Layout design software

[jhb171achill]

Anyone suggest any easy, free apps / downloads, which even I* can use?

 

[* now THAT'S a tall order...!!]

[Glenderg]

[DiveController]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]21826[/ATTACH]

 

I think he's wondering if there's an app for that?

[jhb171achill]

It's probably better, to be honest!

[BosKonay]

Mac or PC?

[Dave]

I use Anyrail, it's easy to use and there are some great tutorials. It's available free for use of up to 50 pieces of track and the full version is €39 with regular updates. The track library is very good.

Another one is Scarm which is free but not so easy to use, both are ad free with no pop ups.

 

http://www.anyrail.com

 

http://www.scarm.com

[Dunluce Castle]

Pencil and paper of the best way!

[RedRich]

I think he's wondering if there's an app for that?

 

I think Richie knows that. He was being humorous. JB got the joke.

 

Rich,

[jhb171achill]

In my generation, an "app" is half an apple, which is a fruit, as is a blackberry.

 

If you eat too many Blackberries, you get Bluetooth.

Edited December 20, 2015 by jhb171achill

[Noel]

Mac or PC?

 

What is 'RailModeller' for Mac like?

 

I have VMware Fusion so could run AnyRail, but prefer to avoid getting dependent on windoze apps. I've designed our layout with pencil 30 years ago but would like to retrospectively document it using a decent easy to use intuitive app. Most of the free linux stuff is rubbish because it has too steep a learning curve.

 

Edited July 21, 2017 by Noel

[DiveController]

He was being humorous. JB got the joke.

 

Rich,

So was I

 

In my generation, an "app" is half an apple, which is a fruit, as is a blackberry.

 

If you eat too many Blackberries, you get Bluetooth.

Think you've used that one before, JB but I like it:D

 

What is 'RailModeller' for Mac like?

 

I have VMware Fusion so could run AnyRail, but prefer to avoid getting dependent on windoze apps. I've designed our layout with pencil 30 years ago but would like to retrospectively document it using a decent easy to use intuitive app. Most of the free linux stuff is rubbish because it has too steep a learning curve.

 

Agreed. My personal MacBook Pro has been very trusty indeed until this week when augmented multi-mode authentication plus a software upgrade at work left my OSX 10.7 no longer supported for remote access. Time for a long overdue replacement for the iMac that is still in perfect order behind me, also no longer 'supported' due to it G5. So a new iMac will be purchased no doubt in the New Year which may finally spur me to contemplate what to design for the newly negotiated real estate

Edited December 20, 2015 by DiveController

[jhb171achill]

I trot the blackberry ray out when I'm dealing with American tourists, DiveC. Whole they haven't heard it before, it must be close to driving some of my regular coach drivers to suicide, murder or both!

[BosKonay]

i've been using Railmodeller on mac through many versions over the last 5 years - it's clean, very very simple to pick up and use, and I like it. Gets my recommendation

[Junctionmad]

I use trax3 , any rail , I find trac3 easier to use. Runs under parallels n a Mac. Both my Limerick junction and claremorris layouts were initially designed in it.

 

The only drawback of these programs is they restrict you to set track configurations. Ultimately I put the whole things into Templot as its the only program I believe in regards dimensional accuracy

 

Using a pencil for layout design is a bad idea as you are always inclined to squeeze turnouts and radius into spaces that When using a proper design tool, turn out to be impossible. A case of wishful thinking.

 

Dave