having trouble being creative

[weston hickoryottfarms]

i have been trying for about two years to come up with a track plan for my table that i like, i have started three times now but tore them all down to start over. i have been trying to use this software and look at examples but i am just not creative enough to come up with a good layout i cant think in elevations only a flat surface. would there be anyone here willing to help create a track plan for my table. please and thank you

[David]

It usually works better the other way around.

Once you've decided on the modeling scale and room you have, try to come up with a theme and an era that interests you. For instance a certain industry, or maybe a small town scene from the steam era. Japanese bullet trains or rail buses in the mountains from the sixties.

Once you have that, you can try to find pictures of the theme, so you get some inspiration on what you want to display.

Now, you can decide on the geometry: point-to-point, run around, dog bone, etc.

Make a rough sketch on paper to indicate how you want the main lines to run.

Only then, start AnyRail, and try to replicate these main lines. You will probably find it won't fit, so erase anything not relevant to your theme. Repeat until you have the main idea working. Once you have that, you can think of station layouts, fiddle yards, etc.

I hope this helps!

[weston hickoryottfarms]

thank you that does help i have been looking at track plans on here and the internet is the a way to load a plan from anyrail into the program so i can make it fit my space and customize it to my liking

[LDL]

i have been looking at track plans on here and the internet is the a way to load a plan from anyrail into the program

Plans saved in AnyRail format (.any) will open in AnyRail.

[Richard Ingraham]

i have been trying for about two years to come up with a track plan for my table that i like, i have started three times now but tore them all down to start over. i have been trying to use this software and look at examples but i am just not creative enough to come up with a good layout i cant think in elevations only a flat surface. would there be anyone here willing to help create a track plan for my table. please and thank you

Maybe start by telling us the dimensions of the space you have to occupy with your layout and anything that is in the way, like doors, walkways, support posts, furnaces, etc..

That is where I started.  I put my basement space into AnyRail first.  Then I saved that, along with a few layers of starting ideas into an AnyRail Template file.  When I get frustrated with what I've come up with in AnyRail.  I just save it, with a unique version number, close it.  Then reopen my template and start over.  But my room is all there.  You could do the same thing with your prebuilt tables if you wanted.  But I would really start with the room, then make the basic idea of the track plan.  Don't add all the switches and details.  Then add in bench work that makes sese to support the basic sketch.  Then I add in the rest of the layout, sidings, etc..  and the last thing is scenery, unless there is something really prominent that takes up a lot of space.  Like a turntable and roundhouse. 

[weston hickoryottfarms]

this is what i have so far my benchwork and trying to get the mainline loop done

[LDL]

If you want a 9' X 17' island, how about a walk-in?

You'd want to separate the tracks along the south side.  Maybe a viewblock, or maybe have one line under the other for layover space.