Model maker's cathedral replica to go on display

For the past 19 months, model maker Michael Scott has dedicated his time to his biggest design yet.

Better known for the miniature buildings he creates for his fictional town, Chandwell, this time the 48-year-old was asked to produce a replica of a real landmark - Bradford Cathedral.

The cathedral's staff commissioned him to make the 27.5-inch (70cm) model after reading about his hobby online.

He was given plans to work from and also consulted photos and videos to perfect the 1:148th scale version, which will go on public display in the cathedral on 6 June.

Scott, an IT consultant who lives in the village of Burley-in-Wharfedale, said he was approached as part of the City of Culture celebrations.

"It's not the biggest cathedral in the country, so how hard could it be?

"Here we are 18, 19 months later and I realised just how hard it was!"

His hobby began in 2019, inspired by the N-Scale model train sets he remembered from his youth.

Chandwell is based on a northern town in the early 1990s, and its architecture is inspired by buildings in Shipley, Ilkley, Bradford and Sowerby Bridge.

"I spent a lot of time in that era with my parents, travelling by train, so I've got a lot of good memories of the old blue diesels.

"I think in the model railway world you see a lot of pristine layouts, nice gentle countryside, beautiful sunny days and things like that.

"I wanted something a little bit more realistic, if you like, an interesting narrative element."

Chandwell - made up of letters from his three children's names and his own - has more than 19,000 subscribers for its online video channel.

He built his model town in his home office, which is a converted garage.

"The beauty of N-Scale is this room is small but you can get a lot of town in here, a lot of town for your space if you like.

"I find it really relaxing. I work in a high-pressure IT job.

"Just getting a scalpel out and cutting out bits of card to make them look like buildings, it's a really interesting way of just turning off."

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