LEGO Unveils River Steamboat, Celebrating Classic Americana

The new LEGO River Steamboat is a stunning set that captivates builders from start to finish. Its quality shines through both in the building process and the final product. The build flows smoothly, with each step naturally leading to the next, creating a sense of forward momentum. The ship's modular design, where each deck can be easily removed, allows for full access to all the intricate internal details. LEGO has long catered to its adult fans with its modular buildings, and the River Steamboat extends this approach to a modular boat, showcasing meticulous attention to both unique and everyday elements that come together to form a cohesive masterpiece.

LEGO Ideas River Steamboat

$329.99 at LEGO Store

The LEGO Ideas River Steamboat originates from the LEGO Ideas line, where fans can submit their own concepts for community voting. Successful ideas, like this one, become official LEGO 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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The LEGO River Steamboat draws inspiration from the historic paddle boats of the 1800s that traversed the Mississippi River. Originally designed for industrial transport, these steamboats evolved into pleasure vessels after being overtaken by steam engine trains and screw propeller boats. Today, they offer amenities, gambling, and entertainment, much like the riverboat cruise my wife and I enjoyed on our New Orleans honeymoon.

This LEGO set is truly a delight for LEGO enthusiasts. It features a jazz lounge and a dining room, alongside practical areas such as a boiler engine room connected to the paddle wheel. Pushing the boat activates the wheel's movement. The pilothouse includes a steering wheel that, when turned, adjusts the rudder. There's also a kitchen, sleeping quarters for the crew, and an anchor on a chain that rolls up on a spool. Additionally, riggings on another spool raise and lower the boarding stages at the ship's bow.

The build, comprising 4,090 pieces, is organized into 32 bags. You begin with the ship's base, which houses the boiler room and a miniature nautical museum showcasing a piston engine, an aeolipile, and a Watt steam engine. Opposite the engine room is a compact kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and basin sink. The ingenuity of LEGO's design is evident in how elements are repurposed, such as using a hot dog bun piece as an engine reinforcement.

One level up is the main deck, featuring a dining room and jazz lounge. The lounge, situated above the stern, comes with mini LEGO instruments including drums, a saxophone, a microphone, and an upright bass. The dining room exudes elegance with tablecloth elements and stylish chairs, complemented by light fixtures and posters advertising onboard entertainment, one of which features the A-Frame Cabin, another LEGO Ideas set (see at Amazon).

The dining room is built separately and placed into the larger structure, creating additional deck space where minifigures can enjoy the view. However, the set does not include minifigures, which might have added a playful element, suggesting LEGO's focus on this set as a display piece rather than a play set.

The crew deck, one level above the main deck, includes sleeping quarters and a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower. The pilothouse, located at the top, features a steering wheel connected to the rudder via a rod that runs through all four levels of the steamboat—a testament to meticulous planning and engineering.

I appreciate the numerous thoughtful details in this set, such as the repurposed croissant accessory used as white billowy flags, the neat white railings lining the decks, and the patterned tiles resembling rugs in the lounge areas. Though large, the set's complexity justifies its 4,090 pieces, as each detail adds to the overall experience.

As William Strunk articulates 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 LEGO River Steamboat embodies this principle; every brick and element serves a purpose, contributing to both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the set. This is a LEGO build that truly resonates with enthusiasts.

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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