View-Master

The View-Master was first introduced at the New York World's Fair in 1939. It showed stereoscopic three-dimensional pictures. Originally intended as an educational device for adults, the View-Master became a popular children's toy.

Inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999, there have been around 25 models of viewers, thousands of titles, and 1.5 billion reels produced. The same basic design and internal mechanisms have remained largely unchanged allowing every reel to work with every model.

I have based my build on the GAF Model L released in 1977, one of the most iconic and nostalgic pieces of late 70's, early 80's pop culture. The Model L was in production longer than any other viewer due to its popularity and low rate of defect. It featured a distinctive orange ball on the lever during the early years of production.

The build is near a 1:1 match in terms of size when compared to the actual View-Master. All details have been replicated as closely as possible given the small scale. Custom designed stickers for the "3D" tile, View-Master logo, and reel graphics have been utilized for additional realism. A reel that can be inserted and removed is also included.

At around 255 pieces, translating the View-Master into a Lego set provides a unique and fun way to get this stereoscopic icon of retro goodness into the hands of a new generation!