Lighthouse
by Tim Fullam

Tim's comments:  The lighthouse is pure invention.   I was interested in how well I could make a tapered octagonal tower.  I decided to use a one eighth unit step inward all around every second layer.   That was the goal, but I ended up having to fudge here and there because the stones vary in size by tiny amounts, which seem to add up.  Also, in making the angles of the sides and lacking enough angled wall stones, I had to use some combinations with red 45 degree slope roof stones, and getting those placed accurately was hard for me.  It was also hard keeping track of the proper number of eighth units for each side for each layer and making sure I had enough combinations of stones for the units needed.   The whole project would have been much easier if I had worked it all out in advance, but being on the impatient side, I just went for it and started putting down the layers once I decided how big to make the base in order to get the height I wanted with the planned taper.  

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The lantern on the top was *very* difficult to construct and is quite unstable.   Heavy walking around the table made it wobble precariously (the floors in this place aren't real solid).  The railing around the lantern suffered several crashes during construction. The whole thing was an exercise in octagonal tower construction where the quality of the stones being used can make a big difference.

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And it says "Merry Christmas", even in this lonely place.

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