How to design a model railroad using SCARM

[@barrycrews273]

76 years old and trying to gain back my childhood where I was lucky enough to get a clockwork run-around-in-a-circle trainset. Now I have the time, this is my target for frustration and satisfaction (hopefully more of the latter than the former!). I have SCARM and have not been able to work it out... then I found you! Thank you for a great blow-by-blow build and absolutely blown away with your 3D renderings!

[@edwardaudet8367]

I have SCARM, and had no clue how to use it. Your a good instructor Jimmy. I now have a good idea how to use this product. Thank You. I've learned so much watching your videos. Your the first one I look at when I see you made a new one

[@DJE2025]

Hi Jimmy, I got the free version of SCARM after watching this video the first time. I was more confused then ever. In the mean while I had watched some tutorials on Any Rail I purchased any rail. It too is a good program, there are things about it I don't like, so, I watched your video again! This time I followed along in SCARM. Made all the difference in the world the fog lifted and the sun came out... stared designing my track plan of course I reached the 100 item limit! Needless to say I purchased SCARM license. I'm pleased I did, thanks for the video.

[@rhoobarb773]

So glad I watched this! I download it SCARM about three years ago, played a little around with it a little but couldn’t get the hang of it and just gave up. Now, I can’t wait to get back into it and use the tips you’ve given here. Such a great help.

[@sphillips71]

Hey Jimmy, just about to start. Playing with SCARM myself. I do not have a rectangular baseboard. I actually have created a rounded and organic baseboard by Inserting New Points by right clicking on line when selecting the baseboard to edit. My HO modules will be sitting upon tables with risers for hand clearance underneath OSB platform tops. Then OSB base with foam and more layers will sit and clamp on to this creating an interchangeable Modular system. Each piece or module will be an unique shape with that can be replaced only by a replicated shape and with end and exit track points but with different track configs snd scenery creating a plethora of play options. Here comes the Combinations and Permutations calculator to the rescue. Lol

[@LawrencePeterson-i2d]

I'm having a problem, Windows 10 has changed things around and I can't seem to get everything to work as your tutorial states. Could you RE-post your instructional video for an updated version ? Thank you ....

[@mundocpc]

Thanks for the tuto! I am about to re-enter the hobby but using Z gauge due to the lack of space (I still have all the trains fron my chilhood in my country, but the scale is huge, so I decided to keep it small now that I am so far away). I wanted to start designing something tiny with SCARM and this is super useful 😊

[@MarcusPfeiffer]

Well that worked well! I have to say, I'm not one for reading reference materials. I installed SCARM and couldn't figure out how to make a single thing happen on the screen, but your video took me from 0 to 100 in minutes!

[@thebeardedrailfan]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. I've been using AnyRail to plan my layout. Just downloaded SCARM. You're a great teacher.

[@1babysag]

What a great tutorial. You are a natural teacher. I learned so much. I am now no longer afraid to use these online tools. You may have convinced me to try Arduinos. Well, maybe I am not ready for that yet. Have a great day!

[@bearuffus]

FANTASTIC demonstration

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

I use this software - it is great. It might look a bit old school in context, but don't be put off by that... it is very user friendly and does the job, perfectly.

[@thehastyterrainmaker9485]

Thank goodness you covered HOW to get the app to apply a grade! I have gone over almost all their videos and CANNOT find one dealing with it, THANKS!

[@ingor.522]

Me I am using SCARM since more than a decade for my trackplanning work. Best method of myself is to elevate the first track and going from there. To elevate a section of track first it works better using a turnout so all three ends of the tournout would be elevated to the same hight, because in SCARM any kind of turnouts could be set in horizontal position only. Another nice helper is the small toolbox which you can activating, there are some baseboard figures inside to create more complex baseboard figures or for laying flex tracks it is very helpful, too as well es for starting points by track laying.

[@DaiElsan]

Fantastic. Looking into Scarm this weekend.

[@finnclausen2354]

Hi Jimmy I have been working on the SCARM but I don't seem to be able to put tracks on top of hills or mountains, could you pass bu the SCARM again and touch up on how to fit tracks on layers.

[@Conn653]

Had SCARM, then watched your video. Just installed the newest version. Your video makes this program so much easier to understand!!!!!!!! T H A N K Y O U !!!!

[@ch1avarm]

Just got SCARM, thanks for the video

[@bruce12000]

Thank you so much for not only this video but for everything you teach us so well explained

[@005AGIMA]

Thanks so much for this very clear tutorial. I'm at the planning stage, having un-earthed some of my childhood hornby trains from the mid 90s. Tossing up between an indoor 1.2m x 3.4m layout, verses a 3.2m x 3.2m space with cutout, in an un-used shed. This tool will help me investigate both options before I lift a single hammer.

[@alainaarrhodge5900]

HOLY CRAP!! Not only is this a great program, but you are an exceptional instructor! Aside from SCARM, are there any other layout design software programs that you know of and are familiar with to offer opinions about? I'm blown away by this and I look forward to starting work on designing layouts for the club that I'm apart of. Amazing work. Thank you for sharing!

[@shawnpowell5876]

That was an awesome video and that online program works amazing to help w designing a layout. Thanks for sharing your videos and I'm viewing this from the 1st state of DELAWARE.

[@thomasgilb6098]

I used SCARM to design the HO model railroad that I'm currently building but before I go completely HO trains, I have as much HO Aurora T-Jet cars and track as I do trains. Is there anything like SCARM that I could use to design a layout that incorporates HO trains and HO slot cars?

[@jakubjunga]

Hi. How do I build a locomotive or wagon model for SCARM?

[@Homebrew58]

Just now running across this video. The software has a similar look to the old Xtrackcad. Thanks for showing this.

[@rodeo_cwboy]

Is it possible to "blend" the hill, not have straight walls? I have the free version and have not figured it out yet.

[@Dr.Gunsmith]

Just what I’m looking for..thanks 🙏

[@rvdiking]

That was so interesting. Would like to find out how to delete some things. Guess I will experiment. Thanks again for a wonderful video!!

[@carlhargroves2304]

I just purchased railmodeller pro. when I launch the app ago to the Home screen and can't get to the welcome screen. What am I doing wrong?

[@buckeyedoorsales4353]

I am very new to the hobby. I have always (35 years) wanted to have a coffee table with a running train under the glass tabletop. Now Im actually going to do it! I bought the Thomas the tank engine set from Bachman on Amazon. But I do want more interest than a 24" oval. I downloaded SCARM but...I cant quite figure out how to get it all to connect properly. my available size in 30" x 36". Any ideas where I can download an plan for that size? Its the ez snap track.

[@mxferro]

I use atlas Right track which works out really well. This really does lokk like the EXACT SAME as right track.

[@mxferro]

I use atlas Right track which works out really well. This really does look like the EXACT SAME as right track, I bet they are the same program. I used the prjgram to reproduce older MR mag plans thet didn't give all the info or could rotate the plan tn see it 3d on inclines etc. i have a current 1980s MR plan layour and used Right track to check everything before i started construction.

[@josephanderson5607]

Is it possible to copy and paste a layout design from Kato onto scarm? What incline/ decline would be best for Kato trains?

[@2shedsproductions97]

Hi Jimmy, Im just getting ready to re-enter the hobby and have SO MUCH to catch up on! Im using Scarm and I found a layout I really like but its all ROCO track, is there a way to convert it to KATO? Thanks! Love the channel!

[@jhoodfysh]

Very good video Jimmy. The software is very affordable and full featured.

[@brettany_renee_blatchley]

Lovely tutorial! 😌💚 I will definitely try this with some of my ideas!💡

[@larryjawitz3101]

It seems like you are using felt underneath the track. Is that so? I bought felt but railroader friends are trying to dissuade me from using it and to just use the Homasote directly.

[@keithm1961]

I have a very tight coffee table layout, I have to use flex track, problem is I need a tunnel in the middle 12" program wants to select the whole piece of track

[@barryolson8428]

Great Video. at the end of your video you said expensive or extensive about scarm. I could'nt tell which?

[@steve87thpsap]

Very nice tutorial. That was done very well. Thank you Jimmy.

[@Keith80027]

Does it show you what does not work? I wish it had Sn3, but I guess i could use HO.

[@КонстантинЧернов-л7э]

Hello, tell me where to choose PIKO old rails. In this program

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Like the new video lots going on.well done.

[@mxferro]

I use atlas Right track which works out really well. It's very close to this program.

[@d.l.hemmingway3758]

I have SCARM and have found out how to make the table boundaries. I am having trouble working track elevations and planning scenery. I get the track work laid out and I use text to plot where I want certain structures and scenery. I am using Atlas' Code 100 HO track as that is what I have for planning my On30 Kansas River and Southern. I want to design in a river front dock scene in the lower right hand corner of my 4x8 plan. To get an Idea I am reworking David Meek's Rimfire and Latigo RR from his Thunder Mesa Studios website. I am modifying yard on the bottom of the plan, turning the cattle pen spur into the river boat landing spur, adding a spur to the right hand curve to suggest off layout traffic, modifying the back spur into passing track with spur to function as a second station with a coal mine as a customer of the KR&S. The main yard on the front of the layout has a switch back that services a hardware store/ lumber yard, a feed mill, a bulk oil distributor and a spur off of a passing siding servicing a freight house and passenger station with Water Tower. The KS&R services Eastern Shawnee County and Eastern Osage County of Kansas. This was farming and coal mining country up to the late 1960s and early 1970s. Clear Air laws pretty much killed the Kansas Coal industry. Historically the last coal mine in this part of Kansas closed in 1964, but I am running this as an alternative history story. The last riverboat on the Kansas River sailed or rather steamed up and down the river from Kansas City to Junction City in 1866. Historically the river was declared by the Kansas Legislature to be non-navigable by law in 1864 thanks to lobbying by representatives of the AT&SF and the UP. These railroads did not want to spend the money to pay for the construction of bridges that would allow riverboat traffic to continue on the Kansas River. In my alternate history I have the Riverboat companies being more successful in defeating the 1864 legislation, but also in 1872 a young Bostonian Police Officer seeking a place to settle where the risk of becoming an alcoholic in minimal (Kansas voted to go dry in the very early 1870s) came to Kansas. In the actual history this man was my great-great grandfather William Jones Bodge who at 13 was a 49'er and actually made a fortune in the gold fields that he and his friend who went with him spent within a year. In my alternate history W. J. Bodge invests much of his gold into his family's shipping company, but to strike his own trail he becomes first a Boston Cop and I am not sure, but perhaps also a Mass. Militiaman in the Civil War. After the war the alternate W. J. Bodge returns to being a Bostonian Cop until migrating to Kansas, becoming a farmer and a riverboat operator. His riverboat in this alternate history navigates the Solomon River down to the Saline River and down to the Kansas River becoming the Kaw Valley Navigation Company. To ensure a supply of coal for his riverboats Wm. Jones Bodge invests along with men by the names of David Meek and Brent Underwood and C. K. Holliday of the AT&SF and form the Kansas River and Southern Railroad. They choose to build it as a 2.5 foot narrow gauge to save money on construction. David Meek, Brent Underwood and Wm. Bodge establish the town of Meek on the Kansas River between the towns of Big Springs in Douglas County and Tecumseh in Shawnee County. From Meek they have crews lay track southward to Brent Underwood's mines on the Wakarusa River in Southern Shawnee county and in the hills of northern Osage County. My KR&S will be modeled for the mid-20th Century though its motive power will include two 2-6-0 Moguls based on the C&S C-16, a 2 truck Climax and a small 0-4-0 side rod diesel locomotive. I am designing the mainline to have 18 inch minimum radius curves and most of the industrial trackage has the same minimum radius. I am thinking by the time I am ready to detail the riverboat landing it will be more a transfer dock for coal into barges. The space there is not big enough even for the Kitwood Hill Models' 50th River Steamer, though an earlier design I did based on a Lionel version of the Gold Hill Central did accommodate the Kitwood Hill riverboat. I had an 1.5 x 4 foot riverboat landing scene on that railroad. Thinking it over I may go and look that plan over again. It too was designed in SCARM.

[@pgadeb]

Thank you for this tutorial...I'm in the very early research phases seeing what my options are and time commitment expectations and this is very helpful!

[@Steve_Larson]

I used the Atlas version of Scarm to design my Atlas code 65 N scale layout. I need to get the full version so I can complete and share it. The layout came out nearly perfect, fitting the board with about an inch and a half of clearance all the way around (just enough to prevent stuff from landing on the floor). I actually purchased the Atlas version but for some reason the key would not work, and long story short, I ended up getting a refund. Maybe I will try Scarm next time instead.

[@mosindesire]

There are many keyboard shortcuts like pressing the spacebar to repeat the last track piece placed.

[@georgemoore7989]

Hello Jim. I have had Scarm for a while. My problem is that I want to place my railroad around the walls of my 12' x12' room with a peninsula off of one side of the room. Too your knowledge can this be done. Thank You

[@hdssghhhh]

thank you so much for sharing this way of using it😘

[@ngc60]

Great stuff Jimmy, so I tried inputting my current Bachmann track layout into Scarm, but I just can't get the final two pieces to join, very close, any suggestions?

[@frankgarofalo843]

Very informative overview video. You make it look easy after everybody said it was hard. I'm new to modeling. I want to build out my Christmas Village come which of course has a train track. When it comes to the buildings, can you use pictures somehow? Other other features that are good to know while I'm planning this Christmas Village? Department 56 options? Snow feature, or something like that. Thanks

[@newfenrisrailroad621]

Hey jimmy thanks for this video as I’m going to be planning a new layout and this will be a big help

[@JohnZonneveld]

Has been a while you posted this video. Have looked at scarm in the past and recently looked at it again. About 10 years ago I was playing around with MiniTrix and DCC (DIY circuitboards). Now while living in the US I'm looking at Kato N-scale Unitrack and DCC-EX. I tried to recreate the Martintown layout of MarklinOfAweden (HO Marklin) in Kato N Unitrack. How much slack is too much? As I was trying to see what parts I would need to order to build the track, so can not test fit at the moment. The layout is a folded dogbone, but try to add a staging area on the bottom layer in the loops. Didn't add elevations to Scarm so guess that will also introduce some variation in the placement of the tracks and cause scarm not being able to close the track.

[@raymonddonnelly2928]

did you pay for the subscription? I can't right click and "move" the track after downloading scarm...

[@jolliemark6294]

Wow! I've got AnyRail but I can't get builds to show in 3d so I'm going to look into Scarm again now thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍

[@loispadgett6306]

Wow that was cool to see it come to gether may have to try that. Does it work on Apple or is there a better one to us on Apple computers? Keep on teaching us new ways to build and design.🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂 GOD BLESS

[@earlcory]

One thing you should have covered was double clicking the track to select rather than using the box selector.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Hey Lois. Sorry for the delayed reply! Railmodeler is probably the best on mac.

[@loispadgett6306]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad Thank you for letting me know will look for it for my Mac. GOD BLESS🚂👍

[@starrrailways3539]

This was great! I need to switch to SCARM!

[@johnredfernjr8363]

Hi, can I combine atlas track with petco turnouts in a scarf layout?

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Yes you can!

[@TheyMakeItLikeThat]

Looks great! I’ll have to check this out for my expansion planning

[@andrewlott5880]

does this software have anything showing how much the track would cost by chance?

[@thehastyterrainmaker9485]

I've been playing with SCARMS under the Code 100 Atlas and DRIVES me nuts TRYING to figure out the 18"/15o and smaller... The 18"/30 is ok tp figure out, BUT there are more than 3 sizes of 18" turns and when flipping the track over, it does NOT match up on the degrees as SCARMS shows it. Annoying lol

[@brianpagemodeltrains]

Nice video, Jimmy, very helpful. I have been using AnyRail, but watching you with the SCARM is making me think I chose the wrong one.

[@DieCastoms]

downloaded the instant I saw "Lego" in the list!! Thank you, Sir. I wonder, if I draw out my idea for my layout, would you or a viewer wish to 'review it' and point out any possibly glaring mistakes for a first-layout?

[@TheTurtlehead91]

Thanks for the video. I just finished my first layout! However, I can't for the life of me figure out how you do your track preview videos where the camera follows the train. Is that a feature of the premium version of the 3D Viewer?

[@olddogg60]

I can tell that I need this program. Thank you. 😊

[@HVACSoldier]

Do they have SCARM for smartphones or tablets?

[@josephrsigman9268]

What n scale do you run?

[@OldIronVideo]

Does it only allows 50 free track peaces or 50 types of track parts

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

The free version is 50 pieces.

[@trainmaster1115]

I barely had to watch the video to figure it out. Once I know how to scale the baseboard, place track, and place buildings it was game over. The only problem I had was figuring out if I have lionel o gauge or o-27 guage track

[@mike1776GSD]

A little late to the party, hope you are still on, Jimmy. Laying baseboard using SCARM...what I see is just a length of 48 in going across and yet your vid shows going beyond that to 72 in. What am I missing? Do I need the paid subscription for the program?

[@mike1776GSD]

Never mind. I figured out what I needed to do.

[@johnmalvasio3720]

Wow, great tutorial. Scarm looks so easy to use. Unfortunately I already purchased RR Track. Just started using it but its confusing for a begine and there are no tutorials on KZbin for the program. Are these programs similar and do you think this tutorial will help me navigate RR Track. What is your opinion about the two. Do you think Scarm is easier to use? I was considering switching to Scarm if it was a more user friendly program. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

[@stephenpike3147]

If its any help I run SCARM, I got my then nine year old granddaughter making up a twin track layout with two passing loops, two crossovers with set track, the constructing her own simple buildings of various sizes (with different coloured windows and doors in) with a selection of different rooves too; then viewing in 3D and running a train round the layout all within two hours - she was totally absorbed in it - kept me off the keyboard and mouse, she was confidently laying track after 15mins use and mastered the auto repeat feature. Once you learn the basics its easy to use and is extremely well documented both under the "documentation" website tab and the utube/ demo videos - I picked it up very quickly, but do read the documentation which is well structured and easy to follow. I've used SCARM extensively on a larger layout with lots of gradients (slopes critical for mine) and all flexi track. Layer control is easy and if you make a mistake transferring items between layers is a doddle. Its easy to check for clashes frame work to track but can work on one or other layer to declutter the screen. The only draw back I have encountered is that the response of snapping flexi track to a final location got longer and noticeable as my layout grew past about 50 points/ turnouts my PC is 8 years old so maybe part of the problem) - but still I manage at 100 points and some 200yards of track (19 inch minimum curve yes its a GB layout), but I stress this is for those difficult to curve and snap circumstances. Customisation via settings is both intuitive and easy too and the tool box is both an extremely important and useful feature to use too. The 3D viewing is sharp, nicely rendered and very responsive and it is well supported (Milan is quick to get back to you) and so far has been steadily developed. For 40 USD/ 30 GBP you really can't go wrong - its about 15 minutes cost of labour at a garage!

[@MrFingers008]

Great tutorial thank you. I have a question. I am using Fastrack so I don't believe that flex track is available for that. So I had to fuss and fuss with using all different types of FT to get my track to meet up and make a complete circuit. Thank God I managed to make that circuit after a long time. Here's the thing. When I put the last piece of track in the arrows disappeared and the track looked complete except when I zoom in it's just a hair off. I mean the 3 rails look together but just a hair of a dogleg. Does this mean it is slightly off but still within tolerance or is it just a glitch in the software? It took me so long to get it together I'd hate to order the pieces and have it not work. Thanks for your time.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Hello! I will say that I cannot answer this with confidence without seeing the track plan. SCARM has tolerances you can set and it could be totally fine, but I would have to see it first. Can you save the project and email it to me at [e-mail]?

[@MrFingers008]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad indeed I will do that. Thank you. I just downloaded SCARM and just used it as is without changing any settings.

[@MrFingers008]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad did you receive my email with the saved project?

[@petermenningen338]

Aloha Jimmy This seems to be a very powerful tool and way easier to model in than Fusion 360 (the parts are already made). My question is with benchwork. I have a startup workshop and am planning on sharing it with various artist modelmakers here on Maui. There is no model RR club here. One on Oahu but that is a plane flight away and a shipment of a layout on a barge is expensive. I found this today (Memorial Day 2021) so I haven't played with it yet. Can it handle module benchwork and put them together to run a train? Space for storage here is $$$ and small modules that can fit in SUV's and short bed Pickups would be the ideal format 3-6 ft long 2-3 ft wide supported on sawhorse style legs for running sessions. Ideas??

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Hey Peter! So my Patreon models are available at the $5/month engineer level. I am currently trying to figure out how to make a download repository. As for your space issues. I would definitely look at T-track modules. They are quite small and customizable. I am considering building a few.

[@nassaulioneloperatingengin5716]

You should check out rolling line on steam. It’s VR model railroading.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

I’ve actually purchased it and I have been using it with my vr headset. It’s so awesome!

[@chrismorgan6898]

Is there a U. S. version?

[@wjcorrinne4052]

Hi Jimmy, I really liked this video. I’ve recently purchased from Bear Creek an H O template kit that I saw Campbell Rice using to help with the planning and set up of a layout. As I’m planning to build 4 modular sections that will align with each other for the reason that I’ll be joined by a daughter and granddaughter and eventually it will need to be taken out of the basement to one of them. If I understand what you said SCARM isn’t compatible with Apple products? I have an iPad, but after watching you, this and other programs will need a computer and a tablet won’t work? I’ve watched you do “coding” on other videos as well as other modelers and the screen appears more detailed than what I’ve seen on the iPad. I’ve checked in my vicinity and there was listed a model shop but not the club that was in a neighboring town until the new interstate bridges were built. Otherwise it’s Chicago or St. Louis so I’m hoping they can give me contact info on local modelers? Anything you can give me, info wise, would greatly be appreciated. Thanks and keep displaying these great videos, Bill Corrinne PS, I like coffee it just doesn’t like me, so I’m an iced tea person.

[@fredashay]

I wish there was a version of SCARM for Linux!

[@mike-a-boy4236]

you should try a game called rolling line.

[@joannabaran-glazer9267]

#Modeltrains

[@scotabot7826]

Gym Locker room storage? Lol

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

When I first read the subject, I thought you were going to talk about getting Scammed.

[@shiraz627]

This software sucks! I'm just trying to figure out how it works and it tells me I used to many track pieces! Horrible experience bye bye. Scarm blocked me from his FB page when asked some questions! Terrible people.

[@mxferro]

I use atlas Right track which works out really well. This really does lokk like the EXACT SAME as right track.

[@mxferro]

I use atlas Right track which works out really well. It's very close to this program.

[@mxferro]

I use atlas Right track which works out really well. This really does lokk like the EXACT SAME as right track.

[@mxferro]

I use atlas Right track which works out really well. It's very close to this program.