Author Topic: New Free Lionel Track Planning Software (Read 101149 times)

Mixy · « **Reply #15 on:** September 16, 2016, 11:12:58 am »

The new SCARM v. 0.9.34 is ready and published, coming with new and updated track libraries and also with a new extension - the brand new Model Trains Simulator.

Read more details here:

Model Railroad Layout Designer SCARM 0.9.34 Released

The Starter Edition of the simulator is intended for simple 2D and 3D simulations of various operations on the track plans, designed in SCARM. It will show you how the model rolling stock can be operated on a real layout, before buying even a single track.

In this way, you can check the concept of your plan and to discover potential design issues before start the construction of a real layout. And like SCARM, this edition of the simulator is completely free

Please note: the simulator is not directly bundled into SCARM installer. If you want to test it, you must install the latest version of SCARM first and then to use "Extensions" > "Browse for Extensions" menu command in the program in order to download and install the required files.

The simulator opens a whole new world in SCARM universe and can be used not only for checking of particular layout, but also for fun of for playing with the kids. Hope you will like it

Mixy

Quietman · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2016, 08:15:56 am »

This is an EXCELLENT piece of software for something in such an early stage of development.

Couple of things I'd like to see is the ability to save 3d user created figures into an Object library or as individual object. And make a library or object someone else creates importable. That would allow users to create objects for SCARM that could be shared.

I just created a figure for a lionel 497 coaling station. Others would probably like to have it.

I also have some old .3ds models from the late 90's and early 2000's. An importer / converter for such objects would also be great.

Quietman · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2016, 08:20:25 am »

Quote from: Frank67 on October 08, 2015, 03:35:02 am

Hi all -

there's also the free XTrackCAD (now Open Source) available for

for free (and possibly others if you know what to do with the source code..).

XtrakCAD is nice. It's been my go to for a number of years. But it's . . .
1. Not as easy to use as SCARM
2. Has no built in 3D viewing capability. It interfaces with Rail3D through a 3rd party app, but there are bugs that limit it's usefulness (like track elevation)

Mixy · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2016, 01:56:14 am »

Quote from: Quietman on October 04, 2016, 08:15:56 am

This is an EXCELLENT piece of software for something in such an early stage of development.

Couple of things I'd like to see is the ability to save 3d user created figures into an Object library or as individual object. And make a library or object someone else creates importable. That would allow users to create objects for SCARM that could be shared.

I just created a figure for a lionel 497 coaling station. Others would probably like to have it.

I also have some old .3ds models from the late 90's and early 2000's. An importer / converter for such objects would also be great.

Thank you Quietman

I will add your comments in my to-do list.

For now, you can store your user objects as grouped figures in empty project files and share them with others. To use them, just copy and paste the group in the track plan file and then move and rotate it to the desired location. If you want to share your items in the SCARM website, just send these as attachments to

and I will make a dedicated post for them in the SCARM model railroader blog.

About 3DS importer, I cannot promise such right now, but that is possible to appear in some of the future versions of SCARM.

Mixy

Mixy · « **Reply #19 on:** November 06, 2016, 01:51:42 pm »

Hello everybody

Recently, one user of SCARM layout software reported about possible issue with Lionel FT O31 switches and I posted about it here:

Potential Problems With Lionel O FasTrack O31 switches

If you can help me to solve that, please, reply here or write a comment in the blog post.

Mixy

Mixy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 10, 2016, 02:53:07 am »

OK, it was confirmed that the problem comes from the wrong description in the Lionel catalogs and web site. The actual length of these turnouts is 11 3/8".

The updated Lionel-O-Fastrack library for SCARM is ready and published - you can get and install it from the links in the bottom of the same Potential Problems With Lionel O FasTrack O31 switches blog post. The library will be also included in the next version of the program.

Mixy

Mixy · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2017, 07:32:12 am »

The new SCARM v. 0.9.35 is ready and published! It comes with many new and updated track libraries (including the fixed Lionel-O-FasTrack), many bugfixes and more powerful Model Trains Simulator extension. See more about the new version here:

SCARM Track Planning Software 0.9.35 Released

Together with the new release, a new part of the website is also launched - it is a database with Virtual Rolling Stock for use in the MTS PE extension.

Hope you will like all new stuff about SCARM

Mixy

Kurt War · « **Reply #22 on:** April 18, 2017, 03:14:13 pm »

I tried to download the track program and was stopped by my Malwarebytes program. Any suggestions? Kurt

Mixy · « **Reply #23 on:** May 01, 2017, 10:49:21 am »

The new SCARM v. 0.9.37 is ready and published, coming with some new options, many small bugfixes, improved stability and one new cool feature for the MTS Power Edition. Read more details here:

SCARM Model Railroad Layout Design software 0.9.37 Released

Quote from: Kurt War on April 18, 2017, 03:14:13 pm

I tried to download the track program and was stopped by my Malwarebytes program. Any suggestions? Kurt

Malwarebytes and 60 more antivirus scanners reports that SCARM Setup is clean - see the report here: https://virustotal.com/en/file/a9be69905a17fc12b61a5262150bd1220c24ebd54a1d54910111c4dda9015cc9/analysis/

Hope you will like it

Mixy

Mixy · « **Reply #24 on:** July 31, 2017, 07:28:33 am »

The brand new SCARM v. 1.0 is ready and published. Read more about it here:

SCARM v. 1.0 Milestone Released

This version starts a new epoch in the developing of SCARM. Get ready for many new functions and features that will come with the next updates and the future SCARM extensions!

Hope you will like it

Mixy

dv8biker · « **Reply #25 on:** August 19, 2017, 07:14:54 am »

NOT FREE AT ALL.

After you start to learn how to use it a little, BAM! A message pops up to inform you that you are only allowed to lay 50 pieces of track and NOW YOU HAVE TO PAY $30.00 to continue.

FREE is not $30.00! What layout has <50 pieces of track that you would need this for?

Idunno? Very MIS LEADING.

Mixy · « **Reply #26 on:** August 19, 2017, 09:20:39 am »

Well, it was completely free in the past 7 years while it was in beta stage of the development.

And it it still completely free now for creating and editing of small layouts (up to 100 tracks/objects).

But if you want to use the new SCARM v. 1.0 for larger layouts, be so good and pay the license fee - $30 is less than single new Lionel turnout.

If you donated or already has a license for MTS PE, you will get a free license key for the new version of SCARM. But you didn't, right?

Mixy

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