Tower Bridge

The real subject

Tower Bridge is a bascule bridge across the Thames near the Tower of London, opened in 1894. Two stone-clad towers in neo-Gothic style carry the suspended outer spans and are joined at the top by a pair of pedestrian walkways; the central part of the roadway opens into two leaves to let a ship pass beneath. It is this silhouette that became one of the best known images of London, and it is often confused with the nearby London Bridge, which looks quite ordinary.

What a three-dimensional puzzle is

Unlike a flat puzzle, what comes about is not a picture but a model that stands up by itself. The parts are taken out of the sheets and joined in the order given by the instructions, so the assembly holds together even while you work. How many parts the package contains, what they are made of and how big the finished model will be is stated on the packaging and in the enclosed instructions; the build requires neither modeling tools nor experience.

What to watch out for

• Work on a flat surface with a rim, so that small parts do not roll onto the floor.
• Push the parts in square and without force; a bent joint will never hold firmly again.
• Keep to the order of the steps in the instructions, as adding a part later tends to be difficult.
• Leave work in progress in the box, out of the reach of children and pets.
• Stand the finished model out of direct sunlight and damp, and dust it with a soft brush.

Who it is for

The puzzle suits a gift, a joint project for a rainy weekend and a small decoration on a London theme. Glue, paints and lighting are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.