My layout has the shape of an L. It uses straight edges and was portable for 30 years and straight edges made it easier to move with wheels on the edges and easier to store standing on the floor leaning on a wall.
The straight edges give opportunities to add more features. So the corners form outside curves are not wasted and several buildings and even a mountain are on corners. Space on the layout is very scarce as I have more buildings, scenes and items to add to layout if there was more acreage.
The inside corner with inside curves gave me the opportunity to make a Wye by only adding two switches. The Wye allows a train to switch from one loop to the other while reversing. A train can also go from the inside loop on one train board to the outside loop of the other trains board.
I would consider curved corners, if I was building a new permanent layout, to eliminate some corners but would not put the track as close to the sides of the curves as derailments are still common here with grand kids doing lots of operation. I would use Masonite to curve the sides of the layout as it is easy to bend.
Charlie
