Your first track plan in 10 minutes

You don't need a CAD degree — just ten minutes and a browser. This guide walks you through your first small oval layout, step by step.

1. Create an empty board

Open Trackplanner and create a new plan. Pick your baseboard (e.g. 180 × 90 cm) and your track system — say Märklin C or Roco Line.

2. Lay the first track

Drag a curved track from the catalogue onto the board. The next track snaps automatically to the open end — the software works out position and angle for you. We call this connect-as-you-go.

3. Close the oval

Add curve after curve until the loop closes. A small gap left? Trackplanner can close it automatically.

4. Turnout and siding

Drop in a turnout and attach a short siding. Your circle just became a small operating layout.

5. Check and share

The live error check flags open ends and tight radii in colour. Once everything is green, share your plan with one link — no account needed for the viewer.

Done. And your plan automatically becomes a parts list you can hand straight to your dealer's cart.

In more depth, with real screenshots: this guide now exists as the tutorial “First oval with a siding” — part 1 of the series “Your first layout — step by step” in our knowledge base, continuing with a station, a reversing loop, double track and trains.