Hi guys, Randy got me excited about a 8 x 12 around the center layout. It is two feet all around those dimensions. I have modified as I want some special scenery, but I am using Atlas’ free software. [}:)]
I can add flex track, that wasn’t easy, actually had to read the directions, but I can’t get it to curve for me. I like the curves to be 30’ I think, but don’t know the angle and jargon to get the software to give me a 36 or so inch piece of track. I get 18" or 11" but not the whole flex track.
Before I go bald, HELP [:0]
I did try to find the directions, but it makes little short pieces, or I even got a 57 inch deformed like a stop sign track piece.
No problem. With RTS 5.0, you need to do the following to make 30" radius curves:
o - Click on ‘Special’
o - Click on ‘Shape flex track’
o - Click on ‘curve’(left or right), set your radius(30"), set the amount of curve angle(up to 90 degrees). Perfect curve at 30" radius…
You can also do ‘transition’ curves from the ‘Special’ menu…
with a little bit of playing I was able to make simple layouts with little atlas track. But never flex. Then I finally read directions, and could place the straight flex track, but not curve it. Now, thanks to Jim I can curve it, I just need to figure out how to have part of flex straight then curve the rest.
If you click on the “shape flex track” button up in your button bar (it’s the one right below the flex track button), then click on the flex track you want to change with your mouse, you can manually adjust your flex track piece as much as you want, as described in the other post.
Tim, keep playing around with it. As I mentioned before, it’s a bit quirky but you can do some nifty things with it.
angle - in Atlas RTS, it is how much ‘arc’ you have. 90 degrees is 1/4 of the way around a full circle.
radius - the distance from a center point out to the center of a track. A circle that is 36" across(diameter) has a ‘radius’ of 18".
transition curve - on the prototype, they do not go from ‘straight’ directly into a fixed radius curve. They ‘transition’ it a little at a time to ‘ease’ the train into the curve. The RTS tool allows you to do the same thing. You can also just use ‘flex track’ and ‘work’ the flex into a nice transition as well. After some practice, you get the hang of this ‘CAD’ thing(Computer Assisted Drafting). There are several very good(and expensive,) track planning programs available. The ‘freebie’ Atlas RTS 5.0 is limited to only Atlas track components, but it still is a pretty nice tool(the price is right)! Print out(and read) the documentation provided, then take the ‘tutorial’ in the manual - You will learn to use all of the tools in the package.
Jim Bernier
BTW - Atlas, it would be nice if you updated the package and added the #6 & #8 code 83 ‘Super Switches’…
Thanks again Jim. I feel like a kid, learning something for the first time.
I did modeling in a 3d program called lightwave. Actually had some on commercials for a while. You think I could pick up this stuff easier. [:D]
I printed the directions, made the figure eight and had the basic track down. The flex track has been more work. I saw the two black balls for the first time last night. Made a ribbon circle the first time. Can’t get them to always appear and the button below the flex track doesn’t always activate. But I’ve made some different curves with the flex track, and your definitions are most helpful. It actually makes sense. Now more practice. I even found where you can do crossovers and ladders and the software will fill in the small track inbetween. This is pretty cool for free software.