Chinese Curved Roofs

[Hu Rhu]

Hi, I am new to BoB but having been inspired by the League and just bought their 'Setting the East Ablaze', I am keen to start my own Chinese Warlord Army.  I intend to scratchbuild my own buildings, mostly adobe Cental Asian style but with some Chinese/Tibetan style buildings with curved roofs.

Does anyone know a manufacturer of curved tiles or tips for scratchbuilding them.  Failing that, are there any manufacturers of Chinese buildings with tiled roofs?

Many thanks

[6milPhil]

I've done this in 6mm by curving tile textured plasticard... it was a horror. I made a dummy in card which was trimmed to get the curve and fit correctand used those as templates for cutting the plasticard.

A couple of references, you should be able to find some drawings to set you on your way:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_architecture
http://www2.newpaltz.edu/~knappr/
Good Luck!

[Von Stroheim]

Try this French company

http://www.decorsminiatures.fr/category.php?id_category=36

They have lots of Oriental fittings  Balsa kits some of the elaborate screens you see on Chinese buildings, temple dragons and some hanging lanterns prices vary and postage can be a bit steep. I have seen some of their buildings available from Chinese retailers on ebay - try toys woodcraft and balsa searches.

[sukhe_bator]

In 15mm I use Wills 1:72nd scale model railway pantile sheets with reasonable results - you can achieve a reasonable curvature with narrow sections strips and by using thin sausages of Milliput, but replicating complicated gable ends and corners is harder. I'm sure you could achieve much the same effect in 25mm


and a WIP shot of the same

[Hu Rhu]

Thank you for the excellent reference material, the useful company (I will certainly be buying some of their products) and the great advice and photos of your work.

[The Dozing Dragon]

Thank you for the excellent reference material, the useful company (I will certainly be buying some of their products) and the great advice and photos of your work.

Ditto on that!

[sepoy1857]

Try this French company

http://www.decorsminiatures.fr/category.php?id_category=36

Thank You! Some very useful stuff there. Especially like their Oriental pieces...and those Chinese Lions are a must have!

[Hu Rhu]

I have just found this company Monolith Designs on the web.  They have a Chinese range which might suit the period and their prices seem reasonable.

http://www.monolithdesigns.co.uk/china.htm

I'm not sure how to upload photos otherwise I would add one.

[Hu Rhu]

I have just found that James (Jimbibbly) from Oshiro Miniatures is producing Chinese Buildings for the Boxer Rebellion.  Link is here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=42652.0

They seem to fit the bill exactly.  His website is here:
http://www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk/index.html

I for one will be buying some as soon as they are on the market.  Rumour is that they will be available at Warfare and on the website soon after.

[Hobbit]

I've seen corduroy used to make pantile roofs. To achieve the curved effect one could cut sections from large bore plastic drainpipe (say 4" diameter).

[Ignatieff]

In 15mm I use Wills 1:72nd scale model railway pantile sheets with reasonable results - you can achieve a reasonable curvature with narrow sections strips and by using thin sausages of Milliput, but replicating complicated gable ends and corners is harder. I'm sure you could achieve much the same effect in 25mm


and a WIP shot of the same

this of work of great beauty.  Well done

[smirnoff]

I (following Jim Bibby's help) am using Wills Pantile sheets from Antenociti's workshop.
I got a curve on then with hot water and a bit of plumbing pipe to bend them over

[marianas_gamer]

Smirnoff,
I am very much looking forward to your results.  Are there any chances of a work in progress photo?
LB

[smirnoff]

Smirnoff,
I am very much looking forward to your results.  Are there any chances of a work in progress photo?
LB

I certainly will see what I can do if/when things progress.
I have the big League game this week and was going to buy some of Jim Bibby's building before launching into a full build.
I had some spare pan-tile from another project that I did the hot water test on; all you would see is a bit of bent plastic at this stage

[H.M.Stanley]

Looking forward to seeing the results chap