This is an idea I had for a cinema on my layout, I believe it is a Machine Shed or Machine House by Heljan.

I bought it second-hand online, unpainted but incredibly well glued! It had damaged windows, which I had to shuffle around to get all the good ones on the visible sides of the building.

Because of the glue, dismantling caused uneven breaks between some sections - this was counteracted by strategic trimming and reassembly into a slightly smaller structure, the roof panels were similarly trimmed and set aside for painting.

The window details would have been impossible to remove, so the whole building was primed the colour of the window frames - white.

The building was detailed around the windows to represent redbrick arches and surrounds, care was needed not to get coloured paint onto the white window frames! The overall colour of the rest of the building was a flat beige, the roof grey/black panels.

The entrance structure was necessary to conceal the windows that were situated where I wanted the main doors to be. I considered cutting a doorway, but preferred this solution.

The sides and top of the entrance are 2mm plasticard, I decided on a shape that looked vaguely modern compared to the rest of the building, suggesting it was a later addition to the structure (to my mind it looks a bit fifties, but could just as well be 1930's or 1960's!)

The doors are fiddly 1mm² plastic strip and thin card, backed with clear acetate, backed with greaseproof paper for opacity. There is a cavity behind them which is painted white to reflect light back through the "glass."

The "Plaza" sign is also 2mm plasticard, the lettering is Slater's 8mm. The white strip above the door is right-angled plastic strip, this will be where the "Now Showing / Coming Soon!" details will be added. I would also like to get some movie posters and one or two vertical "cinema" signs to mount on the front aspect of the building, the roof has had holes drilled in it by a previous owner - I will hide these with some roof-detailing bits.

I'm pleased with it, and aside from a bit of detailing and cosmetic work, I think it looks pretty good. Now I just need to decide which films to show....