I am in the process of designing my layout. One issue I am coming up with is curves in my yard. One end is a normal yard ladder but the other end of my yard ladder needs to turn due to the corner of the wall. I know curves are not great to have in a yard but this is the only option in this plan that will work for me. What should the minimum radius be in my yard?
Thanks
... What should the minimum radius be in my yard?
"As wide as you can possibly make them!" 
If you had to you could work with 9 3/4 inches but don't do that unless you absolutely have to! Try to design in such a way that that the radii is as big as practically possible!
Remember also the track centers for the curved portions should be larger than the track centers for the straight seections!
Oh yes Allan, welcome to nScale.net! 
Thanks Bryan
That is pretty much the answer I thought I was going to hear. I do have the option of making them large but would like to know at what minimum radius (roughly of course) can you comfortably couple and uncouple in a yard. At that point I can decide weather or not to work with a minimum or enlarge it. I think I'm good for a 20" but if I should have more than that I may have to rework some of the yard.
Oh, Thanks for the Welcome
Ah, "at what minimum radius (roughly of course) can you comfortably couple and uncouple in a yard", now that's a good question and one I cannot answer!
I am sure someone will know the restrictions involved and post an answer! We will both learn! I'm not sure it makes a difference but what type of couplers do you plan on using? 
Allan,
If you have some flex track handy and some double sided tape, you could do a series of experiments from something like 14 to 28 inches radius and run some cars on it to test coupling. There are a couple complications, truck mounted vs frame mounted couplers, which should have difference performance on curves...
Charles the mad scientist... he he he
My new layout has a big curve in the middle of the yard, which was necessary to lengthen the yard to get 14-car trains:
The minimum radius, which is one of the mainline tracks, I set at 13". This has worked out quite well and coupling is smooth with body and truck mounted couplers of the Micro train and Atlas types. The broader curves (up to 20"+) are really nice for coupling.
Cheers,
Scott
Scott,
Nice looking yard. The prototype does not always have the space for nice straight yards either. One of my favorites from the past; the Cumberland & Pennsylvania's yard in Mount Savage, Maryland was curved. The area is still open, but a local park now. You can see why it curves, it had to go around the mountains. It produces pleasant looking track in mind.
Charles
Many thanks guys. I can definitely accommodate a 20" radius in my yard so I'll try and make that my minimum or at least there about. Right now I have a room that is 12' 5" square in my basement and I am currently putting on the compound on the drywall. I am hopping to start laying track this winter. The really good news is if N scale really works out well for me I can (after the kids have left) expand into a room that is 20' by 22'. I am modeling the early 50's as I have a love for steam but the diesel are much easier to convert to DCC. If you ever want to check into my progress you can check my blog bellow. I started it just as a way to document my progress and keep me motivated and get the job done!!!
Thanks Again
Allan,
Sounds like a good plan- start smallish and expand later. A great situation- I wonder if I could do that...
Thanks Charles. It is coming together and I have trains parked in the yard now. I'm sidelined now making rock castings and getting ready for a scenery marathon.
cheers,
Scott
Scott, be careful about the scenery! It can become addictive! When I started out that was the piece I looked forward to the least!
Now I think It's my favorire part of the whole thing!
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