The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, an exclusive to the LEGO Store, is a breathtaking and ambitious build. Its sheer size is immediately striking; this is a meticulously crafted 1:12 scale model of a real T-Rex.
### LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex
19$249.99 at LEGO Store
Closer inspection reveals incredible detail: the ribs, built with varying lengths to create a realistic rib cage; the use of dark-colored bricks to subtly create shadow and highlight the lighter "bone" bricks. Despite its intricate appearance, the build is surprisingly manageable, making its complexity all the more impressive.
Building the LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex
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My childhood fascination with dinosaurs, particularly the towering T-Rex skeleton at the American Museum of Natural History, was reignited by Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder." The passage describing the creature's immense size perfectly captured the awe-inspiring spectacle:
"It came on great oiled, resilient, striding legs. It towered thirty feet above half of the trees, a great evil god, folding its delicate watchmaker's claws close to its oily reptilian chest. Each lower leg was a piston, a thousand pounds of white bone, sunk in thick ropes of muscle, sheathed over in a gleam of pebbled skin like the mail of a terrible warrior."
Like many, I initially held the common misconception of the T-Rex's upright posture with a dragging tail:
However, scientific understanding has evolved. The T-Rex, contrary to popular depiction, held a more horizontal posture, its tail acting as a counterbalance:
The discovery of "Sue," the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found (90%), revolutionized our understanding. The previously unknown gastralia (belly ribs) revealed a much heavier, more robust creature than previously imagined – nine to ten tons, rather than five to seven.
Compare this with the leaner depiction in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, reflecting the outdated understanding of the time. Modern reconstructions, incorporating the gastralia, show a significantly heavier, "barrel-chested" T-Rex:
The LEGO T-Rex model accurately reflects this updated understanding, showcasing a horizontal posture. While it omits the gastralia, the ribcage suggests a more substantial build. The forward-facing arms align with the current Field Museum display of "Sue."
The set, comprised of 25 sealed bags, is built sequentially: stand, backbone, neck, legs and hips, ribs, arms, tail, and finally, the head. The legs and torso are fixed, but the arms, head, and tail are posable.
At nearly three-and-a-half feet long, this model demands a prominent display location. A large, flat surface is recommended.
The inclusion of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler minifigures and a Jurassic Park-branded placard, while technically a Jurassic Park franchise tie-in, feels somewhat incongruous. The option to remove these elements highlights the model's inherent appeal, independent of the franchise. Its size, scope, and quality are its own selling points, much like the LEGO Titanic set. This is not just movie memorabilia; it's a magnificent, standalone piece.
LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Set #10335, retails for $269.99 and contains 3011 pieces. It's exclusively available at the LEGO Store.
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