Useless Model German Airport Built At Cost of $5 U.S. Million and 6 Years

World's largest model airport opens to rave reviews

Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

A video of the new miniature model Knuffingen Aiport at Miniatur Wunderland on the airort's opening day on May 4, 2011 in Hamburg, Germany is shown at the site below.

By Stuart Franklin, Getty Images

A miniature that's being billed as the world's largest model airport opened this week in Hamburg. It's described in nearly every media account as a spectacular display with a stunning attention to detail.

PHOTO GALLERY: The world's largest model airport

http://youtu.be/4_06qrFnvnw

The roughly 1,600 square-foot model -- loosely based on Hamburg's airport -- took more than six years to build.

And, the price tag? Around $5 million, according to the Daily Mail of London.

Australia's News.com.au notes the model -- dubbed the Knuffingen Airport -- "features 40 model aircraft and 90 vehicles that move and 'fly' around the airport, and 15,000 mini people. Not a single moment of air rage, however."

The Daily Mail remarks that "the planes even take off thanks to miniature wires that carry them off the end of the runway."

News.com.au says "there are approximately 40,000 lights, 15,000 figurines, 500 cars, 10,000 trees, 50 trains, 1000 wagons, 100 signals, 200 switches and 300 buildings."

The airport joins the broader exhibit at Germany's Miniatur Wunderland, where the Knuffingen joins a system of model railways and villages.

The website Geekosystem.com sheds more light on Miniatur Wunderland, saying "one of Germany's most popular attractions … already boasted a model railway that housed over 200,000 tiny inhabitants and over 6 miles of track."

Geekosystem.com adds visitors also "can watch the tiny goings on in various German and Scandanavian citites and towns, as well as some American locales as well."