It’s like traveling back in time. Or shapeshifting into a much tinier form. Miniatures are empowering and magical, and they capture our imagination like almost nothing else. Whether it’s a scale model of a train that hasn’t existed since the 19th century, a reborn dinosaur that stalks your desktop, a lightning-fast slot car, or a micro-scale camper and tent setup just like the one Dad used to have. This week in our Holiday Gift Guide, we’re celebrating the Tiny Worlds you bring to life, and helping you share the miniatures magic with your loved ones this holiday season. Read on for four ways to make the little things count this year.
1. Help them take a custom flight into the past with this Paint-It-Yourself N Scale Cessna by Stony Smith Designs
Cessna 172 – N Scale by Stony Smith Designs
2. Build Their Train Set with this ultra-detailed Chicago Car by Traction Scale Models
3000/6000 series Chicago Cars – HO Scale 1:87 by Traction Scale Models
3. Satisfy their love for Dinos with this adorable/creepy Compy Desktop Figurine by VFXguy’s desktop toys
Compy dinosaur desktop figurine by VFXguy’s desktop toys
4. Join the Race to the Holidays with this model AC Cobra by 3DCerebro
AC Cobra by 3DCerebro
More than just perfect gifts for imaginative loved ones, many of the creations featured this week wouldn’t exist were it not for the ingenuity of our community of designers. With their incredibly detailed scale models, Shapeways designers are miniaturizing things that have never before been recreated, satisfying unique interests in ways that would never have been possible without 3D printing. Discover more of their Tiny Worlds in our Holiday Gift Guide, and let us know in the comments what scale models you want to see more of on Shapeways.