Machine Shop Era & Roof Color?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I have an old AHM # 5839 minikit Machine Shop I wish to weather.

I am trying to figure out the era of this brick Machine Shop, ('30’s, '40’s??), & what the flattish roof with skylight windows would have been made of - the plastic kit has molded plates or sheets representing??

Also wondering what the roof’s original color would have been & what colors they weather out to?

Thanks

Tanked

2

Without seeing the roof details I’m not certain what it’s supposed to be. If it is flat I would assume it’s representing a hot tar sealed roof ? Flat black /with some lighter chalks should be a safe bet. You can also try covering the roof with 600 grit w/d sandpaper & weather to Your liking. This gives the flat roofs more realistic character in my op.

3

I think I will post a picture tonight.

It is not ‘dead flat’ , so its not a ‘1 run’ bitumen set up, i think.

It is molded in a dark silver/gray with a definite repeat pattern that has a slightly raised edge all around each ‘tile’, but what I am scratching my head over is it looks like it is made up of plates or ‘shingles’.

Whereas a cedar shingle might be roughly a foot by a foot, these ‘plates’, look to be about a scale 4 feet by 4 feet each.

Tanked

4

ok, here is a picture.

Any thoughts now?

Tanked

5

Weathered Black.

6

Thanks Roger. Do you think the roof is wood or bitumin over wood or metal? Tanked

7

Bitumen over wood or metal.

In other words tar over wood.