Since I’m still fairly new in this hobby, some things that others find easy are still challenging for me. I’m at the point in building a small N scale layout where tranferring the track plan from Winrail to the foam base on the layout was the next step. Not feeling very confident at my ability to recreate the plan accurately using 6" squares, I looked for an alternate method. Here’s what worked for me:
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Make a copy of the track plan file, and set the track width to 0.2" and the joints to 0.5" in the copy.
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Print the copy of the track plan full size on heavy 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock, and tape together individual pages to generate a full-size template. (Mine is 3’ x 4’, but it seems like this will work for other sizes too.) I used clear package-sealing tape on all joints between pages to strengthen the template.
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Use a sharp X-Acto or utility knife to cut out the track lines, but leave the circles for track joints intact (to hold things together).
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Tack the template to the layout surface, and use a marker to trace the cutout sections. Remove the template and connect the lines to form the completed track plan.
I’ve read several posts on this forum suggesting that turnouts and connecting track still need to be fitted using the real components, and I’m planning to do that. But getting an image of the plan on the foam surface makes this part of the project easier.
The experienced folks on this forum will likely think this is a trivial concern, but I hope these ideas help some other “newbies”.
Bill
[#welcome] Welcome to the forums, and greetings from the other end of Nevada.
There are a few differences between your system and mine:
- I use old-fashioned drafting techniques, not CAD, to generate my full-size cardstock templates.
- Sometimes I use a marker to locate track lines. More often, I tack the template down and spray the area with ‘ground’ color (mud brown and dark green have been used.) The template masks the places where track will be laid.
- I spray the template grey, caulk it to the foam and lay track directly on it.
- I build my own specialwork, so the dimensional irregularities of commercial products don’t enter into my calculations.
- I cut my templates with sharp scissors, which I can control much better than a knife.
IMHO, having that layer of card makes track locating several orders of magnitude easier, freeing up hobby time and brain capacity to use on other things.
Chuck [modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in Twice-N (1:80, aka HOj) scale]
Seems really hard when you could just locate a few key pieces on the layout (switches, one end of a curve, etc) and then put the track pieces in place. Really easy to do if you are using sectional track.
As you get more experienced you will be able to build a layout from nothing more than a sketch on a scrap of paper.
Dave H.
Thanks for the welcome, Chuck!
Your suggestions would work at least as well as mine, but I’m still a bit short on self-confidence in some parts of this hobby, and so I went for simplicity and a sense of control.
Bill
Dave,
I’m sure that more experienced folks have easier ways that use their skills and experience more effectively. I had two considerations that took me in the direction I described. First, my layout is a compact folded figure 8, and so using RTS and WinRail helped me avoid lots of frustration. Second, while I laid out the plan in WinRail using sectional track, I’ll probably use flex track in the real world. The sectional track plan gave me what I thought was an easy way to construct a template, as well as maintaining the color codes I used for main, siding and branch lines (the track connector circles show the appropriate colors). Having the computerized plan also let me determine the total length of track and roadbed I’ll need, which I hope will save me some money.
Since I’m not a spring chicken any more, it’s not likely that I’ll be designing enough layouts in the future to acquire the level of skills you obviously already have.
Bill
My approach was a little simpler 
I simply pasted the 1:1 track diagram printout on to the plywood and laid the cork directly on the paper. It worked very well for me. See this photo: 
rxanand,
Your approach is simpler! Several others had similar suggestions too. I guess I didn’t think of that because I wondered whether the paper layer would turn out to be a weak link in the track foundation, particularly when it got wet during ballasting.
Bill
I’m starting on my second, and last, layout in HO and am using mostly sectional track so I am just laying the track down per the design. As it turns out, there were a couple of glitches which I was able to handle on the spot. Now it is a matter of marking the centerline of the track, taking it apart, and laying the roadbed. This may not be very time efficient, but I don’t intend to have a problem pop up because a small error in a template was magnified.
Good point. I’ve read enough posts on this forum to know that the printed plan is just a general guideline. Also, since I designed it with Atlas sectional track and turnouts, but will be building it with flex track and Peco turnouts, the need for adjustments was pretty much a given.
Bill