Looking for a good source of and/or custom 1:48 scale miniatures

Could you apply a coat of Aleen's glue, and another, and another until you build a robe/gown on an adult body?  An academic hat could be a square piece of card stock placed atop a flattened head.  Paint with appropriate colors.  John in Lansing, IL

Heh, what a perfectly reasonable scratch-build suggestion!  Thanks!  I might see about fabricating two or three variations, then create a silicon mold and replicate.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Look under quarter scale or 1:48 miniatures. There are some interesting stuff in the doll house area.

Interesting challenge, BMMR.  You might find the link below of interest.  They are British models that include Edwardian era and other period figures.  There's men in boater hats and the like that may also suggest some of the fantasy elements that you are seeking:

http://www.sanddmodels.co.uk/products_43_figures.htm

They also have animals, and if I remember correctly, accessories like stoves and such.  I haven't ordered from them yet but plan to.

Tomlinson Run Railroad 

P.S. -- they may have a university don figure in a bat winged robe.  Seems to me that I saw one somewhere.

Out of curiosity, I just reviewed the link that I supplied above.  This outfit puts out some really interesting figures.  For example, there are women in traditional Welsh garb, which might make for good fantasy figures. There are a lot of children and teenagers -- in fact, the most that I have seen by a single manufacturer.   There is a guy in a deerstalker hat, one in a kilt, several in fancy military garb; the list goes on.  Then there are the somewhat ubiquitous fantasy (female) engineers, but that's probably not the kind of fantasy you had in mind.  :-) I couldn't find the university don, but I know I saw one somewhere.  (I'm a student at a British uni and it caught my attention ...).  Maybe a clergy figure could stand in for one?

TRRR