Making "real" Bricks

[Carlo]

Hello, all -
I've been experimenting with combining 2 of my crafts... Ceramic Sculpture and 7/8ths scale models and trains. I decide to make some scale size bricks using real terracotta clay, and firing them, just as is done for the prototype. I made a simple wood "press mold"(below, lower right), and pressed in some clay. After scraping excess clay off the top, I let them air-dry. Since clay shrinks, they fell right out of the mold when dry. The shrinkage (in 3D, both in drying and during firing) also presented a problem, and I had to make them 10-12% oversize to start. This took some trial and error. I fired them (gas reduction kiln, cone 04), and they end up as shown below.

The final size is a scale 8.5" X 4" X 2.5"; sort of an good "average" brick size. Bricks really come in a wide variety of sizes, depending on the historical era, country, and even on the particular brick works of origin. Thanks to Gordon (gfadvance) for supplying prototype data. If I were to continue, I would make a much larger mold (my current mold holds 10 bricks), but otherwise, it's cheap, easy, fun, and authentic.

I hope you find my little experiments interesting,
Carlo

[chester]

Bravo Carlo, they sure look real to me

[ho henry]

Carlo:

        Here in the States the craft stores sell a plastic form of clay name " Sculpey ", this material can be baked in an oven, at 350 degrees if the size is smaller then a quarter of an inch in thickness the cooking time is 4 minutes, anything larger can go up to 15 minutes.

    If you can find it give it a try.  Otherwise thanks for the advise.

Henry
Clearwater, Florida.

[eTraxx]

@Henry. These bricks are made from Sculpy. Ummm .. yeah. They are not 'standard' size .. replicating the bricks used to close off the coke oven .. they measured about 4"x4"x8" (these are O scale)



(the stonework is Sculpy too)

[ho henry]

Etraxx

       Sorry I took so long responding to your post " I love your realisim " extremely well done.

henry

[Carlo]

In my ongoing quest for acceptable brick walls in 1" scale, I recently tried using a commercial vacu-formed styrene "brick sheet" (http://www.appliedimaginationinc.com/precision_products/index.html)  as a mold, and using a casting mix of plaster and Sculptamold
(a paper mache+plaster product) to keep the weight down. I sprayed the mold with "Pam" cooking oil spray as a mold release.
I mixed in a bit of black acrylic craft paint to make the mortar grey, and painted the brick surface with a disposable foam brush.

The texture is great, and you can simulate cracks, wear, damage, and age easily (brush, steel wool, scrapers). The only thing I don't like
is the wide mortar spaces. I think it still may pass for a background.

I'm asking for a critique here, and suggestions on how to possibly improve it.
Carlo

[mabloodhound]

Carlo,

I like the texture of the bricks and your technique.   But I agree with you that the mortar joints are too large.
You might try one of the laser cut brick sheets as a basis for your mold.   Not sure how well the joints would come out in the mold.
http://www.rustystumps.com/proddetail.asp?prod=L1502