Richard Plaud, the model maker who dreamed of entering his name in the “Guinness World Records”, ultimately failed to obtain the world record for the tallest Eiffel Tower made of matches.
Called to rule on this model officially measured at 7.19 m, the British judges have just invalidated this French attempt.
The reason ?
This 47-year-old Poitevin, based in Montpellier-de-Médillan (Charente-Maritime), did not use regulatory matches “with red, sulfur tips”.
Tired of “cutting off their heads”, Richard Plaud very early on contacted the main French manufacturer to obtain raw material, wooden rods delivered without sulfur, in 15 kg boxes.
After eight years of effort and the assembly of 706,900 matches, the forty-year-old thought he ticked all the boxes.
“It’s disappointing, frustrating, incomprehensible and not very fair play,” said Richard Plaud, who nevertheless provided the judges with all the purchase invoices.
“It’s a part of the dream that escapes”
“They felt that these matches were not marketable as they were.
It’s a part of the dream that escapes,” comments the model maker who saw nearly 4,000 people pass through Saujon at the beginning of January during the presentation of his Eiffel Tower.
Richard Plaud still hopes to benefit from an appeal “but the judges are not required to respond to it.
Their decision is final and without appeal…”
Also read: A million matches, dozens of kilos of glue... This fan has been reproducing Asterix's village for 7 years
Stung, the model maker does not intend to give up and is thinking about a new project.
“It bothers me to fail,” confirms Richard Plaud, who aims more than ever to set a world record.
If he does not wish to reveal his intentions, this time he could abandon matches to launch into 3D printing “but always with a large-scale model”.