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The Puzz-3D New York, New York puzzle has 3141 pieces, is labeled as super challenging, and measures 35″x26″x21.25″ (WxDxH). It’s made by Wrebbit, who make a wide range of 3D puzzles.
The Puzz-3D NYC is really two separate 3D puzzles that get put together as one. The first section is the World Trade Center district, which contains the World Trade Center, the World Financial Center, One Liberty Plaza, the Monument of Merchant Marines, Battery Park, Castle Clinton Fort, and the Athletic Club, to name a few.
The second section is the Empire State Building district which contains the Empire State Building, the Marine Midland bank, the Chrysler Building, the old Manhattan Bank, the American Standard Building, Morgan Bank, the Chase Manhattan Bank, the Equitable Building, and Standard Oil.
The instructions mention that it also comes with 39 extra pieces that will “enable you to construct a surprise element, typical of the Big Apple.” I like a little extra mystery in my puzzles (if you want to see the surprise, here’s a pic).
November 4, 2000
All the puzzle pieces in two bags
This is the official start day of this puzzle. I moved my little kitchen table out to the living room, which is where I’ll work on the puzzle.
There seems to be three types of pieces: “base” pieces which make up the base of the puzzle, and closely resemble the traditional flat style puzzle — they are mainly street pieces; “roof” pieces which are obviously the roofs of the buildings; “structure” pieces which are the meat of the puzzle and make the puzzle 3D — they are mainly pieces that make up the buildings.
The assembly guide is 27 pages long, and is quite detailed. It starts off with a little tour of New York as depicted in the puzzle. The first thing the assembly guide instructs you to do is to remove all the “dot” pieces. The “dot” pieces each have a little red dot on them, and are mainly little 1/4″ squares inside of larger pieces that don’t need to be there (obviously the cutting machine couldn’t remove them). The instructions are very clear: “do not throw away any red-dot pieces until your puzzle is completed!”.
I went through both of the large bags and pulled out as many of the “dot” pieces that I could find, and put them in a small bag. Most of them had to be pulled apart from the normal puzzle pieces. I also pulled out as many of the “base” pieces that I could identify (they largely have streets, cars, and water on them).
I also found several pieces that obviously have nothing to do with buildings or the street pieces — must be part of that surprise element.
November 9, 2000
After pulling out as many of the street and roof pieces that I could find and placing them in separate bags, I started going through the “building” pieces.
I noticed that a few pieces seemed too have similar color/pattern composition, so I put them on the table in a little pile. After a little while, I was able to piece a few pieces together. It’s a start.
It looks like this is how it’s going to go for a little while.
November 12-17, 2000
I spent this week in Las Vegas, so I didn’t work on the puzzle.
November 18-30, 2000
During this time, I have been going through the two bags full of pieces trying to find pieces that match the color/pattern of groups that I have laid out on the table (unfortunately, I had a disk crash and did not have a good backup of the pictures that were taken at this time).
By the end, I somehow managed to put a lot of buildings together.
I needed a lot of help, and the assembly guide came through. For example, the World Financial Center has four buildings, and the color/pattern of them are all the same. The assembly guide has detailed photos and a piece outline of each building. Because of this, I was able to take the 24 separate walls of the world financial center and get them together in the right way (I know what you’re thinking…4 buildings, 4 walls per building, 4 x 4 = 16…where did the 24 come from? Some of the walls are in two pieces because the buildings have different “levels”).
December 2, 2000
I have moved the buildings off the table so that I can concentrate on the roof pieces.
There are about 20-30 building pieces that I either don’t know what they are for, or that they can’t be joined until a roof piece is in place.
The roof pieces are somewhat difficult since they don’t have a set shape (not all roofs are square…especially in this puzzle).
December 9, 2000
55 Water Street
I have several roof pieces done, and I have put together the first building with all of it’s roof pieces! Yay! 55 Water Street is complete.
December 23, 2000
I have put together almost all of the roof pieces and attached them to the buildings. I have moved all of the buildings (with roof pieces) to the floor under the table to have room to start working on the base street pieces.
Again, the manual is indispensible since it provides detailed illustrations of where pieces are supposed to attach to other pieces.
January 3, 2001
The base
I have the base street pieces all put together. Now it’s time to put the buildings in their place, and the puzzle will be complete!
January 4, 2001
I put together the first group of buildings, and put them into the base street pieces.
After that, the other buildings were easy, and pretty soon I had the world trade center district done.
The empire state district was a bit harder to get together because there are about 12 groups of buildings that need to be attached to each other before putting them into the base. Finally got it done at around 2am (how sad is that?)
Photos
Empire State Building district
Empire State Building district
Empire State Building district
Empire State Building district
Empire State Building district
World Trade Center district
World Trade Center district
World Trade Center district
World Trade Center district
Full puzzle
If you find anything on here useful or interesting, or you just feel sorry for me, you can buy me a beer via PayPal.
I was wondering where I can purchase the 3d puzzle of nyc. I would love to get one if possible.
Dear Josh: Thank-You for posting these pictures because I have done the puzzle and have had it for a long time now. It was very dusty so I got the bright idea totake it apart and clean it. Won’t be doing that again. I got all the buildings around done but cannot seem to finish the middle. I was wondering if you had any pictures of the middle. If you do could you send me one so I can see if I can follow it and finish putting it back together. Thank-You.
i was wondering if you can make the empire state building by itself, im trying to make it, it is so hard!
That puzzle.can you give me a web sight to find it.
Its not on the wrebbit sight? <img src="http://joshmadison.com/images/smileys/smile.gif" width="19" height="19" alt="smile" style="border:0;" />
Where can I purchase a puzzle like this one (NYC). I am a big fan of the New York especially the World Trade Center. I am very saddened about the loss of these beautiful towers. I have done a lot of research on the WTC and I would love to own a puzzle like this one. Please comment back as to where I can buy one.
Thank you for your advice
Edgar
Help! My 13-year old grandson was given the Empire State Building puzzle. Guess who’s been working on it on and off for months? The directions are not very good and the only color pictures are on the box. I’ve got all the main sections completed and have started building skyward, but can’t figure the small pieces that interlock. Any help would be more than appreciated. My coffee table hasn’t seen the light of day in some time. Thanks.
Jackie
same as the comment below, i really want one, but everywhere ive looked its no where to be seen!
I got this puzzle for christmas a while back and because i am a student i am still pulling the red pieces off but i have like $1000 worth of Wrebbit 3D puzzlles. (obsessed?….NO..<img src="http://joshmadison.com/images/smileys/smile.gif" width="19" height="19" alt="smile" style="border:0;" />
I just got this puzzle today and these pics really helped.I am a 3-D puzzle addict and i have a room with $1502.56 of Towers To Scale.Thanks!
dear josh,
The site is great!!!I’m trying to get my parents to buy me one but, they say it is to hard for me to do.I have the empire state building,the west coast trio, and the notre dame cathedral.I think your pictures can help me. P.S. I,m saving this to my favorites!!!THANKS!!!!
Can you scan in the instructions for me? I just bought the puzzle but it didnt come with any =(
Hi, Josh.. I’m from different country – Kazakhstan and I like NYC and would like to have such puzzle for my kids. Can you please advise the web site or any other sources where I can buy it. Appreciate your response… thanks a lot…
Hey, great job getting that whole puzzle finished! I have the same puzzle and it took me a little longer to build compared to the rest of the puzzles I have. I love the New York City puzzle the best.
I’d rate ya 5/5 if I could but there’s no rate option..lol
Hey, Josh. It’s me again! I got this puzzle for Christmas of 07. It it soooo cool. I’m 10 and people see the puzzle and are astonished when i tell them it took me three weeks to build! Also to anyone who wants to buy it, you can only get it on ebay or amazon.com as far as i know.
hi josh,
I think i’m getting the puzzle this Christmas. Your pics. will be a big help! Thanks alot!!!
I found this puzzle at savers and luckily it had all the pieces to it… The only thing missing is the instructions… Thanks to one person at a particular website she had it in adobe format and was able to complete it… Loved It too… Was really hard to do it without gluing though.. some towers leaned and trying to straighten them out without causing others to bend was a real challenge… anyways i tookit apart and am willing to sell ..Heard they are sold out and selling them for about $200 used.. willing to part with it for dirt cheap ($40 or best offer) live in whitter ca.. anyone interested ???(willing to deliver if it’s not too far)
Hi Vito, Do you still have the puzzle available? I’m interested in purchasing it from you. I reside in West Covina and would be willing to pick it up. Please get back to me.. thanks!
Hi Josh,
My wife and I decided to keep track of the time it took to construct New York, New York and it took us approximately 260 hours to complete. We are proud of our accomplishment and had a great time doing it. It is a great addition to our growing puzzle collection. Loads of fun!!
So….
I am just curious, but what did the “39 extra pieces” create?
I was only 10 when I build this puzzle without instructions, ( they didn't delivered ), but I build it in for days, the hours after school, I cant believe it took you so long.
anyway it was the best puzzle ever
Hi! my name is Joshua and i'm 7 years old. Me and my dad are trying to do 6 3d puzzles,right now we are working on our 5th one. I can't wait to finish everything.We are going to make a town.It will be so fun!