create your own MODEL RAILWAY
Review
Create your own Model Railway, it does
exactly what it says on the box. Design and control your own
virtual model railway! Construct your own highly detailed model railway
and watch it come to life in high resolution 3D.
There are 12
types of steam locomotives and modern engines, based on popular
British and continental models. 32 different types of goods and
passenger stock and a number of various buildings from industrial to
residential.
Decide on the size of
baseboard you want for your layout and then whether you want a
digital or analogue control system, I went with the analogue, and
then start laying your track.
Click on the build track icon and a selection of track pieces
appear on the track menu. Straights, curves, turnouts and end
stops are available to choose from. You can rotate the board and
zoom in and out easily as you go along. If you end up going
round in a loop and not quite matching your start point, there is an
option to click on one end of track and then select the other piece you
want it joined to and hey presto it's done. Although a couple
of times this option did prove to be a bit tricky.
Once the track is done then your can alter the
terrain. Using the option and then clicking on a piece of land
you want raising. Automatically the land rises and you've
created a mountain. If you create it over a section of track,
the program puts a tunnel in the right place for you.
Placing the buildings
and other scenery is easy. Just click on the appropriate icon
and the list appears. Then choose from stations, houses,
factories, shops and vehicles etc down to benches barrels and wood
piles. Though you may find the selections a bit limited.
Choose your train
from the 12 available, I chose the inter city 125, and then place it
on the track.
Then load it up with the carriages, you can place them next to the
train and they connect automatically, or you can drive the train up
to them. You can even click on the carriage you have placed on
the track and drag the carriage along the track with the mouse. All
these are very easy to do.
Driving the train is
just as simple. On the bottom left of your screen are all the
points switches together with the power, forward and reverse.
Slowly power it up and off the train goes, but try not to let
it get away too fast as I did and drove straight into some closed
points with a crash and flames coming out of the engine. All because
I forgot to manually switch the point on the control panel.
You can watch your trains go round from a distance from any angle,
zooming in or out, or you can use the on-train camera.
This is where the
program goes more in depth.
You can also place automatic switches onto the layout for when the
train passes over them, then the points will switch automatically.
These can also be set with delay timers and signals.
More locomotives can
then be added if you wish. Then it gives you options to place
isolators and more independent power supplies. You could have
a fully automated layout running in no time and still have the
option to manually adjust things as well.
You can also carry on
added or removing scenery and tracks when you feel more confident.
Save your layouts and swap them with friends via email etc. As
well as creating your own layout, there are 7 other fully playable
and editable layouts provided on the disc.
Conclusion
Overall a very neat and tidy piece of software. Having some
British locomotives, although limited, is a bonus, original livery
colours would have been nice to see. Also I feel it could
benefit with having more scenery objects to make things a bit more
varied.
Graphics are good and
movement around the layout is possible from every angle.
Controlling the layout
can be set up and made very simple if you are a beginner, but
there is also scope to go further in depth to make the appeal last
longer.
SimplyTrains
Rating 8.5/10
Others available to
consider
Virtual Railroad
Manufacturer's Description
Design your track, placing junctions and
signals to keep your own private railway running smoothly. Using
the helpful "grid" and "snap" features, you can have your track up and
running in minutes. It's so easy to create your own mountains ,
towns, lakes, forests, roads, industrial zones and much more. The
intelligent terrain editor does all the hard work for you, automatically
creating bridges and tunnels while you design. Place your locomotives,
engines, wagons and carriages, then follow them around the track using
the on train camera. The intuitive control system makes it so easy
to operate your trains, junctions and signals.
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