What is the best or a good track planning program that I could use on my MacBook Pro? My current layout is 7' x 16'. I would be curious to see how else I might arrange my track using Lionel Fastrack.
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I would like to know as well..
Hello, I have used RailModeller on my Macintosh computer to design my layout and it worked out very well.
Good luck!
I think there is only one for a Mac (Rail Modeler?), but if you are willing to run a Windows emulator on your Mac then there are a lot more possibilities. If you do that, I would probably start with SCARM as it seems to be pretty well liked by folks around here, the author is a forum member and listens to the users requests, and I think it is still free? As far as I know anyway.
I was already heavily invested in RR-Track long before SCARM came out or I would have probably gone that route myself. AnyRail is another one that some forum members use, they have a free trial version that limits the number of track pieces until you buy the full version.
Unfortunately RR-Track has no trial version that I know of, you have to buy it to try, it's kind of pricey, and it's costs add up pretty quickly if you start adding additional libraries. It does come with a few basic libraries and I believe you can select a package deal that will include certain track systems. RR-Track has the most complete selection of libraries for track, accessories, buildings, etc. that I know of.
SCARM has some track libraries included, I think most of the more popular ones. Not sure about accessories, but I think you can make your own accessories, buildings, etc. There have been some threads here where people have posted items they have created in SCARM.
I don't know a lot about these, but there are folks here that are very good with all of them and hopefully they will provide more details.
I can't say "best" because it is the only Mac-native app I know of for rail design, but RailModeler Pro has worked well for me.
rtr12 posted:I think it is still free? As far as I know anyway.
It is still free, but now has a limitation of 100 objects (tracks, etc.) and 5 layers.
Thanks Dave,
I thought I remembered you had told me something about it possibly becoming a pay program. Just couldn't remember the details or if it had started already.
