layout Software?

[twenty]

Anyone have any suggestions on software? I have tried the atlas and 3dplantit! dont care much for them.

thanks

zach

[lyates]

Hi twenty. Have you thought about Sandia Software's train layout software? As far as I am concerned they have the best. Just my .02 cents worth. It is called Cadrail9 and it is capable of everything in model railroading that autocad is in mechanical drawings. the link to it is Sandia Software Cadrail Model Railroad Layout Design Software Home Page

[twenty]

Seems that it is just as difficult as Atlas and Planit! i am struggling to make just a simple loop with it. Anyone got some tips on how to use this?

[Allegany2666]

After you use it a few hundred times.......... lol Seriously I do CAD design work as part of my job and it takes a lot of practice. The so called ""easy versions" are a waste of money. Your money would be better spent buying one or more track planning books and picking and choosing and putting it all down on graph paper. If you are settled on using CAD here are a few tips. You need at least a Pentium 4 pc or better. Don't even waste your time using a Celeron or Athlon processor they aren't robust enough to handle CAD. (The programs are written with Pentium processors in mind.) They might run on others but not as efficient. Also your PC will need at least 1 GIG of RAM or it will drag ass and lock up. Practice a lot and don't be afraid to make mistakes you will make plenty of them it's part of the learning process. Learn to use the shortcuts. The one fault with CAD is you have too many ways to do the same thing and as with any thing you do on your computer save and save often. typical CAD program will save your work about every couple of minutes or so but I can't say this is the same with CADrail or any of the others.

I have CADrail and like it, Atlas is ok but your limited to Atlas products etc.