This document describes the features of the RevellSlotTracks program.
The idea is to use the program to design Revell track layouts and verify that there is enough inventory to actually build them. Also, the Revell system has a variety of spin-out and spin-in aprons to expand the track to accomodate 1/24 scale cars. This program attempts to handle these and includes them in the inventory.
The program handles 2-lane and 4-lane track plans. The 4-lane mechanism is actually two 2-lane layouts for flexibility.
Almost all of the design operations are handled by using the mouse. Some typing is required for file and layout names.
The new layout design is built from left to right. New pieces are "appended" to the end of the layout.
Design of a new Layout starts with selection of one of the layout tabs (1-8).
Next, placement of the "anchor" piece onto the layout area. This piece will have a darker color than the following pieces. A good choice for this starting piece is a terminal (power and controller connection) track piece.
The starting piece's button is selected from the "tool box" of options on the left side of the program widow. This first track is placed by clicking on the large layout area where the first piece should go.
Now additional track pieces are "appended" to the growing layout by selecting the desired track piece from the "tool box" and then clicking anywhere on the open layout area. The piece will be added to the "end" of the layout. Additional mouse clicks will continue to add the same piece to the end of the layout, for instance, a string of straight track pieces.
If a piece is selected in the tool box and then the mouse click is on an existing track piece in the layout area, the selected piece will replace the piece under the mouse in the layout area.
If a piece is selected in the tool box and then the mouse is double clicked on an existing track piece in the layout area, the selected piece will be inserted before the piece under the mouse in the layout area.
Another way to append (add after) a track piece is to place the mouse cursor over an existing track piece and then right click and select "Append". A dialog box will be presented that shows what track pieces may be appended. The new track piece will be added "after" the existing selected piece.
The same right-click menu may be used to replace the selected piece, insert (add before) a piece, or delete (remove) a track piece. The other right-click options will be expalined below.
If a piece needs to be removed, deselect any toolbox buttons and then click on the piece to select it, then press the "Delete" key on the keyboard. The piece can also be deleted (after it is selected) by the Item Menu in the Menu Bar or by right clicking over the piece and using the popup menu.
Layout designs may be saved and loaded from files. There are some layout files available from the File Menu in the Menu Bar, including those from standard Revell Home Raceway Sets. Click on "File" in the Menu Bar and then "Open Layout File". When the file selection dialog appears, select "RevellStandard" and the layout file desired, say "Atlantica.txt" for the Atlantica set.
The File Menu in the Menu Bar also allows management of track piece inventory. Click "File" and then "Inventory Manager". The initial counts should all be zero. Enter the proper piece counts in the "Inventory" column and save when finished. These values will appear in the "Stats" Layout Tab.
The "New Layout" option in the File Menu is used to clear out an existing layout and start a new one. This is also the only way to begin a new 4-lane layout design. If a layout has already been started and has not been saved, the program will ask if it needs to be saved.
Revell's spin-out and spin-in aprons and fences can be added to a selected track piece. These are called "attachments". There are two ways to do this.
The first way is to have the track pieces already laid out, then select the "Attachment Pieces - 2 Lane" tab in the Toolbox. This will show the various attachment pieces that are available for ALL track pieces. Click on one of the attachment buttons and then click on the appropriate track piece in the layout area. The apron/fence should appear next to the selected track piece. The Toolbox button should still be selected, so click on another track piece to add the same attachment again. This method is useful to quickly add the same attachments to a bunch of the same track piece types.
Note: It is possible to add some attachments to the wrong track piece, although some will be automatically "corrected".
The second way to add attachments is to select the track piece in the layout area and the right-click and select "Attach". This will bring up an attachment dialog that is specific to that particular track piece. This method is best if multiple attachments are needed or if you are unsure of what to use.
If a track piece in the layout area is selected, a right-click will bring up the above menu. Here is what the different options do:
The Item Menu in the Menu Bar does the same thing. It is best used with multiple items selected.
This is where the new layout is designed.
To design a 4-lane layout, select a layout tab.
Then click on "New Layout" in the File Menu
Then select the 4-lane button. The toolbox should switch to the 4-lane track pieces tab.
The easiest way to design the layout is to use this toolbox tab.
If the 2-lane toolbox tab is selected, only the "lower" track is affected.
Any track piece may be modified with the right-click menu. This is the only way to add to the "upper" track independently of the lower track and can be quite tedious.
Some wild 4-lane layouts can be constructed with banked turns and non-parallel runs of track. However, the layout must begin with a 4-lane piece to establish the upper and lower track runs.
System - this program only supports the Revell/Riggin slot track system from the 1960s.
Track DB Pieces - the number of pieces in the track piece database.
Active Layout / Tab - indicates which layout tab is currently active.
Appearance - two display options:
Measurements - changes the units for Lane Lengths and Layout Size:
Clock - current date and time.
There are three (3) ways to exit the program:
If there are unsaved layouts when the program is closed, the user will be asked if they are to be saved.