Artist makes amazingly realistic miniatures of old buildings

The level of detail is off the charts.
 By 
Yvette Tan
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

From a discarded milk carton on the ground, to slightly worn-out posters, the details on Joshua Smith's models are so realistic it's hard to believe they're not real.

Smith, a miniaturist, has been creating tiny intricate models of dilapidated buildings and objects around the world for the past two years.

His latest project? A miniature model of a building in Hong Kong.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Smith, who is based in South Australia and has never been to Hong Kong, said he was viewing buildings in the city using Google Street View when he came across this one, located on Temple Street.

“I created the entire building using nothing but Google Street View and reference photos taken by friends visiting Hong Kong as well as Hong Kong-based followers sending me photos,” Smith told news outlet HKFP.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The Temple Street model took him three months to finish, working up to sixteen hours a day, seven days a week.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Here's the real building on Google Maps for comparison:

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Smith uses spray paint, acrylic paint and chalk pastels to create a realistic look for his models.

Some of his other projects include an old workshop building in Adelaide, and a miniature version of a New York dumpster.

We can't wait to see what Smith comes up with next.

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Yvette Tan

Yvette is a Viral Content Reporter at Mashable Asia. She was previously reporting for BBC's Singapore bureau and Channel NewsAsia.

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