Minas Tirith meets its match(es)!

We've looked at various unique and impressive matchstick models on this blog before: a racing car, a replica of Tower Bridge, various animals, and even full-scale, functional musical instruments.

Now comes news from the Matchstick Marvels Tourist Center in Gladbrook, IA of a matchstick model of the city of Minas Tirith, as depicted in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.




The resident artist, Patrick Acton, took almost three years to make it and used 420,000 matchsticks.




The museum describes his latest creation as follows:

Acton's version of Minas Tirith is one of his biggest and most detailed matchstick models yet, as he has constructed his rendition of the tremendously ancient city that Tolkien says "appears hewn from the rock of Mount Mindolluin" in the White Mountains. Tolkien's fortress city is said to tower 700 feet above the Pelennor Fields in Middle Earth's land of Gondor. Acton's matchstick version of the seven-level city was started in 2007 and took nearly three years when completed in February 2010. The Minas Tirith model contains hundreds of city buildings and is topped with the Citadel, the Tree of Gondor, and the White Tower of Ecthelion.

Visit Matchstick Marvels soon and see the Minas Tirith model before its scheduled departure in 2011. Minas Tirith will be on display at the Matchstick Marvels Tourist Center for one year. See the 420,000 matchsticks used in its construction, and an additional 24,000 small wooden blocks that have been used to construct Mount Mindolluin, which supports the huge matchstick structure. Come to see Minas Tirith and follow the gates, ramps, tunnels, and passageways as they ascend the seven levels comprising the city fortress.

A series of larger photographs of the model may be found here.

That's quite an achievement! There are many more matchstick models on display. Next time I pass through the area, I'll make a note to visit the museum.

Peter