DPM kits: Paper roofs???

[Anonymous]

Out of curiosity, why don't DPM kits come with gray/black plastic roofs? I bought my first ever DPM kits today (Pam's Pet Shop and The Walker Building) and discovered that the roofs are nothing but small thick white sheets of paper that you have to paint, measure out, cut, and fit precisely into the kit.

I'm just curious is all. I'm used to having a neatly pre-cut roof ready to go when I need it.

Aside from the roof issue and having to sand the edges, these are nicely detailed buildings. I'm starting off with DPM kits that come with windows you install, not the ones where the windows are molded into the building already and you have to paint them and the trim VERY carefully! Ya gotta crawl before you can walk!!![:D]

[Anonymous]

My mistake: the thin "paper" sheets are actually styrene. Sorry![:I] But you still have to measure them and cut them to fit. Kind of a pain. Oh, well.

[simon1966]

A lot of folks kitbash with DPM kits, so I suppose they are doing them a favor in that they can cut a custom size roof?

[orsonroy]

DPM lits are great, but they only give you the bare bones basics for the building. All the detailing is up to you. Of course, not having a "proper" roof means that the price is kept low, which is a good thing!

It's simple to make DPM roofs. Once you have the walls assembled, place the building onto the plastic sheet. Draw in the footprint of the building in pencil, and cut the roof out with a pair of scissors. Add the square blocking to the inside walls, and add the roof. It generally takes me less than 2 minutes to "make" a DPM roof.

[gmpullman]

I like to "ballast" my flat roofs. Most flat roofs use hot tar and gravel so I just fit the roof the best I can (a paper template is helpful here, Scotch tape and file cards) then transfer this to your styrene. Prime the roof with any dark colored primer then sprinkle an even coat of ballast on the roof surface while the paint is still tacky.
Makes a nice "composite" roof. Touch up the colors with an airbrush... and presto!

[Jetrock]

Another easy way to add a hot-tar/gravel roof to a DPM building is fine-grit sandpaper. The styrene is a good strong roof backing--just cut a square of sandpaper to fit the roof, glue it to the roof with a little Goo, and paint it flat black. A little drybrushing of gray paint can provide a little contrast, but isn't really necessary.

[G Paine]

For another look, before it is installed but cut to size, paint the styrene roof with flat black paint (like Testors), then lay facial tissue into the wet paint. Once it's dry, trim any overhang with a hobby knife and paint with a gray like Master Modeler Gunship Grey. When that is dry, use a fine permanent marker like a Sharpie to draw lines 3 scale feet apart x 12 feet long. This will simulate a builtup tarpaper roof.

For a flat roof water ponding can be simulated using Acrylic Gloss Medium, it dries clear and looks like a pool of water.