Model rail layout to Trainz.
- Thread starter Craig72
- Start date
Do a search with the name 'basemap' in the CMP. Those assets can be used to get a 'floorplan' in trainz. It's long ago, but I believe I used the ones from 'halfdan'.
As for using model railroad plans in trainz, that's certainly possible, but the few times I did something like that I enlarged them 2 to 3 times so the bends became less tight then in the original. There's a nice thread about how far one can take this idea in the screenshot section of this forum if you're interested.
Greetings from cloudy Amsterdam,
Jan
As for using model railroad plans in trainz, that's certainly possible, but the few times I did something like that I enlarged them 2 to 3 times so the bends became less tight then in the original. There's a nice thread about how far one can take this idea in the screenshot section of this forum if you're interested.
Greetings from cloudy Amsterdam,
Jan
Well, I think that basemaps would be most precise if you really want to use the plan as a template. However, most track plans for HO or N layouts have a grid on them for respectively 50 or 30 centimeter. Lets say you're going for HO then you could decide to let every grid square in trainz be 10 x 10 centimeter for instance, so 5 x 5 squares in trainz are one grid square on your plan and use that as a key to lay out the tracks and elevations. These numbers are just examples of course, maybe you find it's better to use 8 x 8 squares as one on the plan, that's just a choice you have to make.
Greetings from nighttime Amsterdam,
Jan
Greetings from nighttime Amsterdam,
Jan
It sure is.
I believe originally the very earliest version of Trainz was supposed to be a model railroad simulator. It then grew above and beyond that to what it is today.
Using the base-map method, I have taken model railroad plans and scaled them to fit the 1k x 1k meter area. This worked out pretty well in fact and I then laid my track on the plan. One of my routes is on the download station. The Scenic and Relaxed from the Atlas Nine N-Gauge layouts book. They had the plan online on their website so obtaining the plan was a matter of just saving the jpg to disk and scaling it up to fit. It fit over 3 baseboards at the proper, proportional scaling.
What's interesting, even though I did this in the computer instead of in plywood and plaster, I ran into some of the same issues with the track I had when I built the actual layout initially back in 2000. Due to the limitations with the yard design, grade, etc. I had to fiddle the track into place.
John
Do a search with the name 'basemap' in the CMP. Those assets can be used to get a 'floorplan' in trainz. It's long ago, but I believe I used the ones from 'halfdan'.
As for using model railroad plans in trainz, that's certainly possible, but the few times I did something like that I enlarged them 2 to 3 times so the bends became less tight then in the original. There's a nice thread about how far one can take this idea in the screenshot section of this forum if you're interested.
Greetings from cloudy Amsterdam,
Jan
Also look at the route on the DLC called Inglenook (cant remember the full title. That started out as a request for a route from a model layout.
cascaderailroad
New member
Can you post a photo of the track plan on the forum, or a link ?
cascaderailroad
New member
That layout would be so easy ... I would want it bigger though, as a layout like that only gives you @ 1 minute of running a lap, in model RR time ... I will experiment with measuring it, and I presume you want it on a 4'x12', or a 5'x16' layout ?
I myself would use an entire 720m x 720m baseboard, and elaborate on the route, and make hundreds of sidings, and dozens of crossovers.
Also with model trains, a long wheelbase loco looks ridiculous on a 22" radius track, and really should be on a 48" radius track in N Scale.
Pennsylvania Lines <KUID:66545:100125> Is a route that resembles a club size HO layout, try that out for size ! You'll love it !
I will make a 2 or 3 baseboard route, using your design plan ... and we will see how that looks ... and we can always scale it down and make it a model RR platform size (but that would be only a tiny section of a Trainz 720m x 720m baseboard grid).
I myself would use an entire 720m x 720m baseboard, and elaborate on the route, and make hundreds of sidings, and dozens of crossovers.
Also with model trains, a long wheelbase loco looks ridiculous on a 22" radius track, and really should be on a 48" radius track in N Scale.
Pennsylvania Lines <KUID:66545:100125> Is a route that resembles a club size HO layout, try that out for size ! You'll love it !
I will make a 2 or 3 baseboard route, using your design plan ... and we will see how that looks ... and we can always scale it down and make it a model RR platform size (but that would be only a tiny section of a Trainz 720m x 720m baseboard grid).
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cascaderailroad
New member
I am making much progress on a preliminary 1 x 3 Trainz baseboard grid layout, and I will have a CDP for you today (sometime) for review.
At 60 mph it takes a train @ 2 minutes to travel around the layout
At 60 mph it takes a train @ 2 minutes to travel around the layout
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That's a great N-scale layout to build virtually.
I suggest scaling it proportionally so that it maintains its aspect ratio and let it fit over multiple baseboards. If this is a 3 x 6 it'll fit nice on 2 baseboards (well 1 and 1/2 with part hidden). Any area not part of the route, can be chopped off my lowering and applying a dark texture. You can then use backdrops to hide those corners and extend the view. I did this on the Scenic and Relaxed which looks very similar to this plan.
The cool part about Trainz is you can build this multiple times without wasting anything and making a mess while you figure stuff out.
John
Hi Cascade. I thought that when the route was put in to Trainz, it would be a number of baseboards, maybe 10 X 10 or so.
Anyway, I appreciate you doing this for me, so thank you very much.
Craig.
cascaderailroad
New member
Try this as a preliminary test: https://www.cubby.com/pl/New+Folder/_d5bb2b62d4e44719afa98b5752f3b05c
It holds over a 2 1/2 mile long train, and would provide an excellent log run at 40 mph, (@ 5 min).
Which do you prefer, a Right hand running rule, or a Left hand running rule (some Countries drive on the left, and some Countries drive on the right)?
It holds over a 2 1/2 mile long train, and would provide an excellent log run at 40 mph, (@ 5 min).
Which do you prefer, a Right hand running rule, or a Left hand running rule (some Countries drive on the left, and some Countries drive on the right)?
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cascaderailroad
New member
I will ... just for purposes of people across the "big pond" ... I lay my track so that signals don't have to be flipped, and all my track is laid in the intended flow of traffic.
The problem with model railroads is that they are designed for apartment dwellers, people who don't have a HS Gymnasium size basement ... But in Twainz ... We can make things as big as we want !
A new improved test CDP will follow, hopefully tonight ! Complete with passing sidings and crossovers.
Do you want it bigger ? We'll work on that.one as we go along.
It has a pretty big radius ... maybe a bit to big (300m) ?
I used a generic TRS2006 track in the test route, which can easily be changed.
The problem with model railroads is that they are designed for apartment dwellers, people who don't have a HS Gymnasium size basement ... But in Twainz ... We can make things as big as we want !
A new improved test CDP will follow, hopefully tonight ! Complete with passing sidings and crossovers.
Do you want it bigger ? We'll work on that.one as we go along.
It has a pretty big radius ... maybe a bit to big (300m) ?
I used a generic TRS2006 track in the test route, which can easily be changed.
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ray_whiley
Active member
You might be interested in my 'essay' on using model railway/railroad plans in Trainz:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/raywhiley/layout.plans.html
Ray
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/raywhiley/layout.plans.html
Ray