It’s not just a model railroad (HO, but who cares?), it’s a humongous model of practically every place in the world, including the U.S. Located on West 44th Street just off Times Square in NYC, it takes up a whole floor of what was once the New York Times building. There’s a full-time staff of modelers (now there’s a job) and a presumably unlimited budget (they lease a 3D printer for $40,000 a year). There’s real water and a working lock of the Panama Canal with a freighter that transits, plus a real waterfall. The latest project is an airport with planes that take off and land (that’s what that laser is making). Not a ton of running trains, just enough for effect. The idea is replicating the whole world in miniature. “Unreal” doesn’t begin to describe this place. Admission is $36 ($31 if you book online) and $27 ($22 online) for seniors and NMRA members.
Sounds like they’re trying to replicate the success of “Miniature Wonderland” in Germany.
I’ve never seen Miniature Wonderland, but I’ve heard about it. I think they have running autos and I don’t recall if Gulliver’s does. Size wise, though, you could spend quite a while looking at the details. I have about 50 photos, but how many will LSC handle before its server crashes? As for the success part, I wish these guys a lot of luck. There were maybe 100 people in the place, including what looked like a school group. I spoke with a couple of the model makers, which is where I learned about the $40 thou 3D printer lease. I guess, Ray, it’s the attention to detail that just blew me away. In fact, they have hidden famous people–like the Beetles somewhere in London, and Spider Man, who’s clinging to the Brooklyn Bridge, which I never would have found if the nice guide lady hadn’t told me.
BTW and OT, how’s Kris. And you?
Joe,
How about posting a link? More info needed!
edit: Found it with Google https://gulliversgate.com/
Nice, but they don’t have to deal with outdoors conditions like most of us do!(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Joe, I assume you found Gulliver’s Gate, since you’ve posted a video of same. But for those who wanted the link (that was you, Beppi) here it is.
Yeah, Joe, I know it’s indoors, which I personally favor for reasons that if I cited them would lead to a range war among the large scalers. Anyways, to the point: if you have a chance and want to spend $30-some bucks, GG is amazing. We’ll be in Noo Yawk next year and plan to go again just to see the (model) airplanes take off.
BTW, I was thinking about what Ray said about GG being like Miniature Wonderland. Well, based on what I think I’ve seen on line, the German layout is in one big room, visible from a single vantage point when you walk in – so you can see it all at a glance. Gulliver’s is in several rooms, all kinda arranged in non-linear fashion, so you have to walk from one room (and part of the world) to another. Plus I think Gulliver’s tried to replicate many countries, while Miniature is only Germany or maybe Europe. I’m speaking through my u-no-watt here 'cause I ain’t ever seen the German layout, which I think is in Hamburg, where they invented the hamburger. But I did see a huge layout in New Jersey, Northlandz, where you couldn’t view it all at once but had to walk up and down ramps to view selective portions. Whatever happened to that layout? Is it still open?
Well now I feel really stoo-pid, having watched the promo Zullo posted, which says it better than anyone. Neat, huh?
I also visited Miniatur Wunderland’s site and am not too proud to say, “Uncle,” or “Onkel,” as the Germans say, and admit that Ray was right. Gulliver’s did too copy Wunderland, which is way more animated and more trainy and pretty clever–like the tree falling on the house, to name but one scene. But I was right when I said the German layout was more Euro (and America) centric, although according to the Germans’ website, they are gonna expand and include other parts of the world.
OK, but I can fly to New York for a lot less than it costs to fly from LA to Germany, so “ha, ha,” and “nyah”.
Miniatur Wunderland is almost 25,000 square feet.
Gullivers Gate is 50,000 square feet, but not all trains.
Even so, seems it must be a lot larger, even only “train wise”
Greg
Yeah, I guess, maybe, I dunno, Greg. BTW, the latest Westways, the Southern California Auto Club’s magazine, has a little squib (not a full-blown story) about Miniature Wunderland. Now I feel compelled to write and tell them about Gulliver’s Gate. Also, I’d like to ask them, why/how, in their story about visiting Detroit, they never mentioned Greenfield Village. Why? Because it’s in Dearborn, and not Detroit proper? (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-frown.gif)
