Hi Phil, thanks, yes I think you are right, the 'illustrator' mode has worked well on things in the past that are clearly 3D like a three quarter angle of a river bridge, but this one does look a bit lifeless.
i have been enjoying your 6mm thread and will be interested to see how you get on with metal road. Fat Frank on e-bay does some nice roads, but I think even the 6mm ones will be wider than what you may want to end up with yourself.