Hey guys, I have been collecting N Scale cars and locomotives for about a year now, with the plan of building a layout once I get a room built in my basement. I have just a few question if anyone can help. First, if I build a shelf layout that makes a loop around the outside of the room, can I still use DCC? Second, how hard is it to wire a DCC layout like that? Third I’d like to customs build my track plan, I have a general idea what I want. But it would be nice to see the plan come to life, so I could get a better scale idea. Is there any software that is free and simple to use?
Absolutely.
Not hard at all. You run a pair of bus wires around the room under the shelf and connect them to the track with feeders every 6 feet or so.
Check out http://www.wiringfordcc.com/
I use XtrackCAD. You can download it for free here:
Running around the room. Sounds good. Where is the stairway? Where is the washer and drier? Where is the furnace and the water heater? How do you access these things?
LIONS are into logistics, ewe know. LION is here, wildebeest is there. Hyenas are waiting in the corner to gang up on the poor lion and drive him a way from his catch.
You gotta plan your room so that you can catch your wildebeest (trains) while keeping the Hyeanas (utilities) from intruding upon your catch.
ROAR
I use Atlas track planning software. It is pretty easy to learn and will give you a list of the track you need to purchase for your design. It works for HO and N scale. It has flex track which you can set your minimum radius as well as standard snap track and switches. You can see your plan in 3D. http://www.atlasrr.com/software.htm
Lion, him omitted the big elephant in the room (basement) - the WIFE!!
I’ve been using a track planning system for years that is dirt cheap and very easy to learn. I get me a t-square, pencil, paper, a scale, and a compass and, uh, draw it.
Ed