by Mathias Fuchs·Modeling
Images © Mathias Fuchs. Used for product review; image policy.
Matchstick stands out in the superhive library because it computes real bending through structural analysis rather than sculpting the sagging look by hand.
Matchstick is a Blender addon for structural analysis of 3D frames and trusses. Its primary use is quickly generating bent structures for visual purposes, such as light structures made of wood or bamboo that bend under their own weight. These structures are primarily of use in game level design, though other uses apply too — think a decrepit log cabin skewing under steady winds, or a beach shack made of bamboo sticks.
The addon takes a coarse, skeletal mesh as input: a mesh made of edges, each standing for a single wood log or beam. Vertices selected in Edit mode are treated as the vertices to be displaced. Matchstick does not fake the bending. It performs a real structural analysis and applies nodal displacements and rotations to the input mesh, generating a curve from each edge. Cross-sections are assumed circular, and material parameters use those of typical timber.
A physically correct parameter turns off all pre-scaling and applies the correct bending characteristics at the specified radius; without it, displacement scaling can be tweaked manually. The output mesh is textured with a node-based material you can modify for PBR quality, and per-vertex analysis runs on the order of microseconds.
Matchstick is best for game level designers and 3D artists modeling bent wood or bamboo structures such as log cabins, shacks and similar light frames and trusses.
Matchstick is completely free to download and use.
Matchstick lists support for Blender versions 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4. If you run one of those releases, the addon is built to work with your setup. For newer Blender versions, compatibility isn't stated, so it's worth checking the developer's page before installing. The addon is distributed under the MIT license and was published a few years ago, so testing it in a copy of your project first is a sensible precaution when your Blender version falls outside the listed range.
Matchstick doesn't fake the bending. It runs a real structural analysis on your input mesh, applying nodal displacements and rotations to produce the bent result. Each edge generates a curve, cross-sections are assumed circular, and the material parameters — such as Young's modulus — use values for typical timber. The members are modeled as bent structures, while the joints are assumed firm enough to withstand torque forces. This approach is what lets it mimic frames and trusses sagging under their own weight rather than shaping the look manually.
Matchstick takes a coarse, skeletal mesh as input — a mesh made of edges, where each edge stands for a single wood log or beam. Vertices you selected in Edit mode are treated as the vertices to be displaced. From that input, the addon outputs a displaced skeletal mesh along with a textured curve or mesh at a radius you specify. Because the input is just edges, you build the rough frame first and let Matchstick generate the bent geometry from it.
Matchstick is listed as free here in the catalog, and it's distributed under the MIT license. For current licensing terms and any conditions attached to using or redistributing it, check the developer's page, since details can change over time. The MIT license is generally permissive, but the developer's page is the authoritative place to confirm what you can and can't do with the addon. Reviewing it there before you rely on the tool in a project is the safest approach.
Matchstick includes a physically correct parameter. When it's set, the addon turns off all pre-scaling and applies the correct bending characteristics using the radius you specify. When it's left off, you can tweak the displacement scaling manually to reach the look you want. This gives you two ways to work: a physically grounded result driven by the specified radius, or a hand-adjusted result where you dial the bending up or down. Either way, each edge is turned into a curve with a circular cross-section.
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