For those who prefer scratchbuilding for dioramas, rather than using store-bought structures, sandpaper is a good representation of modern asphalt shingles.
For 1/35 scale buildings, I use 600-grit silicon carbide wet/dry sandpaper. It comes in a dark slate gray or various shades of brown, and the backing is a good match, too. Cut shingles 1cm x 2.5cm and apply in layers, like real shingles. They rip realistically, too, very true to the real thing.
Tip submitted by:Mark WellingsGeary, New Brunswick, Canada