Need input on new layout

[Jetrock]

You might consider a swing-out section rather than a fold-up one--it would mean a little engineering, but a section that swings sideways like a gate or door might work better than a lift-up one.

I'm considering a somewhat similar arrangement--an O-shaped layout with the operator at the center--and trying to figure the best way to allow operator access is proving to be something of a headache. On one hand, I want to avoid duckunders--but since the whole thing is about 6x8 feet every bit of real estate is precious, and it's hard to get everything secure enough to survive being turned 90 degrees!

[Anonymous]

My last layout ( N scale, 4 X 8 Homosote, cookie cutter design) had to be disassembled when we moved several years ago. I am now planning a new layout which will be in an alcove of our family room.
The alcove measures : left wall is 7 ft. , front wall is 11 ft. and the right wall is 8 ft. The walls on the left and right are actually a little longer but 7' & 8' are what I can use.
I want to build an around the wall layout that will allow continuous running.
I plan on using cantilever supports attached to the walls and for the most part the width will be 24". The Styrofoam base will be framed and supported by 1 X 4 pine.
I would consider myself more of a modeler than a railfan so this will be far from prototypical. With that in mind I just like to run trains, have been since I was an eight year old.
My intention is to extend the width of the layout to 30" about 2' from the end of the legs. I figure that will give me about an 11" radius curve at each end of the legs so that I can have a main line that will enable continuos running.
I will start with DCC and I am considering using Atlas code 55 Flex and Peco turnouts.
Now I realize that 11" radius is not ideal or prototypical but I am trying to keep down to the 30" dimension.
I like to model the 50's era so 50' cars and early diesels will be my choice so I am not too worried about the radius

Another alternative would be to connect the two legs with a 24" wide section so the layout would be more or less a rectangle with about a 7' X 3' opening in the middle. That would require crawling in to the center or an access gate that would swing up out of the way.
I can deal with the table design of this but how difficult is it to make a scenic section the folds up to allow entrance to the middle ? I have seen a lot of plans that call for this type of access but never one in person.
My other thought was to just get wider at the leg ends ( 4' ) and use access hatches to get to the rear of the layout.
Does anyone have a layout that uses access hatches or is it just better to cut a 2' hole in the layout and leave it open and model around it.
Any suggestions ,comments or pictures would be greatly appreciated.

Vince