Too easy

This is a nice article but I miss an important part. How to do the stonework above windows and doors? Modern brick houses often have a straight line of stones above openings in the walls but older houses use an arch (see example on page 150). How do you represent these arches and other brick decorations?

Best regards

Olof Wickström

I've made a few with and arch

I've made a few with and arch over windows and doors this is how I made mine and there may be other ways. Now if you notice as you layout each window or door scribe an arch over each opening. It's best to find the window castings you want to use. I use Grant Line and Tichy Window and door frames. The only windows I have in my stock right now are Tichy with arch top.

For example I'll give part # 8055 which is a 3/4 inch wide by 1-1/8 inch tall 18 pain arch top church window.

Follow these steps before adding any color or paint to the wall.

1st - trace the inside dimensions of the window so when you cut out the window the 8055 window frame will fit or snap into the hole.

2nd - take a second piece of plastic or card stock and trace the outside top section of the window frame.

3rd - decide how Tall you want the arched bricks above the window to be and draw an arch that height of the brick above the lower arch on that second piece of stock. for now well say it is 3/16"

4th - cut that arch 3/16" wide and after it's free sand the edges lightly and test fit it above the window frame to check for a tight fit.

5th - now with a sharp pencil mark lines on the cut out section to represent bricks.

6th - using a sharp awl and a straight edge scribe the lines about 1/2 of the way through the arch to represent the mortar lines and then clean up any plastic from the finished  scribing.

7th - align the arch above the window and using MEK glue or ACC to attach the brick arch above the window I would remove the window before gluing the arch in place as you may not want it to be the same color.

You can repeat this around all the windows and doors all you need is the door and or windows your planning to use to use as a template.

I hope this helps you as it's worked for me over the years with great results.

Dan

The prototype I modeled

 didn't have arches over the windows. The headers above the windows on the prototype were made with steel beams that were covered with the wood window frames. 

I've done arches the way Dan describes, the problem is the arch stands proud of the wall by the thickness of the brick material - which may or may not look right. 

The tedious way to avoid that, of course, is to trim away the window brick material above the windows and then add the arch material so it's almost flush with the wall. 

Marty

sorry Marty as I was

sorry Marty as I was answering the question by olof.wickstrom.

and I'm unsure as to what you want Marty.

Dan

Sorry Dan, should have read your approach in closer detail

 I was just telling Olaf why I didn't add arches above the windows on this building - there weren't any on the real thing. 

I also added a few notes on how I've done such arches on other structures - now that I re-read your comment there shouldn't be an issue with the thickness of the material. 

One way I've added arches is to cut a strip of bricks the width of the arch, then notch each mortar line about halfway into the arch. This can then be bent to form the arch by overlaying it over the wall. The biggest problem with this approach the thickness of the brick sheet - usually it's .030" or .040" - which means in the smaller scales it stands too proud of the wall surface. 

Hope that clarifies things. Too much at work and getting ready for Cocoa Beach - shouldn't have tried to reply so late at night!

Marty

Nice work! One correction,

Thanks for your suggestions

on how to make arches. I understand your prototype had hidden steel beams. I like your suggestions. They require some work but are cheaper than white metall arches which is one of the other alternatives.

Best regards

Olof