track templates

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Does anyone have, or know where I might find, templates for various types of track so I can lay it down ahead of time to see how it will all fit? I know most manufacturers have about 50 different track pieces (all the various turnouts, crossings, straight and curved track), but do they offer printable templates.

I could make them by scaling up the pieces shown in Anyrail or RTSRRLayout, but I’m wondering if someone has already done this.

I’m newbie, just built the room, ready to build the benchwork.

2

There are several track templates available. Fast tracks for one and Proto 87 stores is another and I think Central valley has them also.

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/Fast-Tracks-Printable-Track-Templates-s/11.htm

http://www.proto87.com/handlaid_track_templates.html

http://www.cvmw.com/download.htm

Pete

3

You can buy a paper set from Atlas for $3-$4 . You can download PECO pieces from their site for free, and I believe Shinohara has their dimensions in the 2011 Walthers catalog. Hope this helps.

4

If you have RTS from Atlas, you can set the ratio to 1:1, then print them out.

5

Have you made any decision as to which brand of track you will be using once you have your plan done? In my opinion the primary component you will need templates for are turnouts. So if you know which brand and size number of turnout you will ultimately use, all you will need is a left and a right of each turnout and a copy machine.

Make photocopies of the turnouts and laminate them to some heavier paper such as a manila folder, cut them out, and you can have as many as you need.

6

You can do this in AnyRail, too.