…to Design Your Layout

Having designed 2 previous layouts, and learned a lot from reading about track design, I knew that I’d use software to help design the layout.  My previous efforts, in hindsight, were woefully inadequate.

I believe there are only a few software design options to seriously consider and I’ll let the many discussion threads hash out the pro’s and con’s of each.

I’m happy that I chose 3rd PlanIt.  The learning curve was steeper than expected but the “view was worth the climb”.  My final design will be an infinitely smoother running layout than I could have gotten otherwise.  There are things like spiral curves,  gradual elevation changes and benchwork design that all flow seamlessly.

Powerful tools like layering, 3D rendering, “snap-to” operations and precise templates for commercial turnouts allow you to easily implement the track design principles preached by the John Armstrong’s of the world.