Mini Maker 3D
Custom 3D Printed Model Railway Figures
Populate your layout with figures you can't buy off the shelf: upload photos of the people you want on your platform or layout and let Mini Maker 3D turn them into scale-accurate railway model figures.
- N (1:148), TT (1:120), HO (1:87), OO (1:76) and O (1:43) all selectable
- Standing, sitting, walking or fully custom poses
- Solid or hollow print, ready to paint
Custom railway figures from photos or descriptions
Work from real people: upload up to six photographs — a clear front view plus side and rear angles — and the AI generates a detailed, printable figure. No suitable photos? Describe the figure in words instead and the AI designs it from your description.
Choose the pose that fits your platform scene: standing, sitting, walking, exactly as photographed, or a custom pose you describe — a porter with a barrow, a guard leaning out, a signalman reaching up.
Railway scales and figure heights
Figure height depends on two things you choose: the scale and the real-world height you enter for the subject. A 1,750 mm person divided by the scale denominator gives the printed height, so a taller or shorter subject produces a proportionally taller or shorter figure. You can also set an exact target height if your scene demands it.
| Scale | Gauge | Figure height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:148 | N (2 mm scale) | ≈ 11.8 mm |
| 1:120 | TT | ≈ 14.6 mm |
| 1:87 | HO | ≈ 20.1 mm |
| 1:76 | OO (4 mm scale) | ≈ 23.0 mm |
| 1:43 | O (7 mm scale) | ≈ 40.7 mm |
- Other ratios are selectable too — 1:72, 1:64, 1:56, 1:48, 1:35, 1:32, down to 1:12 — plus any custom ratio you enter.
- If you model a gauge we list a slightly different ratio for (for example 1:160 N or 1:43.5 O), choose Custom and type your exact denominator.
Railway staff, passengers and platform scenes
The subject isn't limited to one kind of figure: create porters, ticket collectors, platform inspectors, crews, seated passengers waiting on a bench, or walkers crossing the forecourt. Seated figures use the sitting pose; anything else can be described as a custom pose in your own words.
For a busy platform scene, create each figure as its own model — you can reuse the same scale and settings so everyone on the platform matches.
Creating, previewing and downloading your figures
The process is the same whatever the subject: upload photos or write a description, choose subject, pose and scale, review the generated preview and request changes if needed, then download the 3D model files. Every model gets a printable STL file, and an interactive 3D preview lets you inspect it before you download.
Printing and painting preparation
The downloadable geometry is prepared for home printing, with printability information so you can orient and slice the figure for your own printer. Prefer us to print it? Request a professional print quote — printing and postage are quoted separately, and postage is charged once per order.
Figures are supplied ready to paint. Detail and minimum-feature settings control how fine the printed result looks, with a fine 0.35 mm minimum-feature option for smaller scales.
Frequently asked questions
Which railway scales can I choose?
N (1:148), TT (1:120), HO (1:87), OO (1:76) and O (1:43) are all selectable, along with 1:72, 1:64, 1:56, 1:48, 1:35, 1:32 and larger ratios down to 1:12. If your layout uses a ratio we don't list, pick Custom and enter the exact denominator.
How tall will my figure be?
Your figure's height is the real-world height you enter divided by the scale denominator. A 1,750 mm person at 1:76 (OO) comes out about 23 mm tall; at 1:148 (N) about 11.8 mm. You can also override the target height to hit an exact size, and the size guide shows the result before you generate.
Can I make seated figures, for example passengers in a carriage?
Yes. Choose the Sitting pose for seated passengers, or describe a custom pose in your own words — the generator supports standing, sitting, walking, running, keeping the pose from your photos, and any custom description.
Do you print and post the figures for me?
Optionally, yes. Alongside the STL download you can request a professional print quote; printing and postage are quoted separately, and postage is charged once per order rather than per figure. Lead times depend on the quote you receive.
What kind of photos work best?
Up to six photos: one clear full-body front view plus rear and side angles, taken in daylight at chest height against a plain background. For specific fixes, the photo coach can review your photos before you generate.
Questions and answers are also marked up for search engines; FAQ rich results are never guaranteed.
Useful pages
Planning to sell or use commercially?
Need to use a miniature in a product, kit, or for resale? Commercial licences are no longer sold for new models. Personal use of your own downloads is always included, and any licence you already hold stays valid for the model it covers.
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