Twin brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun, 41, of Hamburg , Germany , and their Minauteur Wunderkind.
Gerrit was busy constructing different things. From an igloo out of cigarette packs, to a technically advanced model railroad (by standards in those days). After his school graduation, he began to study business informatics, besides his job as manager of the discotheque Voilà. The following years his technical talent emerged more and more. And so he developed an accounting software for the catering trade which is still used today, and appliances for timekeeping in motorsports.
When Frederik told him about his idea of establishing the largest model railroad in the world, Gerrit knew after careful analysis that his brother had hit upon his own dream as well. He instantly realized that there were many new developments possible in modeling and that an unprecedented world can be created. Gerrit agreed and in the following months and years developed a range of technology (Car System, lighting control, real water basin and ship navigation system etc..) which make the Wunderland so unique.
This is the world's biggest train set which covers 1,150 square meters (12,380 square feet), features almost six miles of track and is still not complete.
Twin brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun, 41, began work on the 'Miniatur Wunderland' in 2000
The set covers six regions including America , Switzerland , Scandinavia , Germany and the Austrian Alps
The American section features giant models of the Rocky Mountains, Everglades, Grand Canyon ...
...and Mount Rushmore
The Swiss section has a mini-Matterhorn
The Scandinavian part has a 4ft long passenger ship floating in a 'fjord'
It is expected to be finished in 2014, when the train set will cover more than 1,800 square meters (19, 376 sq ft) and feature almost 13 miles of track, by which time detailed models of parts of France, Italy and the UK will have been added.
It comprises 700 trains with more than 10,000 carriages and wagons
The longest train is 46ft long
The scenery includes 900 signals, 2,800 buildings, 4,000 cars - many with illuminated headlights...
...and 160,000 individually designed figures
Thousands of kilograms of steel and wood was used to construct the scenery...
The 250,000 lights are rigged up to a system which mimics night and day by automatically turning them on and off
The whole system is controlled from a massive high-tech nerve centre
In total the set has taken 500,000 hours and more than 8 million to put together, the vast majority of which has come from ticket sales.
Gerrit said: "Our idea was to build a world that men, woman, and children can be equally astonished and amazed in"
Frederik added: "Whether gambling in Las Vegas , hiking in the Alps or paddling in Norwegian fjords - in Wunderland everything is possible"
The world's biggest model train set.
TALK ABOUT YOUR SECOND CHILDHOOD-----
“BOYS” AND THEIR TOYS....
It comprises 700 trains with more than 10,000 carriages and wagons. The longest train is 46 ft long. The scenery includes 900 signals, 2,800 buildings, 4,000 cars - many with illuminated headlights and 160,000 individually designed figures. Thousands of kilograms of steel and wood was used to construct the scenery. The set is on display to the public and is so big that they employ more than 160 people to show visitors around their creation.
I'm always amazed by these works as these people are so dedicated in what they are doing... The world would be less colorful without them!! *salute*
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