To create more complex elements than just straight or curved elements, you may edit the created blocks as needed. In this example, I will show the required steps to create a curved turn out like Maerklin 24671 which has 360mm radius and 30° curves which have an offset of 77.5mm.
First, create the "base" element just like a "normal" element: At the Model_Space (the normal work space, not inside any block), create a new curved track via QCTrack / Create menu:
- ComplexBaseNew.png (32.97 KiB) Viewed 92407 times
Then, change the current block space by double clicking the newly created MC24671 block in the QCad Block list. You now should be able to select elements inside the newly created MC24671 element. Select all elements and move them all together some distance away (we will need them later).
Next, again select QCTrack / Create, but this time leave the "block name" empty (maybe you will notice that the top check box is deselected and the cursor starts in "Display name" instead of "block name"). Leave "Display name" empty, again enter 360 / 30° at the bottom of this dialog and hit "Ok". Again move the created element away.
Now for the third time select QCTrack / Create, leave "block name" and "Display name" empty and enter "straight 77.5" to create a straight element.
Your QCad window should now look similar to this:
- ComplexParts.png (113.16 KiB) Viewed 92407 times
Now select only TR_PLAN to be visible. Remove the short ends of the straight element and the left end of the curved element without display name.
Remove the same lines on TR_ENDS and the something longer lines on TR_BEDS. (Means: you remove three lines on each of those three layers.)
All layers visible now you have:
- ComplexPartsEdited.png (10.61 KiB) Viewed 92407 times
All parts are created now, so let's move them to the appropriate position with the normal QCad command (like "mv" for move with "se" for snapend using the bottom left ends of the bed lines):
- ComplexPartsMoved.png (7.39 KiB) Viewed 92407 times
Now adjust the lines on the TR_BEDS layer as wanted. For me, the following seems to be appropriate (deleting and trimming lines):
- ComplexBedEdited.png (2.14 KiB) Viewed 92407 times
As last step, mark all layers to be visible and select QCTrack / Ensure order of track layer objects. This should put the swells to the back and bring the display name to the front (and also sort all other elements). You should now have:
- ComplexDone.png (6.56 KiB) Viewed 92407 times
Of course, you may edit the swells to look more like they realy do, but this isn't needed.
Very importand is only one thing: there must be
three (not four, not five, and, of course: not six) lines on TR_ENDS, because all other QCTrack-scripts use the lines on TR_ENDS to connect track elements. So double check if your block has three lines (e.g. select only TR_ENDS layer to be visble and select all elements, then QCad should display "3 Lines on Layer 'TR_ENDS'").