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Man Builds Full Scale Mercedes F1 From 956,000 Matches
jalopnik.com — Michael Arndt is a man of matchsticks. Over the course of six years, using 956,000 matchsticks, 1686 tubes of glue, and at least three different varieties of mustache, he built a full-scale replica of a McLaren 4/14 F1 car, at a cost of around 6000 Euros.
MrBabyMan- 1168 diggs
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- iWitness, on 02/13/2008, -3/+13Amazing!!!
- affanjam, on 02/13/2008, -0/+6And I thought the match stick cube was cool.
- fatlip, on 02/13/2008, -0/+4..and i was pissed they didnt light the cube on fire!
- accessviolation, on 02/13/2008, -0/+8A+++ Would buy again!!!!!!
- reqage, on 02/13/2008, -2/+7An amazing waste of time you mean...
- affanjam, on 02/13/2008, -0/+6And I thought the match stick cube was cool.
- rwert, on 02/13/2008, -1/+19Now watch as Michael Arndt pushes in the cigarette lighter...
- smrekar, on 02/13/2008, -0/+3might be the only way to get it out of the house.
- ronpaulblogscom, on 02/13/2008, -1/+34OK it seems matchstick people are even crazier than LEGO people. Nice pics. Is there any chance he can mail me the matchstick heads? I wont break the law I swear! Just some good old fashioned smelly pyrotechnics.
- wohho, on 02/13/2008, -0/+7i want to know what he did with all those match heads. Super amazing conflagration potential!
- rolf, on 02/13/2008, -1/+3Or a glowing tomato:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/757249/make_a_glowin ... - stalefries, on 02/13/2008, -0/+2Giant match?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Giant-Match/
- rolf, on 02/13/2008, -1/+3Or a glowing tomato:
- neiltc13, on 02/13/2008, -8/+1€6000
There. Was that so hard to do?- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -2/+1Yes, I died a little inside. Happy?
- Cydonius, on 02/13/2008, -6/+2Imagine the fire after crashing THAT
- cookingboy, on 02/13/2008, -8/+2Now he can literally BURN some "rubber"....
- accessviolation, on 02/13/2008, -0/+7You're doing it wrong.
- lpmiller, on 02/13/2008, -0/+21See? OCD isn't ALL bad.
- Iamironman, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1... and then Michael realized his car doesn't go anywhere
- AnacondaHL, on 02/13/2008, -2/+12"We are at a loss for words as to why a female appears in one of the pictures"
Couldn't have said it better myself.- wombat02, on 02/13/2008, -1/+3Alright, let's get some bets down on who that woman was. She didn't look happy enough to be a model and not pissed off enough to be his wife. I'm going with sister.
- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -1/+5I would say a cool wife/ girlfriend, but everyone knows those are a myth.
- Hurricane, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Nope, I got one, if I did this she would probably keep me company on long nights of match gluing, I AM a lucky man.
In fact she might try to build something else just as big and absurd along side mine.
- Hurricane, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Nope, I got one, if I did this she would probably keep me company on long nights of match gluing, I AM a lucky man.
- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -1/+5I would say a cool wife/ girlfriend, but everyone knows those are a myth.
- wombat02, on 02/13/2008, -1/+3Alright, let's get some bets down on who that woman was. She didn't look happy enough to be a model and not pissed off enough to be his wife. I'm going with sister.
- spearce, on 02/13/2008, -4/+1this is probably one of the most amazing things i've ever seen.
- dafragsta, on 02/13/2008, -0/+8New to the internet?
- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -0/+7You haven't seen much more than four walls have you?
- GramarNatzi, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0It truly is a new dawn for humanity. 10 years from now we'll look back and think, how the hell did we cope without matchstick cars?!
- republicker, on 02/13/2008, -0/+4Well thats one way to spend your time.
- fani, on 02/13/2008, -6/+4Cue the ridiculous puns/jokes now with everyone trying to get super diggs
- Ozzimo, on 02/13/2008, -1/+9Oy, that was a horrible waste of time from where I sit... Sure it was cool for a couple day once it was finished... but what then?
- dafragsta, on 02/13/2008, -1/+5TV appearances, paid appearances at car shows, basically 15 minutes of fame.
- Vanhalenite, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Bragging rights
- dafragsta, on 02/13/2008, -1/+5TV appearances, paid appearances at car shows, basically 15 minutes of fame.
- ilves7, on 02/13/2008, -6/+8Um... why?
On your death bed, when you look at your life, your biggest accomplishment was spending six grand and six years on a scale model car made of matchsticks? Imagine what you could do with that money or time...- alpha94, on 02/13/2008, -0/+4Yah that was my first reaction too. But then I thought people have a lot of hobbies and what makes this any different. You could say the same thing about spending time staying up all night gaming instead of enjoying nature or exploring the world, etc.
- dafragsta, on 02/13/2008, -1/+8There's always some utterly talentless ***** waiting to make that kind of comment. I agree. People all have hobbies and to the ones who prefer binge drinking to impress their braindead buddies or some shallow materialistic women rather than just not giving a ***** about that kind of validation and just following your creative influence. I've got news for you judgemental asshats. Not even Neil Armstrong's lifelong achievements will matter to anything alive in a million years, so take your daily dose of ***** and get down to making a goddamn matchstick F1 car!
- mattbeetee, on 02/13/2008, -1/+1Why are you so passionate about defending this matchstick guy? Sure, its pretty cool, but it's one of those things that you go "oh" about and maybe "wow" and then move on. Surely he could have spent that 6000 dollars in a more beneficial way? I mean, a part of your argument is that no-one's achievements amount to anything in the long run, right? Well, you're wrong. That's utter balls. This matchstick guy could have chosen to use that 6000 dollars to help homeless communities, 3rd world countries, or to help his own family. It would save the 6 years of time required to end up with a product that lingers on your mind for about 3 minutes. Sure, it wouldn't go as long a way as say, 6,000,000 dollars, but its much less selfish than spending it on a project that has absolutely no benefit whatsoever to anyone, anywhere. Not even himself.
- dafragsta, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Because in the past two years I've spent about $3K or more on recording gear. I've spent a lot more on other big projects that languished in the past like film making gear, t-shirt printing gear, and I still pay $150 a month for a server I don't fully utilize, but I do still enjoy pursuing the creativity offered by those things. The thing I admire about this guy, and the thing that shouldn't be diminished is his passion and the fact that he actually completed something that is undeniably ambitions, even if the value of the end result is questioned by the jealous types who've never completed anything in their life.
Not to mention it's all art in the end.
- dafragsta, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Because in the past two years I've spent about $3K or more on recording gear. I've spent a lot more on other big projects that languished in the past like film making gear, t-shirt printing gear, and I still pay $150 a month for a server I don't fully utilize, but I do still enjoy pursuing the creativity offered by those things. The thing I admire about this guy, and the thing that shouldn't be diminished is his passion and the fact that he actually completed something that is undeniably ambitions, even if the value of the end result is questioned by the jealous types who've never completed anything in their life.
- Hurricane, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Actually €6000 is closer to $8000.
And to each his own, can any of you think of anything truly better? - EpicSelekta, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Hurricane, he did. Helping one's own family is a bit better.
- mattbeetee, on 02/13/2008, -1/+1Why are you so passionate about defending this matchstick guy? Sure, its pretty cool, but it's one of those things that you go "oh" about and maybe "wow" and then move on. Surely he could have spent that 6000 dollars in a more beneficial way? I mean, a part of your argument is that no-one's achievements amount to anything in the long run, right? Well, you're wrong. That's utter balls. This matchstick guy could have chosen to use that 6000 dollars to help homeless communities, 3rd world countries, or to help his own family. It would save the 6 years of time required to end up with a product that lingers on your mind for about 3 minutes. Sure, it wouldn't go as long a way as say, 6,000,000 dollars, but its much less selfish than spending it on a project that has absolutely no benefit whatsoever to anyone, anywhere. Not even himself.
- dafragsta, on 02/13/2008, -1/+8There's always some utterly talentless ***** waiting to make that kind of comment. I agree. People all have hobbies and to the ones who prefer binge drinking to impress their braindead buddies or some shallow materialistic women rather than just not giving a ***** about that kind of validation and just following your creative influence. I've got news for you judgemental asshats. Not even Neil Armstrong's lifelong achievements will matter to anything alive in a million years, so take your daily dose of ***** and get down to making a goddamn matchstick F1 car!
- GramarNatzi, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Okay so a matchstick car isnt the best achievement I can think of, but tell me, what are you going to leave behind in this world that is so much better than that?
- EpicSelekta, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Massive donation to cancer research, save a kid from drowning, invent something new, or anything else that looks decent on a tombstone. "Spent 6 years building a car out of a matchsticks" would make it seem like the stonemason cutting your headstone was stoned!
- alpha94, on 02/13/2008, -0/+4Yah that was my first reaction too. But then I thought people have a lot of hobbies and what makes this any different. You could say the same thing about spending time staying up all night gaming instead of enjoying nature or exploring the world, etc.
- Davinator, on 02/13/2008, -0/+13"and at least three different varieties of mustache"
Did someone say... mustache?! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbfs2lYM2sQ- fety, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTvTLvkiAbI
- Nicksname1, on 02/13/2008, -0/+2People's Court : Where out of work actors finally get their 15 minutes of fame
- cruzer2727, on 02/13/2008, -2/+8Why?
- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -2/+4Because he can. Why the ***** do you need a reason?
- krnldmp, on 02/13/2008, -0/+2Funny thing. If you spend enough time thinking about anything else people do it all ends up seeming just as reasonable.
- umbra, on 02/13/2008, -1/+2holy *****.
- proficient, on 02/13/2008, -1/+1Nice job.
- damawa42, on 02/13/2008, -1/+2It's a "McLaren Mercedes", or just "McLaren", F1 car.
The Germans are the only people who called McLaren Mercedes just "Mercedes" - I wonder what they called it when McLaren had Honda engines!- umbra, on 02/13/2008, -0/+2treason
- desqjockey, on 02/13/2008, -1/+6wow, it has the intake ducts for the front brake air cooling. Ridiculous detail!
- LovelyNeko, on 02/13/2008, -1/+8Well, I created a pillow using used condoms.
- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -0/+2Ew much?
- Fitzmcgee, on 02/13/2008, -0/+3Could've built a car that actually works in that amount of time..
- EpicSelekta, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Or a dune buggy. Those are always fun!
- spyd3rweb, on 02/13/2008, -0/+3Why not build it out of car parts so you have a real working Mercedes F1.....
- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -0/+3You try that while keeping a 6000 euro budget.
- ShooterMcGavin, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Wouldn't have plain old toothpicks worked better? Yeah, they're thinner and you'd use more of them but at least you would have to take the time to cut off of a million matches...
- redxninja, on 02/13/2008, -1/+1Any body got a match? I need a smoke.
- fety, on 02/13/2008, -3/+0that moustache reminds me of...
"...oohh, you touch my ta la la..."
"...my ding ding dong..."
lulz - TheNico, on 02/13/2008, -1/+11'striking' resemblance to the real thing!
- fsjenkins2000, on 02/13/2008, -1/+3But does it have a cup holder?....
- dafragsta, on 02/13/2008, -0/+3Nope, but it has an ashtray.
- fuckedupworld, on 02/13/2008, -0/+5I can only guess that the desire to build something like this started like:
"Man, I have a million match sticks lying around, what should I do with all of them? I know! Build a Mercedes F1!" - diggonit, on 02/13/2008, -0/+12I wonder if his wife has a matchstick dildo?
- Guitarhero10, on 02/13/2008, -0/+2Imagine the splinters...
- EpicSelekta, on 02/13/2008, -1/+0consider the friction!
"Baby you get me so hot!"
And now we know why spontaneous human combustion happens!
- jim1977, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Oh Jesus. Too much spare time, not enough inspiration.
- wolvyne, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1No smoking allowed...
- DayTripper47, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1I hope it doesn't catch on fire...
- KyjL, on 02/13/2008, -0/+2Burning MAAAAAAAAN
- MTRdigg, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Am I the only one surprised that it looks like he has a wife?
- TroyJMorris, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Wow. That's a lot of time theoretically wasted. hope he didn't have kids.
- void, on 02/13/2008, -0/+23 letters for this guy: WTF?
- groverblue, on 02/13/2008, -3/+2***** loser.
- MissingScrews, on 02/13/2008, -1/+10Next: Guy builds himself a life and lives it.
- thedogfatherx, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Why would anybody waste their time on that? I'm surprised his bangable wife stuck around.
- Melldog, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0I applaud his ability to work with matchsticks??? Who has that kind of time?
- GoneGreen, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Just think if this guy actually worked on something worthwhile... he could have purchased a real one.... dumbass
- gilgamesh23, on 02/13/2008, -2/+2Wow! I prefer to masturbate maybe he and I could get together and I could save him a ton on glue!
- datastorageguy, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Hey thanks I threw up in my mouth a little.
- karpuz, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0Yes, ok, a nice car. But I would have been more impressed if he'ed made a full scale model of, erm, a tree.
- TMac08, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Wow, this blows that stupid matchstick cube from yesterday out of the water. http://www.digg.com/gadgets/Matchstick_cube
- drakenlot, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Tomorrow we'll see some dude building a matchstick sex doll or some *****.
- yugiohdan6, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1very cool
- ItsMyWii, on 02/13/2008, -1/+2Note to self: Ask this guy for a light next time I need one.
- b1kerguy, on 02/13/2008, -0/+0"We are at a loss for words as to why a female appears in one of the pictures, other than it's possible such intricate, craftsmanly pastimes are not held in the same disdain by women in Germany as they are by ladies closer to home. Though it is also possible she's a paid model."
my thoughts exactly
next up, "what to do when your wife gives you the 'its me, or making things with matches' and you take the later" - SteveTheSultan, on 02/13/2008, -0/+1Maybe Alonso would be faster in this car. GO Ferrari
- warMen, on 02/13/2008, -1/+1dumbest thing ive ever seen but crazy
- McHaleR, on 03/10/2008, -0/+1your dumb
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