Reducing Pantograph Engraving
I was curious how did they produced miniature models from a larger sculpt. Before all the computers and CNC machines. Not speaking about the modern 3d scanners and 3d printers. I.e. how they originally produce all these Warhammer miniatures. They are hard to paint at the scale, and sculpting them is impossible. Especially with the materials available at the time.
Apparently they used a device called "pantograph engraver".
It had two parts: the stylus and the engraving head. The artist sculpted a larger prototype model User moved the stylus around the prototype. Meanwhile the chisel followed the motion at smaller scale, chiseling the miniature.
The basic device was absolutely simple. Made out of 4 wooden sticks. Didn't even had any gears: https://www.circuitousroot.com/artifice/letters/press/typemaking/making-matrices/pantograph-in-context/index.html >In 3-D machines, the tracing stylus and cutting tool both move in three dimensions within relatively wide limits. 3-D pantograph engravers were commonly used for the manufacture of stamping dies. When they operate at a scale of 1:1 they are often called "die sinking" machines. Various mechanisms were used for achieving 3-D capability; the "ratiobar" method of Gorton machines was particularly sophisticated. It is of course possible to do 2-D work on a 3-D machine.
Guess technology went a long road.
EDIT: ChatGPT says Games Workshop used the "electroforming with controlled shrinkage" technology to reduce the larger sculpt to a small scale. Basically the sculpt was coated with metal, which then used to form the miniature placed in its center, by passing electricity through the coat. Pantography was done during 19th and early 20th century.