Not really. I had in mind to plan for a typical bedroom size (US style) but leave a way to accomodate different sized rooms, if that makes sense.Do you have a layout size in mind? There are a lot of publications, print/electronic out there to perhaps give you a start on layout style.
Like SantafeWillie, I am a paper doodler. Only after I have doodled something that I like that looks reasonable to I try to draw it more precisely. I also approximate small things with Atlas Right Track software. Have used it since version 1 in 1996 or so. I purchased a full copy of 3D Planit, but despite trying several times it just is totally counter intuitive to me. I cannot even get through the tutorials and understand them. I tried one other program (railCAD? maybe), don't even remember the name but once again it appeared to be written from some other frame of mind rather than a model railroader putting down track, and I gave up on it too.Hello fellas. What would you reccomend for a guy to use in order to play with ideas for a future layout? I don't know when it can happen, I just know I have concepts in mind now. Do you like the CAD type programs, or something else?
I’ve always used graph paper. Worked well.I just doodled on paper. But I have always found the learning curve on CAD systems to be too time consuming.
You nailed it. That's the beginning of the MILW Short Line on the far left, there.And finally for some color, you had me looking through my pictures to see if I have anything from that area. Here's one of where I think part of the Chestnut Street Yard used to be. Nice day, good light, and of course not a single train went by while was there. -Eric
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Fortunately my time with North Metro club has taught me a lot about what I like, and what I don't like. Ideally my future layout would be similar but much smaller (Our layout there occupies a 50x100ft room, with most of the floor occupied by free-standing layout which also links to two shelf layouts along one wall.)I had a 13x15' room to work with, and couldn't be nearly as ambitious as you appear to be thinking.
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