Tolkien's City of Kings made from matchsticks

Marevelous matchstick artist Patrick Acton - maker of the matchstick Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, matchstick battleship, matchstick Notre Dame, and dozens of other sculptures - is currently building a model of JRR Tolkien's City of Kings from the Lord of the Rings. He expects the model to be completed next year. Acton is proprietor of the Matchstick Marvels Tourist Center in Gladbrook, Iowa and you can also see many of his models online. Matchstick Marvels (thanks, Kirsten!)

[#1 posted by Matt Staggs , April 1, 2009 10:27 AM]

Tolkien.

[#2 posted by Seraphine , April 1, 2009 10:43 AM]

That's totally an incredible artwork. I'm wondering how much effort he has put on it.

Another incredible artwork....

Twin brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun built the world's biggest train set which covers 1,150 square metres (12,380 square feet), features almost six miles of track and is still not complete. I guess this is the most detailed train set ever, as it includes 900 signals, 2,800 buildings, 4,000 cars - many with illuminated headlights and 160,000 individually designed figures. And there're 250,000 lights are rigged up to a system which mimics night and day. Visit here to see the pictures http://pictovista.blogspot.com/2009/03/worlds-biggest-most-detailed-train-set.html

[#3 posted by dbarak , April 1, 2009 10:45 AM]

Reminds me of butter sculptures.

[#4 posted by Reverend Loki , April 1, 2009 10:53 AM]

Next project after completion: a recreation of the deleted chapter, "The Burning of Minas Tirith"

[#5 posted by Takuan , April 1, 2009 10:58 AM]

just not the same without the heads.

[#6 posted by MarlboroTestMonkey7 , April 1, 2009 11:33 AM]

Marvelous masochistick

[#7 posted by logophile , April 1, 2009 11:49 AM]

Why not call it what it is named in the book?: Minas Tirith.

[#8 posted by Daemon , April 1, 2009 11:55 AM]

I'd rather see a matchstick Gormenghast myself.

[#9 posted by Antinous / Moderator , April 1, 2009 11:56 AM]

Here's a direct link to the Minas Tirith project.

[#10 posted by Kblackwell , April 1, 2009 11:59 AM]

Must be nice having so much free time!
LOL!

[#11 posted by Miss Jess , April 1, 2009 12:23 PM]

Sweet.

[#12 posted by duncan , April 1, 2009 1:05 PM]

i might be a pyromaniac, but i would love to light that on fire and see the matches burn... :P

[#13 posted by Anonymous , April 1, 2009 1:28 PM]

Isn't it cheating to use wooden frames and basic shapes underneath?

[#14 posted by Brainspore , April 1, 2009 2:30 PM]

It seems like the attacking Orcs could have just waited for a careless smoker to walk by instead of wasting so much time with the catapults and such.

[#15 posted by querent , April 1, 2009 2:48 PM]

I wanna see matchstick Mt. Gundabad. I always liked that name. Gundabad. Right? Sp? where the northern misty mountains meet that other e-w range? Goblin wars and what not?

also: Tolkein. (@1)

[#16 posted by JustDisGuy , April 1, 2009 3:06 PM]

BoingBoing - my compliments. THAT is, indeed, Something Wonderful.

[#17 posted by Antinous / Moderator , April 1, 2009 4:01 PM]

How about Minas Tirith made of cake?

[#18 posted by Stephen , April 1, 2009 4:03 PM]

When showing a work of art in your blog, it would be appropriate to use its correct title and to mention that you are show an incomplete work in progress.

[#19 posted by erlik , April 2, 2009 12:12 AM]

How about a Lego Minas Tirith?

LOTR geekery: I'm afraid it is more Alan Lee/ Peter Jackson/ whoever created the film model than Tolkien.

"For the fashion of Minas Tirith was such that it was built on seven levels, each delved into the hill, and about each was set a wall, and in each wall a gate."

[#20 posted by monstrinho_do_biscoito , April 2, 2009 9:44 AM]

someone need to get laid

[#21 posted by domeier , April 2, 2009 2:57 PM]

I don't remember any "City of Kings" in LOR.