Montrealer creates mini model of the city, complete with orange cones
A Montreal man has combined his love of rail travel with his passion for local landmarks by create a miniature, elaborate model of his city.
Alex Montagano loved model trains as a child. He reconnected with the hobby just before the COVID-19 pandemic and has since taken it to extraordinary lengths.
"I've been working on it constantly ever since, in my free time," he told CTV News.
His project is by no means a map of Montreal -- more like a tribute, complete with recognizable landmarks like the Orange Julep, the Leonard Cohen mural and the iconic Five Roses plant.
Downtown Montreal's iconic Leonard Cohen mural is show in Alex Montagano's model of the city. (CTV News/Angela Mackenzie)
What Montagano couldn't purchase, he built.
For example, he made N.D.G's Empress Theatre with a 3-D printer, capturing the Egyptian art-deco style of the original construction.
Alex Montagano used a 3-D printer to create his model of Montreal's Empress Theatre. (CTV News/Angela Mackenzie)
"I'd visit, take photographs, do drawings, then I'd come back and say, 'how can I manifest this into a physical model that I can put on the layout," he explained.
And just like in actual Montreal, there's construction work, and even a protest.
A protest is shown in Alex Montagano's miniature model of Montreal. (CTV News/Angela Mackenzie)
And like construction work, there's always more to do.
"It's always in progress, and I never anticipate it to be finished."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.