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I've discovered a unusual tool for planing layouts or making changes to existing layouts - an RC helicopter!
We have all spent many hours in our yard with a string, tape measure, and stakes/flags trying to map out the biggest curves possible. Some of us have even tried creating CAD models - but creating an accurate digital model of your yard is a challenge - until now. By using an RC helicopter with an attached camera it is quite easy to take high resolution overhead photographs of your target area. You can then import these images into a drawing program (like VISIO) and scale the drawing by referencing an object in the drawing of known dimensions. Presto! You now have your accurate "CAD model" of your layout area.
As a case study, here is my holiday layout. The left hand portion of the layout has been problematic for 2 reasons - it makes access to my neighbors backyard tight, and my Berkshire derails the pilot truck on the curves. In the drawing, the black circles are 9' radius - plenty for the Berk, and show a routing that resolves both these issues. It will require, as you can see, relocating a bush, but I'm willing to do so.
Click for photo
BTW - the red circles on the right verify the existing permanent track is 7.1' radius for the outer loop (which should be fine for the Berk). The black circle on the right shows how a 9' radius could be constructed using some cross overs and minor track changes (something I hope to avoid). In case your are wondering, the drawing was scaled using the rectangular platform along the double track. The platform is 2' x 5'.
For anyone near San Jose, I would be more than happy to come out with my RC heli and photo equipment to take pictures of your layout. Winter is an ideal time for this as most of the leaves are gone from the trees.
Cheers,
Mark
We have all spent many hours in our yard with a string, tape measure, and stakes/flags trying to map out the biggest curves possible. Some of us have even tried creating CAD models - but creating an accurate digital model of your yard is a challenge - until now. By using an RC helicopter with an attached camera it is quite easy to take high resolution overhead photographs of your target area. You can then import these images into a drawing program (like VISIO) and scale the drawing by referencing an object in the drawing of known dimensions. Presto! You now have your accurate "CAD model" of your layout area.
As a case study, here is my holiday layout. The left hand portion of the layout has been problematic for 2 reasons - it makes access to my neighbors backyard tight, and my Berkshire derails the pilot truck on the curves. In the drawing, the black circles are 9' radius - plenty for the Berk, and show a routing that resolves both these issues. It will require, as you can see, relocating a bush, but I'm willing to do so.
Click for photo
BTW - the red circles on the right verify the existing permanent track is 7.1' radius for the outer loop (which should be fine for the Berk). The black circle on the right shows how a 9' radius could be constructed using some cross overs and minor track changes (something I hope to avoid). In case your are wondering, the drawing was scaled using the rectangular platform along the double track. The platform is 2' x 5'.
For anyone near San Jose, I would be more than happy to come out with my RC heli and photo equipment to take pictures of your layout. Winter is an ideal time for this as most of the leaves are gone from the trees.
Cheers,
Mark
