A question about bricks

[SAH]

Here's a comparison showing brick paper for the factory vs. DPM walls for the Admin building.  Selecting DPM walls was not a tough decision as the window spacing compared well with the prototype.  "To grout or not to grout" became the question.  I liked "not" better, opting to use chalks to suggest grout lines.  Honestly, as I'm focused on operating the layout as a whole and not individual pieces, I look at it now and see "brick".  I don't think it matters that much in N scale.  I do like the wider options paper sheet opens up.  Hope this helps with your decision.  I'm looking forward to your Harper's Ferry scene.

[Bob]

I have to say SAH that I have been admiring your factory for quite some time - the photo you just posted, with the DPM model next to it, is a nice comparison.  I think they both look quite nice!

[wm3798]

Those basement window wells tho...  I'm getting the vapors!

Amazing, @SAH

[Angus Shops]

Not a lot of brick structures in the area I’m modelling, but there was a fair amount of “insulbrick”, an asphalt roofing type product that was printed in a brick pattern. It was applied over wood siding to provide more insulation value. A lot of CPR structures, such as section houses, were covered in it back in the day. It’s been in the back of my mind how to represent it; one idea was to get a good photo of a sample (there is/was a commercial building in my old neighbourhood that had an accessible wall covered in it), digitally arrange it into larger sample, and have it printed onto decal sheets...
Geoff

[peteski]

Not a lot of brick structures in the area I’m modelling, but there was a fair amount of “insulbrick”, an asphalt roofing type product that was printed in a brick pattern. It was applied over wood siding to provide more insulation value. A lot of CPR structures, such as section houses, were covered in it back in the day. It’s been in the back of my mind how to represent it; one idea was to get a good photo of a sample (there is/was a commercial building in my old neighbourhood that had an accessible wall covered in it), digitally arrange it into larger sample, and have it printed onto decal sheets...
Geoff

I still see some structures in Manchester, NH (USA) with that type of fake brick asphalt siding.  Usually 3-story tenements (triple deckers).

I don't think you even have to make decals. Just print it on paper, and glue to the structure's walls.  Just like 1:1 wooden structure is covered with thin asphalt siding, the N scale building can be covered with paper bricks. 

[nkalanaga]

Sure.  In the case  of Insulbrick, and other similar products, printed paper sheets would be prototypical.  Many of the old buildings I've seen using it had the siding peeling off in places, which would also be easy to model.

[SAH]

Thanks guys.  The grout dusting effect is more pronounced when viewing the model in person.  I think the lighting washed it out in the photo.  The effect works for me.

Should you decide to use paper, mind the humidity of the room your models will eventually reside in.  The General Tire building is constructed from 100% paper products, less the bracing structure which is 1/2" x 3/4" wood.  After noting some humidity related delamination last summer I sealed the back side with a heavy clear spray and sealed the front side with artists fixative.  As a warning, regular hardware store matte finish spays leave a frosty residue. Dullcote will do so too but not as bad.  We'll see what happens this summer.

Steve

[Bob]

Thanks SAH - very helpful.  In one of the layout engineering threads (I now forget which one) someone laminated their paper brick prints, and then sprayed with dullcoate; the idea was to seal the paper and prevent humidity-induced issues.  Have you tried that at all?  Bob

[SAH]

That's what I did except I used Fixative rather than Dullcote.  I sprayed the entire completed building.  I made a test wall to check for frosting before I applied the spray.  If I can find it I'll shoot a picture and post it.

Steve

[SAH]

Here's my test clear coat wall.  The right half was coated with a Rustoleum product.  It's easy to see the heavy frost effect.  In the lower LH quad, Dullcote is on the left, Krylon Artist's Fixative is on the right.  Light frosting is visible on the Dullcote test.  If there was nothing to compare it to it may not even be noticeable.  No frosting on the Fixative.  The color is even enhanced somewhat, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your perspective.  I am SOOO glad I took the time to do this test.

[nkalanaga]

I'd consider any of those results acceptable.  The "frosted" parts, to me, just look older and more faded. 

[Bob]

THanks SAH for posting your experiment - this is so helpful.  I am going to give this a shot.  I have downloaded a number of brick wall images from Textures.com, will print and laminate them, and then tackle one of the smaller Harpers Ferry buildings and spray with Fixative.  Bob