St.Pauls Cathedral

he CubicFun 3D Puzzle of the Notre Dame de Paris is a fantastic model kit that offers both a challenging and deeply satisfying experience for puzzle enthusiasts. The intricate design captures the architectural beauty of the iconic cathedral with impressive attention to detail, from the ornate facades to the famous rose windows.What sets this puzzle apart is its moveable elements, which add an interactive and dynamic aspect to the finished model. The high-quality foam board pieces are sturdy, precisely cut, and fit together seamlessly without the need for glue or tools. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, though the complexity of the build will keep you engaged for hours.This is a large and challenging puzzle, ideal for adults or experienced builders looking for a rewarding project. Completing it provides a sense of accomplishment and leaves you with a stunning display piece that pays homage to one of the world’s most famous landmarks.Whether you’re a puzzle lover or a fan of architectural models, this CubicFun 3D puzzle is a must-try. It’s both a creative and relaxing activity that results in a masterpiece you’ll be proud to show off! Highly recommended for anyone seeking a memorable and engaging project.

The puzzle is great. Great detail and really challenging and fun to build. But one thing caught me off guard much too late into the process of building it. Almost built the whole thing before I realized the plastic windows were glossy on one side and flat on the other. Couldn't believe I didn't catch this at the start and how it adversely impacted the appearance of the model. I couldn't find anywhere in the instructions directing which side of the plastic windows face outward.By the time I realized it I had reflective glossy and non-reflective flat windows facing the exterior. Unfortunately most of them I placed were reflective on the exterior. To get as much uniformity as I could I had to take apart one complex section to flip one window strip. But two windows on the tower section still have the flat side out since it was too much dismantling to reverse those.There are a few sets of window strips where the end of the building curves that might have a pre-bend in them to determine what the intention was for the placement of these windows. I can't recall if that is the case. I hope this helps others to realize that the window elements are critical as to what side faces outward. Maybe there is something in the instructions I missed but I'm very meticulous and technically minded in general and if I could miss this I'm sure others can as well.Another warning. The flying buttresses are very slender and sensitive to buckling and are somewhat tricky to get in. I lightly bucked three or four of them until I figured out how to get them to slide in without imposing excessive twisting or tweaking. They require some force to get in so just treat them with extra care.Also follow the directions and color coding very closely. I took for granted some pieces were identical but they are not...the flying buttresses specifically. I also put in one piece that looked symmetrical 180 degrees off. I found out much later when putting the main building sections together that the adjoining connection to this piece did not align. Luckily is was a long flat upper floor piece that simply rotated up and slid out and then rotated horizontally and easily slid back in.I loved the final product over all and commend the people who designed it and I blame myself mostly for my errors in putting it together. I hope my trials and errors prevents others to not have to struggle in those areas I had trouble with.

This was my 5th CubicFun project and certainly the most challenging and beautiful one. The detail in the printing and the stained-glass elements are second to none. But if you’re new to CubicFun models, don’t make it your 1st, or you might get frustrated. But that said, it’s completely worth it.I do have a couple of pointers...- Get yourself a simple (and cheap) tool called a grout pick. It’s a hand-held tool with steel pointed ends. There are hundreds of foam bits to punch out and it’ll make the build go more smoothly. Plus, there are steps where you must line-up 10+ tabs and slots all at once for a firm fit. The grout pick will be very helpful to position the tabs that don’t want to cooperate.- The acetate sheet with all the stained glass elements has a protective film on it. The instructions show an illustration of this, but It’s not prominent. Remove it for brighter windows.- The instructions are IKEA-like; illustrations with no text. As you go through each step, check off the pieces in the instructions as you use them or (like me) you’ll get to the last step and find a few pieces you missed.- Take your time with the stained glass elements. They’re held on with (provided) double-stick tape, but don’t press them firmly into place until you’re happy with the alignment.- Take your time. The building of the model is immensely satisfying.The attention to detail in all these models is amazing. The pieces fit together firmly and exactly without needing any tape or glue. The pieces pop out of the pre-printed die-cut sheets easily (again, the grout pick will help with the skinny parts). I just wish the company would release a “how-it’s-made” video to show how they design a bunch of 2D pieces to fit so well together to make a 3D cathedral. I am very impressed.

This is a review of the puzzle itself and does not reflect on the vendor:Interesting puzzle. Instructions overall good but given the effort of the manufacturer, they should have identified which pieces were extra. There were only a few as it turned out and given the cost they should have provided more. Another issue is that foam core joints don't handle wear of insertion and re-insertion well as you take it apart to add or fix something that you forgot to include. The drawings also don't indicate the extent to which some sliding pieces fit which makes for more stress on joints. To be fair this was my first foam core 3d puzzle but not my first 3d puzzle. I assembled two wooden ones recently which were better in all respects. That said I did buy another foam core one recently (the Coliseum) since I couldn't find a wooden version of it. Be patient, and have fun if you do purchase it!