I need now to make a start on the next buildings, and this as you all know is the basis of what will form one of Santo's neighbours.

So, looking at the right of the building you'll see a cottage seemingly tacked on to the end of the row. This is actually the residence of Miss Lemon, a spinster of formidable character and stout heart. Several generations ago the foundry business was split equally between two sons, this portion became a hardware and supplies store serving the surrounding:- What was then, a largely agricultural community, and complimenting the Foundry and Blacksmiths to be found effectively at the other end of the building - more about which later.

Here's the front elevation with the basics marked out. Note, that the upstairs windows have here the original twin sashes, much more handsome and symmetrical than the ungainly and mis proportioned single sash that lives there now!
Also I've included this pic' to show the different depths of wall that I've utilised to portray the opening reveals, this card is 2mm thick so representing 2 inches, the window openings have received a double thickness giving a total of a 4" reveal - totally prototypical. The door is at 2" because being tucked into a corner as it will be, I didn't want it to look as though it was "tunnelled" into the wall. I've yet to make a decision on the inside of the bay, except for the fact that I will again replace the windows with original opening sashes - I truly remember seeing shops where the goods spilt out of the open windows onto folding shelves.

OK, .......... so here we have both elevations, I have actually decided to cut a "boot scraper" into the wall next to the door, again very prototypical in buildings that were built when this location was so much more rural, and the road nothing more than a broad and muddy lane on occasion. It may also be prudent to point out the fact that the whole building has been lifted 18"[mm] off of the ground, this to accommodate a gentle rise in the frontage both for visual relief and to minimise to a degree the fact that this building is much smaller than the restaurant, and needs any help in order to reach the 300mm level of the backdrops height perimeter, I could of course just put more roof on? But, the more roof I use the further the building is obliged to be pushed forward encroaching onto the "Front of stage" portion of the Diorama.
The end elevation shows a different window style and will be explained as a later addition when the side was extended during the Victorian boom years. [In fact a necessary device to bridge the visual gap between this and Santo's........ shhh!].

If you briefly refer back to the previous pic' you'll see the window blank clamped behind the upstairs openings, I simply draw around the inside and once released again draw within the periphery to establish the placement of the windows, and so they're marked ready for ready opening up. Don't be in too much of a rush to dispose of those blanks, a quick cut across the diagonal and you have instant gusseting for reinforcing any corners.
Noteworthy is the fact that this is a different card - one that measures 1.5 inches thick [1.5mm], a perfect measurement for this type of timber work.

And finally for now - I'm sorry.......... but a rather poor pic' of the finished windows. This will be left off until much later and placed in as part of the final dressing.
I've been a bit "obvious" perhaps in my posting but I'm trying to just highlight what a delightfully simple method working with card is - again not trying to convert anyone as I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but it just may sate the odd curiosity as to my personal approach? - which truly is invariably as "low-tech" as possible.
Hopefully now the framework is done we should be able to move on with the interesting bits?
More as it happens...................... Andi.