John Murphy, 61, a carpenter from Southeast Ireland, has turned his passion for building wood models of cranes, aerial work platforms and trucks into a full time job, shipping his creations worldwide.
His latest project is a model of a Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 All Terrain with Y-guying made using only traditional woodworking tools such as table and band saws. Each project can take anywhere between 150 and 400 hours to complete.
John Murphy with his latest creation
He said: “I first became interested in modelling in 2013. At first, I built models from specialised books. However, I soon realised that my real passion is detailed objects such as trucks and construction machinery. When I showed the models on Facebook, I immediately received enquiries asking whether I would also accept commissions.”
Bronto Skylift S56XR
“A 100 tonne mobile crane is of course less work than the LTM 1650-8.1, which has been my biggest challenge so far. The Y-guying system is very complex and the variable ballast system is also a real challenge.”
Murphy, who began building models over 10 years ago, initially worked on these projects alongside his carpentry job. However, when work slowed during the pandemic, he dedicated himself fully to model making.
A liebherr LTM 1650
Some models are showcased at the British Motor Museum or used for technical demonstrations before being shipped to buyers worldwide. Each unit is crafted from various types of wood, including maple, walnut, sapele, and wawa.
He has made models for many well known rental companies including Kavgahana and has drummed up a large social media presence with 70,000 followers enjoying his work. Click here to see some of his other projects
Murphy added: “A little prayer before handing it over to the courier never hurts and then the model is on its way!”
Eric_L
Amazing work !
What are his social media profiles/pages ?