Web Watch

In no particular order, a variety of sites which you may find of interest.

If you want us to link to your site, know of other sites we should link to, or want us to review your products in more detail the address as always is editor@MiniatureBuilder.co.uk  .  If you are sending photos or samples by post the address for The Miniature Builder is 10 Montague Road, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 3DS, England .

Design Preservation Models

They say: "Design Preservation Models creates architectural authenticity ..... with N, HO and O scale model building kits and Modular Systems.  Anyone can model strikingly realistic cities, towns and village scenes. Cities  can be built one structure at a time from our single building kits. Create a  building of any size, shape and height using our interchangeable styrene Modular  System wall sections. Build hotels, factories, entertainment districts, train  depots, mom and pop shops, service stations, or giant department stores."        Prototypes are determinedly American.    The site is extensively  illustrated.     http://www.dpmkits.com

Fiddlers Green

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/buildings/new-england/thoreau/cabin.htm

Fiddlers Green claim to be the world's largest collection of paper models - offering a wide range of downloadable paper buildings ranging from the complete World Trade Centre complex to an English Fish and Chip shop via a range of fantasy castles.   Although it is a US operation  there are a lot of English prototypes as well from the UK and the US   The link takes you to a free download sample.

Muswell Models

{If you are reading this at Muswell Models we would love to have a better image to show MB readers} http://www.muswellmodels.co.uk

They say: "Muswell Models offers a growing range of finely detailed  buildings and architectural accessories in OO/4mm and N/2mm scales.  The  buildings are cast in resin, with the OO/4mm scale models coming in kit  form with etched brass windows and doors, which are available  separately for scratch-builders  { sounds interesting} and the N/2mm models being either hollow  cast with windows being printed on transparent plastic sheeting or in the  case of low-relief buildings and garages, solid one piece castings.

A small range of 1/50 construction kits of UK prototypes (including a kit of the Rovers Return) offered as  " genuine scale models using REAL BRICKS and TILES"  Although we do not want to  discourage anyone from offering model building products the illustrations on the  website do appear to show grossly oversized bricks and tiles producing a  caricature effect which is not particularly to our taste.       http://www.gibsonsgames.co.uk/builder.shtml"

"The Scale Card is a credit card size tool for every model builder who wants to keep everything in scale.  Cards range from 1:12 to 1:700, some in metric. " This site was one of the source materials for our "up and down the scales" article. http://www.thescalecard.com

Oakridge Hobbies  (aka Scale Miniatures) is a huge American modelling and toy online shop.  We have no idea what they are like to deal with  ( any info to  editor@MiniatureBuilder.co.uk   - or whether it is worth it for UK customers - but the listings on the site of architectural components in a whole range of scales are extensive and worth a look just to get an idea of what is available.     The illustrated figures are O scale (1/4") from Arttista. Structural supplies page Oakridge index page http://www.scale-miniatures.com/

The Friedland site claims its Miniature Victorian Jewish Mansion may be the first known miniature Victorian Jewish Mansion exhibit.  The interest is really in the interior furnishing and detail which takes it outside the primary interest of Miniature Building.   The site modestly claims it as a "this spare-no-detail Jewish educational tool . Craftspeople from around the world used the finest materials to create its furniture and accessories. Inlaid floors, ceiling moldings, a central tower and dozens of architectural details help make it a masterpiece." http://www.igryphon.com/miniaturemansion/web/

Mount Vernon in Miniature ( The US mansion not the North London hospital) measures ten feet long, more than eight feet high, and approximately six feet wide. It duplicates the original building at a scale of one inch to one foot, in working order down to the last detail. " Mount Vernon in miniature

A lovely site about real buildings full of great source material for modellers.   http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk   Looking at Buildings is an educational resource created by the Pevsner Architectural Guides

Offering a US range of 1/24th scale moulds (produced by Precision [products - below) to enable the outdoor modeller (garden railways or model villages) to produce textured panels in concrete.   Other material on the site about modelling in stone and producing outdoor models.  http://www.rrstoneworks.com/casting.htm

A US supplier of plastic moulded panels in a good range of scales.  Not a range we are familiar with but they appear to be worth a closer look.  Particularly in the 1/24th scale they offer an interesting range of detail sheets - doors, windows etc. http://www.appliedimaginationinc.com/precision_products/index.html See also their pictures page with some examples of how the products have been used: http://www.appliedimaginationinc.com/precision_products/pictures.html

A US site offering a range of plans to build your own (full size)  house.  As a sideline they offer a cardboard kit to help you make a model of your dream home http://www.homeplanfinder.com/3dhousekit/default.asp

Just as the name suggests; scale timber and mouldings http://www.northeasternscalelumber.com with links to sister company North Eastern Scale Models

Glass Steel Stone and Doors

http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/       Lots of pictures of big buildings - outside the reach of most modellers.  See also the doors of Paris pages - maybe it is time to give up modelling whole buildings and just start a collection of model doorways?    Look out for a future article about this.

Miniature Stone Coating  

From Charles Products Ltd who say: "Miniature Stone Coating is a water-based paint made using real ground stone, that leaves an authentic stone effect finish which is both hard wearing and weather resistant (for outdoor miniatures). It has never been so easy to create authentic and realistic exteriors on your dolls houses, miniatures and models."    www.charlesproducts.co.uk/miniaturestonecoating.htmText

Jojay's Miniatures

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Jojay's is a dolls house materials supplier based in Bourton-on-the Water,  Gloucestershire, offering some lines not always available elsewhere.  In particular they stock the Phoenix range of White metal miniatures - mostly outside the scope of The Miniature Builder but some of their kitchen ranges and fireplaces (1/12, 1/24 and 1/32 just fit inside our brief.  Illustrated is a fibre glass based Wall tile cladding from their 1/12th range ( They don't make clear if this is their own product or from another manufacturer - a habit you may have noticed elsewhere that The Miniature Builder is seeking to discourage ).   www.jojays.co.uk

Dolls House Wallpaper

Guess what www.dollshousewallpaper.co.uk offers? An extensive range of wallpaper for dolls houses in 1/12th and 1/24th

Harburn Hamlet

An attractive range of buildings from Scottish retailer and manufacturer Harburn Hobbies.  Harburn_Hamlet_Buildings

Hewitt Designs

Hewitt Designs http://www.hewittdesigns.com/models_building.html ;    An interesting site from a professional architectural practice showing the opportunity for crossover between pro and amateur.  "Building the models at HO (1/87 scale) allows us access to the huge assortment of model making materials that are available for model train enthusiasts etc"

Best known for their essential Plastikard styrene sheets, Slater's Plastikard Ltd also offer brick, stone and tile embossed sheets in a variety of styles  for the constructor of model buildings. They also offer a bespoke casting and etching service. slatersplastikard.com

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Specialists in brick and stone products.  Almost anything achievable in full size brick and stone can be reproduced in miniature using their

products, all cut from natural materials.

weathered tiles 

All products available in 1:12 scale ; many are also available in 1:16, 1:19 and 1:24 scales. www.richardstacey.com

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Famous for their market leading plastic kits and embossed walling materials in 1/76th OO scale.  Wills are part of the Peco group which also offers building  materials under the Ratio brand for N scale.

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Scalestreet

High quality brick paper and printed house fronts in all scales including 1/12th, 1/24th,  1/32nd, 1/48th, 1/76th and 1/87th .  If standard sheets do not meet your needs, bespoke products are available.

Scalestreet also offer a wide range of MBS moulded styrene sheets in 1/24th scale and other 1/24th items .