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The new LEGO River Steamboat set is a stunning addition to any collection, offering both beauty and a deeply engaging build experience. The quality of a LEGO set is often measured by its construction process as well as its final appearance, and the River Steamboat exemplifies this perfectly. The build process has a clear forward momentum, with each step naturally leading to the next, creating a seamless and enjoyable experience. The ship's design features easily removable layers, allowing for full access and visibility of the intricate inner details. LEGO has long catered to its adult fans with the modular buildings series, and the River Steamboat continues this tradition with its modular design, paying meticulous attention to both the unique and everyday elements that come together to form a cohesive masterpiece.

LEGO Ideas River Steamboat

$329.99 at LEGO Store

The River Steamboat hails from the LEGO Ideas line, where enthusiasts submit original concepts and prototypes for community voting. Successful ideas, like this one, are transformed into official LEGO sets, with the creator receiving a share of the profits. Past successes 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 majestic paddle boats that navigated the Mississippi River in the 1800s, the LEGO River Steamboat captures the essence of these historical vessels. Originally used for industrial transport, these steamboats evolved into luxury pleasure crafts, complete with dining, gambling, and entertainment amenities. My wife and I experienced this firsthand on our honeymoon in New Orleans, enjoying a riverboat cruise filled with dining, dancing, and jazz music.

This set is a must-have for LEGO enthusiasts. The River Steamboat features a detailed jazz lounge and dining room, alongside practical areas like the boiler engine room, which connects to the paddle wheel. When you push the boat, the wheel turns, adding a dynamic element to the model. The pilothouse includes a steering wheel that, when turned, maneuvers the rudder. Additional amenities include a kitchen, crew sleeping quarters, and an anchor on a chain that rolls up on a spool. Another spool manages the boarding stages at the ship's bow.

The set's 4,090 pieces are organized into 32 bags, starting with the ship's base, which includes the boiler room and a miniature nautical museum. This museum showcases a piston engine, an aeolipile, and a Watt steam engine alongside a small kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, stove, and sink. LEGO's design prowess is evident in how elements are repurposed; for example, a hot dog bun from a Fairgrounds set becomes a reinforcement in the steamboat's engine.

The main deck houses the dining room and jazz lounge. The lounge, positioned above the stern, features accessories like drums, a saxophone, a microphone, and an upright bass. The dining room is elegantly designed with tablecloths and stylish chairs, accented by light fixtures and posters advertising onboard entertainment, including a nod to the A-Frame Cabin LEGO Ideas set.

The dining room is built separately and fits into the larger structure, leaving space on the deck for minifigures to enjoy the views. However, the set does not include minifigures, possibly indicating LEGO's focus on this set as a display piece rather than a play set.

Above the main deck, the crew deck features beds and a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower. The pilothouse contains the impressive steering wheel mechanism, which is connected through all four levels of the steamboat to turn the rudder. This intricate design showcases the meticulous planning and engineering behind the set.

The attention to detail extends to smaller elements, such as the repurposed croissant accessory transformed into billowy white flags, the clean white railings lining the decks, and the patterned tiles that mimic rugs in the lounge areas. Despite its size, the set feels meticulously crafted, with every piece serving a purpose and contributing to the overall aesthetic and functionality.

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 in LEGO form; every brick, rod, and stud has a function, and every decorative element is purposeful and pleasing. Each room and space contributes to the overall beauty and functionality of the ship.

Definitely a must-see for LEGO enthusiasts, 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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