Track plan books?

[trammayo]

Software, that's a 2B pencil, isn't it? No good for plan drawing, lead smudges and you can't get a fine point. ....and hardware must then be a 3 or 4H pencil,
ideal for track planning. Oh, just ask your (grand) father.......

2B or not 2B - art classes were always a pain for me (literally). I got good results in what was then called Technical Drawing but, in the other major use of pencils I pressed on too hard.

The teacher (must have been a sadist in either the then present, or a previous life) whittled away at the lead in such a fashion that any pressure resulted in the graphite breaking off. As the only pencil sharpener was on the teacher's desk, he soon knew what had happened. It was a case of "hand out, palm up" and a stroke of the cane.

Nowadays teachers wouldn't get away with it - cruelty to pencils and all that PC stuff!

 

[Gavin Sowry]

2B or not 2B - art classes were always a pain for me (literally). I got good results in what was then called Technical Drawing but, in the other major use of pencils I pressed on too hard.

The teacher (must have been a sadist in either the then present, or a previous life) whittled away at the lead in such a fashion that any pressure resulted in the graphite breaking off. As the only pencil sharpener was on the teacher's desk, he soon knew what had happened. It was a case of "hand out, palm up" and a stroke of the cane.

Nowadays teachers wouldn't get away with it - cruelty to pencils and all that PC stuff!

Strange thing was, Tech Drawing was not an option available to me at school. First job out of school was as a Draughting Cadet with NZ Railways.

 

[David1226]

I'm glad no one has mentioned the constipated mathematician who worked it out with a pencil.

David

 

[GAP]

Software, that's a 2B pencil, isn't it? No good for plan drawing, lead smudges and you can't get a fine point. ....and hardware must then be a 3 or 4H pencil,
ideal for track planning. Oh, just ask your (grand) father.......

Chalk on the floor?
Easily modifiable, varied colours for different levels and the whole palette can be reset with water.

 

[dunnyrail]

Chalk on the floor?
Easily modifiable, varied colours for different levels and the whole palette can be reset with water.

You can then go round the chalk marks and do a mark every 1ft then see how much of a climb you have to make to do a reasonable clearance of any obstruction or over bridge etc. The same can be done with a Hosepipe using bits of Insulation Tape.

 

[stockers]

Software, that's a 2B pencil, isn't it? No good for plan drawing, lead smudges and you can't get a fine point. ....and hardware must then be a 3 or 4H pencil,
ideal for track planning. Oh, just ask your (grand) father.......

You need an old envelope to make it work though, or a fag packet or beer mat.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

You need an old envelope to make it work though, or a fag packet or beer mat.

No, no, nah,,,,,,, back of postage stamp (oops, that's showing my age).

 

[PhilP]

Software, that's a 2B pencil, isn't it? No good for plan drawing, lead smudges and you can't get a fine point. ....and hardware must then be a 3 or 4H pencil,
ideal for track planning. Oh, just ask your (grand) father.......

Start with the software.. (easier to make changes, with a softer pencil)!
Then go into hardware to finalise the design..

 

[PhilP]

No, no, nah,,,,,,, back of postage stamp (oops, that's showing my age).

Yes, they stick to the end of the pencil now!

 

[PhilP]

Oh, and the beermats are good for packing track!

 

[GAP]

You can then go round the chalk marks and do a mark every 1ft then see how much of a climb you have to make to do a reasonable clearance of any obstruction or over bridge etc. The same can be done with a Hosepipe using bits of Insulation Tape.

Ah yes the good old reliable garden hose, nothing beats its visual representation, can even make the riser blocks while it is laid out.

 

[trammayo]

You can then go round the chalk marks and do a mark every 1ft then see how much of a climb you have to make to do a reasonable clearance of any obstruction or over bridge etc. The same can be done with a Hosepipe using bits of Insulation Tape.

I had a hosepipe like that once - then I bought a new one. Hosepipes make a good flexible conduit too!

 

[AustrianNG]

I'm glad no one has mentioned the constipated mathematician who worked it out with a pencil.

David

Too late David. You’ve gone and done it

 

[David1226]

Too late David. You’ve gone and done it

Of course, it's a sure-fire way of stopping you from chewing the end of your pencil

David