Curving flexitrack

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Andy254
Posts: 1
Joined: 09 Jan 2015, 14:21

Curving flexitrack

Post by Andy254 »

I cannot see how to curve flexitrack. I can make it spin like a propeller with alarming ease - but I'm not looking for a spinning straight but a curved piece of track.
choochoo
Posts: 1
Joined: 09 Jan 2015, 16:44

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by choochoo »

Same problem. Tried all sorts.No problem with previous version
bmorg
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Joined: 11 Jan 2015, 15:52

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by bmorg »

I can't find any way to curve flex track either, or to shorten length of flex track.
Jay
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Joined: 12 Jan 2015, 23:39

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by Jay »

I hope that feature is included soon. Otherwise, it sort of defeats the purpose of having a "Flextrack" selection. I can see, though, how making that work in the program would be a challenge. I assume you would want to attach points along the centerline of the track and then use Bezier curves to shape it. The joy of working with real Flextrack is how versatile it is. But that very quality makes tricky to simulate.
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Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by RailModeller Support »

Hi there -

freely formed flex track will be available again in the next update. It's already the beta testing phase right now.

Hope that helps,
Jan
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trevleyb
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Joined: 12 Jan 2015, 22:15

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by trevleyb »

RailModeller wrote:Hi there -
freely formed flex track will be available again in the next update. It's already the beta testing phase right now.
Tested this today. Added a single piece of flex and could form it to a curve, then added another to it and could not adjust it when connected to the first piece of flex.

Trevor
trevleyb
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Joined: 12 Jan 2015, 22:15

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by trevleyb »

trevleyb wrote:
RailModeller wrote:Hi there -
freely formed flex track will be available again in the next update. It's already the beta testing phase right now.
Tested this today. Added a single piece of flex and could form it to a curve, then added another to it and could not adjust it when connected to the first piece of flex.

Trevor
Fixed in Beta 3 thank you :)
brians
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Joined: 09 Jan 2015, 11:44

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by brians »

i cannot get the flex track to work with the new beta 3.
infect i cannot work out how you use it, is there a manual with this i cannot find any instructions for the use of the program.
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Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by RailModeller Support »

Thanks for all feedback.

Working with flex tracks should be pretty straightforward:
You can either have the app insert it automatically e.g. between tracks using Smart Insert tools or drag one from the library and double-click it to make it editable.

Tutorials are in the making!

Hope that helps,
Jan
RailModeller Pro - The model railroad layout design package for the Mac

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Jay
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Joined: 12 Jan 2015, 23:39

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by Jay »

That was it! Double-clicking on it was what I missed. Right now the adjustments are a bit limited, but the controls are certainly easy to use. One thing to note is that with flexitrack the entire section isn't necessarily usable on a curve, since the outside rail will always end up shorter than the inside. Perhaps that can be worked into RailModeller's calculations as well.
railnerd
Posts: 6
Joined: 12 Mar 2015, 22:00

Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by railnerd »

I really miss the ability to curve flex track to a given radius, or cut it to a specific length.

Also, connect with flex track also does not seem to do proper UI highlighting— the clicks are "blind".

Also: Where can a set a minimum radius?

-Dave
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Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by RailModeller Support »

Hi Dave -
no minimum radius setting at the moment, however parametric bending is currently in the works.

Can you elaborate on the 'blind clicks'?
Not quite sure what you're referring to. The cursor should change to a cross hair to indicate a valid joint/open end of a track is beneath the mouse.

Cheers,
Jan
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railnerd
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Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by railnerd »

RailModeller wrote:Hi Dave -
no minimum radius setting at the moment, however parametric bending is currently in the works.

Can you elaborate on the 'blind clicks'?
Not quite sure what you're referring to. The cursor should change to a cross hair to indicate a valid joint/open end of a track is beneath the mouse.

Cheers,
Jan
I liked the older highlight. So the idea is that the track ends used to light up green and yellow so it was easier to see what you were connecting.

-Dave
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Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by RailModeller Support »

Bending flex tracks to curved tracks with specific radius/angle or straight tracks of specific lengths is now available with the update to version 5.0.6.

Cheers,
Jan
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Re: Curving flexitrack

Post by RailModeller Support »

bmorg wrote:I can't find any way to curve flex track either, or to shorten length of flex track.
Quick update to this old thread:
The new Shorten Track tool in the latest update 5.2.3 also offers a great way to shorten flex tracks while keeping the overall shape:
shorten flex track.png
shorten flex track.png (84.38 KiB) Viewed 7577 times
Cheers,
Jan
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