"Scratchbuilding thatch?" Topic

I can create Russian rural buildings by adapting wild west techniques, but how have people got on making thatch?

Interesting method I have seen online but not tried yet was using dark brown or black terry toweling, then combing it and drybrushing it with shades of greyish brown. Looked pretty good in the pics, and is on my list of projects to try one of these days.

Teddy fur also looks like it would work.

Fake Teddy bear fur will work.

PJ

I use the foam insulating material that is used under laminate flooring, or as packaging material.

Paint beige, for newer thatch, or mid grey for older, wash with brown, ready:

link

Thatch is actually not that rough, so this is not only easy but also depicts it pretty well, IMO.

I use towling.
link

I've done a Zulu/Boer war house in 25mm. I used broom straw, cut it to size, started at the bottom and glued it on in patches about an inch wide all the way across the roof, then proceeded to the next layer above. When finished, I hot glued some balsa wood strips down over top of each strip/layer. When finished I sprayed the entire roof with spray mount (sticky stuff for mounting artwork) then hit it with Dulcote. Very nice. I plan on making a facine for my WW1 Mark IV tank out of broomstraw also. Hope this helps, sorry, no pictures!

Though I gotta admit, Matakishi's way looks real good too, and a hell of a lot easier! I still think mine looks better, but I'm not sure I wouldn't do it Mat's way next time! Thanks Matakiski! You've got a killer site there, and any man that plays Crossfire is OK in my book!

For 15mm I found some fluffy felt and after gluing it down to the frame I gave it a good soaking with dilluted glue then painted. Worked out okay. Here's a pic.

picture

Cheers!
~OD

I use the same method as Matakishi.

picture

Rich

Black towel is quick and easy and looks good.

Regards
Mick

I've used felt, brushed, and painted. Looked decent, and was quick and easy.

Sorry all, but your work is not nearly as good as mine. You should use hemp, or oakum, I am not certain which is the propper translation into English. Those are really fine fibres that are used by plumbers to seal joints. You should cut some nicely combed fibres, like a lock of hair, and glue it to the roof. Do not make it too wide, rather put several such stalks in each row. You should awoid arranging them neatly, as it would be as unconvincing as an architectural model compared to a true building. Then you should, of course, proceed gluing the next row above the first.
After I finish covering the roof, I trim it, muss it up where necessery, and protect it with a transparent spray. It needs no painting, as the hemp (or oakum?)is of the perfect colour. I have made many such houses, but unfortunately have traded them all for some figures, and can not confirm with a picture. Try it if you do not believe me.

Wow

nikola

---Sorry all, but your work is not nearly as good as mine.---

Love your sense of humilty nikola.

Pro…

Thank you

Thankyou for all the suggestions! I'll see what I can do…

Plumbers hemp, cut into lengths, and bundled, then glued with PVA onto the card roof. Will need trimming, but is the stuff they use on finescale model railway building,such as Pendon.

Is hemp cheap? With all these exercises I'm conscious of keeping a balance on cost and effort vs. cost of resin buildings…

My work is better than Nikola's, as I use midget medieval craftsmen to thatch my buildings in the period manner. This takes them some considerable time, but they only require a sort of gritty bread and small beer, and sleep by the fireplace. I cannot confirm with a picture, as the midgets are terrified of the flash.

At other times, I use towelling for short thatch and fake fur for the longer style.

I have been seeing some interesting work lately using "fake Teddy Bear Fur" (as opposed to real teddy bear fur?).

I was wondering: is teddy bear fur a special variety of fake fur or are people using it as a generic term for all fake fur? I often see 10" by 10" bits of fake fur for sale in craft stores, but did not know if "teddy bear fur" was suggesting some special hair thickness or density used to create the toys. Any insights?

Thanks!

Real teddy bear fur is dead easy to get hold of. Any emporium stocking rocking-horse manure should have it.

I'm using more or less the same basic idea as some others: (Ceterman -broom straw) or (nikola -hemp) but the material for thatch is from brushes that you use when you washyourself.

Black towels would indeed be much quicker, but don't look as nice though.