Thanks for the shots Chris!!! I agree that clutter is absolutely essential for creating a believable scene, in the same way that weathering is.
We humans constantly filter our perceptions. We literally see and hear only what we want to. That's why when you make a tape recording and play it back, you suddenly hear all the background noise that you have "filtered out".
If those things are not there, we may not be aware at a conscious level, but something will be missing, and the scene lacks believability. As an artist, I have spent my life being observant of little details such as the way light falls, etc. Since I started my layout, I find my observation skills have had to be sharpened even more, to take note of things I previously ignored. Things like trash piles, boxes, rust, dirt, and the various ways things fall into disrepair.
For me, that has been a side of the hobby that has affected everything I do. I can barely drive down the street anymore without studying the city details around me. Not so good for driving, but great for model reference!!!!
Val