Drawing a Track Plan with XTrkCad

CSXDixieLine Jan 25, 2009

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Do you use a model railroad CAD application?

  1. 3rd PlanIt

    17 vote(s)
    6.0%
  2. Atlas RTS

    23 vote(s)
    8.1%
  3. CadRail

    9 vote(s)
    3.2%
  4. XTrkCad

    135 vote(s)
    47.7%
  5. Other

    47 vote(s)
    16.6%
  6. None

    52 vote(s)
    18.4%
  1. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

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    Nicely detailed tutorial answered many of my questions and will make it simple to now use Xtracad. Thanks much
     
  2. glakedylan

    glakedylan TrainBoard Member

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    I cannot say enough about AnyRail software.
    It actually has the track, both sectional and flex in all scale from all manufacturers.
    One builds a trackplan using track and can print it 1:1 for laying that track exactly where it is suppose to go.
    It allows for layers for multi-level, it produces inclines by %, it allows you to curve flex to any radius/angle of circle.
    It gives the option of saving file as a .jpg that can be opened in TrainPlayer.
    Version 5.x is brand new and features so many extras including structures that one can download and incorporate into their trackplan.
    For the $ it is the finest and most useful software. So much better than any CAD system.
    Respectfully
    Gary L Lake Dillensnyder
     
  3. RhB_HJ

    RhB_HJ TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, yeah Gary, ;) :) but one can't draw stuff like furniture, a complete house, parts to be machined and a gazillion other items one can do with 2D CAD like CADrail. AND we are still waiting for the possibility to design one's own track elements. AnyRail is very good but it has some real restrictions. And despite what others say/write, it is easy but not as "intuitive" as some people may claim. :))
     
  4. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Jamie would it be to much to ask if you could post a simple 4x8 loop track plan and a passing siding on youtube?
    I just downloaded this and having a hard time with it.......or if anybody else knows of any videos post some links Please.
    Thanks Guys
     
  5. thedicarlos

    thedicarlos New Member

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    Thanks for the xTrkCad info! Very helpful...

    Gino
     
  6. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's assuming everyone wants to draw furniture, a complete house, parts to be machined, etc. I would venture to say the vast majority of folks just want to do a track plan, and for those few who need more, they can use something else. I do track planning as a consultant to other modelers, so I tend to do a bit more planning than most, and AnyRail has served my needs more than adequately. When I need to publish a plan in print, I port the plan into Photoshop to add scenery, which is a shortcoming in every existing track planning application.

    As for being intuitive, this is a highly subjective thing. As a software developer, I'm sensitive to the enormous challenges of making software that's intuitive (I have consulted with Anyrail's developer on interface design). I will say that I've used most of the track planning applications available, and AnyRail is by far the easiest to use. As an example, the first 10-12 steps of this tutorial can probably be compressed into 3-4 using AnyRail.

    AnyRail is not for everyone; nor is CADrail or XTrkCd. However, I would recommend that beginners start with Anyrail; the learning curve is almost certainly the shortest and easiest.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 12, 2013
  7. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am now using Linux, so I have switched to XTrkCad again.
     
  8. Cjcrescent

    Cjcrescent TrainBoard Member

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    Have you followed the in program demos? These show you pretty much how to use the program. I was having a lot of trouble with it as well, until I followed these. I was able to follow these for about 30 minutes, and then, for lack of a better term, the light came on, and I've been using it ever since it was first offered as a free program.
     
  9. Kevin Anderson

    Kevin Anderson TrainBoard Member

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    I used xtrkcad to draw mine out. Made it nice and easy to update as necessary. It also came in handy to get exact dimensions when building my benchwork. A great program!
     
  10. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

    3,509
    161
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    Nice tutorial, can't believe I missed this one earlier.
     
  11. VentureForth

    VentureForth TrainBoard Member

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    I like SCARM (.info). Not as easy as Anyrail, but has all the track libraries and totally free.

    Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk.
     
  12. Primavw

    Primavw TrainBoard Member

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    hey mods, can we we make this thread sticky?
     
  13. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Same, I find it rather easy to use once you got the hang of the major functions

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4
     
  14. toxicflies

    toxicflies TrainBoard Member

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    As a beginner I find this thread very helpful thanks for you time for putting this together.
    Chris
    Sent using Tapatalk 2
     
  15. Bryan

    Bryan TrainBoard Supporter

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    XTrackCAD beginners should work through the OUTSTANDING "demos" available in the Help menu (Help/Demos)! You'll be up to speed quickly!
     
    EsK likes this.

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