i think, most of us can agree, that fine details make more sense indoors, specially in dioramas, than outdoors.
but the years and the mistakes i made on my layouts showed me, that there is something more important, than the grade of detailism.
that would be a certain grade of harmonious consistency and coherence.
it is less the what we have or make - it is more important, how we compose things.
if one puts well detailed buildings or rolling stock just beside rough made or toy like stock or buildings, both types appear displaced.
that does not mean, that i want to argue against all differences.
for instance, detailed and/or bigger buildings in the foreground with less detailed or smaller buildings in the background can enhance the over all impression of a layout.
but if imagining a Thomas the Tank engine drawing a string of Amtrak coaches, followed by a caboose makes me shudder.
(but a full Thomas train crossing with a full Amtrak train does not)
or figures - detailed figures mixed with comic characters just looks stuffed, while both separated or just one kind can look nice and interesting.
or a Ford 100 pickup, parked beside a taller VW beetle just dont do it. they need distance.
in a way modeling and composing a layout are different things (i think)
the latter is more comparable with decorating a stage - to create a believable impression to guide the phantasy of the observers.
).
