Atherington Victoria & East Yard.

It looks great, I'm not sure what part of the structure you are displeased with? 

23 hours ago, Ray Von said:

It looks great, I'm not sure what part of the structure you are displeased with? 

 

Thanks for your kind words.  The new arches' brick-work painting just appeared worse than the first batch's - I am losing my 'dry sponge technique' - with the pointing less visible.  Also, I was hoping the joins would be hidden better.  Having done my best at smoothing over the cuts, they still show.  What more can one do?

 

But enough whining.  I can pick up my brickie's trowel another day, and there will be more enjoyable tasks ahead when this is completed...

Different batches do seem to give different results, I have had similar problems with South Eastern Finecast sheets. At first I thought it was down to variations in my technique, but having tested different batches directly against each other it's clear that a slight change in the depth of grooves etc does have an impact on the final appearance of pointing etc. Fortunately, it usually only  the maker who notices the difference, as in your case here.

 

Edited August 17, 2021 by Mikkel

Remind me, are you working in "OO" or "N" - I find "N" scale much more forgiving of homemade joints and buttresses!  You could break up the lines with strategically placed foliage scatter, representing weeds sprouting from mortar cracks? 

22 hours ago, Ray Von said:

Remind me, are you working in "OO" or "N" - I find "N" scale much more forgiving of homemade joints and buttresses!  You could break up the lines with strategically placed foliage scatter, representing weeds sprouting from mortar cracks? 

 

Excellent idea!  I have not got as far as thinking of foliage yet, but this is good.  It is 'OO' by the way.

 

It was a feeling of 'exasperation', for want of a better word, at how to join two cuts in a plastic sheet of English (or any other) bond that got me.  Having smoothed it over with filler, etched in the courses again, and painted over carefully, I was (as usual, quite unrealistically!) expecting perfection to result.  I have learned though it is better to 'cut and shunt' at the side of a recessed panel than half-way between two on the outer buttress.

 

Anyway, I must stop moaning and put it down to experience.  I do love my brick structures though, so it rankles rather...   Were it some concrete brutalist monstrosity I would not care.

I admire anyone working with this stuff and producing nice depth and detail to brick walls and arches.  I tend to go the Scalescenes route as it’s far easier and quicker - you don’t have to paint either.  No, keep up the good work because what you’ve done so far is great, inspiring work.  I totally agree with Mikkel’s comment about detecting flaws - you made it and so only you can see them.