Behind the Miniatures
Careful research, patient hands, and about fifty hours per piece — here's what actually goes into every miniature that leaves the workbench.
No shortcuts — just steady hands
No resin casting, no laser cutters — every building becomes what it becomes through hours of careful cutting, shaping, and hand-painted detail.
foam
Styrofoam
Carved and shaped by hand into walls, roofs, and every architectural detail — the bones of every building.
Glue
Elmer's Glue
Holds every piece together and doubles as a texturing tool for stucco, brick mortar, and stone.
Paint
Paint
Layer after layer, brick by brick, window by window — where each building really comes to life.
How a building comes together
Reference & measure
Every project starts with real photos and measurements — this is what keeps the proportions honest.
Carve the form
The building's basic structure is carved and shaped by hand, wall by wall.
Add architectural detail
Brick coursing, trim, shutters, and signage are built up in careful, patient layers.
Hand-paint every surface
Base coats, washes, and detail work — including hand-lettered signage, like the movie titles on the Franklin Theatre marquee.
Final finishing touches
The last, smallest details go on last — the ones most people don't notice until they lean in close.
It started with tabletop miniatures
Long before the first building, there were tiny painted figures — the kind used in Dungeons & Dragons. Painting those game pieces as a kid, right down to the tiny trees and rocks on their bases, turned out to be the perfect training ground for something much bigger.
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