This solution is from Shu Cao of the Oxford High School for
Girls. Well done Shu!
Let B=blue, W=white, Y=yellow and R=red.
The colours of the walls of the tower listed from top to bottom
in columns 1-4 are:
| Column |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| Wall 1 |
B |
W |
Y |
R |
| Wall 2 |
W |
R |
B |
Y |
| Wall 3 |
R |
B |
W |
Y |
| Wall 4 |
B |
Y |
R |
W |
|
One can swap the columns 1234 to create 4X3X2X1=24 different
towers.
Method:
| Column |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| Line 1 |
B |
Y |
B |
Y |
| Line 2 |
YWY |
RWR |
RWW |
WWB |
| Line 3 |
R |
R |
R |
R |
| Line 4 |
B |
B |
Y |
Y |
|
The tower has 4 walls so each colour only appears 4 times on the
walls. There are 7 red, 6 yellow, 6 white and 5 blue so 3 red, 2
yellow, 2 white and 1 blue will be either within the tower or
directly on the top and bottom of the tower.
Incidentally, there are 3 red flaps, 2 yellow flaps, 2 white
flaps and 1 blue flap in line 2. Assuming that they can be folded
over into the tower or onto the top and bottom, the faces left in
columns 1234 will make up the walls of the tower.
All that one has to do now is to move the columns up and down so
as to line different colours together. Line up 1 and 2 first,
when there is a protruding flap, move it onto the top or bottom
of the column depending on circumstances. Proceed to columns 3
and 4 in the same way.
Another method is to use graphs. The edges in the graphs below
join the colours that appear on opposite faces of the
cubes.

To solve the problem next combine all 4 graphs, writing 1, 2, 3,
and 4 on the edges denoting which of the 4 cubes they represent.
Then look for 2 subgraphs, in this case two square circuits
chosen from combined graph, such that each contains all 4 colours
and precisely one edge of each numbered cube. One subgraph will
represent the colours on the front and back walls of the tower
and the other subgraph will represent the colours on the left and
right hand walls of the tower.
If you can draw the combined graph and the two subgraphs giving
the solutions then do send them in for publishing with this
solution.