Tutorial: 1/24th scale mop

This is one of my tutorials from my old web site. It is for a 1/24th scale (halfscale) mop but you can double the measurements to make a 1/12th scale mop.

 1. You will need: cocktail stick, tread, glue, sandpaper and scissors.

 2. Cut the points off the cocktail stick to make it approx. 5 cm long. Sand down the ends to round them off.

3.Cut several pieces of thread to approx. 3.5cm lengths and 2 longer pieces (approx. 10cm). 

4. Tie the 2 longer pieces around the others at iether side of the centre. 

Tip: If you fold the threads over now, and try them next to your mop, you will be able to see if you have too many or too few threads. Add or take away as needed and re-tie

 5. Push the cocktail stick through the centre of the bunch of threads, inbetween the ties.

 6. If you have difficulty getting it through, use a pointed cocktail stick to open up the hole a little first.

 7. Split the threads at each side and pull apart. This should move the ties closer to the stick and make it a tighter fitting.

8. Cut another piece of thread about 20 cm long, you will need this soon.

9. Put some glue around the threads and stick as shown. 

 10. Press the threads down on the glue and the stick.

 11. Take the long thread (I have used blue so you can see it better) and lay it across the others about 6 cm from one end.

 12. With your other hand, pinch the threads together as close to the top of the mop as possible.

 13. Start wrapping the long thread around the top of the mop. This is a little tricky and it may take a few goes before you get it close enough to the top and tight enough.

 14. Tie the 2 ends of the long thread together, tight. Add a little glue around the top of the mop to stop the thread moving or coming unfastened.

 15. Trim the threads off at the bottom to about 13mm long and there you have it, one mop.

I hope you can understand the instructions, words have never been my strong point. 

The small print: For personal use only. Anything else, ask first.

Tooooooooo Long

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. Well they say time flies when your having fun. I have started a couple of posts only to realise my pictures were on the other computer. Now I've bought a portable hard drive and all my pictures are on it, so no excuses.

So what has been occuping me all this time.

Well I had a stall at Shelley's online miniature show at the weekend. I dressed some 1/24th scale beds, like the one above, especially for the show but not a one sold. A little diasppointing (OK very disappointing), but I did sell lots of other items I listed so worth doing.

I also made and sold quite a few worn books in 1/12th and 1/24th scale.

My 1/48th scale grandparents were stars of my "table", I could have sold them 10 times over. So come september, when the kids are back at school and college, I will be making more, along with more modern people which were requested a few times.

Done a little more on the shop and the caravan. will show updates soon.

Sorting though my pictures and files I found some old tutorials from my old web site, so, I will be adding these to the blog over the next few weeks along with updates to my projects.

Angela

Shop Box 2 - Nearly There!

Progress is slow due to the lovely weather we are having. I don't think I have spent so much time in the garden for a long time.

I have the wall paper on the walls and I have papered the ceiling.

The lights have been fitted and I have put the wires through holes in the roof and ......

..... glued the wire into a channel I cut out with a craft knife.

To do: Flag front of shop, cover roof and attached front to hinges.

Shop Box 2

Finally found time to work on the 2nd shop box last week. I constructed and undercoated it last year!

I started by painting the shop front. I really didn't know what colours or style I wanted so just took hold of the nearest pots of paint and painted. I must try this approach more often. Less time thinking so more got done and the result was quite good and has lead the way for the inside decor.

Moving inside, I used some coordinating blue tile paper for the floor...

And put tongue and groove panelling on the bottom half of the wall.

Next job, paper on the top half of the wall, cornice and lights.

Shop Box 1 finished - 1/24th scale

Shop box 1 is finished and ready to be put on my web site. I finished the door off with a keyplate and knob and plexi glassed the window.

Inside there is a working light that works from a ....

 

  

....9v battery and a tiny switch on the top, back of the shop.

Now on to the next job.

More on the shop (1/24th)

I have done a little more on the shop box. Finished all the brick work, painted outside and almost finished painting inside.

I have used a different door to that which came with the kit as this did not have a window. I used a cheap wooden Georgian door and removed the top 4 panels by simply cutting through with a craft knife. Then used some thin strips of wood for a frame and some plastic off some packaging for the window.

The floor tiles are terracota paper clay with an antique wash. This my first attempt at floor tiles using this method and it was a little tricky as I was going to use plastic tiles so I'd already put the walls together. None the less I was happy with the result.

The walls are painted a lovely Victorian green which I can't get to show up too well on the pictures so you will have to take my word.

This picture show the inside of the front wall..

Here's a close up of the brick work. I love the result of this brick method. Looks very realistic but then it is called "Realistic brick compond".


Below is a video from the makers of this product, showing the process of stencilling the bricks.

I want to just add one thing to the video. They say you can add the stencil back on before the first lot of bricks is dry, but I found I was squashing some of the wet bricks, so I quickly dried the overlapping area a llittle with a hair dryer.

Small Shop Box - 1/24th scale

What a bad blogger I am, I can't believe it is a month since I last posted here. I have been really busy but I don't seem to have too much to show for it. Now the kids are on holiday and between keeping them happy and sorting out orders there's not much time left.

I have only done a little more on the caravan so I will save the update until I have more to show. I have also been working on a couple of shop boxes which I will be adding to my online shop, hopefully in time for Christmas sales.

This shop box I have had in a box on a shelf for quite a few years an it is really good to finally see it getting some attention. It is 1/24th scale and I will be selling it empty so I want to keep the shop type option fairly open so the buyer can decide the type of shop but I am trying to aim for a Victorian look.

After an undercoat of white paint and a base paint of a mortar colour, I used brick stencils from Bromley crafts to add brick work to the front and 2 sides. I used masking tape to mask off the areas where the door and window frames would go and the moulding above the front.

I have now added windows and done some painting so will get some fresh pictures today and post another update asap, hopefully before another month has passed.

Ledge Caravan - 1/24th scale

This is the ledge caravan as it stands today. It has it's background coat of paint and I will be adding some tiny painted decoration to the outside. I have attatched the carriage lamps and they are working lights, with the wiring passing invisiably through a hole at the back to the inside. No door at the moment - well it did have a door but I took it off because it opened the wrong way.

The oil lamp inside is also a working light. The wires passing around the back of the mahogany cupboards, out onto the seat area and through a hole in the corner or the side of the bed. The back of the seat was intended as the seat, but as I wanted an upholstered seat, I am using it as the back. The wire on the seats will be covered up with upholstery.

The opposite side showing the stove which needs some bling.

The under bed area provides a perfect space for the wiring and battery. I have also cut out a hole for a tiny switch - I didn't want to be taking the roof off and the bed out to put the lights on.

Next job is to solder the wires to the switch and the battery clip.

Current Project

My house (that's my real house) is awash with UFOs. No, not the sort that may contain little green men, but the "UnFinshed Objects" of the miniature sort. One of these UFOs is a 1/24th scale Gypsy Caravan or a Ledge Wagon made from a kit from McQueenie Miniatures - they are not cheap but they are well made and have good, clear instructions and I have them on my web site if you're interested.

The idea was to quickly make it up and paint it to give my customers a picture of a finished wagon. But, being me, it was never going to be so simple.

I started to put it together as the instructions and while waiting for glue to dry I researched colours and interiors ready for painting. That's when I saw the panelling on the exterior of the caravans - "that would be so easy to add to my wagon". So out came my tiny strips of wood and my chopper and I chopped and stuck and chopped and stuck.....it wasn't too difficult, but very time consuming. The result was so worth it.

The caravan is never going to be an exact replica but I hope by spending a little more time and a little research, it will give more of a feeling of the Romani life than if I'd just slapped a coat of paint on it.

I have done quite abit more since this last photo and tomorrow I will try and add some more recent pictures.

Hello Dolly

Here are just a few of the little 1/24th scale doll's dolls I have recently added to my web site. Of course they would also work as smaller dolls in 1/12th or 1/16th scale. These are the same ones I posted undressed, a few weeks ago. They are made from polymer clay and dressed with fabric, lace and trims.

I only made a couple of little clowns as I wasn't sure these would sell as well as the cute dollies, but, low and behold, I sold one straight away. I will definately make more.

They are shown sat on a 1/24th scale chair which gives you an idea of the size in scale.

If you want to see them all, you will need to look on my shop web site - A Trifle Small

Enjoy :o)

"Muffin Dolls?"

My first post - finally got around to it.

I made a start on some 1/24th scale dolls, dolls.

I was thinking of calling them "Muffin Dolls" due to their muffin shaped heads but will have to check I'm not copyrighting any names there. I will start dressing them once I have finished the 3 Astoria Dolls.

Also in the picture are a pair of 1/48th scale dolls with the same muffin style head. If they look OK when they are dressed, I will make some more.