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I built the Turtle Creek Central -- with a couple of significant modifications -- which is a cleverly -- deceptively clever -- designed 4 by 8 track plan. It can be operated as a point to point with the tunnel used as a staging area. You can also have continuous running for the kids. I thought I would build it for my kids and then move on to something else, but I've grown attached to the track plan. <br /> <br />There are other excellent 4 by 8 track plans, especially those that are waterfront switching layouts. With a bit of creativity a 4 by 8 can be a whole lot more than an oval, a passing siding and a couple of spurs. <br /> <br />With that being said, the worst part about a 4 by 8 in HO is trying to line things up and join the oval, especially when using flex track. If a single turnout is just slightly misaligned it can throw the entire layout out of whack. Since a 4 by 8 is usually built by a beginner, laying the flex track becomes a baptism by fire because trying to align a loop to turn outs is probably the most difficult part of working with flex track. Laying flex track is much easier to learn on a point to point. In that setting you can save the return or reverse loop for the very end, after you've become handy enough with the Xurons that it is second nature.
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