holgate & reynolds brick sheets

[Anonymous]

I keep hearing about using H&R brick sheets over .060 styrene. Is H&R HO-guage brick compatible in size with DPM brick, or is H&R N-guage a better match? How do you attach H&R brick sheets to styrene?
Thanks, Jim

[Anonymous]

Jim,
I'm not sure about H&R brick sizes. I'll have to check my stock against a DPM kit. I think the H&R brick comes in several sizes.
As for laminating to styrene, use a water based contact cement. Anything containing solvent will distort one or both. The H&R is probably the more solvent sensitive due to the nature of the material. I believe it is vacuum formed vinyl sheet. Might be a good idea to scuff both surfaces with steel wool or fine grit emery paper
before applying a water based adhesive.
Jim

[Anonymous]

I cannot answer your question, but would very much like a chance to find out for my self. I have yet to find any site including Walthers that has H&R N-scale brick in stock.:~{

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jim. Please try to either post or e-mail ([e-mail]) regarding best H&R size for DPM compatibility. Are you a supplier?

[Anonymous]

Jim,
I just checked H&R HO-101 sheet against a DPM HO wall and found the DPM brick is larger. However, I have a scrap of what I think is H&R S scale brick ( the identification tab was cut off long ago) and it is a good match to the DPM wall. This might possibly be the H&R HO concrete block sheet, though. The bottom line is that there is a match to the DPM HO brick. The N scale H&R brick would be much too small.
I am not a supplier, but I am a long-time scratch builder. I purchased my H&R brick sheet at several hobby shops over the years. I believe it is still available, but cannot confirm it. It might be available from one of the more well-stocked hobby shops (Central Hobby Supply, Tommy Gilbert's , etc.). You might find it through one of the dealers listed on this website.
It would be a shame if it is no longer available as it is a useful product available in a number of sizes of brick, stone, block, shingle, to name a few.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you find a source.
Jim
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Jim is very wise to suggest the use of water based contact cement. I constructed such a brick structure using styrene and H&B brick and solvent based contact glue. Within a month or two, I noticed a few curves in the building but just chalked it up to my poor workmanship. Within 6 months the building was slowly settling into the ground. I was not able to salvage anything. All plastic parts, windows and doors, were also affected. A costly and time consuming mistake. Please learn from my mistake.