Guest Larry Steorts is a contemporary Renaissance man. He is a lawyer, an actor and an accomplished miniaturist. Steorts once constructed miniatures as a way of relaxing after a hard day at the office, but now he has a business that sells the small-scale buildings. His customers include serious miniature collectors, architects and engineers. He shares some tips and techniques for making miniatures.
Basic Tools
basswood - available from model railroad, craft, and miniature stores
craft knife - #11 blade
jewelers' files - available from hobby magazines
small clamps
glue
pencil
metal ruler
self-healing cutting mat
triangle ruler
Basic Techniques
- The first step in making a miniature is to decide the ratio of the scale. The ratio compares feet to inches. For instance, if a miniature building is made on 1/8 scale, each inch represents eight feet.
- Use a pencil to draw walls, windows, doors and other marks representing cuts on the wood.
- To create clean cuts in the wood, make several light, repetitive cuts using a craft knife and a metal ruler positioned along the penciled line.
- Cut windows and door out of walls before assembling the walls.
- When gluing walls together, butt the sides of the walls together and push the standing wall at a precise 90-degree angle using a small triangle ruler.
- To make a miter edge on a wall or roof piece of wood, align a metal ruler along one edge of the wood, hold the craft knife at an approximate 45-degree angle, then make two repetitive light, diagonal cuts along the edge.
- Make roof shingles using narrow strips of basswood - you can purchase these "1x12" strips prepackaged. Using a metal ruler, make tiny cuts in each strip at equal increments. The strips of shingles cut by the guest were notched at 3/33" increments. Glue each strip on individually beginning at the crown of the roof, with each additional row slightly overlapping the previous one.
- Use toothpicks to make spindle-style porch columns (figure A). Cut the pointed ends off the toothpick, position the toothpick on the cutting mat, and place the craft knife at a point where you want the spindle shape to be formed. Hold the knife on the toothpick and roll the toothpick slowly with your finger to make the cut. Be careful not to cut too deep. Use a file to help define the shape and smooth out the wood. Repeat a second time at a slightly lower point on the toothpick.
Resources detailed miniatures
The Art Department
744 8th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-234-7453
Email:
LarrySteorts@yahoo.com
Guests Larry Steorts
Attorney, artist and owner of The Art Department
744 8th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-234-7453
Email:
LarrySteorts@yahoo.com
Also in this Episode
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