Mini WI have come in different colors, shapes, and sizes.
In the photo are various Mini WI models.
On the bottom right is the original white Mini WI model of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building. The bronze relief that it is sitting on served as inspiration for the project.
The blue, green, and yellow topped Mini WI are MadFab Edition distributed during Pride Month 2021. They were made with rainbow silk filament that changes colors along the reel extrusion.
In the middle row are pink and red Valentines Day Editions, which were the first special Mini WI distributed in February 2021. Twenty eight were distributed and they have a heart on the bottom.
Above that is a matte green Mini WI with a cheesehead on it. Adjacent is the Little Lambeau. These were created for the 2021 Packers season.
Not pictured are the Lucky Edition made in March 2021, a transparent green Mini WI with a four leaf clover imprinted on the bottom.
In October 2021 a glow in the dark Mini WI called the Ghost Edition haunted Little Free Libraries.
January 2022 saw the release of a new Mini WI in the shape of the state that inspired the project. Featuring a heart in the middle this version has been distributed in white, blue, red, green and a special Cheesy WI version in yellow featuring Swiss cheese holes.
In April 2022 a successful GoFundMe campaign raised enough money for the purchase of an industrial printer that can do two-color prints. The Mini WIng is a version of Wisconsin’s state bird the American robin (turdus migratorius).
To celebrate Pride Month in 2022 the Mini WI MadFab are in the shape of a white Wisconsin with a little glitter heart in rainbow colors.
In July 2022 the Mini Moo joined the herd. She has an unofficial name, Agnes.
The Spooky WI features a glow in the dark skull. It is a special edition for October 2022.
This version came about due to a mistake. Instead of choosing the Cheesy WI print file the original capitol model was selected. The resulting matte yellow model was only discovered after completion. The following cheese version incorporating holes seemed to be a natural fit.
The Mini Brew pays homage to Wisconsin’s rich beer culture. Despite being the first model with four colors, this Mini WI is not distributed in Little Free Libraries so as to not promote alcohol to minors. These little pints started appearing in Wisconsin restaurants and bars in November 2023.
Accessories
Cheesehead
The cheesehead is included with the green Mini WI – Game Day Edition that fittingly goes with the Packers theme.
Top Hat and Bow Tie
Some Mini WI – State Capitol bags include a tiny top hat and bow tie that rests on the model.
Prototypes
These building prototypes have been designed, printed, and not distributed.
Baja Snek
The Baja Snek references two inside jokes on the r/madisonwi subreddit. The first is that Madison is overrun by snakes, and the second is getting baja blasted at the Taco Bell on State Street. Only one model exists. This will never see production.
Bascom Hall
On top of the eponymous hill, Bascom Hall is one of the prominent facades of the University of Wisconsin. This detailed model would require simplification to print at scale.
Camp Randall
As a follow up to the Little Lambeau, Camp Randall has been designed. Printing and quality issues prevented the Camp Randall model from going into production. Renovations beginning in late 2021 also will require the student section to be redone once complete. This model is a very likely contender for production.
Carillon
The Carillon on the UW – Madison campus is an iconic feature. The model was designed in an afternoon. Rendering the ivy on the side proved to be an unexpected computing challenge. The leaves were randomly generated, but greatly increased the complexity of the model. A few prototypes exist with and without the ivy. This model may see wider production.
Heart
This is a tentative addition to the State Capitol model. This prototype did not do well in test prints.
Lombardi Trophy
Meant to be included in limited Little Lambeau, the rounded edges of the model proved to be more challenging than anticipated. It is likely this prototype will see future revisions.
Monona Terrace
The Monona Terrace was built as an exercise in learning how design curves. The model designed turned out to be very complex to render at a scale of 6 – 8 cm. Long print times and inconsistent results stopped this model from going in to production. There are two existing prototypes.
Ramen Station
The Ramen Station on Park Street in Madison has a unique inverted roof. This model was designed with no intention of it going into production. Only one prototype exists.
Sword & Shield
This model was built to test the feasibility of adding outfits to the Mini WI. Only three prototype models were ever completed. The original model file was accidentally overwritten and is considered lost. The file is still significant in that the shield features the geometry mesh for the subsequent state models.
Van Hise Hall
‘Two prototypes have been made, but due to the asymmetric design is unlikely to be produced.