How to Construct a Fischertechnik Eiffel Tower

Bastille Day is July 14!

Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on July 14th, and commemorates the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789!

According to wikipedia: "The Fete de la Federation of the 14 July 1790 was a huge feast and official event to celebrate the uprising of the short-lived constitutional monarchy in France and what people considered the happy conclusion of the French Revolution. The event took place on the Champ de Mars, at the time outside of Paris but now the site of the Eiffel Tower."

I play with different educational manipulatives for a living. (Visit www.weirdrichard.com). To celebrate, this is an ft-ible demonstrating a pocket-sized 2D fischertechnik Eiffel Tower!

Note: The images were generated by a CAD program and a fischertechnik elements library.

Note: I am inspired by Rob van Baal's large fischertechnik Eiffel Tower!
Link: http://www.fischertechnikclub.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=56

You will need to gather your elements. The fischertechnik elements are available from a range of kits available from ebay, Craig's List, or fischertechnik retailers. Elements can be purchased
individually from www.fischertechnik.com.

The Parts List:

4 Angular Block 30 degrees
2 Link 30
1 Holding Axle
4 Angular Block 15 degrees
2 Spring Cam
4 Girder 15
1 Girder 60
1 Building Block 5
3 Building Block 7.5
1 Building Plate 15x30x5 with 3 Grooves

Begin by adding an Angle Block 30 degrees to each end of a Girder 15

Contruct a mirror image of the first support.

Set the supports aside.

Combine three Building Block 7.5s with two Link 30s.

Slide the two supports into the bottom groove of the Building Block 7.5s. Set the model aside.

For the next level of supports, add an Angle Block 15 degrees to each end of a Girder 15. Construct a
mirror image.

Slide these supports onto the top groove of the Building Block 7.5s.

Insert a Spring Cam into the slot of both upper Angle Blocks.

Connect the upper supports with a Building Plate 15x30x5 with 3 Grooves.

Finish the tower by inserting in order a Girder 60, Building Block 5 and a Holding Axle.

Here is a video showing all sides of the ft Eiffel Tower!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j01Q86xAxL0

Happy Bastille Day!