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Woodland Scenics makes incline risers in different grades. I limit my layout to the 2%. Oh and make sure you use easements on elevation changes.
I thought I had a large layout until I started doing the math for risers. Mine go up the bare minimum for clearance at 3% and they still run the length of my baseboard (64"). But I was determined to have my folded figure-eight so that I can have a really long run, and also disguise a little bit the whole "going around in circles" feeling.
If you could lower the one line the grade over would be easier.
Depending on the layout base of course…
If you could lower the one line the grade over would be easier.
Depending on the layout base of course…
The base is two inches of insulation foam over plywood, so if I had thought of this about three months ago... Oh well.
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Oh and make sure you use easements on elevation changes.
Oh yeah, that'll cause cutting out or derailments. Don't put a connection point there.
they still run the length of my baseboard (64")
I have to start throwing a lot of my stuff away to make room for a layout, if I ever get off my lazy a@@. haha
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Are you using track planning software? I am wondering what is good out there.
Are you using track planning software? I am wondering what is good out there.
I'm using Anyrail, the free version. It's adequate. In particular I can print out 1:1 plans of my layout so that I can ensure that any tricky bits go in the right place. (I don't bother printing out obvious things like long straights.)
However, the feature for figuring out slope %ages I found very tricky to work with. And there were a lot of features I could not figure out at all, such as how to use surfaces.
Fortunately, I was able to do the one thing I cared about, which was ensuring that my plan had adequate clearance everywhere (including vertical) and that none of my curves were too tight or slopes too steep.
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Does it come with samples? My biggest problem is that I don't have any imagination. I have big ideas and dreams but no clue how to get there. Iused to check Kato's website for their plans but didn't like any of them. If I can find more samples, I may be able to stitch them together.
I'll take a look at Anyrail. Thanks!
No samples I am aware of, but there are tons of plans online. Honestly, I found it a bit overwhelming at first
Gomez Addams
Staff member
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Thank you very much Sir! I shalt look unto that wonderous page with awe and hopefully gain inspiration!
Atlas right track software. Going to have to look into that as well. I did download the Anyrail and will compare.
Granite Gorge and Northern Again
I bought the AnyRail package a few months ago. I have a long background in AutoCad, so it was not too hard to start up. Initially, it was "okay", but after a few months, figuring out a couple of the quirks, a new design goes pretty quickly.
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Nice! Can it do 3 dimension? I fired it up for a short period but it looked flat to me.
Granite Gorge and Northern Again
Nice! Can it do 3 dimension? I fired it up for a short period but it looked flat to me.
Yes, it does 3D displays. If you add height to the rails, it makes the rise and fall visible.
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Hooyah! Going to have to start digging in. THanks!
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