A truck driver spent 20 years making a scale model of every building in NYC
by 1659447091 on 4/6/2026, 5:22:24 AM
Comments
by: bigwheels
Previous related discussion:<p><i>Trucker built a scale model of NYC over 21 years</i> <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45261877">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45261877</a> - 18 comments, 6 months ago
4/7/2026, 8:21:26 PM
by: lkm0
A swiss architect did the same in the mid 19th century with Geneva, specifically to preserve an image of the city right before the entirety of the city walls were to be razed<p>pics: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Relief_Magnin" rel="nofollow">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Relief_Magnin</a>
4/7/2026, 9:02:14 PM
by: layman51
This is kind of timely for me because very recently I had heard of the film "Synecdoche, New York", but in this film, the scale model is more life-size.
4/7/2026, 9:09:45 PM
by: tejohnso
Looking at the level of detail, and the thoroughness, I wouldn't have expected it to even be possible to complete it in 20 years. How much time does this guy spend driving truck? Amazing accomplishment and display of dedication and creativity.
4/7/2026, 7:53:19 PM
by: mckn1ght
Any way to know how many buildings were demolished and a newer one built in its place over that 20 year period? Wonder what he used for a reference. Is the model representative of a single moment in time, or is there some clock drift?
4/7/2026, 8:48:44 PM
by: hermitcrab
Brilliant. Stay weird, humans.
4/7/2026, 6:52:53 PM
by: billfor
Also for comparison: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panorama_of_the_City_of_New_York" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panorama_of_the_City_of_New_Yo...</a>
4/7/2026, 7:46:32 PM
by: contubernio
Why is it relevant what he does for a living? It's his passion and hobby that is interesting.
4/7/2026, 7:31:26 PM
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4/7/2026, 7:28:09 PM
by: Nevermark
How long before we can build tiny controlled cars and little tiny "pole people" that wander around?<p>Micro-machines seem to be taking their time.
4/7/2026, 7:50:57 PM
by: llmslave
We need people like this around
4/7/2026, 7:28:07 PM
by: tombert
Looks like you can buy tickets: <a href="https://35948.blackbaudhosting.com/35948/page.aspx?pid=196&tab=2&txobjid=9d7bbbaf-255b-4c76-9a0f-5b867a9bb807" rel="nofollow">https://35948.blackbaudhosting.com/35948/page.aspx?pid=196&t...</a><p>I should check it out, it would be fun to see my house recreated as a model.<p>I love projects like this; no delusions of trying to change the world, just doing it because the creator thinks it would be cool to do.
4/7/2026, 6:51:37 PM
by: philipallstar
> “We were all standing around squealing, ‘Look, there’s our museum!’ ‘There’s the Met; there’s the Guggenheim,’” Sherman recalls. “It’s this great act of recognition, and then it’s also witnessing [Macken’s] creativity, how he made this complex architecture out of very humble materials.”<p>Blue collar, dedicated, skillful effort over decades immediately co-opted by nonsense-spewer.
4/7/2026, 7:48:25 PM