Understanding basic information about materials used to create, display and repair miniatures will help you grow a better collection. The materials in this list have handling, safety, and conservation information included with the descriptions of how they are used to create miniatures or displays. This is useful regardless of whether you are a collector or a builder. If your miniatures contain epoxy resin, you need to know how to care for and store items made from it. If you are thinking of buying a miniature display, you should know what future repairs or conservation may entail.
Acrylic Mediums - Additives that Create Texture
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Acrylic Paints - When to Use Them
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Creative Paperclay®
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Creative Paperclay® is a useful medium for creating miniature plaster, stucco, pargetting, stone tiles, tiled floors and walls, landscaping rock and stone effects, or small three dimensional miniatures or sculptures. With handling properties very similar to fine clay, this is a safe, easy way to create strong lightweight miniatures which need no curing, other than a protective coat of sealant.
Epoxy Resin to Simulate Water and Liquids
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Epoxy resin is really a heavy varnish, used most often to gloss coat wood surfaces. It doesn't deserve nearly the reputation of difficulty most miniaturists seem to award it. Measure carefully, mix properly, and you can simulate all kinds of water and liquids provided you limit the depth of the finish you pour.
Two Part Epoxy Putty to Modify and Repair Miniatures
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Two part epoxy putty is a material often used to modify and repair miniatures made of plastic, resin, wood, tile, brick, metal and stone. Available in different colors and grains, the two part putty must be mixed (usually 1 to 1) and has a working time that varies from brand to brand. The putty can be smoothed and cleaned up using water before it hardens. After it hardens it can be sanded, machined, sawed and painted. Gaming miniaturists often use epoxy putty to create new master sculptures for later casting in metal, resin or plastic. Model horse enthusiasts and dolls house miniaturists may use it to change the pose or shape of cast resin sculpts.
Should You Use MDF or Baltic Birch Plywood to Build Dolls Houses or Miniatures
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Luan/Lauan Plywood for Miniature Buildings and Dolls' Houses
Luan/Lauan Plywood is often the material used for less expensive dollhouse kits. It is an easily worked material, but requires more finishing work than some other choices. In kits this plywood is often die cut and assembled using tab and slot construction methods rather than nails or screws.
Gatorfoam / Gator Board for Building
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This material is used mostly for indoor and outdoor display support for photo's and posters. It makes a great building material for miniaturist's, but it isn't the same as the more commonly available foam core board. You are best using fine tooth power tools to cut it, but it's light weight, ease of building and smooth, water resistant surface, makes it ideal for many miniature applications.
Paper Miniatures and Dollhouse Printables
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Polymer Clay Basics
Lesley Shepherd
Polymer clay, and its cousin metal clay, are a basis for all kinds of miniature projects. Originally developed in the 1930's it has come a long way since the 1970's when it first appeared in European toy shops as a model material. It is now recognized as a wide ranging artistic medium in a variety of colors and strengths, with varied handling properties.
