Brick sheet?

[Kisatchie]

I've used their TT scale brick, I wasn't aware they made N scale brick.

I looked at the catalog. Their "N scale" items are 1/200 scale.


Hmm... just how bad is
that...?

[DKS]

So DKS, when you gonna come out with some outstanding brick sheet for all of us?

Soon, actually, as in a few weeks. I'm working on ways of casting large--ish sheets with consistent thickness--it's a lot harder than it sounds, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. It will take new casting techniques I have yet to perfect. The other hurdle with be the laser time involved--anywhere from 4-5 hours of cutting is required to produce one ~8x10 sheet. Not easy or cheap! But at least the bricks will really be N scale, with deeper mortar lines to accept all manner of mortar effects.

Plus... different brick styles and decorative accent rows, as well as cinderblock and asphalt shingle sheets to come sometime thereafter.

Once those lines are under way, then come lintels, cornices and other scratchbuilding goodies, including a quasi-modular system to produce walls larger than I can cast in one shot. But all of this takes time, so I hope folks will be patient. We do, after all, have a couple of N scale kits to wrap up (not to mention a half dozen on the drawing boards--if only we didn't need to sleep...)

[Zox]

I bought some brick sheet from Plastruct recently. When I got it home, I looked at it under a magnifier. Never again. The brick has full sized brick in one row, then the next row is ALL half-sized brick, then another row of full-sized brick, and so on. Looks awful.

That pattern is called "English bond," and it's a legitimate pattern for laying brick:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickwork#English_bonds

Most load-supporting brick walls are at least two bricks thick, and the headers (the "half-size" bricks are actually full bricks seen end-on) tie the layers together. The "running bond" or "stretcher bond," where all the bricks are laid long-side showing, is really only useful when a wall isn't load-bearing, or when something else (like a steel frame) is providing the structure.

The main visual defect in the Plastruct is the over-wide mortar lines, and in practice those don't seem to be as obvious once a wall is painted.

[rochsub]

I looked at the catalog. Their "N scale" items are 1/200 scale.


Hmm... just how bad is
that...?

Yep, I went with the TT (1:125).  Looks good in my opinion.  The 1/200 look too small.

Daryl

[SkipGear]

I like the Vollmer sheet but it is getting hard to find and expensive. The main drawback is it is thick and a bit tough to cut.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/770-7349 (no picture unfortunately)

The N scale Architect is just the opposite, it s just a skin and you have to have sub structure under it for any sizable wall.

Then there is always create your own if you have a cutter....

[highway70]

Printed paper bricks can be very effective, as shown in many of the photos on the Clever Models site:

http://clevermodels.squarespace.com/

[MVW]

Soon, actually, as in a few weeks. I'm working on ways of casting large--ish sheets with consistent thickness--it's a lot harder than it sounds, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. It will take new casting techniques I have yet to perfect. The other hurdle with be the laser time involved--anywhere from 4-5 hours of cutting is required to produce one ~8x10 sheet. Not easy or cheap! But at least the bricks will really be N scale, with deeper mortar lines to accept all manner of mortar effects.

Plus... different brick styles and decorative accent rows, as well as cinderblock and asphalt shingle sheets to come sometime thereafter.

Once those lines are under way, then come lintels, cornices and other scratchbuilding goodies, including a quasi-modular system to produce walls larger than I can cast in one shot. But all of this takes time, so I hope folks will be patient. We do, after all, have a couple of N scale kits to wrap up (not to mention a half dozen on the drawing boards--if only we didn't need to sleep...)

Glad to hear it, David. Especially the part about "lintels, cornices and other scratchbuilding goodies, including a quasi-modular system ..." There's obviously a need.

In the meantime, I may try out the NSA products. But I can't wait to see what you have coming.

Jim

[spookshow]

I've ordered these off ebay and have been very pleased...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ABS11-4pcs-ABS-Styrene-Wall-brick-patterns-A4-215mm-x-300mm-White-N-or-HO-Scale-/221100655826?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item337aa044d2

Same here. In fact I think you may have been the one who directed me to it (based on my grousing about Plastruct, et al on my blog). I haven't actually used it yet (there aren't many brick buildings in Hope), but it does look good.

I also like the look of RSLaser's peel'n'stick lasercut wood bricks, although I find working with styrene easier -



-Mark

[MichaelWinicki]

Michael,

Thanks for posting that link. I ordered some similar material on eBay a couple of years ago from a Chinese supplier. I found it to be a bit harder and tougher than "normal" and it didn't score and snap as easily. Have you had this issue?

I was pleased with the look but a bit disappointed with the working properties. Hard to say if this stuff is really ABS or something else. I take the claims of material properties with a large grain of salt in these kinds of adds.

Best wishes, Dave

Dave, the ones I received seemed to score and snap as easly as Plastruct and Evergreen... No issues.

[wazzou]

Ive still got 2-3 of the 2' long sheets of H&R brick.

[Hyperion]

Glad to hear it, David. Especially the part about "lintels, cornices and other scratchbuilding goodies, including a quasi-modular system ..." There's obviously a need.

In the meantime, I may try out the NSA products. But I can't wait to see what you have coming.

Jim

Monster model works (linked previously in thread) makes all these things right now.  I haven't built anything with their stuff yet, but have purchased a bit of their line up and found it fairly impressive.  I need to get out some paint to really make a decent side by side comparison.

[MVW]

Mark and Jerry, thanks for the links to Monster Model Works. Some nice-looking material over there -- and interesting and helpful content, to boot.

On the downside, it looks like their brick sheets are about six times more expensive per square inch than NSA's. I'm not saying that's not understandable, given their production method and apparent quality. but it may make a big difference to modelers on a budget (like me).

Absolutely worth considering, though.

Jim

[dougnelson]

Another option is brick paper.  I used Paper Creek N scale brick paper on this scratch-built PRR Hunt Tower.

[Philip H]

AnD to make it more interesting, I was in Enginehouse Services in Green Bay yesterday ( we're visiting my In-laws) and they at least 3 packs of Heljan brick sheets in bulk. No scale listed but they appeared slightly undersized for HO.

[unittrain]

That PRR tower is awesome