Dark wooden shingles for nativity scenes & model making

The nativity stable is up, the little house is built – but it's the roof that turns it into something truly special. With these dark real-wood veneer shingles, you can cover miniature roofs row by row until your model looks like a genuine old timber house. The overlapping shingles are wafer-thin, precisely laser-cut and look as if they were made for your nativity landscape.

What changes for you

• Your model roof looks true to life, because every shingle is made from real dark wood veneer. No two pieces have the same grain.
• You can cover your roof neatly row by row without any trimming – thanks to smooth laser-cut edges and precise manufacturing.
• You'll find the right size for every project, from a tiny nativity roof to a larger model house – with 28 sizes to choose from, ranging from 15 mm x 7.5 mm to 150 mm x 75 mm.
• You're free to design, paint, oil or glue them as you like – because the wood comes untreated in its natural state.
• You're working with a material that's easy to handle – at just approx. 0.6 to 1 mm thick, the shingles sit snugly on your roof.

Why these veneer shingles make a real difference

A roof made of paper or plastic gives a model away instantly – a roof of real wooden shingles doesn't. The dark colouring makes your nativity scene, model house or Christmas pyramid look weathered and full of life, as if the roof had already seen many winters. Especially at Christmas, this creates that calm, warm overall look that makes guests stop for a closer look.

Material & finish

Each shingle is made from dark real wood veneer. It is laser-cut to size in our own production in Pößneck after you order. This gives you smooth edges and clean workmanship you can rely on when laying your roof. The wood is untreated, with no varnish or glaze. You decide whether to glue it on as it is, paint it or oil it. Wood is a purely natural material, so every shingle turns out a little different. Each has its own grain, slight colour variations and the occasional knot. That is exactly what makes your roof look so real in the end. Every piece is unique, not faulty.

Dimensions & technical details

• Material: real wood veneer, dark
• Material thickness: approx. 0.6 – 1 mm
• Shape: lap shingle
• Dimensions: from 15 mm x 7.5 mm to 150 mm x 75 mm, available in 28 sizes
• Cut: laser cut, smooth edges
• Surface: untreated, not varnished or glazed
• Made in Thuringia, Germany

How to use the lap shingles

• Building a nativity scene in Advent: lay the shingles overlapping, row by row – and the stable gets a roof that really comes to life in candlelight.
• On a Christmas pyramid: cover the pyramid roof with the dark veneer pieces and turn it into a little heirloom full of character.
• In model making: whether it's a half-timbered house, a mill or a station building – real wooden roof shingles make your model look as if it's from another era.
• In wintry miniature landscapes: a few shingle-roofed huts, a little snow – and a village appears on your windowsill that every visitor will stop to admire.
• In shop window and retail displays: create rustic decorative houses for the counter or display – the dark wood brings warmth to your presentation without being overpowering.

Good to know about wooden shingles

Wooden shingles have covered roofs and façades for centuries, especially in the Alpine regions – their secret lies in the overlapping arrangement that gives the roof its typical scale-like look. With these overlapping shingles, you bring exactly the same principle to a miniature scale: laid row by row from bottom to top, they create the same effect as on a real roof.

Care & durability

There's not much you need to do: in their natural state, the shingles are intended for indoor use, where they keep their look for a long time without any further treatment. If your project is going outdoors – an outdoor nativity scene, for example – treat the wood beforehand, such as by oiling it. That way, the roof stays looking good come rain or shine.

Options & what's included

• 28 sizes to choose from: from 15 mm x 7.5 mm to 150 mm x 75 mm
• Quantity can be freely chosen via the pack size
• Contents: veneer shingles in the selected pack size

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the shingles outdoors? In their natural state, they are only suitable for indoor use. For outdoor use, you'll need to treat the wood, for example by oiling it.

Can the shingles be painted or glued? Yes. The veneer is untreated and can be glued, painted or oiled – whatever suits your project.

Why don't all the shingles look the same? Wood is a natural material: shade, grain and small knots vary from piece to piece. That's exactly what makes your roof look authentic and full of life.

How clean are the edges? Each shingle is precisely laser-cut to order and has smooth edges – you can lay them straight away without any reworking.

In the end, it's not about thin veneer. It's about the moment you step back, look at your nativity scene in the glow of the lights – and the roof simply belongs, as if it had always been there. Just choose the size and quantity that suit your project.