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I am about halfway in building a 16 foot high tower made of simple bricks. It is basically a hollow skyscraper 6 inches square, with the walls two studs thick. To steady it, it is built around a steel pole anchored top and bottom. I've built it up row by row, but now given its height, I want to assemble sections of it on the ground and add them to the top. Each section is about 10-15 rows high, same square footprint. But I have unable to add sections of more than 2 rows at once. With larger heights I can not seem to apply enough pressure to get the bottoms to seat on top of the last built row. The lego are so precise that tiny displacements can't seem to be overcomed. The added bulk piece just won't marry the lower piece, unless I add them a row at a time.

How are extremely large Lego sculptures made? Are they just made by adding pieces row by row incremently? Or do they have a way to add an assembled piece to an existing piece? I even tried using plates on top row and a plate on the bottom row of new piece but could not get the plates to marry with more than a few rows on top. Any suggestions?

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Large structures are made in layers. I had a chance to be part of a team that was assisting in assembling large Yoda model in one of LEGO sponsored events. Model had a heavy and strong base for the start. Then the model has been assembled in layers. Each layer consisted of base, made from multiple plates glued together also acting an outline for that particular layer, with a set number of layers made from 2x4 bricks. Afterward each assembled layer (base + bricks) has been put on top. Hammer was included to persuade bricks into their intended position.

Other models, not intended to be disassembled are usually glued.

In your case I would assemble two opposite corners as high as possible leaving enough space to connect them together. Something like this:

enter image description here

Use rubber hammer to push assembly together. Afterwards, build everything on top of corners you just attached and repeat.

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  • 2
    Wow, I had not thought of using a hammer!
    – Kevin Kelly
    Feb 14 at 17:56
  • 3
    Make it a rubber hammer and wrap head with felt or toweling.
    – MocBird
    Feb 15 at 1:35
  • 2
    This is a great suggestion, I'll certainly be using it in my own builds
    – MocBird
    Feb 15 at 1:36

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