"Scratch building hay roofs" Topic

I may be reaching here, but after hearing about using fur and other less than satisfying techniches for providing a simple roof of hay or straw, it seems to me that this is one area where this community has come up short. Fur might work sort of well for 25mm, but what about the smaller scales?

I've alway thought that an etched on roof is okay, but I am surprised that since most of us are looking down at a board, no matter how detailed the building is, the roof usually looks like crap in comparison.

Maybe it's just me, but I would really like to see some really awesome looking roofs, especially for medievel times.

Hay roofs? Don't you mean thatched roofs? A thatched roof was made from reeds or straw, not hay.
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For the smaller scales, try felt.

Sounds like you're not looking for 25mm. However, a local gamer made some roofs using fur, and I can tell you they look very good. Here's picture of it for a Rorke's Drift game he ran sometime ago link
I recall he said he pretty much just brush paint over it.

Try an old washcloth. Take a look about halfway down the page linked below.

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Most people model thatch too rough.

Here are my pics of real thatch, as you can see it is relatively smooth, and this ios the style that has been used for many centuries:

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and here are two buildings I did with foam insulation sheet, the stuff you put under a laminate floor:

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and in a different colour scheme:

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I think that because of the relative smoothness this method lends itself perfectly well for your scales.

The rougher versions suggested are IMO more suitable for turf huts such as these:

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These last ones were made out of kitchen fan filters mats.

For smaller scale thatched rooves try using fine flock, which can be painted after a coat of varnish.

FoFur dipped in white glue/water mix works well. This is from the GW terrain guide. Its the technique use on there Lord of the Rings buildings.

"FoFur dipped in white glue/water mix works well. This is from the GW terrain guide. Its the technique use on there Lord of the Rings buildings."

As others have said, fine for 25mm, not so good for smaller scales.

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here are some houses I have made for 1/72 figures, for a megalomaniac friend working on Borodino

I've done it with das modelling cla, sorry, don't have pictures of my efforts.

Also, for a 'trimmed' thatch roof, the idea of flock is valid for smaller scales. Have a look for photos of the reconstruction of the Globe theatre.

would suggest model clay – lightly brushed with something like a toothbrush

Why not buy a cheapo paint brush from wallyworld and use the brushy part?

The same green scrubbing pads that are recommended for hedges can also make a very believable tight-woven thatch roof. They can be a bear to paint by hand – use a spray-can for your base-coat and then dry-brush for the final look.

The size will limit this to smaller buildings, unless you get similar pads from woodworking stores, where they sell them in sizes of ~ 4x10" (10x25cm).