Here I talk about the basics of being a miniaturist or mini enthusiast.
Scale is the most often item discussed.
"I don't know what scale my house is."
Second is tools
"What tools do I need to build a kit?"
SCALE
The easiest way to figure out the scale of your dollhouse is to ask how big the door openings are. If it is 6" you have a 1" scale house. If it is 3" you have a 1/2" house.
There are many ways to talk about miniatures. There are train scales and doll scales. The two rarely meet.
Here is a quick list of definitions of terms you will find on these pages. First there are many sizes of miniatures know as "scale". (inches in our world = feet in the doll world).
I use ONE INCH SCALE to mean 1"=1', full scale, 1 to 12, 1/12 scale. You will often see "1:12"
HALF INCH 1"=2' is 1 to 24, 1/24 and 1:24 scale.
QUARTER SCALE is 1"=4' or 1:48 I am not aware of another way to say this one. It is very small, a quarter of an inch is 1 foot in the doll world.
The smallest I carry is 144 scale, 1:144. This is the furniture to put in the doll house in your doll's house.
TOOLS
Stocking Your Workbench or Basic Tool Kit
This is a list of suggested items that you will need in your work area or to include in your basic tool box. This is just a suggestion and you may find other items useful or necessary for specific projects. If you take a class the teacher will expect you to bring the basic tools with you. Any tool box will do. Many miniaturists use a tackle box and there are boxes available in the craft stores that you might find useful.
VERY BASIC
- X-acto knife with # 11 blades
- Self-healing mat
- Scissors for paper and fabric
- Miter box with fine tooth blade
- Emery board
- Medium/fine sandpaper
- Small cutting board
- 6” ruler
- 12” cork back ruler
- Masking tape
- “scotch” tape
- White glue
- Old plastic card* (credit type for spreading glue)
- Tweezers
- Q-tips
- Toothpicks
- Small clamps/ clothespins
- Rubber bands
- Small Paintbrushes
- 1” foam brush
- Wax paper
- Pliers, regular and needle nose
- Small screwdriver
- Small hammer
- MORE DETAIL
- Small T-square
- Manicure scissors
- Steel wool (0000)
- wire cutters
- Wood glue
- Cement for plastic
- Mono-jet glue gun
- T-pins
- Pins, needle, thread
OTHER TOOLS
- Note book and pencil
- Damp cloth for messy hands (baby wipes)
- Small plastic bags
- Rubber gloves
- Pin Vise Drill and drill bits
- Dremel power tool
- Table saw
- Work light with extension cord
The plastic cards that come with many Credit Card offers make great spreaders for glue.
Small containers (pill or film canisters) are very helpful for holding things like Q-tips and toothpicks. They also come in handy for holding water for you paint brush or for mixing paints and glue.
Basic skills-
1. To be able to handle tools with confidence. 2. Cut accurately with an x-acto knife. 3. Read ruler marks. 4. Have a basic understanding of glues and how to use them. 5. Know how to paint smoothly.
Most teachers are willing to work with students who are not highly skilled but willing to learn.
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