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Tiny tugboat

12 pieces 8 steps · One little step at a time.

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A little before you begin

The boat is for dry tabletop play. It is not designed to float.

The funnel, roof and cabin are fixed. There is no towing coupling.

Build away from the screen

Save or print the guide, including every step, the parts list and play ideas. For an offline copy, download the ZIP, extract it and open index.html. No bricks included.

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A LITTLE PREPARATION

Gather your pieces

Match the shapes and quantities. The pictures show our colours. Colour names in the steps refer to the pictures; keep useful contrasts, such as a light belly against a dark body.

12pieces in total

See the original colours

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01

STEP 1 OF 8

Lay the black 4 × 8 plate lengthways, with a short end towards you. This near end will be the bow.

Lay the black 4 × 8 plate lengthways, with a short end towards you. This near end will be the bow. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.
02

STEP 2 OF 8

Put a red 2 × 4 brick across the far two rows of the plate for the stern.

Put a red 2 × 4 brick across the far two rows of the plate for the stern. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.
03

STEP 3 OF 8

Put two red 2 × 4 bricks side by side on the middle four rows. Their long edges run from back to front.

Put two red 2 × 4 bricks side by side on the middle four rows. Their long edges run from back to front. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.
04

STEP 4 OF 8

Add two red curved bricks side by side at the near end. Point their rounded ends forwards, overhanging the black base by one row.

Add two red curved bricks side by side at the near end. Point their rounded ends forwards, overhanging the black base by one row. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.
05

STEP 5 OF 8

Cover the rear six rows with the cream 4 × 6 plate. Leave the rounded red bow visible.

Cover the rear six rows with the cream 4 × 6 plate. Leave the rounded red bow visible. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.
06

STEP 6 OF 8

Put a cream 2 × 4 brick across the deck, one row in from the back. Put a blue 2 × 4 brick directly in front of it for the wheelhouse windows.

Put a cream 2 × 4 brick across the deck, one row in from the back. Put a blue 2 × 4 brick directly in front of it for the wheelhouse windows. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.
07

STEP 7 OF 8

Cover the wheelhouse with the cream 4 × 4 plate. Line up all four edges.

Cover the wheelhouse with the cream 4 × 4 plate. Line up all four edges. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.
08

STEP 8 OF 8

Stand the brown round tower on the back half of the roof, centred across it. Add the red square brick on top as the funnel cap.

Stand the brown round tower on the back half of the roof, centred across it. Add the red square brick on top as the funnel cap. New additions are shown in their original colours; earlier pieces are lighter.

THE LAST STEP OF THE GUIDE

Room for a little more imagination.

Draw a blue paper harbour and guide the tug around its edge. Give the tug a name and make up a gentle arrival sound. Choose an imaginary ship to help. Move the boats by hand; they do not connect.

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KEEP THE IMAGINATION GOING

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Part and software credits.