LEGO Unveils River Steamboat Model, Celebrating Classic Americana

The LEGO River Steamboat is a stunning set that offers a captivating 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 flows seamlessly, with each step naturally leading to the next. The ship's design is layered, allowing each floor to be easily removed, which makes all the intricate inner details accessible and visible. This set is a testament to LEGO's appeal to adult fans, much like their modular buildings, but here, it's a modular boat with meticulous attention to both unique and everyday details that come together to form a cohesive masterpiece.

LEGO Ideas River Steamboat

Priced at $329.99 at the LEGO Store, the River Steamboat hails from the LEGO Ideas line. This line allows LEGO enthusiasts to submit their original ideas and proof-of-concepts for community voting. Successful ideas, like this steamboat, become official sets, with the creator receiving a share of the profits. Other 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 historic paddle boats that once navigated the Mississippi River in the 1800s. Initially used for industrial transport, these steamboats evolved into pleasure vessels offering amenities and gambling, a tradition that continues today. My wife and I experienced this firsthand during our honeymoon in New Orleans, enjoying a riverboat cruise filled with dining, dancing, and jazz music.

This set is a dream come true for LEGO aficionados. The River Steamboat features a jazz lounge and dining room, alongside practical areas like a boiler engine room connected to the paddle wheel. Pushing the boat activates the wheel, and the pilothouse's steering wheel turns the rudder. The set also includes a kitchen, sleeping quarters for the crew, and an anchor on a chain that rolls up on a spool. Another spool manages the boarding stages on the ship's bow.

The build, comprising 4,090 pieces, is thoughtfully divided 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, a compact kitchen features a refrigerator, stove, and basin sink. LEGO's design minimalism and the clever repurposing of pieces, such as using a hot dog bun from a Fairgrounds set as an engine reinforcement, never cease to amaze.

One level up, the main deck hosts the dining room and jazz lounge. The lounge, positioned above the stern, is equipped with tiny LEGO accessories for drums, saxophone, 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, including a nod to another LEGO Ideas set, the A-Frame Cabin.

The dining room is built separately and then integrated into the larger structure, creating a deck space where minifigures can enjoy the view. However, the set does not include minifigures, which might have added more life and playfulness. Perhaps LEGO intended this set to be more of a display piece than a play set.

The crew deck, one floor above the main deck, includes sleeping quarters and a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower stall. The pilothouse above features the impressive steering mechanism, where turning the wheel at one end of the ship moves the rudder at the other, achieved through a rod threaded through all four levels. This engineering feat showcases the meticulous planning and effort behind the set.

I appreciate the small details in this set, such as the white billowy flags repurposed from croissant accessories, the neat white railings lining the decks, and the patterned tiles in the lounge areas that mimic rugs. Despite its size, the set feels like it contains 3,500 pieces rather than 4,000, but the detailed rooms and spaces reveal where those extra pieces are utilized.

William Strunk's principle from The Elements of Style—that every word should tell—applies beautifully to the LEGO River Steamboat. Every brick, rod, and stud serves a purpose, and every decorative element enhances the overall design without being superfluous. Each room and space contributes to the ship's overall aesthetic and functionality. This set is a must-see for LEGO enthusiasts.

The LEGO River Steamboat, set #21356, retails for $329.99 and consists of 4,090 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.

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