New Layout Help

HT,

 

Welcome to the forums! Have a look around at the eye candy for a few days. I'll have a more detailed answer for you in the next few days.

Thank you Stewart!  I do appreciate any input.

Scheg, best thing for you to do is pull yourself up by the bootstraps and download SCARM (it's free) and jump in and learn how to use it.  Much better for you to have complete control over your own design process than to rely on other people.  SCARM is intuitive and relatively user friendly.  I had never used it before but got the hang of it within a few minutes.  You just drag and drop, drag and drop.  What could be easier?  Download it, read a couple of the hints on the webpage, and I promise you'll be a happy camper. 

Then you can dazzle us with your imaginative designs!  God knows I need help with my "designer's block." 

 "the Available space/configuration that I am looking to build is 17' x 14' by 12' in a U shape.

 My basic question is I dont know how to use the computer planning software programs.  Does anyone have any Ideas which could help me?  I am planning on using Gargraves Track and Ross Switches (this much I do know)

 Any Ideas and help would be greatly Appreciated"

 

   I'd just build the tables in the shape that fits your space and then play around with track and switches and see what configuration you like the best. I see no reason to spend time learning to use a computer program when you could be doing it in the flesh. Things always look different when you start putting them down on the tables so you'd probably change the drawings anyway during construction.  What I'd concentrate on is the type of equipment you want to run and pick a suitable curve radius so you won't find them too sharp  later. Also consider the reach distance and don't plan complicated scenery too far from the edge of the table so you won't end up trying to work on details at arms length. Remember that most layouts are never finished so don't sweat the design details too much as you'll probably tear it down and make something else after you get more experience.....DaveB  

Working it out in the flesh is fun and answers a lot of questions immediately, but is really best suited for working with rigid track sections.  If someone is planning to use flex-track for instance, I would definitely go with a planning method first, cuz you don't want to bend and trim a bunch of track and then realize you have to tear it down and redo it!  I for one don't have that kind of cash, but I suppose a lot of others may.

"Working it out in the flesh is fun and answers a lot of questions immediately, but is really best suited for working with rigid track sections.  If someone is planning to use flex-track for instance, I would definitely go with a planning method first, cuz you don't want to bend and trim a bunch of track and then realize you have to tear it down and redo it!"

 

   I just cut straight and curved track template sections from cardboard boxes that my wife gets at Macy or Kohls. They are thin enough to cut with scissors but still lay flat on a table.  I arrange the switches in possible configurations then lay the cardboard sections between them then set cars and loco, and maybe even some buildings  out to get a feel for how it would look. Once I have the best arrangement for the location I draw around the cardboard with a sharpie then lay the track to match. Here's a photo of laying out N scale track on my latest layout but O just takes bigger templates......DaveB

This is the Dimensions for my Layout, Since I Cannot Figure out the SCARM program, I drew it the old Fashioned way