I think Tony Koester’s Layout Design Elements are a great idea, but there’s only one problem: My entire layout is only two LDE’s. So I created mini LDE’s. Mini LDE’s are scenes on my layout the are prototype based, and give the feel of the prototype. Here are some mini LDE’s on my layout.
Georgia Pacific Paper Mill(GP Mill)- this is the largest industry in Plattsburgh on my layout. The real mill is huge, but my selectively compressed mill gives the brick feel of the prototype, and the kitbashed fences are very distinctive to GP. The GP mill lead track crosses the road as a curve prototypically. The parking lot for the trucks still has to be finished.
Rt. 9 railroad crossings- these are another distinctive feature, as I frequently drive over them. the curved, unprotected crossing adds visual interest, as well as operational challeng