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RR-Track v4is a Windows 95/98, or Windows NT/Windows 2000, or Windows XP hosted, graphically based layout application for model railroads.RR-Track is based on track libraries which depict the actual sectional track available from manufacturers such as Lionel,Curtis HiRail, Ross Custom Switches, GarGraves Trackage, K-Line, RydinIndustries, American Flyer, American Models, LGB, MicroEngineering, AristoCraft,TDV; Atlas, Hornby, Kato, Peco, RailTech, and Märklin. RR-Track prints to any Windows supported printer, and exports to Windows Bitmap files for portability.
Layouts may be of any size, with a minimum size of 1’ by 1’ accepted. You may zoom out to view the entire layout, or zoom in up to a factor of 64 on any part of the layout. Several layouts may be open at once so that you can easily go back and forth between layout variations, or copy items between them.
Track is placed by selecting the desired track section from the menu, and then placing it on the layout using your mouse or other pointing device. Track sections may be joined either manually by you, or automatically by RR-Track. Track sections of compatible types (such as GarGraves and Lionel ‘O’) may be joined together if desired, and gauges may be mixed on a given layout (separate loops of course). RR-Track has a relaxation engine which allows it to dynamically adjust the positions and orientations of track sections in order to close loops since many manufactures track systems do not fit together exactly. Adjusting the track fit provides key information on how much stress you are building into your layout, indicating where you may wish to place special cut track sections. Custom cut-to-length and bent-to-radius track sections are included for those track libraries that support it, as well as cut curved sections in libraries such as Lionel O. Any track section may be designated as an overpass section in order to clearly show overpasses on your layout. You may also designate tunnel sections to allow 3-D Viewer and TerraMapper to generate terrain features that cover those track sections.
Track libraries whose manufacturers have flexible track, contain TrackWizard which automates common tasks, like finding the combination of stock, custom curve, and general curve sections that are needed to fill the gap between two sections of track. TrackWizard is summoned when you use the ruler tool to make a measurement between track ends. A single button click then fills the gap with track of your choice. Of course, you also have the option of just placing a piece of flexible track, and manipulating it with the mouse pointer.
Layouts may have up to 128 distinct, named, drawing layers with any number of track, accessory, and objects items in a layer. Layers can be working, active, inactive, grayed, or hidden. You may assign default drawing colors for the track in a layer. By making use of multiple drawing layers you can create complex layouts without having the complexity make it difficult to understand your plans. Layers are used to group track, accessories, and objects by visibility, and have nothing really to do with the height of items. Even for a simple layout with one elevation you can use layers to advantage by having a layer for mainline track, yard track, wiring, accessories, and scenery. In this manner you can work on items in one layers, such as wiring, without having to avoid items in another layer, such as the track layers. These layers could be set inactive, which would leave them visible, sort of like wallpaper, but not selectable with the mouse. While working on track arrangements, you could hide the scenery, and so forth. Since you can set the outline and fill colors for a layer, you can use layers to color-code different track loops.
Terrain and layout bench units are created with TerraMapper, a built-in applet for terrain mapping. You can specify contours of constant, height, single points, as well as rectangular and polygonal base sections. TerraMapper is closely coupled with the 2D layout plan view and 3-D Viewer in order to create realistic-looking terrain with minimal user input.
Support for drawing basic objects such as circles, rectangles, polygons, and lines is included as well as simple buildings, shrubs, embankments, ponds, and boulders in order to depict trackside accessories and obstacles. These objects may be grouped together to form more complex structures, and may be colored and filled individually to suit your taste. All objects are editable; you can resize or rescale objects at any time. You may designate electrical block breaks, and include straight track with an electrically isolated rail for activating trackside accessories. You may indicated elevations and grades in your layout.
Finally,RR-Track organizes and displays your layout components with the ItemList Viewer applet. Here, among other things, you can review the estimated cost of your layout, with prices taken from configuration files that you may edit to reflect your own sources.
Owners will be advised of upgrades as they become available at a nominal cost. Updates to the v4 main executable and helper applets will be available for downloading from the web. Further track and accessory libraries may be added as you desire to your basic RR-Track configuration; track and accessory libraries beyond those described further on will be added in the future.
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