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Curl-tailed chameleon

35 pieces · 14 steps

A curled green tail and wide dark eyes give this branch-perched chameleon its character. Lift and swap its two coloured back sections to change the pattern.

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Curl-tailed chameleon

Before you build

Find the right shape

Match the shape, size and colour to the parts pictures. A stud is a round bump on top. Count rows and columns from one edge.

Follow the pictures

New pieces keep their full colour. Earlier pieces are lighter. Keep the front of the model facing you unless a step says to turn it.

Build and play together

Gather all the pieces first, then take each step at your own pace. Help your child press pieces together and lift removable parts gently.

The tail, legs and head stay fixed. The two back sections lift off and exchange places.

Both coloured sections are included; no extra bricks are needed for the swap.

Move the chameleon by its broad base, keeping the tail clear.

Gather pieces

Everything you need

Colours show the pictured version. Brown represents Reddish Brown. Match shapes and quantities first; other colour choices have not been checked for this edition.

Shape-only checklist
  • 2 × 4 × 8 plate
  • 7 × 2 × 3 curved brick
  • 2 × 2 × 6 brick
  • 6 × 2 × 4 brick
  • 1 × 2 × 8 plate
  • 2 × 2 × 3 brick
  • 4 × 2 × 4 plate
  • 9 × 2 × 2 brick
  • 1 × 2 × 2 double-height brick
  • 1 × 4 × 6 plate

Total: 35 pieces

Build

One step at a time

New pieces are in colour. Earlier pieces are lighter.

Step 1 of 14

Add: 2 × green 4 × 8 plate

Step 1: Lay two green 4 × 8 plates end to end, making a long narrow floor.

Lay two green 4 × 8 plates end to end, making a long narrow floor.

Step 2 of 14

Add: 4 × brown 2 × 4 brick

Step 2: Put four brown 2 × 4 bricks end to end down the middle. Their edges line up with both ends of the green floor.

Put four brown 2 × 4 bricks end to end down the middle. Their edges line up with both ends of the green floor.

Step 3 of 14

Add: 4 × green 2 × 3 curved brick

Step 3: Add four green curved feet to the branch, two on each side. Their rounded ends point outwards. Put the back pair one row in from the back of the front green floor plate. Leave two clear rows before the front pair.

Add four green curved feet to the branch, two on each side. Their rounded ends point outwards. Put the back pair one row in from the back of the front green floor plate. Leave two clear rows before the front pair.

Step 4 of 14

Add: 1 × white 4 × 6 plate

Step 4: Lay a white 4 × 6 plate across the feet, running from back to front. Its back edge is two rows from the back of the front green floor plate.

Lay a white 4 × 6 plate across the feet, running from back to front. Its back edge is two rows from the back of the front green floor plate.

Step 5 of 14

Add: 1 × brown 2 × 8 plate

Step 5: Put a brown 2 × 8 plate along the back half of the branch, one row in from its back end. This crosses the join between the green floor plates.

Put a brown 2 × 8 plate along the back half of the branch, one row in from its back end. This crosses the join between the green floor plates.

Step 6 of 14

Add: 1 × green 2 × 2 double-height brick; 2 × green 2 × 2 brick

Step 6: Put a green double-height square at the back end of the brown tail plate and add a green square on top. Put a green square at the front end, leaving four clear rows between the uprights.

Put a green double-height square at the back end of the brown tail plate and add a green square on top. Put a green square at the front end, leaving four clear rows between the uprights.

Step 7 of 14

Add: 1 × green 2 × 4 plate; 1 × green 2 × 2 brick

Step 7: Join the front tail square to the body floor with a green 2 × 4 plate running forwards. Its front row sits on the back row of the white body floor. Add a green square over the back half of this plate.

Join the front tail square to the body floor with a green 2 × 4 plate running forwards. Its front row sits on the back row of the white body floor. Add a green square over the back half of this plate.

Step 8 of 14

Add: 2 × green 2 × 3 curved brick; 1 × green 2 × 4 plate; 1 × green 2 × 6 brick

Step 8: Put a green curved brick over the front upright, projecting one row backwards with its rounded end forwards. Add a green 2 × 4 plate over the back upright, projecting two rows towards the body. Bridge above the opening with a green 2 × 6 brick, lined up at the back. Finish its back end with a green curved brick, rounded end backwards.

Put a green curved brick over the front upright, projecting one row backwards with its rounded end forwards. Add a green 2 × 4 plate over the back upright, projecting two rows towards the body. Bridge above the opening with a green 2 × 6 brick, lined up at the back. Finish its back end with a green curved brick, rounded end backwards.

Step 9 of 14

Add: 2 × yellow 2 × 3 brick

Step 9: Put two yellow 2 × 3 bricks side by side on the body floor, starting one row in from its back edge. They fit just in front of the tail connection.

Put two yellow 2 × 3 bricks side by side on the body floor, starting one row in from its back edge. They fit just in front of the tail connection.

Step 10 of 14

Add: 1 × green 2 × 4 brick

Step 10: Put a green 2 × 4 brick across the front two rows of the body plate.

Put a green 2 × 4 brick across the front two rows of the body plate.

Step 11 of 14

Add: 2 × black 2 × 2 brick; 1 × green 2 × 4 brick

Step 11: Put a black square at each end of the head, each projecting one column outwards. Fit a green 2 × 4 brick between them, running forwards and projecting two rows beyond the head.

Put a black square at each end of the head, each projecting one column outwards. Fit a green 2 × 4 brick between them, running forwards and projecting two rows beyond the head.

Step 12 of 14

Add: 1 × green 2 × 6 brick; 1 × green 2 × 3 curved brick

Step 12: Cover the eyes with a green 2 × 6 brick across the head. Put a green curved brick on the front of the jaw, rounded end forwards.

Cover the eyes with a green 2 × 6 brick across the head. Put a green curved brick on the front of the jaw, rounded end forwards.

Step 13 of 14

Add: 1 × blue 2 × 4 plate; 1 × yellow 2 × 2 brick; 1 × red 2 × 2 brick

Step 13: Put a blue 2 × 4 plate across the back half of the body. Add a yellow square on its left half and a red square on its right.

Put a blue 2 × 4 plate across the back half of the body. Add a yellow square on its left half and a red square on its right.

Step 14 of 14

Add: 1 × yellow 2 × 4 plate; 1 × red 2 × 2 brick; 1 × blue 2 × 2 brick

Step 14: Put a yellow 2 × 4 plate across the front half of the body, directly behind the head. Add a red square on its left half and a blue square on its right.

Put a yellow 2 × 4 plate across the front half of the body, directly behind the head. Add a red square on its left half and a blue square on its right.

Ready to play

Make a little story

The two complete colour sections have exchanged places. Lift each section straight up, then press it onto the other position. The head, feet and curled tail stay fixed.
The two complete colour sections have exchanged places. Lift each section straight up, then press it onto the other position. The head, feet and curled tail stay fixed.
  1. Swap the two coloured back sections and describe the new pattern.
  2. Look through the curl in the tail from the side.
  3. Draw a leafy home and invent a slow journey along its branches.
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Sources and credits

Geometry: LDraw Parts Library. Part sources · Model and inventory · Render record

Revision f3072840692ef3d0f9f18b2ce7e7ab18e0f819a70ebfe4fce5c9cab857c78389

Part and colour evidence.

These new revisions have digital checks. They do not carry a new physical-test claim.