The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Lego enthusiast constructs 4.7m model of Forth Bridge

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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 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.

Mr Dineen, of Glasgow, said: “I’ve always wondered if Lego had it as a box set.

“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 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.

Mr Dineen added: “It’s safe to say I was anxious that it might end up looking weird.

“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.

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

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