Miniature #24 – Constructed 12/2024
Fun Facts
The origins of fish & chips can be traced back to 19th-century London, where working-class communities embraced this affordable and filling meal.
The dish made its way to America in the early 20th century, primarily through British immigrants. Early fish & chips shops popped up in major cities with large British populations, particularly in coastal areas like New England.
The popularity of fish & chips in America experienced a surge during World War II. With rationing in effect, fish & chips became a readily available and affordable option for many Americans. The dish’s simplicity and its association with wartime resilience contributed to its widespread appeal.
The dish, part of the American culinary landscape enjoyed by millions, represents a blend of British tradition and American innovation.
Description
In contemplation of what to build next, I realized that I would be remiss if I did not include a fish & chips shop as part of Capetown’s composition and appeal.
The shop sits on a 12″x12″ plywood base. The overall piece stands at 9.5″ high and the time invested to design and build was approximately 55 hrs.
Materials Used
The structural underlay of the hardware store was built with 2mm craft plywood with a cutout for the serving window.
The interior floor was made from foamboard with craft sticks attached and stained a Golden Oak color to resemble real hardwood flooring. The interior walls were painted with acrylic paint and affixed with miniature seafood menus and charts of ocean fish.
The exterior was constructed with popsicle and craft sticks painted with watercolor paint to achieve the color of weathered wood. The building trim and tables, made from square wooden dowels, popsicle, and craft sticks, were painted with a bright blue for contrast and accent.
The roof shingles were made from black cardstock paper, sprayed with textured spray paint, and cut by hand to resemble realistic roof shingles.
The plywood base was covered with craft sticks to resemble a pier and painted with watercolor paint for weathering. The pier pilings were made from round bamboo dowels, sanded and painted with watercolor paint and glued together. The ropes were made from cotton twine that was soaked in watercolor paint.
On each side of the building itself there are 3 “shark teeth” on the pilings. I used my puppy Molly’s baby teeth that I was lucky to find.
The striped table coverings are cloth from a well-loved old shirt. “Chairs” were made from blocks of wood that were burnt to look like wooden crates. Decorative lobster pot buoys were carved from square dowels and painted with acrylic paint.
The custom signage decals were provided by www.threeinchesunder.com.
