On a layout one can often end up with awkward corners, which should have a building, but would probably entail cutting through it at a funny angle, only having part of it modelled. We have always tried to avoid this ugly effect on CF; although the York Road tube station will be an exception to this rule. A building in a dilapidated state, or being demolished is an alternative which Matthew Wald very successfully used on the south end of the original Caledonian Road scene.
At the south end of CF, behind Tom Knapp’s Paget Christian Mission is a very awkard piece of real estate. It is one of the most obvious parts of the Belle Isle section on top of Gasworks Tunnel, and so needs something interesting to hold the eye: there are only just so many trees that you can plant on CF.
I therefore started making a cameo of a building being demolished, as a demonstration at the Model Engineer show at Ally Pally. Whilst building it, I was fortunate to get lots of advice from retired civil engineers and carpenters, and it has now been completed with a few more hours work at home. The building was obviously a small 3rd rate London terraced house, of which there were examples on this road.
The ‘one holer’ will have a tin roof on it when complete and there will be pavement at the front. Our home made brick styrene sheet is very useful for helping to get this sort of decrepit appearance in a building. The workmen have been incredibly tidy so far, clearing away all the debris as they work(!) It will be painted in this condition and then piles of timber, bricks & detritus added, subsequently. Painting will be fun...
Tim
P.S. From certain angles it does look a bit like the Alamo.