SCARM track planning software - Hello from the author

Great. Fantastic. I have a Mac too so I will try to run it soon. I need a layout started in about a month or two...

Mixy,

 

Do you think you will add K-Line Super Snap or RMT Super Snap track to the libraries?

 

Thanks,

Joe

I was searching for some online resources about Super Snap systems some time ago, but was not able to find anything with detailed dimensions. If you know a link where these are well described, post it here.

 

Otherwise, we may proceed like with the MTH O RealTrax system, which is already available in SCARM 0.9.24, but manually measuring takes more time for preparation and testing.

 

Mixy

Mixy,

Thank you very much. I just used 9.24 to finish a layout. The Favorites for recent track library used is a welcome feature after working with other objects and figures.

Your effort is amazing! A great tool for the model railroader.

Thank you Moonman

 

I hope that all new (and old) features in this version of SCARM will work smooth.

 

I will prepare a more detailed explanation and tutorials about how to work with roads in the following days and will write here again.

 

I was mentioned about one new feature in the last but one version of SCARM - drawing of the roadbed in 2D by using of 'B' key. Is this useful? Let me know so I will decide how to improve it.

 

Mixy

The first tutorial about using of the new roads feature in SCARM is ready - see it here:

 

The Roads in SCARM – Part 1 – Basic Usage

 

Mixy

I worked with the roads some. Any way to allow limited properties change for color for a dirt or gravel road?

Edit: should have the blog first! Thanks.

Yep, the road color can be changed from the Track Color button and that will be visible in 3D too

 

I have plans to add some textures i.e. for asphalt, pavement, etc., but this will be probably in the near future.

 

Mixy

Thanks, I tried it and it looks good. I don't know if the textures are that important, but some users are really into the 3D. The 3D also helps those that like to see it, rather than visualize it.

Are the Lionel tracks FasTracks a lot of work to create a library? The American Flyer folks might appreciate an S gauge library.

 

Also, I'd like to add, that having built a few FasTrack layouts using a SCARM plan, it fits perfectly as planned using the default connection tolerance. The roadbed width is slightly wider than you have it in the library. The roadbed is 87mm or 3.43" wide. One just has to allow a little more when the track is close to the physical space limits.

Thank you, Moonman

 

I will update the Fastrack lib and will try to create the S gauge too. When ready, I will upload them in the blog (hope soon), so anybody to be able to use them regardless of when the new SCARM release will be published.

 

Good to see that real tracks are fit as planned. I will continue to work over the roadbed to make all the pieces with correct images (like small straights which has only one side roadbed).

 

Alan from Millhouse River Studio noticed that the current library in v. 0.9.24 has a mistake with the largest turntables diameter - it should be 34". The updated library can be get from here:

Millhouse River Studio O-gauge Turntables in SCARM (Updated)

Mixy

Mixy,

Three of switches use the special pieces, the 1 3/8" half-roadbed and the 1 3/8" no roadbed. I'll get you the track numbers for those.

The one piece you could add for parts list accuracy is 6-12047. It is the one side roadbed used with the 060, 072 switch and 072 wye.

The other small fitters are in the library already.

 

 

 

Mixy,

 

Thank you for updating SCRAM to the correct size for our 34" turntable. I can send you info for our transfer table if you want to add them to the software.

 

 

Yes, send me the dimensions. Are the transfer tables with fixed track positions or the user can place the tracks anywhere and then program the controller? Because for now, SCARM can deal only with transfer tables of fixed type. Otherwise, only the boards and the bridge may be shown.

 

Here is the list with posts in the blog for March - www.scarm.info/blog/2014/03.

And here is the article about creating custom or double tunnel portals in SCARM as many users are asking for such:

 

Custom Tunnel Portals in SCARM



Hope it will be useful

Mixy

Two more tutorials about road crossings were published in the blog. See all here:

 

The roads in SCARM - All tutorials

 

The articles shows how to assemble the crossings, IS adapters and IS approaches in order to get various intersections and combinations, like the one below:

 

 

 

More about the roadways in SCARM will come soon

 

Mixy

I am seeking a more instant tutorial..maybe I am over thinking this.. but how do you create a base board for "Around the walls" type layouts.. or s it even needed? 

my room is 280.5" by 230"  with an inset removed on the opposite corner from the longer wall  121.5" x 82"  so this makes it an "L" shape room..

 

any instant chat type set up?

You can easily create any around-the-wall type of baseboard in SCARM by following the instructions here:

 

Baseboard With a Hole Inside

 

You can roughly draw the initial shape with the mouse and then edit (move) each point (corner) to obtain the correct form with precise dimensions. To see the dimensions, use "View" > "Show size and area" menu command. You can also use the functions in the Toolbox to define the corner points by entering their coordinates. See also other baseboard related articles in the blog here:

 

All about baseboards in SCARM

 

Hope this helps

 

Mixy

No chat, it's freeware.

 

Two ways to create it. Open the Tool Box from the tool bar.

1. Make a rectangle. Right-click on it and select add new point. Then you can select a point and drag it to shape. Do this as needed.
2. Use absolute coordinates from the Tool box. You set the points of the shape desired. Create X=0,Y=0, then depending on which direction you go, enter the coordinates from the grid to create the points of the shape that you desire.

There are some video tutorials on the SCARM blog

Here are the blog posts for April: www.scarm.info/blog/2014/04.

 

And one question - are there some of you that are also running slot cars on the layouts, together with the trains?

Mixy

I bet the number of HO scale layouts with slot cars far outnumber the O scale. Super O layouts would be more common. I would think Easy streets, and Super streets (a ["hidden" rails] roadway system for operating Og street vehicles), is far more common than both.  

OK, I will check these

 

Now I am updating Lionel FasTrack library with some new tracks from the new Track and Power catalog (thanks Moonman ) and have a question about small 1 3/8" straights. There are two pieces:

 

6-12073 - with roadbed.

6-12074 - without roadbed.

 

However, the turnout packs are shipped with one more type of 1 3/8" track, which is with half side roadbed. This track is not listed in the catalog or I cannot find it. Is there a part number for that track?

 

Mixy

6102047350	FASTRACK SWITCH STRAIGHT / AUX T1 / W/ROADBED				1/2 roadbed
6102047150	FASTRACK SWITCH STRAIGHT / AUX T2 / W/O ROADBED

6-12047-350 The 060 and 072 switches have them(2), the 22 1/2 degree crossover(4) and the 072 Wye(2)
 
The numbers at the top are the LIONEL replacement part numbers. There is no catalog number, although the no roadbed is the same piece for both part numbers.

What is 'Integer Overflow" and how do I fix it?

 

When I click on a track, I get this message...Program won't let me do anything else.

Install version 9.24, it fixed it.

This bug may appear by several reasons. Most of them are fixed in v. 0.9.24, so try to update SCARM to the latest version as Moonman suggested.

 

However, if that does not help, send me the .scarm file that is causing the problem to - I will check what is wrong and will try to repair it, if possible.

 

Mixy

Many are asking about roundhouses for their virtual SCARM layouts. So here is a tutorial that may be of help:

How To Make a Roundhouse in SCARM track plan

 

 

And if you have problems when editing a large layout because SCARM is working slower than in the beginning, see how to fix it:

 

How To Speed-Up SCARM

Hope these will be useful

Mixy

I sent you the file, I can't get it to work even with the update.  Thanks.

Yesterday I decided to look at the layout building forum for the first time and I came across this thread on SCARM. I had no knowledge of SCARM before yesterday. I have some experience with the Atlas rts software. After reading some of the posts, I downloaded SCARM and was able to create the track plan of my club's layout with no problems. I have to congratulate you on your software. It is now my go to tool for track planning.

Mixy is a great guy and stands behind his service.  He fixed a file for me within a matter of hours and did if for free. 

 

That's hard to beat.  Thanks again!

If you think you like it now, just wait till you learn how to use it better.

Mixy

I seem to have a problem with "no printer installed" since I downloaded the latest version of SCARM, 0.9.24.  Any fix for this problem?  I re-installed the software and it worked one time.  Soon as I closed and reopened the file, the "no printer installed" returned.

 

By the  way, great free layout software.

Ron

Hi Ron,

 

Is there an error message displayed by SCARM or just the "Print..." menu item is grayed?

 

Mixy

Hello Mixy,

The print is just grayed and not available to print the layout.

Thanks,

Ron

Hi Ron,

 

That is because SCARM is unable to find any printers in your system.

Check that you have at least one printer driver installed in Control Panel > Printers.

Check also that you have a default printer set.

If these are OK, try to reset the printer and print spooler settings to defaults as it is possible some setting or unfinished print job to interfere with SCARM and to prevent it to see the printer.

 

Mixy

I will double check to make sure there is no problem with the drivers and spool.  I don't think there is a problem there as I was able to reload the SCARM program and then the printer was active.  I will report back on what I find.

Thanks,

Ron

OK, let me know what you've found.

 

And here are all posts in SCARM Blog for May, June, July and August.

 

Hope that everybody will see something interesting about SCARM there

 

Mixy

Mixy,
Checked spools and any leftover print jobs, no luck.  I loaded a new print driver from Canon with no improvement of the "printer not found" issue.  I tried reloading SCARM version 19 with no print ability.  But when loading the SCARM program, I started to pay closer attention to the pop-up windows that my virus protection program was throwing out.  So during subsequent removal and re-installation of version 24, I finally determined it was my virus/system protection program causing the print problem.  Selecting different options each time finally produced the ability to print.  Apparently, the virus program was isolating the program on the initial start-up after SCARM re-installation.  This became the default at every subsequent start-up.  So bottom line one of the default options of my virus protection was limiting the print function only in SCARM, other functions worked fine.  I had  recently changed virus protection software and must not have tried the print function until recently.

Hope this helps shed some light on this issue.  Again a great program for planning layouts and changing layouts.
Thanks,
Ron

Thank you for the explanation, Ron

 

I am glad that you were able to solve the problem with the printing

 

Mixy

The summer is ending and the new SCARM v. 0.9.25 is ready, coming with two new figures and many new and updated track libraries. Read more about it here:

SCARM Railroad Layout Software 0.9.25 Released

Lionel FasTrack library is updated with all the new tracks form the last track & power catalog. Ross O library now includes the four-way yard switch and all curved radii (I hope). There are also new S-scale (MTH S-Trax) and Standard Gauge (MTH/Lionel and USA LLC) libraries, but the geometry needs to be verified.

The new figures are horizontal and vertical cylinders and will allow drawing of objects and rolling stock, like the small 0-6-0 switcher below:



Hope you will like the new version

 

And remember, that SCARM is still in beta, so always create archives of your layouts and save changes in a given track plan with different file names (just in case)

Mixy

Thanks Mixy!

Dennis
Piscataway, NJ

On Wed, Sep 10, 2014 at 11:55 AM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <
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