Kapla lighthouse model
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Build the lighthouse step by step
Step 1: lay the base of the lighthouse
Lay 16 planks flat, 8 per row, to make a big rectangle. Cover it with 16 more Kapla laid in the opposite direction: this is the rock your lighthouse will stand on.
Step 2: build the first ring of the tower
In the middle of the base, stand 12 planks up in a circle, leaving a small gap between them. Close the top with 5 Kapla laid flat, tight against one another.
💡 Astuce : to keep the circle nice and round, first place the 4 opposite planks (like a cross), then fill the gaps between these 4 markers.
Step 3: a narrower ring to gain height
On this floor, build a smaller circle of 10 standing planks, then close it with 4 Kapla laid flat. The shaft, the body of the lighthouse, starts to narrow.
Step 4: the last ring of the lighthouse and the gallery
Build one last circle of 8 standing planks. Lay 4 planks flat on top, then 5 more across them in the other direction: this is the gallery, the balcony where the keeper watched the sea.
Step 5: raise the lantern that lights up the sea
In the middle of the gallery, place 4 standing planks in a small square, again keeping the gaps. This is the lantern, the glass room where the lighthouse light shines.
Step 6: place the railing on the lighthouse gallery
Around the lantern, set 4 Kapla on edge in a diamond: each one covers the end of the next, always turning the same way. This is the gallery railing.
Step 7: top the lantern
On the lantern, lay 2 planks flat side by side, one across them, then a last one on edge at the very top. Your lighthouse is ready to guide the boats!
Frequently asked questions
It takes 92 in all: 32 for the base, 30 for the three rings, 18 for the floors and gallery, 4 for the lantern, 4 for the railing and 4 for the roof. So you can build it with a box of 100 Kapla!
Stand them up one by one, nice and straight, without squeezing them against their neighbours. They hold on their own end; the floor laid on top locks the ring.
The trickiest part of this Kapla model is making the rings stand upright, because the Kapla must balance on their smallest edge. On the other hand, since the Kapla in the ring do not touch each other, you avoid knocking over the other pieces as you place them! Try to be gentle when laying the floors between the rings.
More Kapla models and building ideas!
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Build a real pirate ship with Kapla, with its curved hull, its raised bow, the captain’s cabin at the back and 3 masts with their sails set high! This hard model takes patience and lots of Kapla: 179 planks in all. It can be built from age 8.
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A house to live in, with a doorway at ground level and two windows with small panes.
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For this Kapla model: a double-walled enclosure, four crowned corner towers and a central keep topped with its roof.
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