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Turnout Designer

The Turnout Designer allows you to define new turnouts and sectional track pieces. It is invoked by the New button on the Turnout Selection dialog or by the Edit menu.

The Turnout Designer uses a number of different dialogs (one for each type of turnout or sectional track).

This dialog is for a Regular turnout.

Each dialog shows a diagram of the turnout and has fields to enter dimensions. The dimensions should be as accurate as possible. The various types of dimensions are: The Print button prints a full size diagram of the turnout. You can use this to check your dimensions and make any required changes. You should expect to make several printouts as you refine your dimensions.

The Ok button completes the design. The new turnout is added to the list in the Turnout Selection dialog. The turnout data is saved in the xtrkcad.cus file for use the next time you use XTrkCad. Please consider contributing this information for others to use.

The Cancel button removes the Turnout Designer dialog.

It is best to start by marking the End-Points of the turnout on a piece of paper. Extend the curved leg of the turnout (try attaching a straight sectional track) and measure the angle. Frog numbers are easiest to calculate.

Enter your data and press Print, if you have an accurate printer. Check the dimensions of the turnout against the printout and make adjustments as necessary. Concentrate on the lengths and offsets first, then adjust the angles.

The resulting turnout is an approximation. In particular the curves will not be correct, but this is not important for placing turnouts.


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