Baba - I see that you are looking at Fastrack. Will you have 360 degree access? You don't want a turnout where you can't reach it - will the table be on castors so it can roll out for access or will it be fixed in place?
Both plans you have indicated have crossings in the middle of the layout, making a divider hard to construct - the crossing should be reachable and not blocked by scenery for the likely derailments. A ridge with breaks in it might work without restricting access to the crossing.
Is O-36 your minimum curve diameter? Looks like these layouts have O-36 minimum. If a plan can work with O-45 or O-48 (depending on track system) for the outer loop, with this be better, or would you not care?
Will this be conventional control, or Legacy/DCS/LionChief+?
One plan has an extension/spur that goes beyond the 5' width - is that acceptable or is that a problem?
It may be that either plan can add a passing track, and/or an additional siding in a mini-yard. Would either of those be important to you?
-Ken
