G scale track planning tool

K

Ketch

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Guys, our club is planning to build an outdoor G scale layout behind our HO model railroad clubhouse. Is there a track planning tool (template) used to draw track plans that has different radius curves, etc. I have a plastic template for HO but wondering if something similar was available in G scale.
Also open to any software available to assist me.
Thanks.
Ketch
 
LGB made a template too....
 
You would need a template for each make..

The software may well cater for all??
 
PhilP said:
You would need a template for each make..

The software may well cater for all??
Click to expand...

Good point Phil.

The Anyrail s/w I have has libraries for Aristocraft, Bachmann, LGB, Lionel Piko and Train-Line track and Theil IIm too....
 
The LGB plastic templates come up on eBay from time to time (I'm not sure if they're still available new or not?); I got one quite recently at a very good price, still with its original sheet of multilingual instructions - the template/stencil is in transluscent orange plastic and about A4 size.

These days doing the designs on computer is probably much more common, but it's nice to have the old pencil and paper option too....

Jon.
 
Try SCARM, http://www.scarm.info/index_en.html
Simple to use, free and has track libraries for anything from Z to G from many different makes.

The 3D overview is a handy tool as well.
 
If you are Mac, this one is excellent
http://www.railmodeller.com/Downloads.html
 
Piece of paper, pencil, ruler, set square, slide rule (oops, showing my age, ... calculator) and compass. :)
 
Mr Beaver, is that Mac Package a Freebie? Looked at the site and as I was on the iPad did not go into Download attempt. But would certainly be interested in using it on my new iMac.
JonD
 
Gavin Sowry said:
Piece of paper, pencil, ruler, set square, slide rule (oops, showing my age, ... calculator) and compass. :)
Click to expand...

My post above is of course, a bit tongue in cheek. But, seriously, do you/we really need templates and/or computer programmes for something as simple as an enlarged starter set? Asking for templates assumes you will be using set-track. Well, here's a few tips. Most, especially smaller radius, curves sweep 30°. Twelve times that is 360°, so that's 12 bits of track to a circle, or 6 pieces for a semi circle etc etc. LGB R1 points 'drop in' to replace a curve or straight (clever geometry that). Try where possible, to avoid reverse curves.
 
dunnyrail said:
Mr Beaver, is that Mac Package a Freebie? Looked at the site and as I was on the iPad did not go into Download attempt. But would certainly be interested in using it on my new iMac.
JonD
Click to expand...

Yes it does appear to be free. I have downloaded it and had it working.
There is the option of sending a small contribution payment which is always a good idea as it helps to encourage the originator to keep updating and adding features.
 
dunnyrail said:
Mr Beaver, is that Mac Package a Freebie? Looked at the site and as I was on the iPad did not go into Download attempt. But would certainly be interested in using it on my new iMac.
JonD
Click to expand...

I have the paid for version. Just had a quick look on the website and thought it used to tell you what you got by paying - which I think are:
a) ability to save maps for later amendment
b) print maps (very not sure about this one)
c) limited to 100 pieces of track in the free mode.

Whilst it is very friendly I feel because of its drag and drop approach, there are a couple of things worth reading the manual for- the ability to have different colours, and different layers which is useful when considering extensions, of it like me you are working within varous constraints - so the fences and garden borders can be set as say layer 1, and the track itself as layer 2.
Chris
 
Thanks for posting the info on Railmodeller - from a quick test of the demo version it looks just the ticket ( ;) ) for planning the next phase of my layout.

Best wishes
Phil
 
Garden railway planning software - imagination, simples ;)

Use nothing but flexitrack, 6ft radius points, y's and compatible crossings/slips to match that geometry. Add large quantity of track joiners and railclamps. Go to garden - chuck the lot on the ground - see how it all fits into the space (the imagination bit) - realise heart's desire :D Updates and modifications - repeat process.

OK a little more of the tongue in cheek stuff I know but it works for me and I have no wastage to speak of.

Max.
 
That is largely how I laid my track Max. I had a shrubbery plot that I intended to circumnavigate. I did use mainly set track but I just picked the bits if track that best suited the next section and built the basework to match. I started with R3s, aristo 10ft and 12.5 ft diameter curves and a collection of straights.Cut the last piece of track with a hacksaw and job done.
 
Slight thread hijack:
?Have I dropped a boo-boo by buying R3, when I could get R5 in?
I suppose I now have the option of an R5 'outer' loop / track? ;)
 
Some would advise the biggest you can fit. That has a lot of merit but R3s will give you a sound basis on which to build. Most locos look OK on R3s and perhaps more importantly, you can create more interesting shapes rather than just an oval.
 
:-\ Never pooh pooh the venerable R1 track. You can get a hell of a lot of trackwork into a given space.... so long as you a prepared to use 'smaller' rolling stock. It is all horses for courses.
 
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