Frustrated About Software

[huffman60]

Here's what I need! A very simple(KISS method), inexpensive (Already spent more than I can afford) drawing software. I want to be able to draw HO buildings from the ground up, or lay a picture down put the skelaton in, print it to scale and use it to build the structure.
I don't need a lot bells and whistles,KISS Method "Keep It Simple Stupid",thats me.I bought Design Cad 3D(To Technical),Tried Google Sketch-Up,Model Builder(won't do what I want it to do),plus it jamed up my computer. Now I'm stuck with this Dell-Vista System,loaded with junk and slower than a turtle.I liked my 98SE system where I could actually find the files and work with them.I've joined a bunch of forums hoping to find help,but never posted before.I see there are a lot of very talented people out there, I hope you can help.Please don't bring me too far Into the 20th century. Thanking You Ahead Of Time, Johnhuffman60@yahoo.com

[DD40]

John
Did you try rail serv they might have it for free.
Railroad Games, Train Simulators & Traim Sims - RailServe.com

[Allegany2666]

I do CAD work as part of my job and I can say professionally what your looking for is very a sophisticated program. For example Autodesk has a program called Architectural desktop. It is a version of Autocad. You want to draw a wall lets say 10' long you type in a command "W" or wall click on the screen and either enter the length or drag the cursor to the desired length and you have a wall. You preset the walls other dimensions such as height and thickness etc. in it's properties box. However this program as easy as it sounds s not. If you were try to be self taught it would take you a VERY long time to learn just basics and it's very cost prohibitive. They have some other more generic program Archi D/T based in places like staples for far less money but I can't say for sure how good they are etc. To be perfectly honest you would be better off with a T-square an architectural scale a triangle and a mechanical pencil. I've done CAD work for over 25 years and some times I can do simple plans faster with a pencil.

The reason why it's dragging your computer down is CAD programs are memory hogs. If you don't have at least a Pentium4 and at minimum 1 gig of RAM forget it. Don't even think of running CAD in Celeron or any other processor it just don't work.

If your looking for track planning software there are a few good ones out there. CAD rail is what I would recommend but Atlas has a track planning program called RTS Right Track Software and the best thing is it's a free download

[huffman60]

Thank You Allegany, I was afraid of that.I had a small CAD program called Key CAD Complete, it was simple and good for one line drawings, but it is out dated for Vista. My 98SE computer did have a gig of RAM. Vista does too but it is so slow.The only problem with the KeyCAD was how to print in 1:87 scale.Anyway I found some 1:87 graph paper to download,I just got cleaner lines wiyh CAD. Thanks Again ( I respect experiance & knowledge first )

[Wrath_of_Wotan]

Huffman, Vista needs at least 2 gig to function productively - 3 is better, and yes, a Celeron processor is out of the question for Cad work - they have a hard time with floating point math operations, kinda like a castrated Pentium. Best bet is to stuff as much memory into that box as it will hold, if it's not a Celeron. Some owners manuals will tell you what type and how much memory it will hold, or you can usually find out on the mfg. website. You could also get a 4 or 8 gig usb 2.0 Flash/Jump drive which is Readyboost enabled, and Vista will use the much faster usb stick as a pagefile memory swap area. It definitely helps performance. Also, make sure to do disk cleanups and disk defrags religiously, and get into the desktop settings and turn of all the goofy special graphics effects, especially that Aero thing.
I've used the Atlas software, but much prefer the XtrkCad 4.03 - there is a learning curve, but it seems to be much more talented, and you can design and save your own custom buildings, locos and track. Downside is it won't do the 3D building design you're wanting. Well, there's my for what it's worth. Best of luck on your quest!

Cheers

[Mountain Man]

There are many commercial MRR CAD programs available, but I can't vouch for them because I can't afford them.

The two best known freebies are RTS put out by Atlas that uses their sectional track as the basis, and XTrkCad that uses libraries of major track brands and allows for flex track as well. These two programs have libraries of structures as well, but since XTrkCad went completely public work on it has stopped, so nothing newer has been added, nor will it be according to their site.

These programs are well thought of, but I personally find all of the CAD programs hard to learn and frustrating, although I chalk it off to being "just me."

I have always done my best planning with a pencil, a pad of paper and a scale ruler to remind me how big things are allowed to be.

[hoscalemodeler1967]

Originally Posted by Mountain Man

There are many commercial MRR CAD programs available, but I can't vouch for them because I can't afford them.

The two best known freebies are RTS put out by Atlas that uses their sectional track as the basis, and XTrkCad that uses libraries of major track brands and allows for flex track as well. These two programs have libraries of structures as well, but since XTrkCad went completely public work on it has stopped, so nothing newer has been added, nor will it be according to their site.

These programs are well thought of, but I personally find all of the CAD programs hard to learn and frustrating, although I chalk it off to being "just me."

I have always done my best planning with a pencil, a pad of paper and a scale ruler to remind me how big things are allowed to be.

PSS-flextrack is in RTS as well, i use it , and love it. has my 2 scales,HO and N, diff code track,buildings from different manufactorers and flex,elevations,etc. its a great easy to use program. easier than the others i have tried.

[CNrail]

Go to google and type in Evan Designs or Model Railroads, Model Trains, Scenery
I just bought this kit plus some extras and I find it will do everything I want to build and print

[hoscalemodeler1967]

if its building software , not track software,,try this freebie out. works good, gives you what you are looking to do , and if i train my mutt hard nuff , he could prob run it to build himself and outdoor lil house to get away from the tunes
Free Home Design Software - Envisioneer Express


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[Mountain Man]

There is also this one on a trial basis. It's got a pretty easy learning curve:

AnyRail™ - The easiest model railroad design software.