How to Draw a Scale Layout Design?

Why don't you use SCARM? It's free, just search for it, download it, and plan away.

The software RRTracks v5.0 has a 6" grid. Hope this helps.

I agree that using track planning software is probably the best way to go.  As a child I used to scratch out some track plans using pencil and paper before constructing my carpet layouts.  As an adult, I now use SCARM and couldn’t be happier with it.  Like  Nicks Trains said it’s free and easy to use.

The scale that you use depends on the size of the paper to fit the room and the layout on to it. Then you need a template for the curve radii that you plan to use to match that scale.

What is not turning out for you? The room should be a simple exercise of converting it to your scale.

Are you averse to using layout design software?

Michael,

Go with track planning software.  Its easy to do slight variations to the plan without losing the original.  I must have hundreds of saved files for my current layout build, each one having a slight change to see what happens to the overall design.  If I didn't like the change to the plan then I would go back to the previous saved version to try something else.  If after doing many changes to get something I wanted but it didn't work out, I would go back many versions and start over from there.

My pencils, graph paper, track templates and erasers are in a drawer somewhere; haven't used them in years.

Years ago when I drew track plans on paper, I generally used a scale of 3/4" = 1 foot, so 1/16" = 1 inch for convenience. Now I use SCARM because it makes easy work of track and turnout geometry, its relatively fast fun and easy, and has great 3-D imaging to plan scenery. SCARM has extensive track libraries for different brands of track, and you can do custom-spec flex-track arrangements. It's free software, you can't beat that!

Thanks for all the feedback! I will download SCARM when I return home from school.

Michael, there's plenty of help here and there are a lot of tutorials available for how to do things in SCARM. it may take a bit to get the hang of using software for design, but it's well worth it in the long run. And free is always good.

I am very old school (cuz' I'm old!, and my Dad was a mechanical engineer, too), and I like putting pencil to paper! I actually enjoy hand drawing and counting the little squares- using four squares equals one foot, one square equals three inches. So I do use graph paper. I tape pieces together to make it big enough. I add colored marker pens to emphasize certain things. 

I don't know if Scarm was around when I started designing my layout.  I used (use) RRTrack software.  It is excellent.

Dennis

I used RR-Tracks to draw my layout. Once you get the hang of it it's fun and easy. It's pc based so if you gave a Mac you must be willing to use a virtual Windows, or whatever it's called, platform. Never tried SCRAM but I did use pencil and graph paper with a CTT Track Template made of plastic that had scale outlines of the common Lionel track. That was fun too, taping enough sheets of paper together to represent your space, tracing, erasing, tracing dome more... 

Mike

Dennis posted:

I don't know if Scarm was around when I started designing my layout.  I used (use) RRTrack software.  It is excellent.

Dennis

I also use v5 of RR-Track because SCARM didn't come out until after I started back in the hobby. I then convert my designs to SCARM for the different 3D view. They both have their pros and cons, but SCARM is still free, so that's a bonus.

Nicks Trains posted:

Why don't you use SCARM? It's free, just search for it, download it, and plan away.

I downloaded it, (at least I thought I did)- but all that is new in my applications is Friendlysocket and Pronto file folder. Obviously not good.

Carey,

I have attached what you should have downloaded from SCARM.  The SCARM author, Mixy, allows advertisements on his webpage to fund his efforts, and, often, those advertisers use somewhat deceptive practices or placements to get you to download their product.  Use what you see below.

Chuck

PRR1950 posted:

Carey,

I have attached what you should have downloaded from SCARM.  The SCARM author, Mixy, allows advertisements on his webpage to fund his efforts, and, often, those advertisers use somewhat deceptive practices or placements to get you to download their product.  Use what you see below.

Chuck

wah... I did download your link, but when i tried to open it it said, "Safari can’t open the file “SCARM Setup v0.9.31.exe” because no available application can open it."

I agree with everyone in using a computer program, just like we do in real life for buildings, bridges, roads, and everything else. 

If you are curious about drawing scales. Lookup architectural scale online. This will explain the method and madness behind 3/4" = 1'-0" or whatever scale you want. This may help you if you print your drawings to scale and need to measure something if you didn't dimension. 

Chris 

This is the official website. Don't forget, SCARM doesn't work on a MAC unless you're runnig Windows.

http://www.scarm.info/index.php

I did get it to work on my MAC.  But I'm sticking with paper and pencil.  The computer is just too cumbersome to make track diagrams with.  

Dan Padova posted:

I did get it to work on my MAC.  But I'm sticking with paper and pencil.  The computer is just too cumbersome to make track diagrams with.  

I used to think it was too cumbersome to set up the mouse driver on a 286 computer. What would I need a mouse for?