Bluebrick Layout Software

[missouri_bb63]

A few days behind schedule but here we go. First of all I have added the links to the XMLs in the post with the Century Skyway airport GIFs.

For my new GIFs, I have gone for something a little different. I have decided to add the trains that my brother and I own to my layout (still missing one or two... I think).

I am not sure whether trains will ever be included in an official BlueBrick release but I think it might be quite handy to have them to see how well the trains fit into certain sections of the track (e.g. train depot).

I will post the XMLs tomorrow but they are not required for the positioning in BlueBrick, just the author and peeron link.

Do you think trains should be included in BlueBrick? Your feedback is welcome.

GIF XML: 4559 Cargo Railway

GIF XML: 4565 Freight & Crane Railway Set.1

GIF XML: 4565 Freight & Crane Railway Set.2

GIF XML: 4565 Freight & Crane Railway Set.3

GIF XML: 7740 Electric Inter-city train Set.1

GIF XML: 7740 Electric Inter-city trainSet.2

GIF XML: 7740 Electric Inter-city train Set.3

GIF XML: 7760 Electric Diesel Locomotive

Can you spot them in here?

Edited January 15, 2010 by missouri_bb63

[Rijkvv]

Do you think trains should be included in BlueBrick? Your feedback is welcome.

I think they are not essential for designing a layout, but can be useful. For example if you want to have a train platform that's long enough for the whole train. With this you can see if it fits more easily.

Oh, and I spotted your trains. You only forgot to add one more car to 4565 (it has two short ones).

Edited January 3, 2010 by Richie

[missouri_bb63]

I think they are not essential for designing a layout, but can be useful. For example if you want to have a train platform that's long enough for the whole train. With this you can see if it fits more easily.

Oh, and I spotted your trains. You only forgot to add one more car to 4565 (it has two short ones).

You are right! Thanks for pointing that out. And thanks for your feedback. You are right, it is definitely not critical, but might be useful. I will finish off my missing train and perhaps some of the additional wagons that I have.

[missouri_bb63]

Ok everyone. We owe a BIG thank you to a fellow brickshelf user today. His name is Jerome BOULANGER and he was kind enough to provide me with a huge selection of high quality, top view screen shots of his MLCad models. All I had to do was a bit of resizing and photoshop work.

The train sets you will see below are absolute classics and I know from seeing many of the real layouts out there, that several of these are very much in use today (Eurbricks users such as Panda and Patje come to mind).

Jerome also provided a great selection of Classic space sets which I will be posting in the sci-fi section at some point this weekend.

I have already added the missing train sets to my track.

I will be posting the XML files for these GIFs over the weekend which will contain the credit for Jerome plus the peeron picture link for the BlueBrick parts list. Jerome offered to make more CAD models, so if you have a request, post it in this thread. Enjoy!

GIF XML : 7727 Electric Freight Train (set 1)

GIF XML : 7727 Electric Freight Train (set 2)

GIF XML : 7727 Electric Freight Train (set 3)

GIF XML : 7727 Electric Freight Train (set 4)

GIF XML : 7730 Electric Goods Train (set 1)

GIF XML : 7730 Electric Goods Train (set 2)

GIF XML : 7730 Electric Goods Train (set 3)

GIF XML : 7730 Electric Goods Train (set 4)

GIF XML : 7735 Cargo Train (set 1)

GIF XML : 7735 Cargo Train (set 2)

GIF XML : 7735 Cargo Train (set 3)

GIF XML : 7735 Cargo Train (set 4)

GIF XML : 7735 Cargo Train (set 5)

GIF XML : 7745 High Speed Train (set 1)

GIF XML : 7745 High Speed Train (set 2)

GIF XML : 7745 High Speed Train (set 3)

GIF XML : 7745 High Speed Train (set 4)

GIF XML : 7750 Steam Locomotive (set 1)

GIF XML : 7750 Steam Locomotive (set 2)

GIF XML : 7755 Diesel Locomotive

GIF XML : 7814 Crane Wagon

GIF XML : 7816 Shell Tanker

GIF XML : 7821 Track Maintenance Vehicle

Edited January 10, 2010 by missouri_bb63

[FreeBee]

HNY to all.

@ Missoury : great addition all those trains. But maybe u can turn the first ones 90 degrees ?

Here is also a new addition:

6350 Pizza To Go:

GIF XML

[missouri_bb63]

HNY to all.

@ Missoury : great addition all those trains. But maybe u can turn the first ones 90 degrees ?

Good point FreeBee and thanks for the GIF! I have already put it in my layout.

Here are some more that I have been working on.

GIF XML : 6398 Central Precinct HQ

GIF XML : 6561 Hot Rod Club

GIF XML : 6595 Surf Shack

GIF XML : 4537 Twin Tank Transport

Then there is one more GIF from Jerome Boulanger. If you want to check out the great classic space GIFs he donated you should have a look at the last post here.

GIF XML : 6381 Motor Speedway

With work starting up again tomorrow my donations will once again be relatively few and far between but I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else creates. I will update the BlueBrick index with the latest creations this evening.

Edited January 10, 2010 by missouri_bb63

[FreeBee]

Hi all,

Kicking this thread up because i need some help.

I am planning on modifying some real track at home and

thought it would be handy if they were also in BB.

But my photoshop- and xml-skills are very rusty at the

moment.

Below is the idea of what i want to make:

IMG

XML

IMG

XML

Simply said i want to shorten brancheline of the switch

to 33,75 degrees (a curve 22,5' and halve curve 11,25').

I know it's not finished so if anyone wants to edit the gifs

and xmls then please do.

Edited February 4, 2010 by FreeBee

[missouri_bb63]

Hi FreeBee, i will rework the GIFs for you. I noticed you used the pre 1.5 versions so I will start from scratch with the newer ones. I will ask Alban to have a look at the XML once I have done the GIFs. This might take a while though as I am swamped with work at the moment. Thanks for posting your request and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

[missouri_bb63]

Here you go FreeBee. They are slightly rushed (won't have time to actually check how they will work with you XML either unfortunately), but I hope they do the job. Send your XMLs to Alban if you think they need reworking. I am looking forward to seeing these in your actual layout. Let me know if they need reworking.

GIF

GIF

I would also like to note that this updated part was unfortunately not included in the 1.5/1.5.2 parts libraries so download it here if required.

GIF

Edited May 1, 2010 by missouri_bb63

[FreeBee]

wow Missouri they look great. thanx.

I will have a look into the xml myself.

(a man's gotta do what a man ...)

[FreeBee]

And a man did what ... he needed to do with the xml-files

XML for 2861halfcurve

XML for 2859halfcurve

They work like a charm.

point for the futere: correct the last gifs. The last doubleplate of the branchline should be a single.

Edited February 11, 2010 by FreeBee

[j3tang]

I'm new to BlueBrick so all I've been doing is just reading in this thread. This caught my eye since I've not seen it before. I’ve seen other users mod switching tracks into the shortened branch switches but I’ve never seen the configuration below. I've tried Googling for it, but I just can't seem to come up with any relevant hits. I’m assuming it’s real (since effort was put into creating the model here), and likely a mod? Anyone have info/link for it? It looks 9V so ... does it actually work (electrically speaking)? This is probably the wrong spot to be asking these questions, so hopefully someone can link me so I can read it on my own and stop derailing the thread (pun intended)

I would also like to note that this updated part was unfortunately not included in the 1.5/1.5.2 parts libraries so download it here if required.

GIF

[FreeBee]

Hi j3Tang,

Welcome , the track piece is real (part 1976) only it's not electric. It is for RC-trains.

A couple of people have tried making it work for 9V using coppertape. Sidenote to this is that someone made above crossover by modding 4 default points, it's Ondrew Hartigan.

If you want to know more about more about modding parts like this or with coppertape i suggest you read this thread.

[Alban Nanty]

I am not sure whether trains will ever be included in an official BlueBrick release but I think it might be quite handy to have them to see how well the trains fit into certain sections of the track (e.g. train depot).

Do you think trains should be included in BlueBrick? Your feedback is welcome.

Hi,

My concern about all these great gifs, is that the software will become too big to be pratical to download. I think people will be annoyed to download the software if the database is too large. Also I don't want to loose the focus of the software, which is making easily some layout with a strong emphasis on exhibition layout (even if I'm very happy to see all the good stuff people do with it).

That's why I would like to propose the software with a basic part database that contains all the necessary parts for the preparation of a train show layout, and then propose as a separated download, different package for completing the part database. To follow this direction, I will probably remove the DUPLO parts from the basic database and propose all the DUPLO parts as a separated dowloadable file. Also the space theme could have the same destiny.

Finally, why am I saying that? Because the trains/loco you just propose could also becomes a separated downloadable pack.

We may also probably reduce a little bit the number of sets, but for that I need your help. What in your opinion should be in the default library included with the software? I already know that I want all the parts of TrackDesigner for an easy support, but then for the sets, I would be please to here your opinion, or maybe we can organize a poll.

Bye.

Hi,

For this one, I would suggest to turn the yellow flags inside the baseblate to avoid unnessessary margin on the right.

Bye.

[Rijkvv]

I would add all the train sets (stations, cargo depots, every building that was set in the Trains theme) to the default library.

[Alban Nanty]

I've decided to create a part tracker on my web site. It's available here:

http://bluebrick.lswproject.com/partracker.html

Please try and tell me if you can access it and if it is working properly

It is written in PHP so the only thing I need to do is just upload the new parts (or update them) to the server, and then all the info are updated on the website.

The PHP code parse the folder and also parse the XML files to get the infos.

Later, I will add a search box, where you can type a part number to find the part quickly.

What do you think? Do you think it is handy?

Edited February 19, 2010 by Alban Nanty

[Rumpelmuck]

Hi ALban!

For me your Part Tracker works great! Excellent work!

Greets!

Thomas

[FreeBee]

Great feature Alban,

U need to fix something in php:

The link return to main window doesn't function correct.

When clicked from the part-tracker it opens the main page in the left frame.

As for the discussion about the parts in the release go for the minimum requird parts.

In other words only include the rail and needed td-files. All the others are downloadeble

by the tracker or perhaps with add-on packs.

[Alban Nanty]

Thanks a lot!

Yes I plan to also add some links to download packs, like I mentionned before. The part tracker will be mainly usefull if you search one specific part/set.

Bye the way, I totally reworked the website and just uploaded a totally new version, with a menu bar on top. This way the navigation will be normally improved and this let me rooms to add more info in a more organized way.

Don't hesitate to visite the website again and give feedback.

[Rijkvv]

Is there a way to change the grid and rotation settings? I know you cann change them, but is there a way to start the program with the settings I prefer?

[Alban Nanty]

Is there a way to change the grid and rotation settings? I know you cann change them, but is there a way to start the program with the settings I prefer?

Sorry no, I don't save these informations in the config file of the application. I will add your request in the feature request list.

Bye.

[missouri_bb63]

point for the futere: correct the last gifs. The last doubleplate of the branchline should be a single.

Oops! You are absolutely right. I will make new ones this week.

I would add all the train sets (stations, cargo depots, every building that was set in the Trains theme) to the default library.

Yup, I agree with that. Perhaps all the train buildings and the trains sets in the standard pack along with the tables track pieces and baseplates. All the non train related GIFs (city, duplo, space...), could go into the add-on library. As many opinions on this subject as possible would be much appreciated.

I've decided to create a part tracker on my web site. It's available here:

http://bluebrick.lswproject.com/partracker.html

Please try and tell me if you can access it and if it is working properly

Looking good!

Is there a way to change the grid and rotation settings? I know you cann change them, but is there a way to start the program with the settings I prefer?

That is a good request I will add that to the index (haven't worked on that in ages). A while back I also requested that it remembers the window size it had when the program was last used. I have just added that to the request list too.

I also just wanted to check to see if anyone will still be adding any more GIFs? I will hopefully have a bit of time over the next weeks to work on my items in the "under construction" list.

[Johan J]

I've only used BB for a couple of days now, but it's very useful. And fun. And timeconsuming since it's fun and useful...

If you want to keep the program download-file to be as small as possible, do as others have said. Have rail and trainrelated buildings and structures pre-loaded and the other themes easily indexed for download.

I can't/haven't got the time to make GIF's, but would very much like more sets from the 80's LEGO... Until somebody makes them I'll just use text.

Wish list: more zoom in the GIF-list. One size larger would be nice.

My latest layout.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Johan J

[missouri_bb63]

I've only used BB for a couple of days now, but it's very useful. And fun. And timeconsuming since it's fun and useful...

That is great to hear! Feel free to post any questions you might have concerning it's use. Don't forget to watch the tutorial videos too. They have quite a few time saving tips.

If you want to keep the program download-file to be as small as possible, do as others have said. Have rail and trainrelated buildings and structures pre-loaded and the other themes easily indexed for download.

Yup, I agree.

I can't/haven't got the time to make GIF's, but would very much like more sets from the 80's LEGO... Until somebody makes them I'll just use text.

Which 80s sets are you looking for? Post your requests in this thread.

Wish list: more zoom in the GIF-list. One size larger would be nice.

Yeah, I asked Alban for that too, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be possible at the moment.

Thanks for posting you layout! It is great to see some of the GIFs I created being used by someone else. You can post all future developments in the dedicated digital layout thread here. I am looking forward to seeing more soon!

Edited February 21, 2010 by missouri_bb63

[missouri_bb63]

Hi FreeBee, unfortunately I didn't get as much time as I wanted to work on these, so they are a little rough, but I hope they do the trick. You might have to adjust your XML a bit. Let me know how it goes!

GIF

GIF