Thanks again to everyone for all the kind comments on the last post - I particularly liked the 'stoke of genius' bit - not often that is applied to me! But now to the hard bit - keeping up enough interest to finish this bit off before moving on to the next thing. Although structurally complete (or should that be incomplete!), there is still a lot of work to do to get it to the standard I want - some best done before it is 'planted' and some after. The rather tedious and frustrating bit now is getting the brick colour right. I have tried quite a few things and this is my favorite so far;

But can I remember how I did it? ........ So now I have to try and replicate this all over.

My other problem is the end wall. This was the first I did and the imprint of the bricks is just not strong enough. I could take the DAS off and start again of course but in time honored bodge fashion I think I shall render it! That also has the advantage of adding a bit more variation to the scene but what would add even more would be a painted advert preferably for some alcoholic concoction! I have always been fascinated by painted adverts on buildings but not quite as much as this chap http://paintedsignsandmosaics.blogspot.co.uk/ - what a wonderful site and brimming with inspiration!

Now the big question is - would they have had these as early as 1918? They certainly would in Britain but I have been going through book after book to look for evidence and non is forthcoming so far. Plenty of business names and services offered but not the big advert I fancy. Has anyone got any opinions or better still datable evidence?