Best map scale?

[DieselDesires]

Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong section. The others look specific to content creation (Blender / Gmax etc.) or model / real trains.

I would like to try my hand at using map data with baseboards so I can hopefully 'trace' out a route.

In particular I want to fill in the section on the ECML from the Trent Junction at Gainsborough, through to Barnetby.

To be honest, the tutorials on the map / baseboard creation leave me a little lost.

My only redeeming asset is the fact that I have MemoryMap with the required maps.

These are at 1:25000 scale. Being more of a GPS user, I have never had the need to really learn about scales and stuff.

My addled brain tells me that there is 250m to one square on the map. If so, how do I manage to get an even number of squares on baseboards?

Sorry if its been asked a million times but I just really can't seem to get my head round it.

Thanks

DD

 

[narrowgauge]

Each grid square is 10 x 10 metres by default (5 x 5 if you decide to change them) and the boards are 720 metres square. Work to 1:1 scale.

Does this help?

Peter

 

[DieselDesires]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, I didn't mean the baseboard scale, I meant the OS map scale.

I know they are 1:25000, but am not sure what that means.

I googled around and found various explanations, except one that was actually definitive.

When I look at an OS map, based on 25k scale, what distance is defined in each grid?

As you say, each baseboard is 720m square. This means there will be some sort of overlap and I'm not sure how to get around that either. I might ditch Memory map anyway and use an online source.

I feel the best one for saving of map grids is possibly the old Streetmap site, but again, the problem of scale comes into play.

There is alot to get my head round

 

[mrscsi]

You could do it all manually, one baseboard at a time, or you could do it the easy way which is use TransDem. With TransDem there are plenty of accurate DEM's for Great Britain and Europe as well as the United States and Canada. All of which can be downloaded for free, then you can put a raster map over the DEM, as well as Google or Yahoo ortho photos or Google or Yahoo street maps as UTM tiles which are objects that are placed under the surface slightly so that in wireframe mode in surveyor you can get a very high contrast and detailed picture to lay your track or buildings or any other scenery from.

Then TransDem spits it all out into a map file that can be loaded right up into Trainz.

Some users balk at the price, €21.90 but it really is the best money you'll spend if you're trying to make a very accurate and prototypical map. There is a slight learning curve but I can assure you if I can do it anyone can...:hehe:

 

[pfx]

As mrscsi says, TransDEM is the way to go here. I use it to produce UK topography for Trainz. It takes all the thinking out of the process (well, most of it) and takes information supplied by OS and produces a useable, scaled map which can be directly transferred into Trainz. You can also add vectors, such as a railway, into the map.

For a 19 quid outlay, it's worth it just for the saving in effort alone. Not to mention you get a prototypical basemap to use.

Take a look here http://www.rolandziegler.de/StreckeUndLandschaft/startseiteTransDEMEngl.htm

 

[DieselDesires]

I think that is probably the way I will have to go.

I used to live at Gainsborough and now live at the other end, the Barnetby end and so it would be nice to have that particular section in. It's just a shame that I probably couldnt get it to the standard that the current ECML is produced in.

Thanks folks.