Thatched roof?

[Prof.Witchheimer]

I'm pretty sure there are loads of methods to make them. Any hints, tutorials?

[flags_of_war]

Teddy bear fur or scouring pads.

[Bloodsbane]

I like the look you get with towels.

Check out Ryan Skow's tutorial right Here

[Prof.Witchheimer]

I like the look you get with towels.
Check out Ryan Skow's tutorial right Here

Looks good, indeed, will read the tutorial, thank you for the link.

[OSHIROmodels]

No joke but if you use teddy bear fur, make sure you shave it first...

cheers

James

[Prof.Witchheimer]

no teddy bears killing for me, I've got kids

[Malamute]

No joke but if you use teddy bear fur, make sure you shave it first...

cheers

James

Don't shave dear, waxing is the way forward

I use the Teddy bear fur method and like it, I know what Bibbly is saying though, the fur can look too long, so trimming it is preferred.
 Here's a couple of my attempts:

[Prof.Witchheimer]

looks good, Nick! though a bit too flat, not enough bushy like the real german thatched roofs

[OSHIROmodels]

looks good, Nick! though a bit too flat, not enough bushy like the real german thatched roofs

You can rough it up before the glue dries to however much you want.

no teddy bears killing for me, I've got kids

Needs must... 

cheers

James

[flags_of_war]

I would go with the towel. That is a great look.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

I like the effect you get wit DAS Modelling Clay, see;
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/2010/01/flintloque-large-farm-house-part.html

Tony

[Belgian]

I use flax and a good amount of PVA 

[carlos marighela]

No joke but if you use teddy bear fur, make sure you shave it first...

cheers

James

Quite true. Unclipped it has a tendency to shed whilst you are combing or shaping the wet strands. Teddy bear fur IMO is better for more rough and ready thatching. Straw roofs for simple structures, some native dwellings etc. I recently used some for a generic Middle eatern compound, to cover a pen for livestock/storage.

Teddy bear fur has a distinct grain and whilst, to some degree you can mould or shape it witha brush, it doesn't really work trying to brush it backwards from its natural fall. If you are doing a circular roof, you need to bear this in mind. The best way to do a circular roof is to cut out strips and progressively mount them on your roof, building it up in concentric rings. This is really fucking fiddly and I can't say I've mastered it yet. My early efforts haven't really been quite up to snuff.

Towelling, on the other hand, is much easier to work with and produces a more manicured look, perfect for the 'thatched cottage look'. For circular structures you can pretty much get away with cutting out circles. It doesn't need trimming before hand either.

[snitcythedog]

I like the look you get with towels.
Check out Ryan Skow's tutorial right Here

I second Ryan's toot.  The only change I would suggest is to soak the towel in your glue and water mixture, squeeze it out, and then apply it.  The roof comes out rock hard and will not chip or break in any way.
Snitchy sends.   

[FramFramson]

There's a clear example of the scouring pad method (which is what I generally use) in my thread here.

The scouring pad method is definitely the lazy man's friend! Here's what I've worked out:

1) Cut pieces of pad to fit. I start with white pads.
2) Mix some black acrylic or very, very dark dark umber + black acrylic with a heavy does of water (maybe a 1:1 ratio or even more water) in a fair sized flat container (needs to be bigger than your roof bits). Soak the roof pieces for a bit and then wring them out JUST a tiny bit. This is to dull the gleaming white of the pad and provide a bit of darker colour at the core of the thatch.
3) Leave the pad to dry out overnight. You should have a bit of a dull grey now.
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3, only with less water and more paint and this time in the colour you want for the final thatch.

The exact amounts of wringing and water really depend on the paint you're using, the scouring pad consistency, and the colour that you want. So I absolutely recommend experimenting a bit first with a few scrap bits at both soak stages. Just don't overdo the black or the roof will look dead.