Templot Club Archive 2007-2020
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posted: 21 Feb 2011 22:47 from: Templot User
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I am intending to purchase a licence for Templot in the next few weeks to aid the design of what will be my EM gauge branch line loosely based on Amlwch in Anglesey (with additional dockside branch rather than chemical works). I have recently been given an old PC on which I intend to run Templot and at the moment before I upgrade the RAM to 1.5Gb (next week all being well) the machine runs horribly slowly. A friend suggested that Linux might make it run faster but looking through your website I notice that you mention a range of Windows OS types but do not mention Linux. Therefore, the question I want to ask is will Templot run under Linux? (I hope that the new RAM will solve the speed problems as the processor is an Intel 2.8GigaHz so I am assuming it is the 768Mb of RAM which is causing the performance problems.) On an unrelated note but relating to the design of my railway, I have been looking through the Forum and noticed that for EM gauge, the recommendation seems to be for 36" minimum radius for the track. My available room is 11'6" by 6'5" so a 36" curve is problematic. I have previously built finescale OO using K&L/C&L components and their flexible track but although it is an improvement on typical RTR track, the sleepers are still too long (relative to the gauge) to my eye and I like the idea of EM as being a suitable compromise as I feel that it could theoretically be a regauged version of OO with improved flangeways and appearance. I appreciate that this is quite a simplistic view but I was hoping for the dockyard branch I would be able to get track nearer to 20" radius (with transition curves) and very tight radius points on the quayside. The line will be operated by small tank locos, (Webb 0-4-2T, L&Y Pug, possibly an 08 shunter depending on what period I am modelling) so hoped that these would run well even down to tight radii such as 20" (with check rail). Similarly, for the main point work in the passenger and goods area, I was considering A4 or A5 turnouts as it will all be low speed terminal station operation and I am quite space constrained. Would you think this is viable for EM gauge or should I think again before I start designing and constructing trackwork? Next month I shall be obtaining my copy of Templot as I have studied the website at some length and am very impressed by what I have seen. Thanks very much for any replies, regards David G |
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posted: 21 Feb 2011 23:04 from: Martin Wynne
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Hi David, Thanks for your kind words.  2.8GHz + 768MB is well-specified for Templot, assuming you are on Windows XP or earlier. If it's Windows Vista the memory upgrade to 1.5GB will make a big difference. When you say it is horribly slow, doing what exactly? Some users are running Templot using Linux + Wine (or Linux + Codeweavers Crossover, which is essentially the same thing). But if you have the option to run it natively under Windows I would recommend that route. It will make it much easier to learn, and you will have no problems printing templates or running the tutorial videos. regards, Martin. |
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posted: 21 Feb 2011 23:13 from: Rob Manchester
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Hello David, Windows XP (assuming that is what you are running now ) should run fine on a 2.8Ghz P4 with over 1GB of memory. Memory is cheap these days. I would put 2x1GB in it, making sure the two sticks of memory are the same speed and type. If the system is still slow ( depending on what else you are used to ) I would do a re-install of XP. People can't beleive their eyes when they see how much better it is without all the rubbish that has built up on a system over the years. Back up any required data BEFORE re-installing and do a wipe and re-install rather than just a repair or update. The next step up from that would be to go for Windows 7. It seems to run more efficiently then XP and the user interface is very modern and cool although not actually much different. I don't know if Templot runs on Linux but even if it does I wouldn't go that route unless you are familiar with it. Use all your new learning time to get used to Templot. I was totally baffled by Templot for a while and then things just clicked and most things became second nature. No comment on the EM minimum radius question. The pragmatic answer is probably to build some test lengths of track of a range of different radius curves and see how a converted loco gets on. Longer stock with rigid wheelbases is the stumbling block of course. I had a small layout with a Class 03 shunter and wagons that went down to 10" radius ( in OO ) to get round a hidden siding. I tested it first before comitting to the full layout. You will need a field trip of course to see if you can find any remains of the Amlwch branch...its lovely round there out of the holiday season. Rob |
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posted: 22 Feb 2011 12:28 from: Nigel Brown click the date to link to this post click member name to view archived images |
David I've a 2.6Ghz P4 PC with 1GB of memory, running XP. It works fine, and Templot runs fine. Interestingly, I've never had the "Windows getting slower over time" symptom which often gets mentioned. Wonder if the fact I built the PC myself and installed XP with none of the 3rd part guff which suppliers seem to enjoy sticking on it has anything to do with it. Nigel |
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posted: 22 Feb 2011 17:03 from: JFS
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David, If your machine is slow, it might well be due to what it has been doing previously - if it has had a whole load of stuff installed and uninstalled, it might well be that that the registry (etc) is full of junk. My suggestion would be to re-format the hard drive and re-install from scratch. If you don't feel confident to do that / don't have the original install disks etc, I would suggest finding a local pc fixit shop. We have one near here which will do all of that, sort out all the drivers and give you back a good-as-new PC for about forty quid. If you bought the RAM from them they would install that for you as well. I am sure you would have someone similar near you (NOT PC World!!!). Personally, I would leave Linux to the enthusiasts... if you could cope with Linux then you could certainly do a Windows re-install yourself:-) Good Luck, Howard. |
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posted: 22 Feb 2011 17:38 from: Martin Wynne
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JFS wrote:If your machine is slow, it might well be due to what it has been doing previously - if it has had a whole load of stuff installed and uninstalled, it might well be that that the registry (etc) is full of junk.Hi David, Howard, Just to add that Templot doesn't use the Windows registry. So it doesn't matter how full of junk it has become, it won't affect the running of Templot. I have a well-used XP system which has accumulated a lot of rubbish over the years and is sorely in need of a clean out. It is now painfully slow launching and running some other software. But Templot runs just as fast as it did when the system was new. David, if your system is primarily intended to run Templot, I suggest you wait and see how it performs with Templot before doing anything. It may be fine as it is. regards, Martin. |
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posted: 22 Feb 2011 21:48 from: Templot User
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I cannot comment on computers but I like the idea of your project. I have built a model of a dock - Humber Dock - in P4 and have successfully used a curve of a minimum radius of about 2ft. The problem with sharp curves is the potental for buffer locking, so the trick is to ensure that there are no sudden changes in the radius of the curve - especially not from a straight line (a radius of infinity) to a sharp curve. In other words, use transition curves, which are a doddle to design in Templot . Paradoxically, it might be more difficult in EM than in P4 as the former has more side play between wheels and rail, so keep things reasonably tight. If you do I think you should have no difficulty with four wheel locos and trucks round a two foot curve but, as other correspondents have advised, do try it out on a mock up first. Note that I learnt about the desirability of transitions the hard way! I look forward to seeing the results of your endeavours. Incidentally the tightest curves on the real Humber Dock in Hull scale out to about two and a half foot radius in 4mm scale. Ian Everett Bottom Chapel Station Road Askrigg North Yorkshire DL8 3HZ 01969650180 07866118315 http://clecklewyke.wordpress.com http://www.bottomchapel.co.uk The place to B and B. |
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posted: 23 Feb 2011 23:14 from: David Gibbons
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Thanks very much to all who have responded so quickly to my queries. With regard to the RAM issue, I have just reinstalled XP Home on the PC as it was running very poorly (the friend from whom I obtained it was a keen gamer and it had a mere 130Mb left on the hard drive!). I was wanting more RAM really so I could use it for quicker internet access and video watching but I do have another PC downstairs which works very well so perhaps I'm just being greedy! I will leave Linux well alone judging by the comments and stick with my trusty XP. With regard to the radius issue, the replies were very informative and I did wonder if it was the buffer locking issue which might be one of the more critical, plus the appearance of tight curves. But in a 6'5" wide room, there have to be compromises and would you believe that one of the primary reasons I want a dockside (apart from obvious operational interest) is so that I can use the Dapol (ex-Airfix) dockside travelling crane as I had one made by my dad in the 1970s on an early train set and wanted to have another for old time's sake, although I hope my trackwork will look better than the Triang Super 4 of that vintage! As for Amlwch, I have many reference works about the line and have spent some of my happiest holidays on Anglesey (I'm from Chester originally, now in York) and have photographed some of the remains including the goods shed. It lends itself brilliantly in my opinion, to a model railway and I look forward to the proposed Derby Lightweight DMU from Bachman as they were used on the branch in 1956 along with BR standard tanks and ex-LMS types. However, I am still very much at the design stage (hence the use of Templot) and it will be a while before I have anything significant to show. Watch this space... Thanks again everyone. David |
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posted: 23 Feb 2011 23:25 from: Rob Manchester
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David, I take it you may know about this :- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12246945 Rob |
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posted: 24 Feb 2011 00:08 from: David Gibbons
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Thanks Rob Yes, I saw a similar report in Railnews. Plans have been afoot for years but it would be great to see trains running along the full length of the branch again - but Llangefni would be a a good start. David |
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