I have an N Gauge Group that would find Templot and making points like Witchcraft but happily chop-up track over a printed plan.  I can get along with Trax and use it well to make the best of set-points in a plan but the printing side of Trax complicated on larger plans. 
I am asking here (on 85A) if it would be possible to make "point plans" as such (would stay within Templot as a saved file or a saved track section on the plan) that only match the rail geometry of set-points at the outer edge of the turnout as made- say at where the check rail end and the other end at point blade toes? 
...yes, all the sleeper/timber locations that Templot produces would be ignored as they have been set by the manufacturer on the set-point.

Bill




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Hi Bill,

Welcome to Templot Club.

Templot can be used to create set-track style templates if you wish, and they can be used in creating a Templot track plan. You would be using only a fraction of the capabilities of Templot, but it is a tool to be used in any way you wish.

Most users of commercial track prefer to use programs designed for the purpose, such as AnyRail:

 https://www.anyrail.com

although unlike Templot they don't usually allow for the chopping down of fixed pointwork.

There are some sample Peco Streamline 00/H0 templates available for downloading from:

 http://85a.co.uk/forum/view_topic.php?id=294&forum_id=10




Sorry I don't have any info about the geometry of N gauge set-track pointwork -- you would need to create custom turnouts from it. Someone may have a already done so, and be willing to share the Templot .box files.

Anyone?

cheers,

Martin. 

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Matrin, yeah I tried anyrail and realised it needed a whole set of new learning curves and that i don't mind except I have my own ambitions with Templot (assuming I can get on with it) and plans I wish to do. On that basis then it seems practical to only learn one.

The principles of using Templot, I would of thought, are the same for N Gauge as it is with OO Gauge Peco Streamline. What you have given me is the chance to try Templot out so thanks
Bill
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Hi Bill,

You mentioned chopping templates back to the end of the check rails, and to the switch toe (point blades).

To shorten a template to the end of the check rails, use the F4 mouse action. The next template can then be snapped directly onto the end of the main road using the SHIFT & JOIN F7 button. For the turnout road, you need to put the fixing peg on the TOLP peg position and snap the next template manually using the notch, or use the peg/align tools > snapping functions onto TOLP.

Alternatively, instead of F4 you can adjust the main road and turnout road exit lengths independently, and you would then snap on to the MEXITP and TEXITP peg positions.

To shorten the switch to the point blades by omitting the switch front, click the do > blank up to switch toe menu item. To snap on the next template there, use the TP peg position.

cheers,

Martin.

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