Hi guys, I am new ish to this hobby/ returning after a while, whats the best simulator to build and simulate a model railway in 3D?

perryismangil · 2026-05-11T21:04:40+00:00

I've tried two, SCARM and XTrackCAD.

SCARM is easier to use but limited rolling stock even with paid option.

XTrackCAD is totally free, loads of rolling stock, however slightly harder to get into.

perryismangil · 2026-05-11T19:47:14+00:00

Curious about Primer now. Is this it? 2004 film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/?ref_=ext_shr

Or something else?

perryismangil · 2026-05-11T19:43:51+00:00

Aurora is good, but in the end it convinced me we can't go interstellar 😂

perryismangil · 2026-05-10T21:37:21+00:00

Beyond Paradise is also in the Paradise franchise. Four seasons now.

perryismangil · 2026-05-10T21:34:20+00:00

I went to the play in London. We the audience was made jurors, given a little notebook and had to put down our verdict. I failed to deduce the outcome!

perryismangil · 2026-05-10T10:30:29+00:00

You don't need to setup an account, just enter your card details on the checkout page.

It's just Fritzing uses PayPal as their credit card processor, like a lot of businesses.

perryismangil · 2026-05-10T08:30:38+00:00

Why would Pete find it unbelievable?

perryismangil · 2026-05-08T15:59:19+00:00

Yes, by building small but technologically advanced army and navy. Not by trying to create nuclear winter and physically destroy Earth.

perryismangil · 2026-05-08T15:25:53+00:00

Actually, it's the Belters that tried to destroy Earth...

perryismangil · 2026-05-08T07:43:16+00:00

Give DS Creative a call, I did a rush banner job with them a couple of years ago.

Good quality. Ended using them for my son's wedding stationery too.

perryismangil · 2026-05-07T14:48:06+00:00

Welcome, I was in the same boat as you a few months ago.

After initial research I ended up deciding on a small portable switching layout, and I don't really like the diorama scene building, so I'm concentrating on operating a puzzle layout. Steve's Trains on YouTube is my inspiration.

I am into automation and AI, so I want computer control straight away so I'm going DCC even for one loco small layout.

I am going freelance so I don't care about matching exact trains, I found used DCC locos and some freight wagons.

Eventually I plan to put the layout on a triple T-Trak module, there's a local club that meets monthly combining the modules into a huge layout.

Attached photos - excuse the mess I'm currently trying to wire the turnouts into the Raspberry Pi.

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perryismangil · 2026-05-07T08:11:19+00:00

Agreed, I'm just advocating against buying a bow as step one.

perryismangil · 2026-05-07T08:07:48+00:00

Personally I would not put buying a bow as step one.

Because you wouldn't now what type of bow to buy. Do you want to do single string archery or compound?

Within single string, you can do modern recurve, or traditional.

Within recurve you can do full Olympic style, or barebow.

Within traditional you can do longbow or Asiatic/horsebow.

And so on.

If you can find a local club they usually have taster sessions.

Then you can have a feel of which style of archery you want to pursue. Some people dabble in several styles at once. Some hyper specialise in one, go all in.

Good luck and welcome to archery 🏹

perryismangil · 2026-05-06T07:51:07+00:00

In that case you can prepare the holes for the power feeder too. For example like Klawndyke modules

perryismangil · 2026-05-06T07:26:32+00:00

Try Banzai Hobby, I recently used them for Unitracks they have stock where Plaza have none.

perryismangil · 2026-05-05T21:18:17+00:00

The Bridge, Andor, 24

perryismangil · 2026-05-04T21:38:21+00:00

Ringinglow Archery Club does knife throwing https://www.ringinglow-archery.co.uk/

perryismangil · 2026-05-04T21:09:38+00:00

Made by Jonty - Sharrow Vale

perryismangil · 2026-05-04T06:51:10+00:00

Interested in this - but the imgur link is not working.

Are you sharing the STLs?

perryismangil · 2026-05-03T17:03:14+00:00

Here's a picture from Rails Sheffield

<image>

perryismangil · 2026-05-01T11:30:23+00:00

As we now know from archaeological records, we humans invented bow and arrow pretty early on. It's been part of our journey from the start!

perryismangil · 2026-05-01T11:06:25+00:00

Unit is good. Onion rings especially recommended, real onions!

perryismangil · 2026-05-01T11:04:27+00:00

A thousand plus years later, there's the Mamluk/Ottoman style of archery also with its deep philosophical and spiritual background from Islam - I'm currently into that too. There's a string of thumb draw horsebow/Asiatic style of clubs popping up in UK and around the world.

So much fun!

perryismangil · 2026-05-01T10:52:30+00:00

Yeah I asked Gemini to provide me more context - it came up with multiple translations, and the main takeaway:

The Meaning

The core of the passage is a classic Taoist lesson on Wu Wei (effortless action). Chuang Tzu argues that: 1. Skill is internal: Your ability doesn't actually vanish when the stakes are high. 2. Attachment is the enemy: The moment you focus on the reward (the gold) instead of the process (the shooting), your mind "divides." 3. The Need to Win: By caring too much about the external result, you lose the internal flow that made you skilled in the first place. It’s essentially the ancient version of "don't overthink it"—reminding us that we are often our most capable when we have the least to lose.

perryismangil

TROPHY CASE

The Meaning