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Track Planning Software?

Hi Paul,

You asked:

Piece of cake in Templot! There's no need to cut the middle out, you can do this in a single template, and it needn't be straight, it can be curved track. In fact it can even be a transition curve before you begin, and you can still slew one end sideways with respect to the other. What's more there are two different modes for slewing, using different maths, and mode 2 allows you to adjust the shape of the S-curve with the mouse.

It's easy to do - simply click Slew in the menu and then with the mouse adjust the start point for the slew along the track, the length of the slewing zone, and the amount of sideways slew needed. Or you can enter this data directly as numbers, in mm, inches, or prototype dimensions if you prefer. There are some notes and diagrams at: (Templot isn't anything like CAD, so experienced CAD users should look away now!)

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Note that it is not necessary for the template to extend the full length of the slewing zone, you can use only a part of it if you prefer. This can be useful for some constructions, such as some types of return curve. You can jump into a tutorial sequence for return curves, showing this use of a slew, by going to:

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regards,

Martin.

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Reply to
Martin Wynne
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That was a device to clearly create the situation that comes up some times when the two ends are the result of independent constructions.

Reply to
Paul Newhouse

Hi Paul,

In that case, where the two ends are parallel, it is simple to align the slewed end to the second fixed track by adjusting the amount of slew visually with the mouse until the two tracks coincide. You can zoom in very close while doing this and so easily achieve an alignment accuracy of +/- 0.01mm (less than half a thou). This process obviously requires more than a couple of clicks, but it is still surprisingly quick to do.

In many such cases, however, the two ends are not parallel, and the use of slewing is not necessarily the best solution. The usual way to create a linking track between two existing track ends is by using a transition curve. Templot has a "make transition" function for this purpose, and there is a tutorial explaining it at:

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Of course, many CAD programs would use bezier or cubic spline curves in such a circumstance. However, such curves are not used in prototype track design. If you find yourself needing such curves in a model your design is probably unrailwaylike, and may be better if reconsidered.

regards,

Martin.

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Reply to
Martin Wynne

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 02:48:16 UTC, snipped-for-privacy@pimin.rockhead.com (Paul Newhouse) wrote: 2000

Yes it will connect in both situations. What you have to do is connect the two ends of the two straight segments with another straight segment. There is a tool that will put an arc with easements at each of the joints. The radius of the arc is up to you.

Reply to
Ernie Fisch

I use "RR - Track" for "G" scale track design. It's very flexable & easy to learn. Lots of features. Plus it's available in all the scales.

Bill Halupka

Reply to
LGBer0672

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