Replicating cloth with tissue?

Take a small bowl... mix 50/50 water and white glue.

Soak the paper in it getting it wet.

Smooth the paper out with your finger getting off any excess.

Put the paper down where you want it. Use a brush to smooth it out... simulate places where it will droop, etc. Let it dry.. then paint it.

I mean DRY.. .not half dry... let it sit overnight minimum.

I've found that you don't have to wait so long if you use enamel based paints for paintingI've made a CSA Flag and Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag for the M2A2 Bradley I'm working on. Looks like the South shall ride again!
Also, if you use a 50/50 glue mix, your tissue will not do too well at holding its shape, and will start to sag! If this is going to be a problem(like with flags that are supposed to look like they are flying in the wind!), put more glue in the mix!

Yes, I'd say around 70% glue. fold or roll the tissue, place it on the model and dab the glue mix on with an old brush. The more glue in the mix, the quicker it will dry. also with this method, the tissue will conform to the shape of the model and stick better. if it does fall off, try superglue

I also use the place/wrap and dab technique with white glue. I sometimes'll mix in some acrylic paint in with the glue to get a head start on coloring it.

Usually I start with black, that way you have your exaggerated shadows already in place. All that needs doing is to add the basic color and highlights.


Fade to Black...

That should work for replicating a car's headliner, then? I was going to attach it to a thin piece of plastic foam (not styrofoam but this is a packaging material more like cloth; it even folds like cloth).