Konstruktionsbüro JB - Toolz for TRAINZ.
Yard Toolz
This little tutorial will walk you through the creation of a ten track ladder yard.
Step 1 - place the tool on the map
You find the Yard Tool in the Scenery
fly out under the Toolz category. It consists of a board with a number of "anchor
points".
This tutorial shows a tool for a track interval of 4 metres and a turnout of
11,5 degrees.
Other toolz with different track intervals and turnouts will follow shortly. But
this is closest to what one could call a continental European standard ladder,
and as such is a much needed supplement to the already available tools..
Do not consider turning the tool just yet. The beauty of it is, that you can save that little bothersome procedure to the very end, since once placed the track wil stick to the tool until it is erased.
Step 2 - creating the straight tracks
| As
the tool - in principle - works like a crossing, you cannot connect the
vertices directly. You have to use two tracks, which you then join
together. Note that it is of no importance how the result of this particular step appears visually, as this state only is transitorial. By using the remove vertex tool from the advanced track menu, you should quickly see a less clouded picture. Simply click all the surplus vertices and you are ready to proceed. If you want to be abolutely certain that the tracks are straight, then use the straighten track tool too. |
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The end result should look like this.
Step 3 - points
Using the same method as described above you continue to create the different points. When you remove the extra vertices things start to take shape
Remember to add a piece of entry/exit track before proceeding.
If you are in need of more than ten tracks for your yard look here for expansion guidelines
Step 4 - the other end
 |
The Yard Tool allows
for a wide variety of combinations. but the most common is the symmetrical
entry and exit. This is done by adding an extra tool and turning it 180
degrees. Then all you need is to connect the end vertices, and you are ready to build REALLY LONG yards. When everything is in place you simply move one of the Yard toolz into the desired position and turn it accordingly. The right result depends on a combination of transfer and rotation. Just keep fiddling with it until it is just right for your purpose. |
This yard can handle 270m consists, but you can easily build much longer yards to satisfy your particular shunting needs
Step 5 - you are on your own.
Satisfied with our yard outline it is time to say goodbye to our toolz.
Simply use the Erase Scenery Tool and it is gone. At first glace this appears as an unwise thing to do, but fret not, things are easily restored to normal. All it takes is a little patience and you will soon discover, that yard building is not a frustrating pass time.
| Now you must
fill the gaps left over from the pieces of track that came with the Yard
Tool. This is also what makes for the really crisp appearance. The secret of the whole yard building busines is to put these little pieces of STRAIGHT tracks between the actual points. By filling the now vacant slots with the track of your choice and applying the Straighten track tool on each piece you ensure a straight mainline and identical turnouts all the way. |
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All you need now is to add the point machines of your choice and some shunting signals and you are ready to build consists the hard - but real - way.
