The LEGO River Steamboat, part of the LEGO Ideas line, is a stunning set that offers both a rewarding building experience and a magnificent finished model. This set encapsulates the essence of quality, as its build process is as enjoyable as the final product itself. Each step in the assembly feels purposeful and leads seamlessly into the next, creating a sense of forward momentum. The modular design of the ship, with easily removable floors, ensures that all the intricate inner details are accessible and viewable, adding to its allure.
LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
Priced at $329.99 and available exclusively at the LEGO Store, the River Steamboat is a testament to the creativity of LEGO fans. Through the LEGO Ideas platform, enthusiasts can submit original designs, which the community votes on. Successful ideas, like this steamboat, are turned into official sets, with the creator receiving a share of the profits. Other notable sets from this line include 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 historic paddle boats that once navigated the Mississippi River during the 1800s, the LEGO River Steamboat captures the essence of these iconic vessels. Originally used for industrial transport, these boats evolved into luxury pleasure crafts, offering amenities and entertainment such as dining, dancing, and jazz music. My wife and I experienced this charm firsthand during our honeymoon on a riverboat cruise in New Orleans.
This set is a dream come true for LEGO enthusiasts. It features a detailed jazz lounge and dining room, alongside functional areas like a boiler engine room connected to the paddle wheel. When you push the boat, the wheel turns, bringing the model to life. The pilothouse includes a steering wheel that, when turned, moves the rudder at the boat's base. Additional features include a kitchen, sleeping quarters for the crew, an anchor on a chain, and adjustable boarding stages.
The build process is thoughtfully segmented 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 basin sink. The design's minimalism and clever use of pieces—such as a hot dog bun transformed into an engine reinforcement—highlight LEGO's innovative approach.
One level up, the main deck hosts the dining room and jazz lounge. The lounge, situated above the stern, comes equipped with tiny LEGO accessories for a full band setup. The dining room exudes elegance with tablecloth elements and stylish chairs, complemented by light fixtures and posters promoting on-board entertainment, including a nod to another LEGO Ideas set, the A-Frame Cabin.
The dining room is built separately and then inserted into the larger structure, creating a deck space for minifigures to enjoy the view. However, the set does not include minifigures, which might have added more life and playfulness to the model. This choice suggests LEGO's intent to position the River Steamboat as a display piece rather than a play set.
Above the main deck lies the crew deck with sleeping quarters and a bathroom complete with toilet, sink, and shower stall. The topmost pilothouse features a steering wheel connected to the rudder through a rod spanning all four levels, showcasing impressive engineering. This small mechanical effect is a testament to the meticulous planning and effort that went into the set's design.
The set's attention to detail is evident in elements like the repurposed croissant accessory used as billowy flags, the clean white railings, and the patterned tiles that resemble rugs in the lounge areas. Despite its size, the set feels meticulously crafted, with every piece serving a purpose.
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." The River Steamboat embodies this principle, with every brick contributing to the overall design. Each room and space on the ship is beautifully detailed and integral to the whole.
The LEGO River Steamboat, set number 21356, consists of 4,090 pieces and is available exclusively at the LEGO Store for $329.99. This set is a must-have for LEGO lovers, offering a fulfilling build and a stunning display piece.
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