New HCD layout, suggestions welcome

[basementcalling]

Stay with number one.

Three has too much track. The staged trains will detract from the feel of going someplace. The road circling to the bottom side of the layout links the two and will decrease the visual separation.

I would suggest trying one other thing on plan one. Have you considered the mine being visible on the hill above the town? Put the crest of the ridge line behind the branch. Put a short tunnel where the 3" indicator is if needed.

 If this is Appalachian modeling, a steep hillside with just puff balls for tree canopy or foliage clumps glued on a 75 degree slope can be the "skyboard" You could do a similar cliff on the river side.

You could also move Mine #2 a bit closer to the left edge to separate it from the crossover. A curved ridge area there could help separate the mine into its own scene.

[Chris1274]

Is this what you have in mind?



I decided to keep the cement plant after all, and with this arrangement it wouldn't compete with the coal mine since it would be the only visible structure on that side of the layout.

[Chris1274]

OK, I think I'm zeroing in on a final plan:



The cement plant had to go. Even though it doesn't have a large footprint, it's over 7 inches tall and would end up dominating everything. I doubt the mountain itself will be much taller than that. I replaced it with the much lower profile propane station, which allows for some switching while not distracting from the coal hauling theme of the layout. I also brought mine #2 back onto the other side of the hill because I didn't want both mines visible from the same side, and also it would look a bit strange being situated almost right on top of the downtown area.

So unless there's some major problem I'm overlooking, it's time to find a 36x80 HCD.