A tiny scale mouse or rat, even a mischief of mice, are easy to make and can be used to add lots of life and interest to scale model and dollhouse scenes. The mouse shown here is in 1:12 scale, and is accurately scaled from the size of a house mouse, which in full scale would be 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches long from nose to tail. House mice have a tail which is longer than the length of their head and body combined.
The same tutorial can be used to make miniature scale rats. The common rat is 13 to 18 1/2 inches long from nose to tail. As they are considerably larger than mice, up to three times the size, rats are an easier project to model than mice.
Why Make Your Own Miniature Mice?
Although they look tricky, certain techniques make rats and mice easier to model than you might think. If you make your own, you can color them to suit your scene, and create several in different more realistic poses. These are so cute, you certainly won't stop at making just one.
What Materials Do You Need to Make Scale Miniature Mice or Rats?
You will need:
- Very small amounts of air dry or polymer clay or two part epoxy putty if you are used to using it.
- Suitable paints or colors
- Tiny beads for eyes
- Glue and finishes suitable for your clay
- A fine paint brush to brush out or blend your clay
- A pair of fine tweezers with a serrated inner grip. You may also want a pair of fine tweezers without the serrations in order to handle your mouse or rat without adding lines.
- A pair of sharp fine bladed curved scissors (nail scissors).
Modelling this scale requires patience and a good knowledge of how your materials blend, so start with rats and progress to mice.
These instructions are in honour of Martin, Dormice will shortly be moving back into the geraniums!
