<p>The simplest way to make miniature shingles I know of is this:</p>
<ol>
<li>Take a thin piece of cardboard. The usual thickness of cereal boxes is best.</li>
<li>Cut a strip of this cardboard as wide a single row of shingles + 1/3 extra width.</li>
<li>Put vertical cuts into the strip at regular intervals, cutting about 2/3 of the width. It will look more natural if the cuts aren't perfectly perpendicular or spaced.</li>
<li>Glue the strips of shingles onto the roof, overlapping each row by 1/3.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you want to give your shingles a more random or weathered appearance, here are some extra steps to consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>Place all your prepared strips of cardboard into a container with a handful of pebbles or small stones and shake it for a while. That introduces random bends and dents and damage to make it look more weathered.</li>
<li>Take each strip and slightly bend each odd shingle up and each even one down. Then take your scissors and cut a thin sliver from the entire upper row of shingles and bend them back straight. That gives it a very natural and hand-made look. <em>I saw this trick in a YouTube video but I don't remember who created the video.</em></li>
<li>Cut random corners of individual shingles, cut some shingles in half or cut some away completely. This gives it a very old and damaged look.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-04T05:52:57.020Z
2022-01-04T14:41:25.223Z
2022-01-04T14:41:25.223Z
Elmy
<p>I am planning to make a miniature that is approximately 6x5&quot;, with a roof covered in wooden shingles. The body of the model will be PU foam.</p>
<p>Are there any suggestions for materials or techniques that I could use to make the roof that do not involve cutting out individual shingles, which would be extremely time consuming.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-03T23:04:04.067Z
A miniature of what, exactly? Can you give the scale? If it's a conventional one, you can try looking for textured sheets they often have at hobby/model making stores (e.g. [this](https://www.noch.com/3d-structured-sheet-roof-tiles/60355/)).
Joachim
<material-selection><model-building>
A simple way to create the appearance of wooden roof shingles?
Aaargh Zombies
# A simple way to create the appearance of wooden roof shingles?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-01-03)

I am planning to make a miniature that is approximately 6x5", with a roof covered in wooden shingles. The body of the model will be PU foam.

Are there any suggestions for materials or techniques that I could use to make the roof that do not involve cutting out individual shingles, which would be extremely time consuming.

**Tags:** material-selection, model-building

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A miniature of what, exactly? Can you give the scale? If it's a conventional one, you can try looking for textured sheets they often have at hobby/model making stores (e.g. [this](https://www.noch.com/3d-structured-sheet-roof-tiles/60355/)).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-01-04. Score: 2

The simplest way to make miniature shingles I know of is this:

1. Take a thin piece of cardboard. The usual thickness of cereal boxes is best.
2. Cut a strip of this cardboard as wide a single row of shingles + 1/3 extra width.
3. Put vertical cuts into the strip at regular intervals, cutting about 2/3 of the width. It will look more natural if the cuts aren't perfectly perpendicular or spaced.
4. Glue the strips of shingles onto the roof, overlapping each row by 1/3.

If you want to give your shingles a more random or weathered appearance, here are some extra steps to consider:

* Place all your prepared strips of cardboard into a container with a handful of pebbles or small stones and shake it for a while. That introduces random bends and dents and damage to make it look more weathered.
* Take each strip and slightly bend each odd shingle up and each even one down. Then take your scissors and cut a thin sliver from the entire upper row of shingles and bend them back straight. That gives it a very natural and hand-made look. *I saw this trick in a YouTube video but I don't remember who created the video.*
* Cut random corners of individual shingles, cut some shingles in half or cut some away completely. This gives it a very old and damaged look.


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