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How to Build a Motor Powered Lego Clock

Lego lends itself to large-scale design projects like clocks. Lego clocks have the added advantage of versatility, allowing you to break down the clock and rebuild it in an entirely different shape if you want. You can even rebuild classic historical clocks in Lego, up to and including grandfather clocks.

Things You'll Need

Clock movement
Ruler
Pencil
Grid paper
Clock hands
Lego bricks of your choosing (two colors, two lengths)
Modeling brush
Black modeling paint

Instructions

- 1
  Measure a clock movement and record the dimensions. Measure one of the longest Lego bricks you have and divide the length of the clock by the length of the brick. That gives you the minimum amount of blocks you need to make the bottom of the clock. If it helps, record the measurements on a piece of grid paper to get an idea of the scale of your design.
- 2
  Build the basic framework of the clock, the vertical sides and the base, but leave the top and the front of the movement bare. Take the blocks of the other color and build them up within the frame work. When you get half way, slide the movement into the Lego casing and continue to build the front around it, being sure to leave a gap for the central pinion of the movement to stick out.
- 3
  Lock more bricks into place along the top of the casing to make a top for the clock. With this in place, you can add all the other sections you want to make the clock unique, with the mechanism secure inside a casing that can be removed and placed in a different clock if you choose.
- 4
  Slide the clock hands onto the central pinion and lock them in place. Sit the clock so its face is upward, take a modeling paintbrush and carefully paint the numbers onto the clock, being careful to move the clock hands out of the way as you do. After it is dry, turn it upright and set the time.

Construction Toys