HMS Priapus' Flying Bridge

[Jeremy]

The difference is that in Europe, thatch roofs are made with something closer to straw, where in Africa, they’re made with wild grass, which is actually more like a perfectly straight thin twig, maybe 2mm across. It’s flexible when fresh, but when dry, becomes quite hard. Queue suitable dirty jokes.

[Purple]

They are cute and excellent.

[Paul]

Very nice! Not a criticism (well maybe constructive criticism! :o ) but the tendency to make thatch roofs light brown/cream on African buildings is incorrect - it’s a European interpretation. The reality is, it actually goes dark grey-brown within a few weeks due to the type of grass used and the African sun.



Even the above one is quite light. They go a bit darker

Aged thatch goes a mid-darkish grey in the UK as well within a couple of years at most. The exact colour depends on environmental factors as well as the material used and how tightly packed it is.

[Jeremy]

Interesting. We only use one material for thatch in SA

[Paul]

The difference is that in Europe, thatch roofs are made with something closer to straw, where in Africa, they’re made with wild grass, which is actually more like a perfectly straight thin twig, maybe 2mm across. It’s flexible when fresh, but when dry, becomes quite hard. Queue suitable dirty jokes.

Most decent UK thatch is 'Norfolk' Reed, not straw. But either age to a silver or darker grey anyway.

We do use straw as well (Wheatstraw and Longstraw) but it only lasts about half as long as Norfolk Reeds 60 years. Interestingly some UK thatchers are out there who use Veldt grass too.

[Paul]

Obviously Priaps buildings are newly painted so the thatch is nice and fresh and new too

[Jeremy]

Where does the UK source their veld grass Paul? I assume that’s what we use in SA, it’s certainly what it’s called.

[Paul]

Where does the UK source their veld grass Paul? I assume that’s what we use in SA, it’s certainly what it’s called.

I think it's from SA certainly southern Africa. Certainly not that common in th UK and mainly used on recreational buildings IIRC. (Although that info might be out of date as most of my knowledge on thatching comes from my great-uncle who was a hurdle maker and occasional thatcher, and he died about twenty-five years ago!)

[HMS Priapus]

Obviously Priaps buildings are newly painted so the thatch is nice and fresh and new too

Exactly. With each game I'll be aging section of the roof. After while, the village will look lived in.

[HMS Priapus]

Now I jut need to dress the rocks bit more to get this kind of effect, should I choose to superdetail before we game. Will have to break out my pigments.