Atlas Model Railroad Co. Product Review

Atlas In The News

The following review of Atlas' Right Track Software Program was taken from the June issue of Model Railroader Magazine. For a copy of this issue or a subscription, call or write: Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187, (800) 558-1544.

Atlas Layout Planning Software For Microsoft Windows

Atlas Model Railroad Co. offers a glimpse into the future with its Right Track layout-planning software for MS-DOS compatible personal computers. Right Track helps you develop precise track plans using HO and N scale electronic track and structure templates to make sure everything fits.

A setup program is included and installation takes about 5 minutes. The help menus and a 22-page 51/2" x 81/2" illustrated documentation booklet make it easy to learn the program.

The program has a fairly standard Windows screen layout with a tool bar across the top of the window and pull-down menus. A library ribbon lets you highlight a part before you add it to the track plan with one of the placement tools. Many of the more popular commands have single keystroke equivalents so you can move the mouse with one hand and choose tools with the other.

With our sample running, I set the benchwork parameters. A pop-up menu offers a selection of benchwork outlines up to 4 x 8 feet. Larger sizes may be created using the X and Y coordinates, but I found the program only easily allows the rectangular straight-line benchwork - anything more complicated takes a calculator and some time to create. The maximum layout size I could draw was about 245 feet square!

I used the software to make the Atlanta Central's 4 x -foot track plan (shown on page 96 of the June issue of MR) with both sectional and flex-track, using the placement tool to position the first piece of track. Unless it's attached to an existing element, each new track piece appears in the same orientation as its library icon. Then the new item can be turned as desired with the rotation tool.

Another tool lets you add new track sections. All the connected pieces act as one element even though they still look like individual pieces. I found it's better to build curves in a counter-clockwise direction to avoid having to reverse each new piece.

To remove a section, use the disconnect tool to separate it from the others and then delete it.

Right Track can also place flex-track. However, both ends of the flex-track must be attached to a piece of sectional, so place the turnouts first. Using flex-track for a spur requires wither a bumper at the end or a short fitter track that can be removed later. There's no provision for setting a minimum radius, so any curves must be adjusted manually.

Layout designers can turn the part descriptions and item number on and off. I found it was easier to work with this data turned off.

Right Track includes libraries of all current Atlas HO and N scale track, turnouts, buildings, and bridges, plus Walther's Cornerstone and Design Preservation Models building.

The completed plan can be printed on any device supported by Microsoft Windows. I printed our track plan on a Post-script-compatible laser printer. The line quality was good and the line widths for elements can be changed in 1/10" increments. You can also choose line colors other than black.

Prices may be entered to print out a bill of materials with a total price for all pieces. Flex-track is estimated by the inch so you'll need to enter its price by the inch for an accurate estimate.

Overall, I found Right Track a little stiff with only one way to do most operations, but it's still an acceptable program at a great price. One feature I'd really like would be the ability to rotate track sections with the mouse. Also, I'd like to have more control over the flex-track, including minimum radius settings.

Atlas' Right Track Software is a big step into the future. I suspect a lot of model railroaders with computers will be using this program to plan their next layouts. -K.T.