The LEGO River Steamboat set is a stunning masterpiece that offers an immersive and engaging building experience. The quality of a LEGO set is not just in its final appearance but also in the journey of its construction, and the River Steamboat exemplifies this perfectly. The build process has a seamless flow, with each step naturally leading to the next, creating a sense of forward momentum. The ship's layered design, with each floor easily detachable from the one below, ensures that all the intricate inner details are fully accessible and visible. This set, part of the LEGO Ideas line, showcases the same meticulous attention to detail found in LEGO's modular buildings, but applied to a modular boat, creating a cohesive and impressive whole.
LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
$329.99 at LEGO Store
The LEGO Ideas River Steamboat is a testament to the power of community creativity. Fans can submit their original ideas and prototypes to LEGO, and if the community votes in favor, the idea becomes an official set. The creator even receives a portion of the profits. Previous successful LEGO Ideas sets include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jaws, and Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tale.
We Build LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
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The LEGO River Steamboat draws inspiration from the grand paddle boats that once traversed the Mississippi River in the 1800s. Originally used for industrial transport, these steamboats evolved into pleasure vessels after being outpaced by steam engine trains and screw propeller boats. Today, they offer entertainment and leisure, much like the riverboat cruise my wife and I enjoyed during our honeymoon in New Orleans, filled with dining, dancing, and live jazz.
This set is a true delight for LEGO enthusiasts. It features a jazz lounge and a dining room, alongside practical areas like a boiler engine room connected to the paddle wheel. A push of the boat activates the wheel's motion. The pilothouse includes a steering wheel that, when turned, moves the rudder. Additional amenities include a kitchen, sleeping quarters for the crew, an anchor on a chain, and adjustable boarding stages.
The set, comprising 4,090 pieces, is thoughtfully divided into 32 bags for a structured build. Starting with the ship's base, you'll assemble the boiler room and a mini nautical museum featuring a piston engine, an aeolipile (steam turbine), and a Watt steam engine. Opposite the engine room, a compact kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and sink showcases LEGO's clever use of minimalism and color to repurpose elements creatively.
One level up, the main deck houses the dining room and jazz lounge. The lounge, perched above the stern, is adorned with miniature LEGO accessories for drums, saxophone, microphone, and an upright bass. The dining room boasts elegant tablecloth elements and stylish chairs, with light fixtures that enhance both the interior and exterior aesthetics. Wall posters advertise the onboard entertainment, one even featuring a nod to the A-Frame Cabin, another LEGO Ideas set.
The dining room is constructed separately and then placed into the larger structure, creating a deck space where minifigures can enjoy the view. However, this set does not include minifigures, perhaps emphasizing its display rather than play value.
Moving up to the crew deck, you'll find sleeping quarters and a bathroom complete with a toilet, sink, and shower stall. The pilothouse sits atop, featuring a steering wheel connected to the rudder through a rod that runs through all four levels of the steamboat—an impressive feat of LEGO engineering.
The attention to detail in this set is remarkable, from the repurposed croissant accessory used as white billowy flags, to the neat rows of white railings along the decks, and the patterned tiles that mimic rugs in the lounge areas. Despite its size, the set feels efficient, 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..." The LEGO River Steamboat embodies this principle; every brick is purposeful, every decorative element is meaningful, and every room contributes to the overall beauty and functionality of the set. This is a LEGO build for true LEGO aficionados.
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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