Everything on my workbench is here: every tool and material behind the miniatures in the shop, grouped by what it is for, with a link to each one. If you are just starting, read the first section. To make your first piece, you need far less than all this.
Where to start if you are new
You don't need the whole kit for a first piece. A precision knife, a self-healing cutting mat, tweezers, white glue, a few acrylic colors and a fine detail brush are enough to build and paint a small facade from wood sheets or foam board. Add the rest as each project asks for it: clay when you want tiles or flowers, LEDs when you want a lamp to light up, a resin printer when a detail is too small to carve.
1. Basics: cutting, measuring and holding
Cutting, drilling, measuring and holding: the basics on the bench.
- Precision knife: X-Acto #1 precision knife. Clean cuts in wood sheets, foam board and card. Change the blade often.
- Cutting mat: Self-healing cutting mat, 12 × 18". Protects the table and the blade; the grid helps square every cut.
- Flush cutters: VCELINK flush cutters. Cut wire and trim printed supports flush, without leaving stubs.
- Hand drill: Pin vise and micro drill bits. Tiny holes by hand for wires, hinges and LED leads.
- Needle files: Needle files, diamond and steel. Shape and smooth small edges in wood, resin and metal.
- Caliper: Digital caliper. Measures thicknesses and openings to a fraction of a millimeter, so parts fit.
- Tweezers: Precision tweezers set. Place what fingers can't: leaves, nails, tiny tiles.
- Workbench: CAMMOO adjustable workbench, 60". A stable surface at the right height for long sessions.
2. Materials: wood, foam board, wire and small hardware
Wood, foam board, wire and the small hardware that lets doors open.
- Wood sheets: Basswood sheets, 1/16". Thin, even wood for walls, doors and window frames; it cuts cleanly with a knife.
- Wood strips: Thin wood strips. Beams, frames, trims and furniture.
- Balsa wood: Balsa wood sheets, 1/32". Light and soft, easy to cut and sand; La Palma and the door of La Habana are made of it.
- Foam board: Expanded PVC foam board. Light, rigid board for walls and bases, easy to carve and paint.
- Carving foam: Foam blocks. Stone, rock and rough volumes that you carve rather than build.
- Craft wire: Colored aluminum craft wire. Bends into railings, hooks, frames and furniture.
- Hinges: Mini brass hinges. Let miniature doors and windows actually open.
- Tiny nails: Tiny nails assortment. Door studs and joints that look real up close.
- Clear sheets: Clear acetate sheets. Window glass.
- Cork sheets: Self-adhesive cork sheets. Texture for stone, earth and old walls, and soft bases.
3. Glues and fillers
A different glue for each material, and filler for the gaps.
- Super glue: Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise. Instant bonds for small parts, metal and mixed materials.
- Wood glue: Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue. Strong joints between wood parts; it sets slowly enough to adjust.
- White glue: Elmer's Glue-All. Paper, card, foam and scenery; it dries clear.
- Wood filler: Gorilla Wood Filler. Fills gaps and seams before painting.
- Resin glue: ELEGOO super glue for resin. Bonds 3D-printed resin parts.
- Spray adhesive: 3M Super 77 spray adhesive. An even coat for sheets, paper textures and cork.
4. Clay and plaster
Clay for tiles and flowers, plaster for walls and floors. The roof tiles of La Palma and the flower by the door of La Habana were shaped by hand and baked in the oven; Altea has stone and plaster floors and textured plaster walls.
- Polymer clay: Sculpey III, 30 colors. Oven-bake clay for roof tiles, flowers and small objects.
- Clay glaze: Sculpey Gloss Glaze. A glazed, ceramic look on baked clay.
- Plaster: DAP Plaster of Paris. Textured walls and floors that can be carved and painted once dry.
5. 3D printing
Some small details, like planters, are printed in resin. Safety gear included.
- 3D models: Meshy. Turns a photo or a text description into a 3D model you can print.
- Resin printer: ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra. Prints details too fine to carve by hand.
- Resin: ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0+ resin, grey. Grey makes the detail easy to see before painting.
- Wash and cure station: ELEGOO Mercury Plus V3.0. Washes off uncured resin and cures the print with UV light.
- Cleaning alcohol: Isopropyl alcohol 99.9%. Washes prints and cleans tools.
- Funnel: ELEGOO stainless steel funnel. Pours resin back into the bottle.
- Strainers: Resin and paint strainers. Catch cured bits before the resin is reused.
- Silicone mat: ELEGOO silicone mat. A washable surface for resin work.
- Gloves: Nitrile gloves. Uncured resin should never touch skin.
- Respirator: 3M OV/P100 respirator. Protection from resin and solvent fumes.
- Shop towels: Scott shop towels. Wipe resin and spills.
6. Paint and finish
Acrylics, primer and varnish, and very fine brushes for details like the weathered walls of La Habana, painted by hand.
- Acrylic paint: FolkArt acrylic paint set, 18 colors. Water-based, easy to mix, quick to dry.
- Primer: Vallejo Surface Primer, grey. Helps paint grip on resin, plastic and plaster.
- Varnish: Vallejo matte varnish. Protects the paint and takes away the shine.
- Wood stain: Varathane wood stain. Colors bare wood without covering the grain; the woodwork of La Palma is stained with it.
- Detail brushes: Golden Maple detail brushes. Edges, numbers and the smallest details.
- Water brushes: Zebra water brush pens. Soft washes and gradients without a water cup.
- Fine pens: Sakura Pigma Micron pens. Fine lines, cracks and lettering.
- Liner brushes: Nail art liner brushes. Long, thin strokes: grout lines, wood grain, stems.
- Paint pens: Nail art paint pens. Dots and tiny details with control.
7. Scenery and plants
Grass, foliage and flowers for courtyards, walls and planters, like the climbing flowers of Altea.
- Grass: Static grass. Fibers that stand up like real grass.
- Foliage: Woodland Scenics clump foliage. Bushes, climbing plants and tree crowns.
- Flowers: Miniature flower clusters. Color for planters and walls.
- Branch wire: Paper-covered wire. Stems and branches you can bend and paint.
- Pots: Mini terracotta pots. Ready-made planters.
8. Light and motion
LEDs, coin-cell power, switches and small motors. All three pieces in the shop have warm LED light built in.
- Micro LEDs: Micro LEDs on thin wire, warm white. Light small enough to hide inside lanterns and windows.
- Pre-wired LEDs: Pre-wired 1.8 mm LEDs, warm white. LEDs that come with their wires already attached.
- Battery holders: CR2032 holders with switch. Power and on/off in one small piece.
- Coin batteries: Energizer CR2032 coin batteries.
- Wire: Silicone wire, 22 AWG. Flexible wire that hides inside walls.
- USB power cable: USB power cable, 2-pin. Power from a USB charger instead of batteries.
- Heat shrink: Heat shrink tubing kit. Insulates soldered joints.
- Switches: Mini rocker switches. A small on/off you can hide in a base.
- Soldering iron: Soldering iron kit, 80 W. Joins wires, LEDs and switches.
- Mini motors: N20 gear motors. Slow, quiet motors for fans and moving parts.
- Speed controller: PWM motor speed controller. Sets how fast a motor turns.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do you need to start making miniatures?
A precision knife, a self-healing cutting mat, tweezers, white glue, acrylic paint and a fine detail brush. With those you can build and paint a first small facade.
What is the best glue for miniatures?
It depends on the material: wood glue for wood, super glue for small mixed or metal parts, white glue for paper, foam and scenery, and a resin glue for 3D-printed parts.
Do you need a 3D printer to make miniatures?
No. Most of a piece can be built, carved and sculpted by hand. A resin printer helps with details too small to carve, like planters.
How do you light a miniature?
With warm micro LEDs powered by a CR2032 coin battery or a USB cable, and a small switch hidden in the base.
The finished pieces are in Miniatures.
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