Who doesn’t love a puzzle? Well, after the success of the 3D Minions Sneaker puzzle that we reviewed last year for Ravensburger, this time we are going to try our hand at something on a bigger scale. Big Ben, in the form of this Ravensburger Big Ben with Clock 3D puzzle.
Big Ben has obviously been in the news a bit lately as it’s been silenced during a refurbishment. There’s no scaffolding on this version of the London landmark though. This Big Ben with Clock 3D puzzle consists of 216 puzzle pieces and stands 41cm (that’s 16 inches) high when complete. As the name suggests it also contains a working clock. All you need is one AA battery (not supplied) and away you go.
Big Ben comes in three stages that you have to put together. The biggest one is probably the most straightforward – the main body of the tower. With straight sides and simple right angles this section didn’t take too long, once we’d figured out how to fold the corner pieces that sort of click into shape.
As you work up form the base of Big Ben, the next Paris the clock section. What wasn’t very clear to me though was that actually the puzzle contains two different versions of the clock part of the tower. If you want the working clock (which is only visible on one of the four faces on the tower) then you have a large clock component that you then clad on three sides with fake clock faces and there’s a decorative surround to go on the fourth side around the battery operated clock face. There is also a second option though which is to make the clock section of Big Ben in puzzle pieces like the rest of the tower.
The trickiest part of the whole structure is the very top section, above the clock. This contains some very strange angles and as well as having corner pieces that click and lock into 90 degree angles there are also some pieces that you need to bend and it isn’t at all obvious how much you need to bend them, or in which direction.
The three sections of Big Ben simply sit together neatly and you then also get a base plate on which they can click into (using four little plastic connectors). This is a plan view of the area, including some of the grounds of the Palace of Westminster and the nearby road.
The completed puzzle is impressive, and thanks to the numbers printed on the back of the puzzle pieces, not all that difficult if you choose to use them to help you complete it. Without using the numbers it is somewhat trickier, but some people may well prefer such a challenge. The plastic puzzle pieces click together well, giving the completed puzzle a good rigid finish.
The Ravensburger Big Ben with Clock 3D Puzzle is available to buy online here with a RRP of £24.99
Disclaimer: We were sent the Ravensburger Big Ben with Clock 3D Puzzle for the purposes of this review. All opinions remain my own. This post contains affiliate links.
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