Phil Warren spent 62 years to build this incredible fleet of 432 ships !!

Simply, incredible! :super:

Phil Warren, from the UK, spent 62 years to build this incredible fleet of 432 ships. All vessels are built entirely of matchsticks and boxes of wooden matches. The collection includes nearly 370 American and 60 British ships.

Although now 84 years of age, Mr. Warren began creating his first boat in 1948, when he was only 17. He uses a razor blade, tweezers and sandpaper to carve the pieces and boxes, then sticks them together with balsa wood glue.

In total, more than 650,000 matchsticks were used to create an amazing collection of 1:300 scale models. His 1,200 aircraft make an even more realistic appearance to dress the decks of aircraft carriers. It shows us all what patience is all about!!!

Wow, your right, incredible! What detail and all w/matchsticks, Ray

Remarkable dedication ... more information and a video interview with Mr. Warren

Wooden Projects—Phillip Warren (click Here)

Matchstick Armada 10.09.10

Thanks Gil and Doug, they're beautiful!

Awesome

I remember as a young soldier in Northern Ireland seeing the craftsmanship that went into the making of wooden weapons whilst both sides were incarserated.

The detail for stripping and assemble practice was outstanding. They even used boot polish to make them realistic. I often wonder where those wooden weapons ended up, probably in a musuem somewhere.
Taking it one step further, and going further back, I know they made false weapons when prisoners were held in Colditz.
The human imagination is amazing................its the patience needed and attention to detail that are the real winners and they all have my admiration as someone who found the assembly of "certain"AIRFIX models a real pain on occasion:surrender::surrender:

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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

certain"AIRFIX models

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Those were a favorite of mine when I was a kid. I built lots, all WW2 aircraft. The hard ones were the smaller scale ones as they still had all the detailed small parts to add on...and paint them.

wow that is wonderful work

I always wondered at people with amazing talent like this. Here is another example. 365 Things to Do in Memphis #53: Visit the Circus - I Love Memphis

Amazing craftsmanship. What a hobby and what a skill!

I know a gentleman who worked on the steam tug James Whalen in Thunder Bay ON. During WWII captured German naval officers were kept IIRC on Trial Island off Thunder Bay. He said some prisoners carved replicas of German surface ships, the quality and detail he said were amazing. He told me they were paid .25 cents per cord of wood they cut and were allowed to go to the movie theater occasionally in Thunder Bay.

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Originally Posted by enfield303t

He told me they were paid .25 cents per cord of wood they cut and were allowed to go to the movie theater occasionally in Thunder Bay.

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Yes, that would be right. They were loaned out to farms as well.