I think that roofs are significant to a building. Yes I know they are there for keeping the rain out, but I mean that a
roof, in combination with its color, determines the overall look of a building.
Straw roofs associates with farms, or medieval structures. Wooden roofs with barns and sheds. Clay tile roofs could mean
middle class housing, Greek temples. Copper tiles makes me think of a palace. Slate tiles makes me think of churches and
monasteries.
I use special roof molds from Hirst Arts Castlemolds ™ in a lot of my buildings
because it works fast and looks good. But besides this fine line of roof types I made some roofs by hand. A time consuming
activity, but when you like to go for an exceptional, out of the ordinary roof, this could be a way to make something
that is not that common within the fantasy scenery builders community. (What a statement!)
Besides of the “Observatory”, all the roofs on this page are made with the same technique. To make a roof you first have to
decide it’s form. After that you simply build the roof using cardboard, foam board, thick paper or whatever you like. In
the picture below you see two tine roof parts that I made using foam board. First I made the inner structure of the roof.
In this case a skeleton like structure out of tiny parts of foam board, glued together. Over this structure I glued a piece
of paper an trimmed it in a way that I like (following the outer line of the skeleton roof structure. You actually have a
roof now, but then comes the hard part.
The top of the roof as the edges on both sides, there where other roof parts connect, can be filled also with tiny square
pieces of paper. Giving those another color could suggest that they are plates of lead for instance. Painting is personal.
As you see, I used copper a lot in combination with silver. Although green, blue etc are nice colors too. The inside is
mostly black, and when visible also brushed blue/grey. The skeleton parts are painted raw umber with a beige brush when
visible.
A final funny roof suggestion is the “Observatory” roof. As simple as it can be, it’s the half of a table tennis ball.
Glued on a round piece of foam board and beneath that a toilet roll. The metal stripes are small pieces of the other half
of the table tennis ball and the binocular consist out of 2 pieces of wood. Using black, brushed dark blue and mixed with
silver makes up the base color. Copper for the metal ornaments with silver dots for the bolts.