Supreme Littleness: In the Potting Shed

Introduction

I've been wondering how to make mode flower pots and seed trays for some time now.  Why, I hear you ask?  Well, I've got a part-finished 28mm  greenhouse from Blotz and I don't want the benches inside it to appear bare and sterile.  Small details perhaps, but it matters to me...

Now, I could have just scratch-built some model seed trays - but I never seemed to have enough time (or maybe it was the inspiration that was lacking?) and so nothing happened.

Supreme Littleness

As it happens, I also found myself in need of a small crate for a 7TV2 base I'm planning to make (I'll have to leave you guessing on this one, though here's a probably useless hint: S.I.G.).  So, small crates and trays: I wonder if anyone sells such models already?

Once the idea to hunt the web had formed, a quick Google search came up with a company that I hadn't heard about before: Supreme Littleness.  They have quite a variety of MDF clutter, including all manner of different boxes, crates and barrels.  A small order was fulfilled very rapidly and at low cost (it helps that these small sheets of MDF and fibreboard can be sent cheaply, by letter post).

So, what did I get?

Medium crates (19mm) and Long crates

 Firstly, a minor word of caution about ordering from Supreme Littleness's web site.  The pictures of their packaging kits and the (text) descriptions are in 2 columns on the ordering page, but the text in each column doesn't necessarily align with the correct picture.  I had intended to order the "Assorted boxes" packet, but ended up with the "Shallow boxes" instead.  It's not a disaster, but it's not quite what I wanted.  My mistake, through not being careful enough.

As it happens, these crates and boxes are rather too large for my current project, but they'll find a use for something in due course.  Perhaps the long crates might be cases of rifles being trafficked by gun-runners in a game of Pulp Alley?

Shallow Boxes.  The one on the left is made up as the manufacturer intended; the other 4 have been converted.

As well as the crates, I also got some "Shallow Boxes", which come in 2 lengths.  The shorter version is very close in size to the open boxes that I'd intended to purchase, so I decided to convert some of them into seed trays rather than putting in another order.  The conversion was very simple: use just the lower layer of MDF, add the pre-cut ends (with the carrying handles) and add some straight sides cut from scrap fibreboard.  Sand has been glued in 3 of them to model dirt; once this has been painted then I'll add some flock to represent seedlings.

Conclusion

Could I have made these myself?  Of course I could - I've got all the raw materials and the tools & skills necessary to build such items from scratch.  But that would have taken time and, what with family and job, I don't have as much of that as I'd like.  For me, the investment of a small amount of money instead is a very obvious decision!

Now if only I could find a way to make flower pots in 1:56th scale!