The LEGO River Steamboat, part of the LEGO Ideas line, is a stunning set that showcases the beauty and complexity of LEGO building. Priced at $329.99 and comprising 4,090 pieces, it's available exclusively at the LEGO Store. This set not only captures the essence of historical river steamboats but also offers a rewarding build experience that appeals to adult LEGO enthusiasts.
LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
The LEGO Ideas platform allows fans to submit their original designs, which the community can vote on. Successful ideas, like the River Steamboat, are transformed into official LEGO sets, with the original designer receiving a share of the profits. This set follows in the footsteps of other successful LEGO Ideas sets such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jaws, and Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tale.
We Build LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
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Inspired by the iconic paddle boats of the 19th-century Mississippi River, the LEGO River Steamboat captures the transition from industrial transport to leisure cruising. These boats, once replaced by more efficient steam trains and screw propeller boats, now serve as pleasure crafts, offering amenities like dining, gambling, and live jazz music. My own experience on a riverboat cruise during my honeymoon in New Orleans highlighted the charm and allure of these vessels.
This set is a true delight for LEGO aficionados. It features a detailed jazz lounge and dining room, alongside functional areas such as a boiler engine room connected to the paddle wheel. Pushing the boat activates the wheel, while turning the steering wheel in the pilothouse adjusts the rudder. The set also includes a kitchen, sleeping quarters for the crew, an anchor on a chain, and mechanisms for raising and lowering the boarding stages.
The build process is divided into 32 bags, starting with the ship's base, which houses the boiler room and a miniature nautical museum. This section showcases various steam engines, including a piston engine, an aeolipile, and a Watt steam engine. Adjacent is a compact kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and sink. The attention to detail and clever use of LEGO pieces, such as repurposing a hot dog bun as an engine reinforcement, exemplify the ingenuity of LEGO design.
One level up, the main deck hosts the dining room and jazz lounge. The lounge, positioned above the stern, is equipped with miniature LEGO instruments like drums, a saxophone, microphone, and an upright bass. The dining room boasts elegant tablecloths, stylish chairs, and light fixtures that enhance both the interior and exterior aesthetics. Wall posters advertise onboard entertainment, including a reference to another LEGO Ideas set, the A-Frame Cabin.
The dining room is built separately and then inserted into the larger structure, creating additional deck space for minifigures to enjoy the view. However, the set does not include any minifigures, which might limit its playability but underscores its focus as a display piece.
Above the main deck, the crew deck features sleeping quarters and a bathroom complete with a toilet, sink, and shower stall. The pilothouse, located at the top, includes a steering wheel that cleverly connects to the rudder through a rod that runs through all four levels of the ship. This engineering marvel showcases the meticulous planning and execution behind the set.
Numerous details add to the set's charm, from the repurposed croissant accessory used as billowy white flags to the neatly arranged railings and patterned tiles that mimic rugs. Despite its large size, the set feels surprisingly compact, with every piece serving a purpose and contributing to the overall experience.
As William Strunk notes in The Elements of Style, "Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts." Similarly, the LEGO River Steamboat embodies this principle—every brick, rod, and stud is purposeful, enhancing both the individual elements and the cohesive whole.
LEGO River Steamboat, Set #21356, retails for $329.99 and is composed of 4,090 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.
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