I used a 28" minimum radii on the plan. When I try to draw the dogbone style layout you end up needing almost solid bench work on either end of the room. This creates bad reach issues. It can be done but will not be ideal.
Steve.
Thank you Steve... So if I go with a minimum 22" radius I believe that would probably give me enough room to navigate in the center of the room between the two reverse loops? And then at that it should only be tight in the one spot, as the rest of the layout would be shelf-like, around the room.
If you have the time, I'd be very interested to see what your CAD dogbone design for my available room might look like in the smaller radius's? I'm really trying to keep this layout very simple {and very quick and easy}, and I would appreciate it if you would use your CAD skills to show how much empty center space I would get with less wide curves?.
For instance I'm planning to use some existing bookcases and storage basket cabinets as supports for the plywood platform{s}, with height adjusting shims screwed into the platforms and then into the tops of the wooden cabinets, so I'll have platform supports that are also roomy train and gear holders.
My thinking about HO layouts might startle some MRR magazine-reading folks, as I'm not looking to emulate a realistic looking miniature world but am instead very much into "toy stuff" even with HO? My initial plywood platform coverings will probably be indoor-outdoor green carpeting with black rubber roadbeds under code 100 flextrack, and my train stations are some lovely (IMO anyway) Marx lithographed tin ones that are (mistakenly?) more HO size than 027. In my HO world I'm mixing the highly detailed HO locos and rolling stock that I love with some toy surroundings, in much the same way I like to mix my impressionist Marx 027 toy trains with some realistic surroundings. {I've attached a photo that shows some beautiful HO Atlas ATSF heavyweight varnish standing in front of a Marx tin station so you can see what I like...;>})