Oh I have been bit. Badly I was bit when I was 5 and my dad wouldn't let me anywhere near his trains. Since then I have waited and waited, finally I have my own house, my own money, and once again my own peace of mind.
Actually I built the layout first using the Atlas book. (no need for a plan). Then when I was thinking about expansion, I decided to design it well first then lay it down. I wanted to connect it to the open side of the layout by the engine facility so I need to get the current layout in the 3rdplan it. Well that was a task in itself. I knew it didn't need to be perfect since it was already built, but I wanted to be able to acurately expand. Thats about as close as its gonna get.
I hope to have some plan of the xpansion I have been planning, but want to wait until it closer to the final. And I decided to add a helix stagging yard, which is gonna be a bear to put into the CAD.
The Atlas motors are ok. I have not had any problems with them. I am planning on replacing some with tort machines, I just don't like the snap of the atlas machine, plus I will be adding them to my DCC via DS54 and BDL162 . I also found they have to be mounted perfectely or they dont snap. In a couple of places I had to reverse the switch since there was no room.
All and all I am satisfied, but thinking more of torts with peco turnouts for the xpansion.
Thanks for all your nice comments.
peace,
TP