After many years of striving I think that I have finally reach a level of competence that I am comfortable with . No more messing around trying to stick silly little bricks together I have seen the light . May I present my latest project . An old open fronted cart shed with stable and first floor storeroom attached . Obviously I have still got some weathering and aging to do , but I am essentially happy with the results I have achieved so far . No doubt I'll post some more photos in due course . Maybe ,
Nick
So this is were the design came from for the house you live in!!!!!
Very colorful kind of like you :)
Jerry
Tecknical question, what bond is that
Brooke Bond??
Quote from: granitechops on August 19, 2012, 09:04:32 AM
Tecknical question, what bond is that
Brooke Bond??
No , Bodge-up Bond .
Ah right
as they did teas too ;D
Where can I get a mold to make those bricks? -- Anonymous
Probably in Denmark ::)
Am I having a stroke?....
QuoteTecknical question, what bond is that
Bond, James Bond.
Didn't James May live there once?
Quote from: marc_reusser on August 19, 2012, 05:05:48 PM
Am I having a stroke?....
I don't know , what are the symptoms ? Blurred vision , difficulty in breathing , seeing strange colours in weird combinations , head throbbing , sensibilities outraged ? Yes , then you probably are .
Quote from: lab-dad on August 19, 2012, 05:50:46 PM
QuoteTecknical question, what bond is that
Bond, James Bond.
Nah , Basildon Bond ( it's an English thang) .
Quote from: artizen on August 19, 2012, 10:36:08 PM
Didn't James May live there once?
He may have done .
I find the levity in this thread most objectionable. You fellows are belittling Nick's best work. Yes, it is his best work by far. It epitomizes (or, using spelling Nick would understand, "epitomises") his skill, artistry, indeed, his entire concept. I thought the purpose of this forum was to encourage our younger, less experienced members. Each and every one of you should be ashamed. Ashamed, do you understand?
Nick, go stand in the corner.
Russ
I think the brown ones have to go. Otherwise I can't find fault. Looks like a good home for my Hot Wheels.
Quote from: finescalerr on August 20, 2012, 12:38:26 AM
I find the levity in this thread most objectionable. You fellows are belittling Nick's best work. Yes, it is his best work by far. It epitomizes (or, using spelling Nick would understand, "epitomises") his skill, artistry, indeed, his entire concept. I thought the purpose of this forum was to encourage our younger, less experienced members. Each and every one of you should be ashamed. Ashamed, do you understand? Russ
While it's true that this is undoubtedly Nick's finest work, I predict that he's going to completely bugger it up by covering it with individual stones ...
Witness some examples from Diorama Debris, who make the lovely brick molds that he recommended and molds for making stone walls like these ...
I am saying nothing - I shall just sit on the wall
Barney
on holiday at LEGOLAND
Quote from: finescalerr on August 20, 2012, 12:38:26 AM
I find the levity in this thread most objectionable. You fellows are belittling Nick's best work. Yes, it is his best work by far. It epitomizes (or, using spelling Nick would understand, "epitomises") his skill, artistry, indeed, his entire concept. I thought the purpose of this forum was to encourage our younger, less experienced members. Each and every one of you should be ashamed. Ashamed, do you understand?
Nick, go stand in the corner.
Russ
So you'll be wanting an article for your comic in due course then ?
Nick ( in his corner playing with his LEGO )
Mr. Ogden I have Mr. Brown on the phone.
Quote from: lab-dad on August 20, 2012, 03:34:52 PM
Mr. Ogden I have Mr. Brown on the phone.
Tell him I'm busy . I've got to a particularly tricky bit with my LEGO shed and I can't stop . Ask him what he wants .
Amazing work... particularly impressed with your ability to replicate the look of Lego bricks. Put some chains and antlers on it and you'll have a winner. Anxious to see this in its final weathered state...
Paul
It's so nice to see such fresh clean Lego being used. In our house, all the Lego has teeth marks from various small children. Not all the marks are from our children either - we bought second-hand boxes to replace the little bits that always go missing. I currently use a Lego brick wall as a right angle for making models. Very good these Danish - everything is square!
Anyone have a use for Bionicle robots?
This is a very sick thread. Yes, very sick indeed. -- ssuR
I'm torn...
Torn between trying to decide if dear Nick is leading into a clever use of Lego bricks, as a well aligned and square former to perform some intricate handlaid brickwork, subtly aged and presented in another well excecuted diorama...
or
Doing what he is also well practiced in, of simply "taking the piss" ;)
Mind you, if this happens to comes down to Oz next year as is, my kids are gonna kick your arse in the competition room! ;D
Dan
Amazing work! At first I thought you had cast the Lego blocks in one of you moulds.... ;D!
Anders
Quote from: danpickard on August 21, 2012, 04:27:02 AM
I'm torn...
Torn between trying to decide if dear Nick is leading into a clever use of Lego bricks, as a well aligned and square former to perform some intricate handlaid brickwork, subtly aged and presented in another well excecuted diorama...
or
Doing what he is also well practiced in, of simply "taking the piss" ;)
Mind you, if this happens to comes down to Oz next year as is, my kids are gonna kick your arse in the competition room! ;D
Dan
Flights booked , Danny Boy . I'm the advanced party of the task force that is coming to take the colony back . Me and my LEGO army are coming to get ya !
As for taking the piss , wait 'til you see pictures of the weathering on my Caterpillar .
I think I'll string this out for a bit longer ,
Nick
I'll be at the Melbourne show too. I'll show you my Lego if you show me yours?
I'm thinking of doing a small NG diorama - something that includes a hanging island or three perhaps?
Quote from: artizen on August 21, 2012, 11:31:38 PM
I'm thinking of doing a small NG diorama - something that includes a hanging island or three perhaps?
That theme has been done to death , maybe you could do something no-one else has tried . How about a small layout of a narrow gauge timber railway winding its way through a densely vegetated forest with a few workers cabins dotted around . You could then make it a show case for all the scenery products you sell . Just a thought .
Nick
Ian, you take his head, and I'll aim for the groin, ok.
Dan
I hadn't thought about that! A lumber company - the Larrikin Lego Lumber Company. In 0n30. With rust and dust. With tall trees and taller stories. All sung to the tune of "I'm A Lumberjack and I'm OK".
No wait - it's been done. I'm sure I've seen one on Mario's site?
Better to do something along the lines of Wallace & Gromit and the cracking Lego Brick and Pasta Sauce mine.
No wait - it's been done. I'm sure I've seen one on Marcel's site?
Or maybe I should do something along the lines of a narrow gauge Welsh slate railway with this playing softly in the background - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwBTnzQCrIM&feature=endscreen&NR=1
[sarcasm]... methinks now we've had all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor, bathos, puns, parody, litotes and satire ... [/sarcasm] ::) ;)
Quote from: mad gerald on August 22, 2012, 04:19:56 AM
[sarcasm]... methinks now we've had all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor, bathos, puns, parody, litotes and satire ... [/sarcasm] ::) ;)
Oh no , Gerald , we've hardly started . There's plenty more where that came from . Stand back , or you might get hurt in the crossfire .
The modeling level of excellence for this thread is quite good. But the humor level of the replies- is it the equivalent of "locker room bantering"?
As. we havent had apathy, Ill add "Ho-Hum...whatever" ;D
Maybe someone shoulld do a workup of this build in SketchUp, and see if it can be rapid prototyped.
It has a Picasso-esque feel to it....but I am thinking, if you were to melt it over the corner of a table, or while dangling from a tree branch, it would be much more Dali.-esque
What about going more Manet, and rebuilding the whole thing out of those little tiny/flat two-bump pieces (actually don't know if they even make those any more)
Quote from: RUNNER on August 22, 2012, 02:10:11 PM
The modeling level of excellence for this thread is quite good. But the humor level of the replies- is it the equivalent of "locker room bantering"?
Greetings , Mike , how are you doing ? Started scratch building in O scale yet ?
If it is intellectual conversation you want , you've come to the wrong place .
And "the modelling ( note correct spelling ) level of Excellence for this thread is ONLY quite good " . Talk about damning with faint praise , I sweated blood trying to get that building to the stage that it is at . If you knew the problems I had trying to build it with the wrong sized bricks you wouldn't be so mean with your praise . Even Reinberg would give it a " most satisfactory " if he were still able to speak .
Nick
Wow all this banter over two pictures!! Image if you would have done something or finished what you started???? :)
Jerry
If he actually finished something, there would be no banter, because we'd all be smacked silly, or so stunned, that we would be unable to respond.
Quote from: marc_reusser on August 22, 2012, 11:43:54 PM
If he actually finished something, there would be no banter, because we'd all be smacked silly, or so stunned, that we would be unable to respond.
That works two ways , B Plus Boy .
Bit of progress on my Lego barn .
From 900 individual bricks in 7 sessions for my first attempt to over 5000 in the same time for my second using the new patented method ,
Nick
Beautiful brick work. And I love the coloring very cheerful!!!!!!
Jerry
And to think, it isn't the first of April.
Looks great! Nothing beats individual bricks, that's for sure.
patented method ???
Thats a typo Craig...was meant to be "patiented method" ;)
Good looking start Nick. Nice colour variations. Good use of the "form work".
Cheers,
Dan
How do you get your bricks so straight?
Quote from: danpickard on September 18, 2012, 08:57:57 PM
Thats a typo Craig...was meant to be "patiented method" ;)
No, no...he's definitely tacking the slacker way out...I checked....and ordered the same easy way out.
Looking bloody splendid, Nick.....KBO (to pilfer from Andi's lexicon).
M
Adequate. -- Russ
Quote from: artizen on September 18, 2012, 09:56:08 PM
How do you get your bricks so straight?
Ian ,
The secret is in the spacer lugs .
As you can see in the second photo of my previous post ( you did look at the second photo ?) I am using the Lego as a former and build my walls against it . The only problem is that I have to construct my building to the size of the Lego , but that isn't that much of a problem .
Nick
These are the two buildings I am using for inspiration .
A different view of the first building
One more view
Love the prototypes.
Two questions about the use of Lego though - how do you represent the mortar courses between them? Where do you buy them? I would also like to see what they look like underneath.
I hope you will be giving us all lessons in how to achieve this look using Lego?
Looking splendid Nick!
Just to think (if I ever get to it) My "shed will be at least 36" long!
Question
Will you be doing the arches over some of the doors?
If so please do a tutorial as I wish to do this on my walls.
-Marty
WOW Nick
This will be impressive, and a great thread to follow.
My question is how do you glue the rows together?
Quote from: artizen on September 19, 2012, 05:09:42 AM
Love the prototypes.
Two questions about the use of Lego though - how do you represent the mortar courses between them? Where do you buy them? I would also like to see what they look like underneath.
I hope you will be giving us all lessons in how to achieve this look using Lego?
Ian ,
You have read this , haven't you ? http://www.finescalerr.com/smf/index.php?topic=1518.15 . It is not actually Lego I am using but cast coloured plaster . It just looks like strips of Lego . Underneath they look like flat strips of coloured plaster . The joke is that at the beginning of this thread I gave the impression that I was going to build it out of Lego when there was obviously no intention of doing so . I started by using invividual bricks but part way through the build the good people at Diorama Debris came up with some moulds to make the brickwork in strips thereby speeding up construction by tenfold . I now expect to finish this building within my own lifetime !
To answer Wesleybeks question , I glue each row down with tacky glue . Which may not be the best thing as it is not waterproof and to finish of the mortar it is necessary to wet the wall so that the mortar itself ( Polyfilla out of a tube . Or as it is strangely known in The States as " spackle" ) doesn't dry out too fast . A waterproof carpenters glue might be more sensible .
Nick
Quote from: lab-dad on September 19, 2012, 05:52:44 AM
Looking splendid Nick!
Just to think (if I ever get to it) My "shed will be at least 36" long!
Question
Will you be doing the arches over some of the doors?
If so please do a tutorial as I wish to do this on my walls.
-Marty
Marty ,
I do intend having brick arches over the doors but I'm hoping I won't have to make them myself . I have been in discussion with Louise at Diorama Debris about the possibility of making a mould that has preformed brick arches in a number of different widths . This will make our life a lot easier , and I'm all for an easy life .
Making a brick arch in 1/16th scale shouldn't be too difficult and I will suggest a possible way a bit later . Not now as I should be working . I've got a nice bit of stonework to do on the house ,
Nick
You've really mucked up that nice shiny Lego building you had going there! 8) -- Dallas
Thanks Nick. I hadn't seen the original thread you posted about Diorama Debris. The concept is fabulous but the wrong scale for me - I am currently working in 1:24 but I have a long way to go and might investigate the idea of creating my own 1:24 mould to create larger wall areas in one pour. The results are certainly worth it!
Nick, if you actually build those structures in miniature I will publish a book to display them even if I already have retired. Yes, despite your rather odd personality, predilection to stand in corners, and that Ogdenian depravity we all have come to expect, I have every confidence in your craftsmanship and artistic ability. -- Russ
Oh, I see. I thought those collapsed old things were some of Nick's work gone wrong ;D
The moulds being offered by Diorama Debri look pretty good, and clever in their design. The brick strips certainly take away some of the madness of brick on brick. Not enough in their current range for me (1:48), but I really like the concept. Shall put them on the idea's pile, incase they don't have more offerings come out in the smaller scale.
Cheers,
Dan
Quote from: danpickard on September 20, 2012, 03:10:55 AM
Oh, I see. I thought those collapsed old things were some of Nick's work gone wrong ;D
The moulds being offered by Diorama Debri look pretty good, and clever in their design. The brick strips certainly take away some of the madness of brick on brick. Not enough in their current range for me (1:48), but I really like the concept. Shall put them on the idea's pile, incase they don't have more offerings come out in the smaller scale.
Cheers,
Dan
My work never goes wrong . It just sometimes needs to go to Plan B .
They are only producing moulds in 1/48th scale at my suggestion so it is by no means certain if they will be successful . It is a bit of a Catch 22 situation , they need to make the moulds available for people to buy them but if they don't sell particularly well there is no real incentive to produce more . It is for that reason I suggested that if they produced slate moulds suitable for this scale they should also be suitable for other scales .
What ought to be the clincher to scratchbuild buildings in this scale is if they were able to make moulds for brickstrips like the ones in 1/35th scale , but I wouldn't like to hazard a guess whether it is possible . Even if they were in that dreadfully boring bond of strecher bond would be a start .
These moulds should also be of interest to military modellers who model in that scale .
Part of the idea was to promote the company Down Under and the idea was to bring some moulds with me when I came to sell to Conventioneers . As there is more 1/48th scale modelling than 1/35th I thought that they might sell better .
You don't really know until you try ,
Nick
The moulds to make 1/35th scale Spanish barrel tiles are something else . Definitely very challenging to get right , but make a great looking product .
Quote from: finescalerr on September 20, 2012, 01:10:27 AM
Nick, if you actually build those structures in miniature I will publish a book to display them even if I already have retired. Yes, despite your rather odd personality, predilection to stand in corners, and that Ogdenian depravity we all have come to expect, I have every confidence in your craftsmanship and artistic ability. -- Russ
Ahh , you say the sweetest thing .
Louise at DD has already suggested I do a book , but I'm a bloody builder , fer chissakes , and builders don't do writing !
Nick
Nick,
Certainly more 1:48 guys than 1:35 in this neck of the woods, although there have been one or two that have had a bit of a dabble in the slightly bigger scale, although not much more than small diorama projects that I'm aware of. I know of a few 1:48 guys though that have done some small brick on brick efforts (such as building extensions, or short walls), but not more complete structures like you have here or in the past.
I guess the problem for the mould makers is that 1:35 is probably a more popular military scale (not so much railway), and for the vast majority or railway modellers, using individual bricks is just nuts (they would rather be driving trains, than handlaying brick walls, when the quick whole wall casting is the common easy solution...not to say that is the best look, but for many "railway" minds its more than suitable - thats a whole different debate though!).
For what its worth, I think the price of those moulds is very reasonabe. The time and materials to produce those moulds would easily be worth the small fee they are asking.
Cheers,
Dan
Just checking in for the first time on this thread, made my day! The levity at the beginning was perfect, great looking start Nick, I see you are accused of one of my own character flaws...... finishing.
Michael
Hi Nick. Yep it's me.
I saw the leggos on page 1 and thought WTF.....
but calmed down and saw your other "clever dick" brick ideas.
regards "M"
Quote from: k27rgs on October 04, 2012, 04:11:26 AM
Hi Nick. Yep it's me.
I saw the leggos on page 1 and thought WTF.....
but calmed down and saw your other "clever dick" brick ideas.
regards "M"
Yup , I'm not just a pretty face . Don't answer that .
Progress report
From this :
To this :
To this :
WOW!
Great progress!!!!
Are those "slate" tiles?
What are they made of?
How are they attached?
One more;
Frogs go up or down? (I'm assuming down but........)
Mj
FBLOA
future brick layers of America
Wow! Great looking roof.
I am concerned about the lack of scaffolding though.
I've been having a running joke with my step brother... who is a bricky, about leego's.
I need to put some of these images on my FB page.
His comment last week was... "How's your leggo playing mates", referring to our model making skills.
Lovely roof, I imaging there will not be any worries about trying to keep this shed warm.
Michael
Adequate thus far although I mourn the loss of Legos. Thanks for the update. -- Russ
Sweet!
Amazing :o
Would there be a chance of DD making a mould in 1:48 for the Courses of bricks (flemish bound) mould like the one in 1:35 ?? I'd be very interested !! ;D
Quote from: finescalerr on October 04, 2012, 11:48:15 AM
Adequate thus far although I mourn the loss of Legos. Thanks for the update. -- Russ
Ditto! Sad to see the Legos go ... but it still looks pretty decent without them.
-- Dallas
Quote from: k27rgs on October 04, 2012, 07:54:18 AM
I've been having a running joke with my step brother... who is a bricky, about leego's.
I need to put some of these images on my FB page.
His comment last week was... "How's your leggo playing mates", referring to our model making skills.
You have a step brother ? You mean there is more than one of you in Oz ? Ye gads , I'm not I sure I can continue with my trip Down Under knowing that .
OK , back by popular demand for one night only , may I present you with ...LEGO ( note spelling , only one "e" or "g" and no "s" ) .
Much better, ;D
Quote from: lab-dad on October 04, 2012, 06:55:28 AM
WOW!
Great progress!!!!
Are those "slate" tiles?
What are they made of?
How are they attached?
One more;
Frogs go up or down? (I'm assuming down but........)
Mj
FBLOA
future brick layers of America
Marty ,
Pedants Corner :
Slates is slates and tiles is tiles . They can't be both . Slates are a natural material hard won from the Earth and cut and split into required shapes . Tiles are manmade , usually from clay or concrete , and are shaped in moulds .
The ones on my roof are representing slates . They are made out of plaster and immersed in an alcohol and shoe dye solution a couple of times . Allowing the slates to dry between immersions . The more often they are immersed the darker they become . They come out with a slight purple hue which pretty accurately reproduces the colour of a great number of slates found in this country and many more around the World .
The Good Folk at Diorama Debris colour their slates by adding black pigment to the plaster when they are casting the slates . I am happy with the way my slates come out using my method so I shall stick with it . You may notice on the close up shot that the slates are not of a uniform colour and many fade from light to dark . This is an effect I find pleasing .
Prototypically these slates would be centre nailed with two nails about one and a half inches in from the edge , however , I found that nailing the slates onto my roof was too wasteful as the hammer kept slipping and breaking the adjacent slates so I have resorted to gluing them with waterproof carpenter's glue !
" Best practice" for laying bricks is to lay them with the frog up so that it is filled with mortar thereby making the joint stronger . Only cheapskates trying to save money by using less mortar lay them with the frogs down . So are you a " best practice " guy or a cheapskate ? Your call !
This building is really meant to be a bit of a showcase for the different moulds that DD produce , so it is my intention to actually make three different roofs fo the one building each having a different roof covering . In addition to the slate roof I shall be doing one using plain tiles ( each tile being approx . 10" x 6" in size ) and another using Spanish Barrel tiles . Whilst it is not very likely that a building like this would have such tiles it should be quite fun to do . If and when they produce a mould to make pantiles and/or double Roman tiles I shall make roofs for them as well . After that I shall never want to see a slate or tile ever again . Any future buildings will be thatched !
Nick
Quote from: Marc988 on October 04, 2012, 12:46:07 PM
Amazing :o
Would there be a chance of DD making a mould in 1:48 for the Courses of bricks (flemish bound) mould like the one in 1:35 ?? I'd be very interested !! ;D
Marc ,
I had already thought of that , as that would be a much more useable product . I have no idea if doing such a mould is feasible , but I will ask them ,
Nick
Nice looking slates - but they look like they were just laid.
Here is the weathered version - http://www.flickr.com/photos/terryrowell/450966657/in/photostream/
Thanks Nick!
-Mj
Quote from: artizen on October 04, 2012, 03:44:03 PM
Nice looking slates - but they look like they were just laid.
No they don't . They are just not as weathered as the ones in your picture . By that I mean the roof is still functional !
I've done the back with undamaged slates and the front with slates passed their first flush of youth .
Anything that has just been "laid" , has a natural fresh look.
Is this project heading "downunder", so we can see it in the flesh ( so to speak )
"M"
Why hasn't the Ministry for Industrial Safety shut your job site down because of a lack of proper fall prevention equipment for the roofers?
Gluing the tiles to the framing is cheating. You should be making and using tiny copper nails if the job is to be done right. When are you going to plant the GM miniature moss on the slates? ;D ;D ;D
But seriously, the project is coming along quite well.
Prior to the introduction of digital xrays at my dentist, his assistant would save the 3cm squares of lead foil from the film packets for me to model with. If you can find some you would be able to properly flash the edge of the roof to the brick work; that is until a group of local hoodlums decided to steal the lead and sell it to buy drugs. If I can find my jar of it in the dungeon, I'll be willing to share with you.
Just found and visited the Diorama Debris site http://www.dioramadebris.co.uk/ and intend to order a couple of moulds from them. More then 1 mould in 1:48m would be nice, but until we buy, they don't see a market. Since some stone pieces are variable in size and in some uses the texture is more important then size, I may order a mould or two in 1:35 for paving stones or ???
BTW, when I Googled DD the second link to pop up is a South Korean vendor if trees and ground cover for military modelers. http://www.dioramashop.com/index.php Anyone need Bamboo? Palm Trees? Also have laser cut leaves in a variety of styles. Not on topic for this thread, but subject has come up in others.
Quote from: k27rgs on October 04, 2012, 06:03:39 PM
Anything that has just been "laid" , has a natural fresh look.
Is this project heading "downunder", so we can see it in the flesh ( so to speak )
"M"
Mario ,
I am hoping that I have room in my case for a number of dioramas , including this building , to use in the clinic I have been co-erced into giving . I'm not sure I'll be bringing all of the roof options ( assuming I build them ) as they are likely to be the most delicate part .
Nick
Quote from: Lawton Maner on October 04, 2012, 08:31:54 PM
Why hasn't the Ministry for Industrial Safety shut your job site down because of a lack of proper fall prevention equipment for the roofers?
Gluing the tiles to the framing is cheating. You should be making and using tiny copper nails if the job is to be done right. When are you going to plant the GM miniature moss on the slates? ;D ;D ;D
But seriously, the project is coming along quite well.
Prior to the introduction of digital xrays at my dentist, his assistant would save the 3cm squares of lead foil from the film packets for me to model with. If you can find some you would be able to properly flash the edge of the roof to the brick work; that is until a group of local hoodlums decided to steal the lead and sell it to buy drugs. If I can find my jar of it in the dungeon, I'll be willing to share with you.
Lawton ,
There is no real reason to worry about Health and Safety on this project as we are using white immigrant American labourers on the cheap and it doesn't matter if we lose a few as there are plenty more where they came from .
You obviously aren't up with the current price of copper as the cost would be prohibitive to use copper nails on this project , especially as it is an agricultural building . Galvanised nails will do .
As this building doesn't actually need to be watertight because I won't be leaving it out in the rain I decided that I wouldn't need to use lead on the flashings and that coloured paper would do . You probably noticed that I didn't put soakers under each course where the roof butts up to the wall . I won't say anything to the client if you don't !
Nick
Nick:
The last time I came into Heathrow, the chap at immigration asked me why I was there. My response was "I'm only here for the beer".
His response was "What? Warm, flat beer".
My response was "It's better then the ice cold horse p*** called beer in America".
He smiled and replied "Welcome to the UK".
My first stop after arriving at Paddington Station was to walk the four blocks to the Royal Exchange on Sale Street and down a pint of ESB and then go on to to the Victoria on Strathaern Place for another before going to Charing Cross to catch a train to Seven Oaks.
On the High Street in Sevenoaks where at The Chequers you'll find 16 hand pulled real ales.
I hope you are treating your immigrant labour to real ale and not the fizzy stuff.
Lawton
Memories of warm british PINTS :o and the morning after >:(
Lawton ,
You seem pretty clued up about where the best places to get a decent pint are in England so next time you're over we'll have to explore a few more establishments .
Your assessment of American beer is very accurate but , to be fair , they do have some beers that are worth drinking . The only problem is , finding them .
In days gone by labourers used to receive 4 pints of scrumpy cider a day as part of their wages . I haven't re-introduced this practice with my workforce yet because whilst it is easy enough to replace the drunk ones who fall off the roof it becomes rather costly paying for the damage they do as they are falling . They can be pretty inconsiderate sometimes !
Mario ,
You obviously forgot that over here we prefer quality over quantity and that it only takes two pints to have the same effect as 10 Aussie pints !
Nick
Excellent slates Nick, really look the part resulting in a highly commendable roof.
How did you go about actually making them? - Or did I miss that part?
Quote from: Andi Little on October 06, 2012, 04:37:53 AM
How did you go about actually making them? - Or did I miss that part?
Yes you did , Andi . You need to pay more attention in class or you will never pass your final exams . And then you will be a failure in life with no prospects for the future . So , in essence you need to be more alert as to what is going on around you !
Right , I shall go over it all again ,slowly , for the benefit of Mr. Little , who's mind is on higher things .
Are you aware that I have been banging on for the last few weeks about the products of a British company called Diorama Debris http://www.dioramadebris.co.uk/index.asp ? Well , they produce silicon moulds in various scales for different building materials . Their main focus is on 1/35th scale for the military modellers but over the last couple of months I have been persuading them to branch out into different scales . How successful this will be remains to be seen .
One of their 1/35th moulds is for 24" x 12" slates . These I have been casting up by the hundreds . I cast them with uncoloured plaster and soak them a couple of times in an Isopropyl alcohol and shoe dye solution to give them a grey or purpley/grey finish . The way that each slate absorbs the fluid differently gives them a varied finish adding to the character of the roof .
Phew , all that for a simple innocent question .
Nick
Ah is that how you do it - could you just go through it again !! It's me age you known and I'm sure Gordon needs more time to put the details in his bus spotters book !
Barney
Lego and Humbrol rules.
Nick:
One of the things I like about the Royal Exchange is the Publican remembers what I had the last time I was in there, even if it has been 6+ months or more. And in the Chequers when I sat down at the bar and told the Publican that the only way I was going to survive his 16 taps was to drink by the half pint he just laughed, pulled me a locally brewed mild and over the next 3 hours as I worked up to an Imperial IPA (which was almost as hoppy as some American ones) we discussed each beer in turn.
I still think you need to flash the slate with real lead!
I think that with a little imagination on the part of DD, some of their 1:35 moulds will work in 1:48. Their 1:35 9" X 9" tiles will be close to 12" X 12" in 1:48, some stones will just be a little larger, and the curb stones are close enough that only those who are truly anal will care. I just wish they'd ship the coloured casting plaster across the pond. Maybe the next time I'm through London, I'll have to add a couple of kilos to my baggage.
I just use white casting plaster for my bricks suitably coloured with cement oxides. Although the shoe dye trick needs investigating I must admit. Or ti-tree oil - might just go dark brown?
I'm a bit late in comng into this thread but Nick, some lovely stuff. I've been thinking about the DD slates - now will definately have to order some for the roof of my 1/35th brick and stone workshop. Their cobbles look good too. Been driving myself barmy carving bricks(interior and exterior - peeling whitwashed on the inside) then glazing windows. The glass from James-Art is brilliant, cuts like paper, even tricky curves.
On the beer front for Ozzie stuff - try Coopers or Toueys Old, in the US Sierra Nevada (brewed in Chico in California - maybe availbale in the UK now).
Keep drinking!
Les
Nick,
The work all looks brilliant so far.
But beer!?...come now chaps, lets not be gumbys and behave like pikeys. If your going to imbibe, a good Scotch is the proper way to go about it. ;D
M (trying my best to be a proper toff)
Quote from: marc_reusser on October 09, 2012, 02:40:57 PM
M (trying my best to be a proper toff)
....And failing miserably !
Anyway , thanks for the kind words . Much appreciated .
I have started tiling the smaller roof with clay plain tiles which should rather good when done . I have also started doing some sample panels for some of their other products including their 9" square terracotta floor tiles , Spanish barrel tiles and their various scales of bricks to take to your former homeland on Thursday . I shall be meeting up with Jacq , Marcel and Alan just outside Zurich for a fun packed weekend of playing trains .
Nick
Next project ....maybe
Nick,
You've done wonders to your house since I last saw it.
Quote from: Alan Rees on October 10, 2012, 01:47:10 PM
Nick,
You've done wonders to your house since I last saw it.
I'm glad you like it . I'm particularly proud of the new chimney . It replaced that old one that was all swirly and twisted . The nice straight one looks much better .
See you on Friday and don't be late as it is your round ,
Nick
has this place got a internal "corner" ::)
Yes, custom made for you to stand in. -- ssuR
Has anyone used the weathering powders from Secret Weapon Miniatures to color plaster for bricks? They have a method to color mud for figure bases using them and plaster to simulate the mud.
Just dragging this one out of the dust...
Sir Nick (yup, suckin' up a bit by droppin' sir bit..), where did this little project of trials end up at?
Cheers,
Dan
Quote from: danpickard on February 27, 2013, 03:46:21 AM
Just dragging this one out of the dust...
Sir Nick (yup, suckin' up a bit by droppin' sir bit..), where did this little project of trials end up at?
Cheers,
Dan
You'll have to wait until Easter weekend to find out !
Shall we say , it is not quite finished yet ! Understatement of the year .
There's always the fold down tray table on a long flight down under ;D
Cheers,
Dan
not wanting to start something new I thought to add a related question here.
I have fought of this 1:35 brick virus off until know but I feel I won't be able to do so for much longer ::) ;D
Since DD is not shipping the pigments the use for the coloring I was wondering which pigments and which colors you guys use for recreating the typical brick color. Also how much pigment would be required for coloring a batch of bricks ?
Looking forward to reading your experience.
Regards,
Marc
An oblique answer: Check Marc Reusser's thread on 1:35 paper. His approach seems slightly less time intensive than casting and coloring plaster and you can use any kind of paint to color the chip board bricks. -- Russ
Quote from: Marc988 on June 05, 2013, 11:50:28 AM
not wanting to start something new I thought to add a related question here.
I have fought of this 1:35 brick virus off until know but I feel I won't be able to do so for much longer ::) ;D
Since DD is not shipping the pigments the use for the coloring I was wondering which pigments and which colors you guys use for recreating the typical brick color. Also how much pigment would be required for coloring a batch of bricks ?
Looking forward to reading your experience.
Regards,
Marc
Marc ,
I don't use DD's pigments ( although I ought to try them some time to see how they compare with what I use ) , instead I use cement mortar dye available from builders merchants . It comes in 1kg containers and goes along way . I have three colours , red , buff and black . For bricks and tiles I use varying combinations of the red and buff added to my casting plaster , in no set ratio . I just mix and match as the mood takes me . There is nothing scientific about it . Just keep adding pigments until you are happy with the colour . I have found that the dry colour isn't that different from when it is wet . The only time I would want to have the colour of the different batches the same is if I wanted to have a uniform brick wall , but as I can't see this ever happening I just carry on as I have said .
Be warned , these pigments are very strong , and you don't need that much per mix . As with everything else , just experiment . If you muck up it is only a bit of plaster and colouring you are wasting .
Dry pigments are better than liquid colours . As an alternative you could try some sort of art supplier .
As they say on their website , don't bother with plaster of Paris , as it is not really strong enough .
There is no such thing as a typical wall .
Don't overthink the process , it is not that difficult . After all , I can do it !
Oh , and don't listen to Russ , as he is a dribbling fool , shortly due to go into a care home , and knows not what he says !
Nick
Marc,
Listen to Nick....and though I appreciate Russ's nod to my cardboard bricks, There are areas where my approach requires some nice headache creating work....such as areas of broken wall, or tops of walls where there are no caps...and thus whole bricks need to be visible. (Currently working on doing this by cutting individual bricks from Strathmore board, impregnating them with ACC, and then chipping/texturing them.)
...oh, and Nick...if not plaster...then what? Will the Woodland Scenics "Hydrocal" work?
I am using casting plaster which is harder than plaster of paris but there are high strength plasters available from builders' merchants for specialist applications. Using the dry plaster with dry oxide colours is definitely the better way to go.
Here are my mix ratios (based on a small yoghurt tub as a scoop and a disposable plastic spoon - one for each colour as the oxides stain everything)
BRICK COLOURS
TUSCANY
10 x full scoops of casting plaster
40 x teaspoons of tuscany cement oxide
DARK RED
10 x full scoops of casting plaster
40 x teaspoons of dark red cement oxide
SANDSTONE
60 x full scoops of casting plaster
60 x teaspoons of sandstone cement oxide
10 x teaspoons of light brown cement oxide
1/2 x teaspoon of black cement oxide
MORTAR
4 x full scoops of casting plaster
1/4 x teaspoon of black cement oxide
Quote from: marc_reusser on June 05, 2013, 02:44:09 PM
Marc,
Listen to Nick....and though I appreciate Russ's nod to my cardboard bricks, There are areas where my approach requires some nice headache creating work....such as areas of broken wall, or tops of walls where there are no caps...and thus whole bricks need to be visible. (Currently working on doing this by cutting individual bricks from Strathmore board, impregnating them with ACC, and then chipping/texturing them.)
...oh, and Nick...if not plaster...then what? Will the Woodland Scenics "Hydrocal" work?
I would say that WS lightweight hydrocal is way too soft to use in these moulds , and takes too long to go off . For best results as hard a casting plaster as you can find is the way to go . I use a plaster that has a compressive strength of 9000psi . There are harder ones , but I haven't tried them . It has been suggested to me to try Crystacal R or crystacast plaster , but I haven't done so yet . I do not know how they compare strengthwise to the plaster that I use already as there don't seem to be any figures published .
Nick
Ian,
Are you doing bricks in commercial quantities? That is biggish volumes of pre coloured plaster mix. Also sounds like a high proportion of the oxide coloring. The first mixes I did were fairly high on oxide content, but all that seemed to do was make the bricks very dirty to work with. Kept having oxide stains on anything they touched. A little colour goes a long way with the batches I've been doing, and also makes the finished brick castings much cleaner to work with. The only real staining issues I have now are when cutting bricks, and the dust created from this smudges on the work surface.
Cheers,
Dan
Hi Dan - yes I need commercial quantities. Done 26,000 so far with approx another 6-8,000 needed for board five alone. If I do what I want to do on board 6 that alone will need over 10,000. I mix very large batches in large plastic bottles for consistent colour. The amount of oxide was arrived at by trial and error back in the early days and will now be deliberately changed every so often to get a less "new brick" effect when building. Your idea of using a sprinkling of black in the mould before pouring the plaster has merit as well.
I tried the sprinkle of black in the mold before pouring.
it did leave a little black but not really what we are after, and it made a HELL OF A MESS!!! and darkened subsequent pours even after (trying to) clean the mold.
May be a sprits of water on the black then pour over that?
BTW I am using a 32:1 ratio of plaster to (powdered) oxide red.
-Marty
thanks for the help guys !
I will go for the molding process.Might be the relaxation I need (or push me over the edge ;D )