I started as a tubular guy, running potwar so my original layout had 031 curves, then I discovered the big boy and now I am reduing the layout with a minuin of 072 curves. Now I am using gargraves and Ross switches. I wish I had listened to the guys at the hobby shop, who told me to use gargraves and ross. I also read that you should have no bigger that a 3 feet span so you can reach the trains. SO my layout had pods that where not greater than that.
Life is a learning process.