Guernsey Press

Lego enthusiast creates 4.7-metre model of Forth Bridge

Mike Dineen is calling on fellow fans to support his idea of making it an official product.

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An engineer has constructed a 4.7-metre Lego model of the Forth Bridge in a bid to get it made into an official product.

Mike Dineen used around 3,000 bricks to build the structure over four months and has now submitted the design to the toy company’s website.

The 41-year-old is now hoping to get 10,000 votes so the Danish firm will consider using a scaled-down version of his structure.

Mike Dineen with his model (Mike Dineen/PA)
Mike Dineen with his model (Mike Dineen/PA)

“When I realised it didn’t I thought: ‘Why not?’ It’s such an iconic landmark – it deserves to be on the shelves.”

The Forth Bridge was designed by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker and was completed in 1890.

The  Unesco World Heritage Site is 2,467 metres in length, has survived two world wars and the striking red structure is still in use for railway services across the firth.

Inspiration for his 1:352 scale scale model comes from Mr Dineen being able to look at the bridge while he works at a site in South Queensferry.

It took about one month to construct and three months of “trial and error” in the design process.

The Lego Forth Bridge model
The structure has around 3,000 bricks – although a final count is still to be made (Michael Dineen/PA)

“I’m absolutely delighted with it.”

The civil engineer has “always been a fan” of constructing things with the miniature bricks but said his passion did not really take off until he was given a box set of the DeLorean car from the 1985 film Back to the Future.

Since then he has constructed models of Navid’s shop and The Clansman from BBC TV series Still Game – including figurines of the characters.

Model of Navid's shop
A model of Harrid’s Convenience Store from Still Game, with Navid and Meena figurines (Michael Dineen/PA)

Votes for his product idea can be made on the Lego Ideas website.

Mr Dineen had more than 300 supporters at the time of writing.

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