Templot Club Archive 2007-2020
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posted: 25 Aug 2007 10:53 from: Martin Wynne
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Track maps online for use in Templot background scans. Here is a very useful web site if you are modelling present-day tracks. This is an online government resource of OS maps. At first it doesn't look very promising, but if you keep zooming in eventually it breaks into vector mapping down to the level of individual rails.  This OS vector mapping is very expensive to buy, but this is a free resource of small extracts for planning purposes. Unfortunately it has a rather prominent watermark on every image. click: OS Planning Maps Right-clicking to save the image doesn't work, but in Firefox you can use the Tools > Page Info > Media function to do Save As... on the map image. Note that there is a time limit for doing this after displaying the page -- the image url is created temporarily in the database. Or you could take screen captures, of course. Then use photo-stitch software from your digital camera to create a larger map for use as a Templot background picture shape. Or simply use multiple picture shapes -- use the shift shape mouse action with transparent images to align them. If you use these maps in Templot, please don't upload Templot screenshots here -- OS copyrights bite!  regards, Martin. |
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posted: 25 Aug 2007 13:50 from: Bernard C
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Hi Martin Impressive and fascinating. However, does 'Planning Portal' across the zoomed maps have to remain? Regards Bernard |
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posted: 25 Aug 2007 16:53 from: Martin Wynne
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Bernard C wrote: However, does 'Planning Portal' across the zoomed maps have to remain?Hi Bernard, This is a "watermark" which OS insist on in order to make their expensive digital mapping available free. Using a graphics editor such as Paint Shop Pro it should be possible to tone down the watermark, but not eliminate it entirely (which would infringe the OS licence). There is currently a political campaign about the high cost of OS data -- see Free Our Data. Another site using free watermarked OS maps is the DEFRA "Magic Map" web site: http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/ The OS maps are used as a back-drop image in monochrome, over which various land use markings are added as layers. You must have at least one layer, but some have minimal effect on the usefulness of the base map, e.g. Administrative Areas. The grey monochrome can be made darker in Paint Shop Pro. On Magic Map you can enter any exact scale and have the OS map enlarged to suit. The smallest useful scale to enter is 1:2500 which enlarges the OS 1:10,000 map 4 times and corresponds to the well-known old 25" maps. But at this scale the Planning Portal mapping is much more detailed and useful instead. Magic Map zooming (draw a rectangle) and panning (drag the map) are similar to the planning site. The map size depends on your screen size. (You must allow pop-ups from this site to get the maps.) Here's some bumf from the Magic Map web site: "Map Scales available in MAGIC Another site of great interest is http://www.npemap.org.uk on which most of the country is available scanned from the New Popular Edition 1" OS maps of the 1940s and early 1950s (now out of copyright). An excellent site for nostalgia and retracing childhood journeys! regards, Martin. |
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posted: 10 Jun 2008 21:41 from: adj click the date to link to this post click member name to view archived images |
I've collated an image using the OS maps from the planning portal as per topic 142 I now need to import the map/image into Templot. From what I've gathered I need to know the resolution (I guess the image size in this case) and the scale. Does anybody how I can determine the scale of the image of the maps used? The scale bar says 10m but I've noticed it's the same at the next zoom level too. Any suggestions or will I have to guesstimate? Cheers all, Adriano |
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posted: 11 Jun 2008 02:17 from: Martin Wynne
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adj wrote: Does anybody how I can determine the scale of the image of the maps used? The scale bar says 10m but I've noticed it's the same at the next zoom level too.Hi Adriano, The 10m scale bar on the maps should change in length at different zoom levels. When creating the picture shape, use the green bar option drawing, photograph or other picture. Enter the full image width in model size mm as near as you can guess. Then use the action > mouse actions: shapes > scale shape mouse action to re-scale the image to the exact size. To check the size you can set the grid spacing to the model equivalent of the 10m bar (use the grid in front of shapes option, on by default in 091c). Or use the ruler tool -- tools > ruler > show ruler . Using the ruler, ALT+left-click can be used to set one end of the ruler on one end of the 10m bar, ALT+right-click on the other end. You can then read off the length of the ruler, and scale the image until you get the required size. Or use the read-outs on the jotter to measure the 10m bar in the image. Use ALT+left-click to zero the dX, dY readout. tools > jotter menu item. Don't forget to save the .bgs file when you have the image the correct size. regards, Martin. |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 19:59 from: Mark Leigh
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Martin Wynne wrote: Hi Martin, This OS Planning Link doesn't seem to work on my computer. It takes me to the planning portal website with a few tools on the left hand side and a square map viewer box, but no map inside!!! Any Ideas? Mark |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 20:28 from: Alan Turner
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Mark Leigh wrote: Hi Martin, Give it time - it works eventualy, Alan |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 20:29 from: Martin Wynne
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Mark Leigh wrote:This OS Planning Link doesn't seem to work on my computer. It takes me to the planning portal website with a few tools on the left hand side and a square map viewer box, but no map inside!!!Hi Mark, Make sure "Zoom In" is selected on the left. Click on the blank viewer box and wait several seconds. Click again and wait several seconds. Repeat until eventually you will see a map of the UK appear. Keep clicking on the location you want and waiting each time for it to zoom in. Each step can take several seconds. Just when you are finally about to give up exhausted, it will break into vector mapping and show "Planning Portal" in large grey lettering across the map. Change to "Move Map" on the left so that you can drag the map about, then zoom in some more to see the rails. I can only imagine this site is intentionally so clunky to deter folks from getting to the valuable vector mapping free of charge. Don't give up -- it's worth it in the end. regards, Martin. |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 21:04 from: Mark Leigh
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Alan Turner wrote: Nope Sorry Alan it don't. The map viewing window has a broken (torn-up) piece of paper symbol in mine Thanks all the same. Mark |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 21:11 from: Martin Wynne
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Mark Leigh wroteThe map viewing window has a broken (torn-up) piece of paper symbol in mineHi Mark, So has mine. You just have to keep clicking and waiting. Try clicking "Zoom to Full Map" on the left and waiting. Then do it again. And again. Martin. |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 21:18 from: John Lewis
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It worked for me just now. Using Opera 10.10, Windows XP. SP3 John |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 21:25 from: Mark Leigh
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Martin Wynne wrote: Mark Leigh wrote:Hi Martin,This OS Planning Link doesn't seem to work on my computer. It takes me to the planning portal website with a few tools on the left hand side and a square map viewer box, but no map inside!!!Hi Mark, Thanks for the help. I kept clicking and when i was exhausted 15minutes later i was about to give it up as a bad idea. Then i decided to copy the link from Firefox to Internet Explorer (now i know why i use Firefox - my personal view of course!) and oddly enough it works there. Must be a few aliens in my Firefox? Anyway your right - on first impressions well worth the wait.   Mark |
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posted: 16 Feb 2010 21:58 from: Martin Wynne
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Hi Mark, Glad you got there in the end. I'm sure that site didn't used to be so slow. The good news is that I have found a URL which gives a larger map area: Larger Planning Portal Map Also, to get started, simply click once on "Zoom to Full Map" on the left. The broken icon in the top corner of the map area should then become whole, but otherwise nothing seems to be happening at all. But if you just wait, and wait, and wait -- eventually a map of the UK appears. You can then zoom in, drag, and zoom again, to wherever you want. Use the options on the left to change the mouse actions. (It's necessary to wait several seconds after every mouse click before the result appears.) regards, Martin. |
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posted: 17 Feb 2010 20:19 from: Mark Leigh
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Martin Wynne wrote: Hi Mark,Hi Martin, Thanks for the reply. After finding out that it would load under "Internet Explorer" but not under my normal browser "Firefox" i decided to look deeper into this and found out that at some point i'd blocked this site. Its all up and running fine now. Whilst on this subject of "stitching" shots together, how do i go about that? Is there a link to how to do this? Do i need some special software to achieve this? I've noticed that you can get maps fromStanford Maps but what size? Problem with the above is i haven't really decided the location of my P4 layout so this could be an expensive way!!!!! Regards Mark |
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posted: 17 Feb 2010 20:25 from: Mark Leigh
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Hi All, Sorry the above was a question to the whole forum not directed at Martin Mark |
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posted: 18 Feb 2010 00:42 from: Nigel Brown click the date to link to this post click member name to view archived images |
If one's interested in older plans, there's always the railway companies' official track plans. I obtained quite a few of the Aberystwyth area from OPC a number of years ago when they were providing this service in conjunction with BR; as they were copied to microfiche they're probably still obtainable from the National Railway Museum. Think they should be fine for use with Templot, in fact when I've time I intend to have a go with one or two. cheers Nigel |
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posted: 18 Feb 2010 19:04 from: Mark Leigh
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Nigel Brown wrote: If one's interested in older plans, there's always the railway companies' official track plans. I obtained quite a few of the Aberystwyth area from OPC a number of years ago when they were providing this service in conjunction with BR; as they were copied to microfiche they're probably still obtainable from the National Railway Museum. Think they should be fine for use with Templot, in fact when I've time I intend to have a go with one or two.Hi Nigel, Thanks for that info. I've now managed to stitch together some track work via the OS Planning Maps. I haven't yet done much more than that as there were several types of file i could save it as and it was getting rather late. I thought i was stitching together some maps not knitting a jumper!!!! It would be helpful if anyone in Templot club who has used OS maps to produce a templot to guide me gently in the right direction on what to do next? What type of file extension? --- a link maybe, tutorial or something........please. Or just a nudge  Mark |
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posted: 18 Feb 2010 21:40 from: Martin Wynne
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Mark Leigh wrote:I thought i was stitching together some maps not knitting a jumper!!!!Hi Mark, You don't actually need to stitch them together. You can load each one into Templot as a separate picture shape, and then align them in Templot. Temporarily set one of them transparent and align it over the previous one(s) using the shift shape mouse action. I wrote some detailed notes on RMweb about setting up Planning Portal maps in Templot. RMweb is offline for a server move* at present, as soon as it's back I will find and post the link. For use in Templot you must save the captured images as Windows .bmp files only. *RMweb is moving into the care of Jim Hale in Ohio, who already looks after us here on Templot Club. regards, Martin. |
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posted: 18 Feb 2010 23:17 from: Brian McK click the date to link to this post click member name to view archived images |
Martin advised: The good news is that I have found a URL which gives a larger map area: I visited this resource out of curiosity, and made a series of about 40 screen-saves of tracks out of Kings Cross and St. Pancras, to as far as Caledonian Road Station. To reach the first level of vector files took ten separate zoom-in clicks, then two further zoom-in clicks displayed the tracks reasonably well with the scale bar then reading '50metres' in the left bottom corner of each of the 600 pixel square views. These views were all stitched together into one large GIF file of 3.6mb. Getting carried away, images from Google Earth were stitched and placed in the background behind the patchwork of maps. The fit of this photo mosaic is quite good, but not pixel perfect relative to some of the drafted buildings. Intriguingly, the photo required counterclockwise rotation of 1.53 degrees to align with the maps. With photos, this second GIF file grew to 14.9mb. I'm not sure if these files would email successfully but I'll try it once only if anyone is interested. I was resident in Kings Cross 1972-73, and worked 'up the Pentonville Road', before Victor's had arrived there, but who were selling model items out of a broom closet from their music shop amidst the fruit and vegetables of Chapel Market. -Brian McKenzie |
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posted: 19 Feb 2010 01:52 from: Martin Wynne
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Brian McK wrote: Martin advised:Hi Brian,The good news is that I have found a URL which gives a larger map area:To reach the first level of vector files took ten separate zoom-in clicks, then two further zoom-in clicks displayed the tracks reasonably well with the scale bar then reading '50metres' in the left bottom corner of each of the 600 pixel square views. I have been trying this site again tonight and made some progress: 1. It's not necessary to make the first click. If you simply visit the link and wait long enough, the full UK map eventually appears. Maybe the site was broken and has been fixed. 2. You can zoom in much faster if instead of simply clicking with the "Zoom In" tool, you draw a tiny red rectangle on the map. By making this rectangle small enough, I found I could get from the full UK map down to the vector mapping level in only two stages. regards, Martin. |
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posted: 20 Feb 2010 10:54 from: Martin Wynne
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Martin Wynne wrote:I wrote some detailed notes on RMweb about setting up Planning Portal maps in Templot. RMweb is offline for a server move* at present, as soon as it's back I will find and post the link.Hi Mark, RMweb is not yet back online, but I posted similar notes about using the Planning Portal maps in Templot in this topic: topic 957 - message 5549 You can see Dave Long's screenshots from that topic at a larger size in the Image Gallery, (click the link to see the original size): http://85a.co.uk/forum/view_gallery_single.php?display=ALL&page=241 http://85a.co.uk/forum/view_gallery_single.php?display=ALL&page=242 regards, Martin. |
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posted: 20 Feb 2010 13:43 from: Nigel Brown click the date to link to this post click member name to view archived images |
Russell wrote: Nigel Brown wrote:Useful info, I hadn't actually tried ordering plans although I ordered some Cambrian Railways wagon drawings a couple of weeks ago. Until recently NRM were quite discouraging about ordering the OPC stuff by post, their line being that you should visit them to check on what you are ordering as the OPC numbers were "unreliable". They seemed to be particularly reluctant to deal with station plans as they seemed not to hold the originals. Thank goodness common sense seems to now prevail. It would be even more useful if they published the numbers (maybe they do, but I've not checked this); I still have the OPC lists of the stuff I was interested in, but that's less than half the total.If one's interested in older plans, there's always the railway companies' official track plans. I obtained quite a few of the Aberystwyth area from OPC a number of years ago when they were providing this service in conjunction with BR; as they were copied to microfiche they're probably still obtainable from the National Railway Museum. Think they should be fine for use with Templot, in fact when I've time I intend to have a go with one or two. |
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posted: 13 Mar 2010 15:30 from: Bernard C
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Martin Wynne wrote: Hi Mark,Hi Martin Please can you send to me the link you refer to above regarding setting up Planning Portal maps in Templot. Regards Bernard |
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posted: 13 Mar 2010 15:41 from: Martin Wynne
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Bernard C wrote:Please can you send to me the link you refer to above regarding setting up Planning Portal maps in Templot.Hi Bernard, Thanks for reminding me. The full topic is at: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39387 My notes at: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=604094#p604094 regards, Martin. |
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posted: 13 Mar 2010 15:48 from: Bernard C
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Martin Wynne wrote: Bernard C wrote:Please can you send to me the link you refer to above regarding setting up Planning Portal maps in Templot.Hi Bernard, Hi Martin Wonderful. Many thanks Regards Bernard |
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posted: 3 May 2010 09:04 from: roythebus
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Another good way of getting track plans is google maps, go to the biggest zoom you can, and it seems to be about right for 2mm/ft! | ||
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