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Half Inch Miniature ScaleConverting My Miniature Patterns
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Each miniature furniture cut sheet has a 1" reference square on it. My "Printing to Scale" page describes how to get your printer to print to the correct size. For 1/2" scale miniature patterns replace the "1" in the formulas with ".5" when making your adjustment and you'll be able to set your printer to print the plans in half inch miniature scale.
You will not, however, be able to use my miniature lumber collection as is. I would suggest using balsa wood, which is easier to cut and trim down the smaller sizes required by half scale dollhouse miniatures.
If you choose to stain, I would recommend oil based stains which will not raise the wood grain as drastically as water based stains do. I would also use a lighter color stain then what you want your half inch miniature scale furniture to turn out to. I would also use the "wipe on method" for applying the stain to your miniature wooden furniture.
The reason? If you follow the steps I've outlined below, you'll be applying the stain twice and it will darken more with the second coat. Then if you apply the finishing poly spray coat it will darken more.
So this is how I would do it:
- Lightly sand each of the cut pieces.
- Apply my first coat of stain - I would rub it on with a damp stained cloth so as not to saturate the wood.
- Sand again making the pieces smooth. Depending on how heavy the 1st staining, there may be some light or unstained spots appearing.
- Now wipe on the second coat - things should look pretty even.
- Let dry completely.
- Assemble the miniature furniture.
- Lightly dress your final assembly with very fine sanding to remove any "fuzzies".
- The final step, one that I use on all of my miniature pieces, is to lightly coat the whole assembly with polyurethane spray.
I hope this helps you in getting started. If you have any questions, definitely, do not hesitate to contact me.
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