As a frequent traveller through Reading station during its multimillion pound refurbishment, I was able to take note of what you’d see around a carefully managed construction project, but there would obviously be debris and packing materials everywhere.
Bachmann Scenecraft and P&D Marsh figures really help to suggest movement and building site activity.
I noticed wooden packing crates at Reading. I had no idea what was in them, but I liked them and decided to model them. I used thick plastic H columns cut into 10mm lengths and infilled them with cork tile offcuts. They were clad with Evergreen strip around three sides with thin plastic card tops and bases.
I painted them a thin, pale yellow, weathered and gloss varnished them. The ‘this way up’ arrows and instructions are tiny decals, and the finishing touch is some plastic shrink wrap (cling film, in this instance).
What looks like scale models of new water pipes are simply drinking straws bound together with thin straps of plastic strip.
The portable cabins are from Knightwing.