The LEGO River Steamboat set is not just a stunning display piece, but also a deeply engaging building experience. This set exemplifies how the quality of a LEGO set is determined not only by the finished model but also by the journey of its construction. The River Steamboat set offers a seamless building experience where each step naturally leads to the next, ensuring a fluid and enjoyable process. The modular design of the ship, with easily removable floors, allows for full access and visibility of all the intricate internal details, making it a joy to explore.
LEGO has long catered to its adult fans with its modular building series, and the River Steamboat extends this concept into the realm of maritime craftsmanship. This set mirrors the attention to detail seen in LEGO's modular buildings, encompassing both the unique and the mundane elements to create a comprehensive and cohesive whole.
LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
Priced at $329.99 and available exclusively at the LEGO Store, the River Steamboat hails from the LEGO Ideas line. This innovative series allows LEGO enthusiasts to submit their original concepts, complete with a proof-of-concept model, for community voting. Successful ideas, like the River Steamboat, are transformed into official LEGO sets, with the original designer earning a share of the profits. Past hits from the LEGO Ideas line include sets inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jaws, and Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tale.
We Build LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
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Drawing inspiration from the historic paddle boats that traversed the Mississippi River in the 1800s, the LEGO River Steamboat captures the essence of these majestic vessels. Originally designed for industrial transport, these steamboats evolved into luxury pleasure crafts, offering amenities and gambling experiences, a tradition that persists today. My wife and I experienced this charm firsthand on our honeymoon, enjoying a riverboat cruise down the Mississippi, complete with dining, dancing, and live jazz.
Designed for LEGO aficionados, the River Steamboat set features a jazz lounge and dining room, alongside practical areas like a boiler engine room connected to the paddle wheel. Pushing the boat sets the wheel in motion, while the pilothouse's steering wheel controls the rudder, adding interactive elements. The set also includes a kitchen, sleeping quarters for the crew, an anchor on a chain, and boarding stages that can be raised and lowered.
The build process is meticulously organized into 32 separate bags, starting with the ship's base, which houses the boiler room and a miniature nautical museum. This section showcases a piston engine, an aeolipile, and a Watt steam engine, alongside a compact kitchen with essential appliances. LEGO's design prowess shines through in its ability to repurpose pieces creatively; for example, a hot dog bun element becomes an engine reinforcement.
The next level up is the main deck, featuring the dining room and jazz lounge. The lounge, situated above the stern, is equipped with tiny LEGO accessories for musical instruments. The dining area boasts elegant tablecloth elements, stylish chairs, and light fixtures that span both the interior and exterior. Wall posters advertise the onboard entertainment, including a nod to another LEGO Ideas set, the A-Frame Cabin.
The dining room is constructed separately and then integrated into the main build, creating additional deck space for minifigures to enjoy the views. Notably, the set does not include minifigures, possibly emphasizing its display purpose over play functionality.
Above the main deck, the crew deck houses sleeping quarters and a bathroom with detailed amenities. The pilothouse, the highest level, features an impressive steering mechanism that connects through all four levels of the ship to control the rudder, showcasing remarkable engineering.
The set is filled with delightful details, from repurposed croissant accessories used as billowy flags to neat white railings and patterned tiles that mimic rugs. Despite its size, the set feels remarkably efficient, with every piece serving a purpose and contributing to the overall aesthetic and functionality.
As William Strunk Jr. notes in "The Elements of Style," "Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences." Similarly, the LEGO River Steamboat embodies this principle, with every brick and element serving a purpose, enhancing both the individual spaces and the overall model. This set is a must-have for LEGO enthusiasts, offering a rewarding build and a stunning display piece.
The LEGO River Steamboat, set #21356, retails for $329.99 and comprises 4,090 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.
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