Building Downtown Deco kits, Brickwork

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Don't forget, that tough area is supposed to represent the ghost of another building. Don't skip doing some detail painting in there, too.

[chicken45]

Don't forget, that tough area is supposed to represent the ghost of another building. Don't skip doing some detail painting in there, too.

What do you think this is? Amateur hour at the Sizzler? (It's not)
 

[Santa Fe Guy]

Josh. Might I suggest a coat of dullcote then a very light amount of antique white / concrete mix as a wash to apply the morter. I hold my models at a 45 degree angle to let the wash run down in the morter lines to the bottom of the wall. Any excess can run off and you can vary what amount you add. Take any excess off with a paper towel.
Then another coat of dullcote and apply random brick red to just a few bricks followed you guessed it by more dullcote.
Its looking very nice already.
Have fun.
Rod.

[chicken45]

Josh. Might I suggest a coat of dullcote then a very light amount of antique white / concrete mix as a wash to apply the morter. I hold my models at a 45 degree angle to let the wash run down in the morter lines to the bottom of the wall. Any excess can run off and you can vary what amount you add. Take any excess off with a paper towel.
Then another coat of dullcote and apply random brick red to just a few bricks followed you guessed it by more dullcote.
Its looking very nice already.
Have fun.
Rod.

Thanks, Rod! I'll get to the mortar soon...maybe in the next step. Here's what I've been doing in the meantime.









Still a little too uniform, but it's getting better. It looks more orange in the pics than it is IRL.

[RBrodzinsky]

Looking good, Josh. There's great character in these buildings, and you're bringing it out.

[Santa Fe Guy]

Coming along very nicely Josh.

[chicken45]

I used Robert's Mortar and some colored pencils. Making progress.

[Santa Fe Guy]

Now were talkin. That's looking fantastic Josh. Who's Roberts mortar? It looks like it has come out very well.
Rod.

[peteski]

Now were talkin. That's looking fantastic Josh. Who's Roberts mortar? It looks like it has come out very well.
Rod.

http://robertsbrickmortar.com/

MBK sells it at a discount.

[chicken45]

I think I may have the hang of this. Doesn't look too bad for my first time!

[peteski]

WOW!!

[chicken45]

Does anyone know what those knob like things in the sides of the walls are? Are they cross beams for floors and roofs?

[nscaleSPF2]

Does anyone know what those knob like things in the sides of the walls are? Are they cross beams for floors and roofs?

They appear to be earthquake bolts.

http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/southcaroli2/ss/unique-charleston-sc-architecture_6.htm

Fairly common in Charleston, SC, but I have seen them in other towns. 
Your building does look like it has suffered some damage. 
Makes a nice story.

[chicken45]

Thanks, Jim! That's pretty interesting.

I'm wondering how to improve the roof of this kit. The walls are very thick and there is no detail on the tops of the side walls. Any suggestions?

[Cajonpassfan]

Does anyone know what those knob like things in the sides of the walls are? Are they cross beams for floors and roofs?

Amazing job Josh! That just looks soo real!
Frankly, those "knob like things" are the only thing that bother me on the kit; they should be steel or iron plates (depending on when installed) no thicker than an inch and probably less. The plates are at the business end of a threaded tie rod, often held in place by large nuts, and serve to prevent unreinforced masonry walls from spreading. The tie rods can go through a wall, with plates on both sides, or though the entire building or a section of it.
Nice work,
Otto K.