codek Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 Hi I searched the forum for a layout design software thread and couldn't see one! So what's recommended? Any packages to avoid? I found xtrackcad.. worth a punt? The layout is oo if that matters. Thanks, Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Vistisen Posted July 2, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2019 It depends what you wan to do. If you want to build your own points then TEMPLOT ( http://www.templot.com) is about the only program to use! You just have to get used to the fact that design wise it's about 30 years old ( it was originally released for the Commadore amiga in the mid 80's ) . But it is still amazing. If you want to design a whole layout then TEMPLOT is NOT what you want to use. I have used ANYRAIL (https://www.anyrail.com/en) which is very easy to use. Since I am using handbuilt points. I ended up using both products by doing the the layout design's running lines in anyrail Which I then saved as a jpg file. and then I imported into Templot as the background. I designed TEMPLOT points in the positions I wanted on the background. It is a bit fiddly but possible. There is a free trial version of anyrail. But since the product ( including version upgrades costs) about the same as a cheap 'OO' gauge coach, do the decent thing, and buy a license. The support for both TEMPLOT and ANYrail is amazing. I get very quick responses from Martin (templot) and David (anyrail) to any questions. Now if you could please join my campaign to persuade them to make a real export/import feature between the two products... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Abel Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 I was very happy using XTrakCAD, producing the below layout. I'm sure there are merits to all, but the price (free) was also a draw at the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
codek Posted July 2, 2019 Author Share Posted July 2, 2019 Hehe wow I dont see me building my own points. Just a novice! I have however been looking around for inspiration for the design. Found some good threads on here about maidenhead for example! (I like nse era!) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danemouth Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 Try Anyrail - it has a trial version with a limit of I think 50 items - I designed Danemouth with just this version. https://www.anyrail.com/en Cheers Dave 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted July 2, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2019 2 hours ago, Vistisen said: If you want to design a whole layout then TEMPLOT is NOT what you want to use. It certainly is, if you intend to build the pointwork yourself. You can't create something like this in XTrackCAD or AnyRail: On the other hand, if you are using commercial pointwork such as Peco, you don't want Templot under any circumstances. That's just not what it's for -- it will drive you mad if you try to use it for Peco. cheers, Martin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium njee20 Posted July 2, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 2, 2019 If you read his whole post he does say he’s using handbuilt points, but that he does an Anyrail plan and then uses that as a background for the Templot pointwork. I can see the merit in that method frankly. Templot is incredible, and I doth my cap to you for its continuing development, but the likes of Anyrail or SCARM do make planning a large layout significantly quicker. Although I can throw a turnout plan together in minutes, a full sized layout is certainly quite time consuming, giving 95% is plain track. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 14 hours ago, codek said: Hehe wow I dont see me building my own points. Just a novice! Anyrail is what you're after then. Or at least I can whole heartedly recommend it, I've had quite a few enjoyable hours doodling layouts in Anyrail. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Vistisen Posted July 3, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2019 16 hours ago, njee20 said: If you read his whole post he does say he’s using handbuilt points, but that he does an Anyrail plan and then uses that as a background for the Templot pointwork. I can see the merit in that method frankly. Templot is incredible, and I doth my cap to you for its continuing development, but the likes of Anyrail or SCARM do make planning a large layout significantly quicker. Although I can throw a turnout plan together in minutes, a full sized layout is certainly quite time consuming, giving 95% is plain track. One other major advantage with anyrail is that it understands gradients and can show them in a 3d rendering which is a great help when designing layouts with more than one level. As far as I know Templot does not have a third dimension. ( although I'm sure Martin will correct me if I'm wrong ) Anyrail also has an export to TrainPlayer although that is not something I have used, JMRI and various 3d formats. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted July 3, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Vistisen said: One other major advantage with anyrail is that it understands gradients and can show them in a 3d rendering which is a great help when designing layouts with more than one level. As far as I know Templot does not have a third dimension. ( although I'm sure Martin will correct me if I'm wrong ) Anyrail also has an export to TrainPlayer although that is not something I have used, JMRI and various 3d formats. Hi, No, Templot does not have a 3rd dimension for track planning. All track design is referenced to the rail top. However, it can export DXF files which can be imported into 3D track planning software such as 3rd PlanIt: GWR tracks from Templot imported into 3rd PlanIt. 3rd PlanIt is high-end 3D model trackplanning software, see: https://www.trackplanning.com To integrate track designs from Templot into 3rd PlanIt's native track design, export the DXF file from Templot as track centre-lines only, and import it into the track objects layer in 3rd PlanIt. Here is an old web page from 2003 showing the process: http://templot.com/3pi/dxf_3d_hc_3pi.htm cheers, Martin. Edited July 3, 2019 by martin_wynne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CLARENCE Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 I've used SCARM for my (admittedly small and simple) layout; Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 I used to use XtrakCAD, but prefer to use SCARM now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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