Is this really a model?

[Guest]

It is 1/16 scale, 12.5" long. It seems to have been photographed outdoors on a plain board to look like gravel, against a full-size real background. This adds to the realism, but still, the quality of the modelling is breathtaking, even fairly close up (especially the 5th photo of the canopy, and the closeup of the wheel shows off the quoted "Wheels are not plastic molded. Jigs and black vinyl thread are provided for hand-lacing the spokes, for utmost fidelity."Whew! I could never do this.

http://golife.awardspace.com/gallery/royce-balloon.html

The build pics are here:

http://golife.awardspace.com/gallery/balloon-constr.html

The method of doing the spokes is interesting.

wow, very professional work. it is little bit late but i just saw it today. Bandai is the best plastic kit producer. now they produce gundam mecha kits and their gundam robot's not only has moveable joints for ankle, knee etc also for fingers . no molding lines, no problem for fitting, no need for putty to fill gaps. they are simply amazing. also this person added many wires, brass lanterns etc. most probably he used brass lanterns for ships. amazing !