Mechanical Beehive

Feel the wonder of the Honey Bee in the palm of your hand!

Watch the video to see it in action.

This beehive design is called a ‘skep’, which consists of coils of grass or straw to make the basket. The skep beehive has been around for more than 2,000 years and although it is not as common today, the skep is still an iconic symbol of beekeeping.

Honeybees are fascinating and their world is an amazing dance of teamwork, almost like a machine. A beautiful machine that we are completely dependent on. Honeybees are vital to growing our food and many crops would cease to exist without the pollination they provide. Bees are also the only insect in the world that makes food for us; honey.

The mechanism of this LEGO skep works through a series of alternating disks. The first disk is fixed and has wheels that is then followed by another disk without wheels that rests on top. The layers repeat over and over until you reach the top. Each disk depends on the next for the model to work, like a real beehive. Every bee depends on one another to keep the whole hive alive and well.

I think this model would be a great display piece and there’s just something special about mechanical models that makes everyone smile. Once you start turning the handle, you can’t stop. Even though the bees go around the same way every time, there’s still something fun and relaxing about it. Friends of mine who have tried the beehive can’t stop turning it!

One of my favorite parts of the model would definitely be the studs on the skep. They lend a lovely texture that captures the basket-like feel that is further enhanced when set in motion.

This is a fun model that I really enjoyed building and I hope you like it too. Thanks for reading!