How do you make an N scale tar paper roof?

[freedj]

if you have a method for making a tar paper roof in N scale that your are happy with, please share it.  Almost everything I can find about making this kind of roof is for larger scales and I don’t think it will translate well.  Article references or links would be great too!  Thanks.

[John]

I've used 1000 grit sandpaper

[wazzou]

Masking tape, painted.

[peteski]

Yeah, I was going to suggest just a flat sheet of styrene or paper painted dark gray. The seams could be drawn on.

Masking tape is a good idea but make sure to use a name brand (like 3M) because the adhesive used in cheap tapes dries out and gets brittle after some time, then the tape can lift.  After all, masking tape was never intended for permanent installations.  But the adhesive on better quality tapes seems not to dry out as fast. At least that's my experience.

[Lemosteam]

Not what the OP wants, but how sweet would it be to obtain the image files for some of these and print decals of them:

https://www.zazzle.com/weathered_shingles_wrapping_paper-256756297042272348?rf=238042806156835444&tc=Cj0KCQiAn4SeBhCwARIsANeF9DIwiNVn-72CQZX6X6z7RVeG8Jgl55xTIEAexoEho3rR6OsYjxkdxacaAq5VEALw_wcB&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us_shopping&utm_term=z256756297042272348&ca_chid=2001810&ca_source=gaw&ca_ace=&ca_nw=g&ca_dev=c&ca_pl=&ca_pos=&ca_cid=576023544407&ca_agid=127342908690&ca_caid=15870387794&ca_adid=576023544407&ca_kwt=&ca_mt=&ca_fid=&ca_tid=pla-1593554790909&ca_lp=1016367&ca_li=&ca_devm=&ca_plt=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn4SeBhCwARIsANeF9DIwiNVn-72CQZX6X6z7RVeG8Jgl55xTIEAexoEho3rR6OsYjxkdxacaAq5VEALw_wcB

Just one h-res image of tar paper roof or tarred commercial roof or rolled asphalt roofing would be cool to print as a decal.

[CRL]

The thickness of tar paper scaled down to N-scale would be thinner than any tape, so I think smooth styrene sheet with a “flat” paint texture applied would be your best option. Adding small silver chrome colored dots to the surface would enhance the effect.

[wazzou]

The thickness of tar paper scaled down to N-scale would be thinner than any tape, so I think smooth styrene sheet with a “flat” paint texture applied would be your best option. Adding small silver chrome colored dots to the surface would enhance the effect.

Well, the masking tape I've used certainly isn't very thick.
It's definitely much thinner than the self adhesive tar paper roofing supplied by AMB and others.
There's scores of ways to skin a cat.  I'm only offering a suggestion.
I don't feel it looks out of place.

[TrainCat2]

Has anyone considered using vinyl electrical tape for flat roofs given that the tar applied over the felt is shiney and would not require any painting ??

[dem34]

It could work, but electrical tape is such a pain in the a$$ to get to a specific length. Annoying to cut and really stretchy.
I used some cheap construction paper in the past.

[eja]

Wet 'n Dry sandpaper is the way to go.  Choose the grit of your choice .  I like 600 myself.

YMMV


Sandy.....

[CRL]

Well, the masking tape I've used certainly isn't very thick.
It's definitely much thinner than the self adhesive tar paper roofing supplied by AMB and others.
There's scores of ways to skin a cat.  I'm only offering a suggestion.
I don't feel it looks out of place.

The model in your photo is well executed, but to my eye, the roof looks like what I think is called “roll roofing” which is a roll of asphalt shingle material that is laid down as a long & wide strip instead of individual shingles. A tar paper roof is just the asphalt impregnated roofing felt that is typically used as an underlying layer for the layer of shingles. You see it used mostly on sheds.

As for electrical tape, it’s a reasonable impression of roll roofing if you apply chalk weathering powders to kill the shine of the plastic tape.

[peteski]

Electrical tape IMO:

1. Too thick for convincing appearance.
2. Adhesive "melts" or gets gooey after few years (on some brands)
3. The vinyl material shrinks slightly after few years. That could cause some appearance issues.

As Lemosteam mentioned, most materials to be used are too thick for the scale, but we know that this is a problem with many things we model in N scale and willing to live with it.  Some materials stick out like sore thumb being out of scale, some others aren't as apparent. What we accept as working or not working is also our personal preference.

The photo-realistic decal is an interesting idea, but how good it looks (especially in extreme closeup photos we often take of our models) would depend on the print quality.  Computer printers use 4 inks and halftone/dither pattern using those inks to achieve all final color.  If the dot pattern is coarse enough, in closeup photos the ink dot pattern would be visible, ruining the realistic appearance of the "tar paper".

[Maletrain]

How about using paint to make the strips?  Mask off all but the bottom rollspan and paint the first strip.  Then mask off that strip and one roll width higher and paint that strip, with a bit of overlap.  Continue all the way to the ridge line, then mask off the ridge line on both sides for a narrower cap strip.

That way, you get sharp lines in the surface where the edges would be, but the layers are only as thick as you apply the paint.  If you get ridges against the sides of the tape edges, a bit of sanding with 1000 grit or 1500 grit paper should be able to flatten them out and leave a matt finish.

A lot more work than stick-ons, but maybe worth it for the macro photo fans.

[Hedron]

In the LaserKit No. 608 One Bay Engine House (http://www.laserkit.com/images/608.jpg), they supplied when felt like simple black construction paper. Cut into strips, glue on, then paint with black matte (or grimy black or gray if you want age). The paper soaks the paint in such that it looks very tar-like to my eye.

[thomasjmdavis]

Decades ago, I asked an old modeler about an incredible model shed (in HO) he had done from wood and cardstock. IIRC, he told me made his tar paper by cutting strips of black carbon paper.  It was sealed with flat lacquer and weathered. 

I have no idea if carbon paper is still available in this age of PCs and printers, but if you have an old sheet lying around in a typewriter case in the closet, might be worth a try. 

For the heck of it, I checked Amazon- yes, carbon paper is still out there.