Put on your glasses or use ourmagnifier glas, because today we will be taking a closer look at quarter-scale miniatures, and even tinier. You will hardly even notice them. Do they even exist? hahaha!
Anyway, let’s dive straight into this teeny tiny world!
But first: Let’s understand quarter-scale miniatures and other small scales a little bit better.
Before going further, did you know that I am very proud of my self-developed scale converter on my site?
What it basically does is turn any measurements (inches OR cm) from a piece of miniature furniture, for example, from one scale to another (smaller OR bigger), with a wide choice in different scales.
While 1:12 scale miniatures are the standard scale in the miniature world, let’s try to understand the differences between Quarter Scale, Half Scale, and 1/144 Scale Miniatures; the so-called tiny scales:
1. Half scale Miniatures
- Half scale is aka 1:24 scale
- Level of detail: while smaller than the 1:12 scale and bigger than the 1:48, this scale still provides a very high level of detail
- Popular Uses: Half-scale is often used for DIY miniature kits, especially Robotime (aka Rolife), Cutebee, and Hongda. The scale of these kits can be a tiny bit different though, like more to a 1:12 or even 1:18 scale.
2. A Quarter scale miniatures.
- The quarter scale is aka 1:48 scale
- Level of detail: there is still a way to create fine details, but more difficult than the half scale.
- Popular Uses: Quarter scale is commonly used for dollhouses miniature furniture and small but closed dollhouses or buildings, but also in the model building world (military scenes). It is also used for gamers and gamer buildings.
3. 1/144 scale.
- Ratio: 1:144 (due) aka micro-scale
- Level of detail: very hard to create details on this scale, as miniatures on this scale are significantly smaller, and thus they have a lot fewer details.
But this also means that you can create more expanded miniature scenes with lots of tiny buildings etc on one board. - Popular uses: 1:144 scale is often used in dollhouse displays, architectural models, and miniature landscapes.
And last but not least: for dollhouses in a dollhouse, this particular scale is just right!
When choosing a teeny tiny scale, you could keep this latter information in mind to decide which scale you prefer.
Want to learn more about professional miniature painting? Check out this online tutorial!
To the point Lizzy: we want pictures and videos of those teeny tiny stuff!
Oh yes, I know my audience haha, just show me those minis, will you Lizzy?!
All right, here we go!
Quarter-scale miniatures, what did I find?
- 1. VictoriaMiniLand
Victoria Mini Land seems to be a store from Canada, selling mostly Victorian-style minis, but what’s important here is that they also sell an abundance of quarter-scale miniatures and even “dollhouses in dollhouses”, which are on a scale of 1/144.
I will let the pictures do the talking here!
They also have a little video of their handcrafted stuff, go check it out!
- 2. Littlemiss Miniature
WOW, talk about teeny tiny miniatures! And you can even buy your own DIY kits for not just the quarter scale, but also 1:144 scale, some of them fit on a fingertip!
- 3. 1:48 scale miniature bedroom progress, by the Gothic Unicorn.
In the video below, Gothic Unicorn will show you how she created this tiny bedroom from a kit on a quarter scale.
I love her soft voice and the way she explains how to make the bedsheets etc on such a small scale is interesting to me, it makes me want to try out this scale someday (if I ever find the time grrr)
- 4: A Miniature sofa on a quarter scale: DIY style!
We haven’t shown yet how these teeny tiny miniatures are created DIY.
In another video below, Tiny House shows you how and takes you through all the steps to create this gorgeous miniature sofa, I definitely bookmarked this one for further use!
- 5: Something more modern?
Looking for quarter-scale miniatures that are a bit more modern or have modern appliances like a washing machine?
Then it’s time to check out “Dreamscape Miniatures” who has several teeny tiny miniatures in this style.
1:144 scale miniatures: did I find anything nice?
Talk about tiny 🙂
Teeny and utterly cute as hell is the 1/144 scale for miniatures and I’m amazed that people can even craft these, I mean: how even?
This scale is also known as the micro-scale and is often used for dollhouses in dollhouses.
And there are not just the tiniest dollhouses, but also furniture sets, animals, little dolls, and even DIY kits! (have you ever bought any? Please do let me know!)
I came across the same miniaturists who create these besides the quarter-scale miniatures, but also a few other people make these, let’s take a look!
- 1. Queen City Minnis and her 1:144 dollhouse in a dollhouse!
This lady called Queen City Minnis on Youtube has a series on creating everything about a 1:144 dollhouse, including interior and decoration.
Fantastic to watch!
- 2. DIY dollhouse kits on a scale of 1:144!
“Littlemissminiature” has done it again and created the tiniest DIY dollhouse kits, this time even smaller than the quarter-scale miniatures, on a really tiny micro scale!
Let’s take a look at some pictures:
- 3. DIY How to Make Miniature Furniture 1:144
In the next tutorial by Tiny House, Eli shows you how to DIY Miniature Furniture on a scale of 1:144: a mini sofa, bunk bed, desk, and bookcase; so cute!
- 4. A 1:144 Dollhouse miniature kit to which you can add lights!
This micro-scale dollhouse for a dollhouse is a vintage DIY kit that can open in the back and to which you can even add lights if you want to!
It is created by Melissa’s Mini Wereld, is made from MDF, and even has 5 rooms that you can decorate, and has stained glass; unbelievable!
My Final Conclusion
I hope that you enjoyed this blog post on quarter-scale miniatures (and even smaller ones), but if you have any questions or would like to add something, please feel free to do so in the comment section below!
You can also join (one of) my social media channels below or join my cozy Facebook group.
I wish you, as ever, happy crafting!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
Hi everyone!
My name is Lizzy, and I am an amateur miniaturist obsessed with everything in the dollhouse and miniature world, ever since I was a teenager.
So far, I have created 2 dollhouse projects, a backyard shed and a miniature treehouse, tons of DIY dollhouse kits, and “hacked” some.
I also created a fairy garden, and lots of small and simple miniature projects on my YouTube channel. (mostly made from trash or everyday items).
I love to write as well about all things happening in the miniature world, hence the reason why I created this blog!
I wish you happy reading and crafting!
Lizzy
If you’re interested in the world of miniatures, quarter-scale and other small scales can be a fascinating area to explore. As someone who has worked with miniatures for years, I’ve found that working on tinier scales can be both challenging and rewarding. However, there are some key differences between working on 1:12 scale and smaller scales, such as the size of materials, level of detail, and availability of supplies. In my experience, painting quarter-scale miniatures requires a delicate touch and a good understanding of the techniques involved. I’m curious to know whether others have had similar experiences, and whether they have any tips or tricks for working with these tiny treasures.
Hi Akumendoh
I am pretty curious about others experiences as well, thank you for your comment!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
Wow, what a fascinating article! I absolutely loved reading about the different scales in miniature furniture and the level of detail they offer. It was really interesting to learn about the half scale (1:24), quarter scale (1:48), and the incredibly tiny 1/144 scale miniatures. I never realized that the smaller the scale, the more challenging it becomes to achieve intricate details.
I found the section on painting techniques for different scales quite informative, especially the tips on using fine brushes and magnifying tools for smaller scales. The inclusion of pictures and videos showcasing quarter-scale and 1/144 scale miniatures was fantastic; I was amazed by the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. It’s incredible to see the miniatures being created and the possibilities they offer.
Overall, this article has sparked my curiosity and left me wanting to explore the world of quarter-scale and micro-scale miniatures further.
thank you Seb, much appreciated and you are very welcome for the information!
I wish you happy crafting!
Kind regards,
Lizzy