What program does

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Does anyone know what program Model Railroader uses when they put trackplans in there magazines?

For example like the one in this link: http://www.trains.com/trc/objects/pdf/mr_sample.pdf (its the first article on the 2nd page, plan of the plate glass plant by Henry Freeman)

I really like the looks of it and im already sick of Atlas Freeware lol even know it is easy to work with. I was going to get 3rd Planit software but I would rather not spend $120 if I dont have to on track planning software.

So with that said, does anyone know what they use? Is it available to the public?

If anyone can shed some light on what MRR uses to draw trackplans, I would really appreciate it and thanks in advance
 

Nomad

Active Member
I don't know what they use, but I remember them looking like that back in the late 70's, maybe early 80's.

Loren
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
I would guess that it is not track planning software at all. They have graphic artists on the payroll, and I imagine that they use something like Adobe Illustrator, which is far from free... and also far from $120! ;) :D

You might try XTrkCAD (link in the track planning forum) for another free option. Otherwise, I think 3rd Plan-it is a good choice from the results I have seen here and reviews I have read.

Andrew
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
I would guess that it is not track planning software at all. They have graphic artists on the payroll, and I imagine that they use something like Adobe Illustrator, which is far from free... and also far from $120! ;) :D

You might try XTrkCAD (link in the track planning forum) for another free option. Otherwise, I think 3rd Plan-it is a good choice from the results I have seen here and reviews I have read.

Andrew
Yeah, I think you're right, either a graphic program, or CAD. These are available ranging from free (low end graphic) to over $5,000 (AutoCad). There are many low-cost programs available both in graphic design and CAD in the $50 to $100 range, some CAD programs, like TurboCad have 3D capabilities. They keep offering me the latest release upgrade for $50 on that one, but I've been resisting temptation since I don't use it that often anymore. Just be aware that all these medium to higher end programs have a very steep learning curve. I do my trackplans in CAD, although I don't even attempt to try the 3D capabilities, it would really be awesome if I did.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Thanks Loren, Andrew and Don for your quick responces

I had a feeling that it was going to be something like graphic design programs :cry:

All well, guess I just have to get 3rd planit after all lol

Gonna try one last thing tho, ill send MRR an e-mail and see if they will tell me how they draw them and if it is infact a graphic design program.
 

galt904

Member
to over $5,000 (AutoCad).

At what, $4000 commission? Getting off-topic here, but AutoCad is much cheaper than that. You can get high end 3D cheaper than 5k. :) You can always get a 1 or 2 year old copy of AutoCad lite for a couple hundred.
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
At what, $4000 commission? Getting off-topic here, but AutoCad is much cheaper than that. You can get high end 3D cheaper than 5k. :) You can always get a 1 or 2 year old copy of AutoCad lite for a couple hundred.
Well, not quite, I thought at one time AC was selling for that, but I found some versions of AC today for just under $4,000. One or two seats. Even AC light is a bit pricey. I found several places you can buy it for just under $900, I'm assuming single seat since they don't say otherwise.

TurboCad full professional version is going for around $600, but the "deluxe" version goes for about $150. The pro version use to go for that, but as they added features, and were competing with the big boys, they hiked up the price. As I said, they are asking for $50 to upgrade mine. In all cases, I'm talking the latest version. And yeah, you can probably find an older AC light version for a few hundred.
 

slekjr

Member
why not download graph paper, buy a compass and a ruler and have at it. Way easier than Atlas and way cheaper too. I never have had a design that quite fit anyway.sign1
 

fsm1000

Member
Hey Josh, I am not sure how high end you wanna go but google has 'sketchup' which is a low end cad program.
Would mostly be used for anything 3d as in buildings. No idea how it would work for trains though.
SketchUp Home

Hope that helps. But it is low end.
 

fsm1000

Member
why not download graph paper, buy a compass and a ruler and have at it. Way easier than Atlas and way cheaper too. I never have had a design that quite fit anyway.sign1

slekjr, that's why i always make a 3d model of my model. 99% of everything fits and works then.

All the greats that I follow have made models of their models. ohn Allen is one I often mention.
He modeled his whole basement, the workshop etc. He had his whole layout planned 20 years before he died. Even the wiring was put in 18 years before he finally got around to certain sections that needed it. I have the book on his life and railroad. Great reading and fantastic pics.

But you are right about a pencil and paper. Mine always start out that way and later I when i found out about computers I would try them out in the game 'Trainz'.

Hope that helps :)
 

galt904

Member
Sketchup is free, there's also shareware like Cadkey, is it still around? When I finally get around to designing my layout I'll probably use SolidWorks since that's what I use at work and am most familiar with. It's been over 2 years since I last used AutoCad for anything.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
why not download graph paper, buy a compass and a ruler and have at it. Way easier than Atlas and way cheaper too. I never have had a design that quite fit anyway.sign1

To answer your question, Im a computer type person sign1sign1sign1
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Hey Josh, I am not sure how high end you wanna go but google has 'sketchup' which is a low end cad program.
Would mostly be used for anything 3d as in buildings. No idea how it would work for trains though.
SketchUp Home

Hope that helps. But it is low end.

Thanks Stephen, I downloaded it and played around with it a lil bit last night. I need to do some tutorials first, im sure that will make things easyer to understand and do sign1
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Hey Josh, I am not sure how high end you wanna go but google has 'sketchup' which is a low end cad program.
Would mostly be used for anything 3d as in buildings. No idea how it would work for trains though.
SketchUp Home

Hope that helps. But it is low end.

It's been a while since I used this, but I believe they have (or had) a library of shapes submitted by users. Some of those shapes included railway-specific items like track, rolling stock, and an engine or two. There are (wer) alos libraries of buildings, landscape elements, vehicles, and even people that might be useful.

Andrew
 

MadHatter

Charging at full tilt.
TruckLover- you get a responce from MR?

I think I remember them mentioning in one of their mags that they do use a CAD program, but they did not say which one.

BTW: I use 3rd PlanIt and love it!

Also, you can renew your code annually for $25 to allow you to download the newest version of the program when it comes out.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
TruckLover- you get a responce from MR?

I think I remember them mentioning in one of their mags that they do use a CAD program, but they did not say which one.

BTW: I use 3rd PlanIt and love it!

Also, you can renew your code annually for $25 to allow you to download the newest version of the program when it comes out.

Nope, been a week and no responce from MR yet :cry:

Sketch-up is okay. I think im not going to waste my time tho, I was set on getting 3rd PlanIt awhile ago and im going to stick to it now lol. Hopefully I can get it in the next month or two :thumb: :mrgreen:

btw, I didnt know you could re-new and get the newest version for so cheap, that sounds like what ill be doing, I like the newest version of everything lol. Thanks for the info guys
 
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