Ted S posted:Hello @Mixy!
Not sure if this is the right place to post this... I recently switched to the paid version of SCARM from RR-Track. On the whole it's a great program. I especially like the ability to view what I've built in 3-D, and also conduct simulated operations with multiple locomotives moving at once.
There are a few things I miss, namely:
(1) The ability to move an object, track, etc., in ONE cardinal direction with the keyboard. Is there a menu, Ctrl, alt, shift-type command to do this in SCARM?
Not that I know about - I select and CTRL- Left mouse click select multiple items and move them with the mouse. The screen view moves with the arrow keys or center mouse down and hold and drag.
(2) Is there any way to set the "grid" resolution to something coarser than a couple of millimeters? This would be an aid to getting things properly aligned, which is something I've struggled with in pretty much all of these track design programs. Especially where a turnout has to connect track running at an angle with track running horizontally or vertically.
On the Menu bar - select TOOLS>SETTINGS>DIMENSIONS to set the grid to your preference - track fitment becomes an art form the more that you work with layout designs. It is key to producing a plan for the build which must be exact. Knowledge of the geometry that a track manufacturer uses is also key.
(3) Mountains and terrain- I wish SCARM would smoothly blend the terrain between contours (those derived from figures) the way it does on top of a tunnel, etc. All of my mountains end up looking like a multi-tier wedding cake. I know about the "trick" to hide an unconnected piece of tunnel track or roadway spline under the terrain. This works sometimes, but it's a clunky workaround in an otherwise elegant program.
Don't call this clunky when you consider what the 3D view of terrain looked like in RR-Track or in any other model train layout design software. Then, consider that you can run a simulation in 3D mode. The 3D engine can't handle diagonal image generation in this form. Many of us created structures and buildings and would have liked the smooth transition.
Thank you for providing the model railroad community with an excellent tool!
Yes, it is an excellent tool - perhaps Milen (MIXY) will have more to add.
