The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, available exclusively at the LEGO Store, is a visually stunning and ambitious build. You're immediately struck by its impressive size; this set is a 1:12 scale model of a real T-Rex, capturing the awe-inspiring presence of this prehistoric giant.
LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex
Priced at $249.99, this set offers a detailed and intricate building experience. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice the meticulous attention to detail, such as how the ribs are built at varying lengths to form a realistic rib "cage." The use of dark-colored bricks enhances the illusion of shadow, accentuating the light-colored "bone" bricks and bringing the fossil to life. Despite its complexity, the set is surprisingly easy to assemble, which only adds to its appeal.
We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex
168 Images
As a child, I was fascinated by dinosaurs, and visits to the American Museum of Natural History left a lasting impression, particularly the towering T-Rex skeleton. Later, Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" vividly captured the thrill of encountering such a colossal creature:
"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."
Many of us grew up with the image of the T-Rex standing upright, tail dragging on the ground:
However, scientific discoveries have since corrected this view. The T-Rex actually stood with its spine parallel to the ground, using its tail as a counterbalance:
This updated understanding comes from "Sue," the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found (90%). Sue's discovery revealed the presence of gastralia, small bones supporting the T-Rex's belly and aiding its breathing:
The 1993 film Jurassic Park reflects earlier perceptions of the T-Rex, showing it leaner and more upright than modern science suggests. Thanks to the discovery of gastralia, we now know the T-Rex was heavier, weighing nine to ten tons with a prominent belly:
The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set reflects these scientific updates, maintaining the T-Rex's horizontal posture. While it doesn't include gastralia, the rib positioning suggests a "barrel-chested" build, more accurate than the lean depictions in popular culture. The set also features forward-positioned arms, in line with the updated "Sue" display at the Field Museum in Chicago.
Comprising 25 sealed plastic bags, the set begins with building the black stand, followed by the T-Rex's backbone, which attaches to vertical supports. The rest of the model, including the neck, legs, hips, ribs, arms, tail, and head, are built sequentially. 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 significant display space. A wide, flat surface like a dresser or coffee table is ideal, rather than a shelf squeezed between others. Its grandeur deserves a fitting showcase.
The set is part of LEGO's Jurassic Park franchise, evident from the included minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original film, displayed on a stand with a Jurassic Park logo placard. However, this tie-in feels somewhat forced, as the set's name and instructions allow for the display to be detached entirely, highlighting its standalone appeal.
This set's grandeur and detail stand on their own, much like the LEGO Titanic build. It doesn't rely on movie memorabilia but rather on its impressive scale, detail, and craftsmanship. LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Set #10335, retails for $269.99 and contains 3011 pieces, available exclusively at the LEGO Store.
More Sets From LEGO Jurassic Park Collection:
LEGO T. rex Skull
See it at Amazon
LEGO Jurassic Park Visitor Center
See it at Amazon
LEGO Triceratops Skull
See it at Amazon
LEGO Little Eatie T Rex
See it at Amazon
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 T. Rex
See it at Amazon
