N Scale Brick for scratch-built structure

[lordscarlet]

I'm looking to finally build my first structure ever, and of course the best idea seems to be go straight for scratchbuilding, right??

I've been trying to scour the internet for brick sheets, and look through the forum here, but I actually can't find much. Either my google skills are failing me or there isn't a ton of info out there. There are two things I would like to build, both are brick heavy. The first I am considering is a building called the Uline Arena (or Washington Coliseum) in DC. It is a very large brick structure.



The other possibility is starting a little smaller (but potentially harder?) with DC style rowhouses, which are largely painted brick, but don't match any of the rowhouse kits I have seen out there.

Any thoughts/help/etc would be greatly appreciated.

[Philip H]

Monster model works laser brick sheet seems to be the closest anyone has come to genuine brick in something close to n scale. I want to see you do Uline first so I can see how you do the trackside graffiti.

[Dave Schneider]

I posted some info about various bricks here:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=24044.135

I also have some very nice lazerboard clean brick from Monster Modelworks that is not in that comparison. I can try to take a photo and post here.

Best wishes, Dave

[MVW]

There was a fair amount of discussion about brick sheet in this thread, as well:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27430.0

A big thumbs-up for Monster Modelworks brick. And although I haven't tried it myself, their laser cutting service looks to be a tremendous help.

BTW, I'm pretty much a newb at the whole structure thing myself. It took 3-4 tries at small structures before I started producing things that didn't suck. You may want to knock out a few small projects before tackling this monster, just to get your feet wet.

Jim

[Spades]

Never used the product, but check out the textured sheet page.   http://www.bergennationallaser.com/

It is TRW member CacheJunction's company.  He will be releasing the sugar beet refinery kit shortly

G

[lordscarlet]

Thanks, everyone, I will probably try at least one or two smaller things before the arena. I may even try a kit or two just to get a feel for how they work, but so many (all?) of the things I really want to model just don't have anything even close available in kits. But I can start stocking up on options for scratchbuilding now.

[jpec]

Sounds like you're on the right track...get a few samples, play with them and see what works best for you. Then find a set of N Scale Beatles, a hockey team or big piles of trash for it, depending on the era you model...

Jeff

[jimmyjdm]

Try CGtextures.com for your brick patterns, they are free and also give you hints on how to merge patterns into large sheets.