Thatched Roof Modeling techniques?

[MegaPixel]

I have an out of the ordinary request to create a rendering of a home with a thatched straw/hay roof - kind of a hansel and gretle style home. Has anyone tried something like this recently? I'm no so much concerned with the slightly rounded organic shape of the roof overall, as I am with creating the fine grass like strands that tend to overhang the eaveline at random lengths. I'm a Max + Vray user and was wondering if this could be pulled off with displacement or fur techniques?

 

Anyhow, thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts. - Pixel

[RobNJ73]

The Vray displacement modifier would be the first approach I would take for it. I haven't had much call to use VRay fur, though... not sure if that would be a better option.

 

But displacement DEFINITELY before trying to model all the individual bits of straw...

[Scott Schroeder]

Use the hair plug-in that comes with max. You can use guide splines to create the hay. It's a fairly fast method once you get a handle on Max hair. One thing to be aware of, max hair and vray usually don't get along so once you are done with the hair you'll need to collapse it to a mesh and even proxy it if it's too much geometry.