Terra Cotta Tile Roof Material in HO?

[gmpullman]

I have a project coming up that will require a terra cotta roof, the DL&W concrete tower by the N Scale Architect (but in HO)

The kit includes a vacuum-formed sheet of "tile" that I have discovered is a Plastruct product.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/pls/pls91638.htm

I wondered if anyone is aware of a more detailed product or a better way to represent a clay tile roof than the somewhat crude looking Plastruct offering? There just isn't enough relief and the overall effect is lost due to the lack of sharp detail. Afterall, the roof is the first thing your attention is drawn to on most of our models.

[edit] I found a listing for a Kibri product however, the photo does not exactly show me what I'd like to know...

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/405-34142

Thanks, Ed

[HO-Velo]

Modelbuilders Supply in Canada has some clay tile roofing in HO scale.  I saw some used on a small gas station model, looked good to me, but not sure if it has the detail you're looking for.  Sorry if the attached link is not clickable.

Regards, Peter

 http://www.modelbuilderssupply.com/product_info.php?cPath=275&products_id=2568#.VkSktN-rSfc

[rrebell]

The best I have seen is from a plastic that was injection molded. It of course was too thick but with planning, the thickness can be hidden. They appear on e-bay on occasion (found them looking for brick sheet).

[G Paine]

A quick search on Walthers for clay tile returns this; I have not used any of it. Maybe some of our European friends can comment, it shows up on a lot of models from that part of the world

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=H&manu=&item=&keywords=clay+Tile+&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=300&Submit=Search

[dknelson]

I'd just observe that while roofs are among the first things we notice, we usually see them at a distance which in prototype terms would reveal little or no detail anyway just a general sense.  That is why so much of what we regard as accurate detail is actually oversized -- from rivets to nut-bolt-washer castings to door knobs.   Remember: the closest focus point of our eyes is, in scale foot terms, a fair distance away from the object.  Thus I suspect the Plastruct sheets are ok.  There are other makes of sheet material - I think Model Rectifier offers some.

If plastic sheets of the right size of "corrugated metal" were cut into small pieces a decent representation of Spanish tile would result.

Another thought would be to take a page out of the late great E.L. Moore's bag of tricks and make your own: get a sheet of the aforementioned corrugated metal styrene sheet, a dry (dried up that is) ball point pen, and stiff cardstock such as from a manila folder.  Press the paper into the corrugations using the point of the dry ball point pen.  Cut the results into appropriate sizes.  A coat of shellac on both sides of the paper will prevent warpage and give stiffness to the material.  Paint the appropriate clay color.

Dave Nelson

[hornblower]

I have used the Plastruct tile roofing on a number of structures and have found that weathering this material with dark washes enhances the "detail" of the tiles quite nicely.  Besides, it is likely that only you will be looking at your structure that closely.  Others will be looking at the overall effect, not so much at each and every individual detail.

[gmpullman]

Thanks for all the replies, gentlemen.

I'll stick to your advice and probably use the Plastruct material that came with the kit, hornblower. I have to believe that the makers searched for the best material they could find. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something with better relief out there.

Peter, that material is probably the same Plastruct item. Several sellers offer it.

Rrebell, I'll keep an eye out on ebay and see what I find, George, I'll probably get a few sheets from Walthers just to evaluate it. Some looks like a square-shape. The Kibri stuff says it is a round tile so maybe it is OK.

Dave, I completely agree. Just checking my options. 

Thanks again, Ed

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

I am currently building a California Mission from scratch. I am using Plastruct Spanish Tile 91638. The two structures looked like any other structures until I put the Spanish Tile roofs on, then they magically became mission buildings, all because of the roof. To me it looks good. It has the right overall effect to make the viewer recognize what it is. Any loss of detail is filled in by the brain.

[rrebell]

gmpullman

Thanks for all the replies, gentlemen.

I'll stick to your advice and probably use the Plastruct material that came with the kit, hornblower. I have to believe that the makers searched for the best material they could find. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something with better relief out there.

Peter, that material is probably the same Plastruct item. Several sellers offer it.

Rrebell, I'll keep an eye out on ebay and see what I find, George, I'll probably get a few sheets from Walthers just to evaluate it. Some looks like a square-shape. The Kibri stuff says it is a round tile so maybe it is OK.

Dave, I completely agree. Just checking my options. 

Thanks again, Ed

 

Don't think the kit producers just thought of the best. They went the acceptable cheap way (I was going to be one of those kit producers but someone beat me to the puch while getting material quotes).

[ndbprr]

It would take a lot of effort but it may be possible to split somthing like a coffee stirrer or straw in half to create your own tiles.