Argh...Micro Mark-Extra Brick Patterns

I used Micro Mark’s photographic brick contact paper (with texture) and am almost finished with my HO Scale interlocking tower. The product looks very realistic, IMO. And I wanted to model all of the prototype’s special brick details, so purchased the extra brick detail patterns sheet. Some of the patterns are what I want, but are brown (and not as realistic) instead of the red on the regular sheet, (though listed as “Aged Brick” like the regular sheet). IT’S OBVIOUS THAT THE REGULAR BRICK SHEET WAS MADE BY PHOTOGRAPHING REAL BRICK, BUT THE BRICK DETAILS WERE NOT.

I modeled the Jacksonville, Illinois, tower that protected the Wabash, CB&Q and the GM&O, (though I’m not modeling Jacksonville on my layout). But it’s still disappointing. Yes, I could try to match the brick color and air brush the detail sheet (and perhaps the regular sheet too), but that may be problematic when getting the contact paper wet and defeats the purpose of using this product. And NO, my special brick patterns can not be made from the regular sheet. This was after I went to great pains to make resin castings of the special three pane, upper transom windows that were a Wabash trademark. Argh…

Victor A. Baird

www.erstwhilepublications.com

If the tower is still around or a reasonable facsimle, why not photograph the brickwork and adjust in Photoshop, GIMP etc. and either make decals or colour print them on contact paper?

The tower is long gone. If you want to see pictures of the model, go to my website and click on the blog button. I still need to add downspouts and repaint the roof and may try and add some ornamental brick later.

www.erstwhilepublications.com

Victor:

The tower looks good! I do agree that the roof needs to be painted. Its a bit wild the way it is[swg][(-D].

Too bad about the brick not matching.

Dave