I'm currently scratchbuilding a 1/35 french building for a ww2 diorama, and I'm wondering if anyone could suggest a good material to use for window curtains / drapes. I dont plan on building any interior, so I want to put curtains over all the windows so you cant see into the blank inside. Any suggestions you all might have for what to use would be greatly appreciated.

Hi westcon... first off, welcome to Armorama..
Window curtains for a 1/35 french building.. how about tissue papers? They should do the job... just soak them in diluted whiteglue and shape them to your desired shape and let it dry... paint it once it's dried..

My suggestion would be kleenex tissues wetted with a water/white glue mixture.
And thread it with a string so you can hang it.

Cheers,
Pascal

if you used the patterned quilted stuff you could even paint around the fancy scrolling embossed pattern once it's dry, with highlights and little tears etc. to get yourself a seat of heavy, embroidered drapes.

Just a thought

Consider taking a look at a local fabric shop, sometimes you can find different styles of ribbon or trim that work nicely for 1/35th. You might have to ask the Mrs (if there is one). to iron it for you to the shape you desire.

Paul

Here is one of my old dioramas in which I used the tissue+water diluated PVA glue method. It works fine

You can also use Milliput or bakable clay (sculpy). You roll it thin then fold it as needed. Glue it with epoxy or white glue.

I like to take tin foil or aluminun foil to shape the curtain, and then spray a mist of white glue over it. To this, I add a layer of tissue paper, which can then be painted and the finished texture looks quite like cloth.

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies. I think I'll try out the tissue paper method and see how that goes, I'll make sure to keep you all updated.

You might try out the Hudson and Allen curtains also they are pretty cool. Here is a house I did using them.

They have a few different pairs that come in the pack. Cheers Kevin

Welcome Westcon. Just to add to the pile is a visit to shops selling doll houses and a visit to a curtain shop similar to what Nato308 has mentioned. Look out for fine lace material in the latter.

I know it may sound weird but even shopping with the little woman has become interesting once I've started seeing everything in 1/35. I think she's starting to suspect my "kind" motives to accompany her.

I haven't done the tissue thing yet.Believe it or not,I use TFE pipe thread tape,the stuff you wind on plumbing and air line fitting threads.It's a little fiddly 'till you get used to working with it but, it has a nice effect for scale cloth.Takes enamel or acrylic paint,then oils.Glues with CA.


Makes good ponchos too....