Freeware Train Layout Editor with 3D Preview

[Mixy]

Hello all

My name is Milen Peev and here I want to present my freeware design program for track planning and layout design:

SCARM Train Layout Editor - means Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeller

It has lightweight and intuitive user interface, 3D viewer, more than 100 track libraries built-in and many other cool functions and features. See the screenshots of one N-scale layout, designed with Atlas N trackwork in SCARM:



I hope that you will like SCARM as it is easy and useful for design of new track plans and layouts

If you want to share some thoughts or suggestions about the program, post a message here - I am open for any new ideas that may lead to improvements in the software and make SCARM better

Mixy

P.S. I am not sure is this the right board for this topic, but couldn’t find more appropriate.

[MVW]

Looks like something fun to play with. I look forward to kicking the tires.

You've put this out on other forums in the past, haven't you?

Jim

[kelticsylk]

Looks pretty good. Reminds me of 3rd Planit, which costs around $100 or so. I'll give it a try.

[packers#1]

Neat; I might have to give that a whirl sometime soon

[martinjurb]

Great timing as I am about start putting pen to paper for a new layout. Will let you know how it goes
thanks
martinjurb

[sumfred]

 
I have been using SCARM now for quite some time and am very pleased with it.
It allows one to use different manufacturers track system in one layout.
I use Kato Unitrack, Fleischmann turntable and Atlas flextrack in my layout designed with SCARM.
Keep up the good work.
Fred

[learmoia]

Pretty cool...

I was able to import a background image of my layout design from CAD, and draw it up in about 2 hours of trial and error... (26'x32')

Couple of Questions.. 
1: Roads:.. What is the best way to do roads?  I was able to do it with 0.15 shapes in light gray, but no lines or anything.
--- It'd be cool if there was a generic Spline and Intersection set for Roads ..

2:  Is there a way to imitate an around the wall layout.  I figured out Backdrops and the layout footprint grows with the trackwork.. but There doesn't seem to be a way to do "Empty Space" in the center.

Beyond those 2 questions.. Cool program! ~Ian

[Mixy]

Thank you, guys

I am glad that you like SCARM. I am continuing to develop it and the next version is almost ready for publishing. Actually, it was planned to be released in the January, but I think that the delay will worth.

@MVW: Yes, I am posting information about SCARM in several other forums. Some things are the same (i.e., when I am publishing a new version), but there are also many replies to specific questions and if I consider them important, I am making a post in the SCARM blog - www.scarm.info/blog.

The blog is the source for all stuff that is not found in the documentation. There are many tips and hints, tutorials, examples, videos and even more about SCARM.

The most easy way to learn SCARM is by practicing it, but it is a good idea to check the SCARM video tutorial series for beginners, even if you’re already an experienced SCARM user

@learmoya: Here are the answers of your questions.

1) The roads are a lack for now, but I was working over dedicated roads feature in the past months and it will appear in the very next update of SCARM. Until that, the only way is by using of the figures. You can make the road surface together with markings. However, you cannot make a slope with the figures, but this will be solved in the upcoming release of SCARM.

The streets in the sample layout from my first post are created in that way.



See this layout with more pictures and details and download the SCARM project file here: US Urban Layout (N scale)

2) You can make around-the-walls baseboard/workbench surface in SCARM by drawing the baseboard shape with opening in it. See how to do it here: Baseboard With a Hole Inside.

More baseboard tips, tricks and tutorials may be found here: Everything about the baseboards in SCARM. The list includes posts about how to create baseboard with holes and openings, how to represent the support structures and frames, how to split the workbench in several modules, how to create baseboard shapes with rounded corners and more.

Mixy

[learmoia]

Sweet thanks!  Cool program.. and at an unbeatable price!!

Well done ~Ian

[Mixy]

And here is it! The new SCARM v. 0.9.24 is ready and published, coming with the long-awaited feature for true roads with grades and various surface markings! See more about it here:

SCARM v. 0.9.24 Released

Hope all you will like it

Mixy

[Mixy]

The first tutorial in the blog about using of the new road feature is published. Read it here:

The Roads in SCARM – Part 1 – Basic Usage



More tutorials about roadways in SCARM will come soon

Mixy

[Mixy]

Here is the list with the blog posts for March - www.scarm.info/blog/2014/03.

And here is the new article about creating custom or double tunnel portals in SCARM, as many users are asking how to make such in their track plans:

Custom Tunnel Portals in SCARM



Hope it will be useful

Mixy

[JoeD]

This looks like a fun piece of software.  I really like Anyrail, but for some reason they do not support any version of XP that I have at home.  I have 4 computers with different releases, updated all of them and still get no joy.  It works on the computer at work, but I don't have much noodling time.  Looking forward to working with this new product.

Thanks for doing this.

Joe

[Mixy]

Thank you, Joe

Any thoughts or ideas about features and usability of SCARM are welcome.

Mixy

[Mixy]

Here are the blog posts for April: www.scarm.info/blog/2014/04.

And here is the list with all tutorials about the roads in SCARM: All about the roadways in SCARM.

Mixy