted 5 posts, of which three apparently already been removed - at least they doesn’t show up on a search of posts from the poster.
Grin,
Stein
Trainplayer is a terrific little program, which allows you to simulate model railroading, and the paid version includes hundreds of pre-made layouts (although most with simplistic, sepia toned grapics). You can also purchase the Tracklayer module, which allows you to create your own layouts and use them. You can download any track plan from the MR library and set it up to work with Trainplayer.
Oh, ready for another shameless plug? You can create layouts in Anyrail and export them to Trainplayer… thus allowing you to operate your future layout. Doesn’t get any better than that!.
Click here to go to the Trainplayer Website.
I own AnyRail (I agree - great layout program!) and was thinking of getting Trainplayer, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with which layout “running” program might be the best. IIRC, 3rd PlanIt, XtrkCAD, and CADRail all now also let you run the layouts which have been designed. For me it probably makes sense to go with Trainplayer, but I’m still curious about how each of these works running trains.
Well, “best” is a very subjective term. I’ve never been able to get a complete layout done in any of the CAD programs, so I can’t speak for their “operating” capabilities. I guess I’m too impatient to invest the hundreds of hours necessary.
It really depends on what you want. If you have a high end, graphics powerhouse computer, you might enjoy running one of the CAD versions. Personally, I like the simplicity of Trainplayer’s overhead view and ease of operation. If I’m going to spend hours playing with trains, I’ll use my models.
And Your point is ?[:o)]
New poster posting in a concentrated burst with a large percentage of missing posts, and who hasn’t logged in since could indicate a troll - someone who comes in to deliberately cause strife, sometimes by posing as a new user, and gets locked out fairly quickly.
But I see now that the OP has logged on again after my last post in this thread, so he or she is probably a bona fide new poster, who just got three of his/her five posts deleted by replying to some thread that was deleted for other reasons.
What strife, I hear you ask? Discussions about what is the best/easiest track planning program are like most discussions about which program or operating system is the best - the answer tend to depend on which program the person answering is currently using - few people would want to admit to having chosen a program that is not the best [:)]
IMO, the most important question when designing a track plan is not what program you use, or how many minutes or hours you will need to spend on mastering the program interface. GUI’s are different, functionality is different - different people like different things.
How many hours you spend on learning to use a computer program is in any case a tiny expenditure of time relative to what is important - how many weeks or months you are willing to spend on learning more about the actual process of layout design.
Track planning software will not necessarily help you design a good layout/track plan if you are not willing
Stein – you’re right on the money, which is why I preach the virtues of Anyrail – it lets you play with a lot of designs quickly. These programs (especially the easy to use ones) DO allow you to put together either a number of completely different designs quickly, or one design that can be repeatedly modified. I guess a good way to look at it is that the user doesn’t spend hundreds of hours learning software and hundreds more designing the perfect virtual layout.
I think, though, that newbies tend to be just a little bit optimistic about what they can accomplish and realistically achieve. Too many of them make the mistake of biting off WAY more than they can chew in the beginning. Rather than gradually learning the hobby and various techniques, they see how much real estate they have and then try to recreate the Gorre & Daphetid. Most of them get frustrated and quit, or spend more time on the boards seeking help than they do actually modelling.
When I got back into the hobby 10 years ago, I put together a small 4x8 to get my feet wet, understand
Stein, thanks for the comment link,makes sense to Me. I had a thread on here a while back asking about TP programs & after I’d studied the various ones available I decided to stay with the pencil & paper method. Not the modern way of planning, but it’s more comfortable & it IS hard to teach an old dog new tricks, besides without the learning curve, I’m less likely to get bent out of shape .I’d say a younger computer savvy Person,would really enjoy these programs. R