2024 LEGO House exclusive set revealed!
Posted by CapnRex101,
The latest set available exclusively at the LEGO House has today been announced, celebrating the three main LEGO systems! The press release follows:
LEGO House Exclusive #5 is here: LEGO Building Systems
The fifth LEGO House Exclusive LEGO set celebrates three LEGO building systems – LEGO System, LEGO Technic, and LEGO DUPLO – with iconic builds from each system.
Today, LEGO House launches its 5th LEGO Exclusive set, and this year is a tribute to LEGO play, especially focusing on the three System in Play platforms: LEGO System, LEGO Technic and LEGO DUPLO. Three individual systems that together tell the story of the brand. This year’s exclusive set encompasses three milestone moments – one for each system, featuring Town Plan No. 1 from 1955, the DUPLO train sets from the 1980s, and the Technic product, 853 Car Chassis from 1977.
“LEGO House is Home of the Brick, and the only one of its kind in the world. We’re excited to provide our guests with a totally unique keepsake upon their visit. Since the opening of LEGO House in 2017, we have launched a series of exclusive special LEGO sets, each one celebrating iconic moments, milestones, and products from LEGO’s rich history, only available at our in-house LEGO Store – and they have proven to be a huge success. The latest addition, LEGO Building Systems, marks our fifth set, and we are really excited to unveil it to fans and guests,” says Kathrine Kirk Muff, Managing Director, LEGO House.
Honours the innovative LEGO System in Play
The first System in Play product, Town Plan No.1, launched in 1955 and immediately established the LEGO System in Play Idea as the cornerstone of the LEGO brand. The innovative System in Play concept originated from the second-generation owner, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, who aspired to ‘create toys that prepare a child for life – appealing to its imagination and developing the creative urge and joy of creation that are the driving forces in every human being’.
LEGO House Master Builder, Stuart Harris, has been the design lead on LEGO House Exclusives since the opening in 2017:
“This year’s brief was ‘focus on the three core LEGO building systems’. With that in mind, I visited the History Collection in LEGO House and mentally noted the sets that caught my eye. The models we celebrate in a LEGO House Exclusive needs to be significant milestones in LEGO history, so after discussing my favourites with our in-house historians, I go hands-on in the workshop and start building,” says Stuart and continues:
“LEGO Town Plan was always a favourite of mine, so including it in this year’s exclusive set was a no-brainer. I had more options for which Technic and DUPLO models to feature, but I ended up choosing the classic car chassis and the DUPLO train. All three models are LEGO fan favourites and are an integral part of the activities at LEGO House.”
Minute versions of iconic LEGO models
This year’s new Exclusive Set draws inspiration from the updated History Collection at LEGO House – Town Plan No. 1, a classic Car Chassis, and a vibrant DUPLO Train.
While the Car Chassis pistons don’t function as in the original build, all other details are faithfully recreated. Town Plan No. 1, is among the earliest LEGO sets and holds cult status among fans. It symbolises the essence of LEGO play, fostering identification, storytelling, and imagination, marking historic starting point for many a senior LEGO enthusiast. The DUPLO Train, inspired by 1980s sets, triggers equally nostalgic memories.
The three main models are displayed in front of a grey wall, mirroring the display wall in the LEGO House History Collection. Behind this wall lies an exciting timeline of nano-scale models of iconic milestones in LEGO history, including The Wooden Duck, DUPLO set 511 that comprised both DUPLO and LEGO System bricks, Technic Space Shuttle set 8480, BIONICLE Tahu set 8534 and many others.
In total, there are 19 nano-builds to discover, with an additional empty space for you to fill with your own LEGO build of personal significance. Because after all, LEGO play is about crafting your own memories through creativity and imagination.
The latest LEGO House Exclusive set, LEGO Building Systems set 40505, is exclusively available from the 1st of March at the LEGO Store in LEGO House, Billund, Denmark.
Facts about LEGO House Exclusive #5 LEGO Systems (40505):
- The three mini-scale models in this set each represent a classic model originally built with one of the three core building systems.
- The Town Plan from 1955 was one of the very first LEGO System in Play products.
- The mini-scale DUPLO Train is a mix of sets 2700 and 2705 from the 1980s.
- The Technic mini-scale model is based on set 853, the flagship of the very first LEGO Technic range. The model had a functioning steering system and moving pistons in the motor.
- Behind the wall are nano-builds of milestone LEGO models.
- The set includes 19 nano-builds plus room to fill in with your own LEGO favourite.
- Ideal for fans of LEGO building and collectors of toy memorabilia.
- LEGO Building Systems set 40505 measures approximately 38 cm in width.
- Suitable for ages 10 and above.
- Price: 699 DKK.
- This set is exclusively available in the LEGO House retail store with a purchase limit of three sets per household.
What do you think of the new LEGO House set? Let us know in the comments.
86 likes
67 comments on this article
Meh. Not impressed.
Not a fan, has no WOW factor that others models have. Can sort of understand what they are trying to do, but I will not trying to source one
If you didn't tell me that the small train was supposed to be a Duplo model, I wouldn't have known myself. Just saying.
Missed opportunity to involve 2 actual yellow 2x2 DUPLO bricks in this set
Indeed weird that they didn't use some actual Duplo bricks. Other than that, I quite like it! I was currently thinking of yet again a vacation to Japan in May, but maybe I should stick a bit closer to home this time....
As with a lot of sets, it looks better in real life. I was at launch event, and people were generally impressed, but not to the point of OMG. Micro
Duplo train is combo of 2700 and 2705
What’s this? No ModuleX?!
The 853 tribute is wonderful; the rest I'm so-so on
@BrickC137 said:
"What’s this? No ModuleX?!"
They did bring it up, but it didn’t qualify as ‘core’, same with Galidor. :)
Bionicle is represented on the back in the nano-scale sets.
I like a lot of the back ones honestly, the Bionicle one is funny for how little pieces it needs to use for representation.
Also, does anyone know what the two last models are on the bottom of the third shelf? The white thing with the clip and the yellow car.
Edit: I think a few seconds after posting this I got it, the white one is the Metroliner train and the yellow stud with big wheels is the original mindstorms set.
@MrGurt said:
"I like a lot of the back ones honestly, the Bionicle one is funny for how little pieces it needs to use for representation.
Also, does anyone know what the two last models are on the bottom of the third shelf? The white thing with the clip and the yellow car."
White thing is the Technic space shuttle and to right is Mindstorms vehicle
Looks good. I like these Lego House sets (have a couple myself).
I particularly like that the 853 is built upside down.
Meh. Not for me.
Looks very bland, the DUPLO bricks in the wall aren't even the real thing, and the Technic car chassis evokes no nostalgia from me, since my "iconic" first Technic flagship set was 8860. Similar, but more refined imho. And a lot of those micoscale builds I didn't even recognize what they were supposed to represent.
Easy pass.
Pretty neat, still not as good as the molding machine they made a few years ago
That's seriously underwhelming.
Always great to see Technic getting a nod.
@R1_Drift said:
"Pretty neat, still not as good as the molding machine they made a few years ago"
Quite a few people pissed tonight that its already retired although they did have Tree of Creativity available for purchase so why not the moulding machine?
Oh, neat! I was just looking at the microscale sets on the back and I realized that they're somewhat sorted by date. Pre-1960s sets on the far left, then 1960s/70s sets, then 1980s/90s sets, and finally 2000s onward on the far right. It's a nice varied selection that I definitely appreciate.
The larger sets in the front are also gorgeous and instantly recognizable in spite of being microscale (and all built from System bricks) — I love the clever use of 1x3 jumper plates to echo the iconic hollow Duplo studs on the train!
I'm sure this will have even greater appeal to people who have actually been to the LEGO House and gotten to see all these historic sets with their own eyes (as opposed to many of us who mostly know the ones from before our childhoods thanks to photos online).
Rather dull.
@yo_dabrick (or anybody else) - Perhaps you can help with identifying a couple of the mini models on the back. Huw and I recognise most between us, but not these:
The house in the first section, which I assume is an early Samsonite set, but not one I recognise.
The yellow vehicle in the first section, which is presumably an HO scale truck. 657-2 1:87 Mercedes Delivery Van seems most likely, based on the colours.
The blue vehicle in the third section. I initially assumed this was a train, but none seem to fit the 1980s and 1990s era of the neighbouring sets, so perhaps not.
Thanks God, another set i don't need!
@CapnRex101 : didn't LEGO specify what the builds were supposed to represent at the launch event?
I definitely haven't got a clue about most of them. Regognized the duck, the yellow castle, the 918/924/928 type spaceship, the Barracuda and the tree house (even though I first thought it was supposed to be the Ewok village). The others could be almost anything. The purple house looks like it could be from Friends, and the black train might be one of the 80s sets featuring a steam engine. But like with the Classic Space ship it could be one of several such sets.
What's the pepper pot with the red nanofig next to it supposed to be? Or that black something with the bit of yellow on top?
@CapnRex101
Blue is 2732?
@CapnRex101 said:
" @yo_dabrick (or anybody else) - Perhaps you can help with identifying a couple of the mini models on the back. Huw and I recognise most between us, but not these:
The house in the first section, which I assume is an early Samsonite set, but not one I recognise.
The yellow vehicle in the first section, which is presumably an HO scale truck. 657-2 1:87 Mercedes Delivery Van seems most likely, based on the colours.
The blue vehicle in the third section. I initially assumed this was a train, but none seem to fit the 1980s and 1990s era of the neighbouring sets, so perhaps not."
Blue vehicle in the third section looks like 2625-1 . I think the house in the first section is a sample build from 700-12 , due to its red/white/green color scheme, white windows, and timeline placement. Your guess for the truck sounds plausible, but I'm not knowledgeable at all about pre-brick sets so somebody with more knowledge of that era would be more qualified to confirm than I am. Notably, that would be a 60s set while all the others it shares a shelf with are pre-1960s sets but maybe it was shelved with the other pre-brick toys due to not being brick built.
@CapnRex101 said:
"The house in the first section, which I assume is an early Samsonite set, but not one I recognise."
Samsonite would be way too "new" for that section. I would say it's ABB: https://www.lego.com/en-us/history/articles/c-automatic-binding-bricks
@CapnRex101
Unfortunately we did not receive any docs on what the nano sets were, so I’m going on memory here. If you message Stuart he might have something he can send you as definitive answers.
First section was all wood except for house, which Markus explained but I missed. Blue train in third section is another Duplo set, but again I missed the exact set number, sorry.
Nano fig is Bionicle and next to it is its canister.
Black train is from 4.5V era
@AustinPowers said:
" @CapnRex101 : didn't LEGO specify what the builds were supposed to represent at the launch event?
I definitely haven't got a clue about most of them. Regognized the duck, the yellow castle, the 918/924/928 type spaceship, the Barracuda and the tree house (even though I first thought it was supposed to be the Ewok village). The others could be almost anything. The purple house looks like it could be from Friends, and the black train might be one of the 80s sets featuring a steam engine. But like with the Classic Space ship it could be one of several such sets.
What's the pepper pot with the red nanofig next to it supposed to be? Or that black something with the bit of yellow on top? "
Black train is 116, I'm pretty sure (main one I recognize from the era with a black steam locomotive, black tender, and yellow freight car with grey roof)
Lavender house is 41095
The "pepper pot with red nanofig" is mentioned in the article! It's 8534 (the "pepper pot" is the silver plastic storage canister the set came in).
"Black something with a bit of yellow on top" is one of the most basic builds from 9719, a simple robot on caterpillar tracks.
I recognize most of them like. top right to left: 21318, 70751, 6285, ?, 375, ?, ?, wood duck,
41095, 8053, ?, 7897, ?, 362, 497, 950, ?, ?,wood fire truck. The question marks are the ones that I didn’t recognize.
Thank you all; I think it is just the yellow vehicle that remains unknown. I cannot identify it with any LEGO wooden toys I am aware of, but will do some more research about that.
@Laz said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
"The house in the first section, which I assume is an early Samsonite set, but not one I recognise."
Samsonite would be way too "new" for that section. I would say it's ABB: https://www.lego.com/en-us/history/articles/c-automatic-binding-bricks "
Prepare yourself, as I am about to make a deeply alarming admission to somebody I consider an expert on LEGO products and history from this era: In my mind, Samsonite covers basically all System sets from prior to the introduction of minifigures! I realise that is not even close to being true, but it is a kind of mental shorthand, I suppose.
@CapnRex101 said:
"Prepare yourself, as I am about to make a deeply alarming admission to somebody I consider an expert on LEGO products and history from this era: In my mind, Samsonite covers basically all System sets from prior to the introduction of minifigures! I realise that is not even close to being true, but it is a kind of mental shorthand, I suppose."
OMG, that's... unsettling! :D
@Aanchir: interesting. I thought the train set was supposed to be something like 7722. Didn't even know about 116 since that was way before my time
And no wonder I didn't recognize the Bionicle set since that whole theme happened during my dark ages. Didn't know about the canister either. Thought it had something to do with Superhero sets. And 9719 I have never seen before either. I thought they meant to include "iconic" sets, not a lot of randomly thrown together bits. No Modular, no Architecture, no Mixel, no Technic flagship set, no Harry Potter or Star Wars, etc.
Mighty underwhelming.
@CapnRex101 said:
"Thank you all; I think it is just the yellow vehicle that remains unknown. I cannot identify it with any LEGO wooden toys I am aware of, but will do some more research about that.
@Laz said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
"The house in the first section, which I assume is an early Samsonite set, but not one I recognise."
Samsonite would be way too "new" for that section. I would say it's ABB: https://www.lego.com/en-us/history/articles/c-automatic-binding-bricks "
Prepare yourself, as I am about to make a deeply alarming admission to somebody I consider an expert on LEGO products and history from this era: In my mind, Samsonite covers basically all System sets from prior to the introduction of minifigures! I realise that is not even close to being true, but it is a kind of mental shorthand, I suppose."
You are correct about Samsonite, at least in Canada. I have a couple sets from around 1976.
I think I prefer the micro models on the back.
For what it is, I think it looks good. I won’t ever be getting it (no trips to the Lego House). But I would not turn it down if I was going.
No clickits no deal.
I love it when Lego makes a set which I can never hope to get because it is an exclusive by location and then I realise I have no desire whatsoever to acquire (like this thing 40505). I don't even have a fleeting desire to reproduce any parts of this with my own pieces.
The pirates guy (40504) is another thing though - that, I would have liked to get.
Well I guess Tahu is now just the dark red guy?
Love it. Can't wait to get my hands on one.
Especially a fan of the wooden fire truck model on the back
Oh, that's a ... ummm ... exclusive Lego set.
The only good thing about that set is all the mini and nano builds. Just download the instructions, then duplicating the ones I like will be easy.
@AustinPowers said:
" @Aanchir: interesting. I thought the train set was supposed to be something like 7722. Didn't even know about 116 since that was way before my time
And no wonder I didn't recognize the Bionicle set since that whole theme happened during my dark ages. Didn't know about the canister either. Thought it had something to do with Superhero sets. And 9719 I have never seen before either. I thought they meant to include "iconic" sets, not a lot of randomly thrown together bits. No Modular, no Architecture, no Mixel, no Technic flagship set, no Harry Potter or Star Wars, etc.
Mighty underwhelming. "
As the article mentions, a lot of the sets chosen appear to be ones that represent "significant milestones". 116 was long before my time as well, but motorized train sets were unmistakably a huge technical advance for LEGO that moved them into a whole new product category alongside giants of the industry like Lionel, Märklin, and Hornby. Likewise, 9719 is extremely significant as the first programmable LEGO robotics kit. LEGO Friends was the first line of sets to successfully appeal to girls as much as other System themes appealed to boys. And Bionicle was one of LEGO's biggest in-house successes in the 2000s, which gave LEGO their first major foothold in the action figure category and reshaped a lot of how they approached new theme development, marketing, and storytelling in the years since.
There's no question that a Star Wars set would also represent a hugely significant milestone, but I feel like there would be licensing complications in including a microscale Star Wars model in a set not branded as LEGO Star Wars — which is presumably also why there were no licensed sets portrayed in 11021.
Modular Buildings are also extremely significant, but possibly hard to differentiate from smaller and simpler houses/shops at this sort of hyper-condensed scale (at least without several lined up together as a context clue, like those the AFOL apartment from 10255).
A similar scale issue would obviously apply to Mixels, since those sets were already extremely small, and shrinking them down to this scale would likely make it impossible to retain some of their most iconic traits like articulated limbs and goofy cartoon eyes!
Maybe a bit off-topic, but if I were to visit the Lego House, how much time should I schedule for it? Just a few hours, or is it ore like a full day destination?
(and I assume it's the latter for Legoland?)
It looks like a Junkbot level!
@AustinPowers said:
" @Aanchir: interesting. I thought the train set was supposed to be something like 7722. Didn't even know about 116 since that was way before my time
And no wonder I didn't recognize the Bionicle set since that whole theme happened during my dark ages. Didn't know about the canister either. Thought it had something to do with Superhero sets. And 9719 I have never seen before either. I thought they meant to include "iconic" sets, not a lot of randomly thrown together bits. No Modular, no Architecture, no Mixel, no Technic flagship set, no Harry Potter or Star Wars, etc.
Mighty underwhelming. "
If an AFOL was threatening to kill me unless I could name a specific Technic sets they were familiar with within three tries, original Mindstorms would be my first guess, beating out original Tahu only because I know some people don't acknowledge Bionicle sets as Technic at all.
Frankly, this needs less grey Lego. Replace the wall with something more colorful, maybe the ground too, and everyone would like it a lot more.
Yellow Castle!
The DUPLO train is actually 2732 - I recognised it as a specific set because I had it as a kid, and still have it! Just did a quick Bricklink search for the blue cow catcher to figure out the exact set number.
@CapnRex101 said:
"Thank you all; I think it is just the yellow vehicle that remains unknown. I cannot identify it with any LEGO wooden toys I am aware of, but will do some more research about that."
My guess is that the yellow vehicle is the FUTTI wooden train that appears in this picture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brickset/37492316591/
It was featured in the following 2017 Brickset article:
https://brickset.com/article/30992/the-lego-house-history-collection
@AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"If you didn't tell me that the small train was supposed to be a Duplo model, I wouldn't have known myself. Just saying. "
Funny, I recognized it imidiately :D
AL least it has Bionicle! I dont understand why Lego thinks Treehouse is a SPECTACULAR set. IMO it was one of weakest builds ever. Way too fragile.
@lordofdragonss said:
"AL least it has Bionicle! I dont understand why Lego thinks Treehouse is a SPECTACULAR set. IMO it was one of weakest builds ever. Way too fragile."
It's definitely sold really well for it to STILL be in production and not have a retirement date five years from its release.
@WizardOfOss said:
"Maybe a bit off-topic, but if I were to visit the Lego House, how much time should I schedule for it? Just a few hours, or is it ore like a full day destination?
(and I assume it's the latter for Legoland?)"
We visited once about 2 years ago and spent the entire day there. Don't wait to shop--the end of the day is really crowded.
"blue vehicle" might also be 2452 - Duplo Choo Choo Train. Under it might be another Duplo (Dacta) set, Farm Set 1040-2 or 2655 .
So, "grey wall". Yeah, pass. Tree of Creativity was a much better medium for microbuilds. Replicating a grey wall is a poor decision. Really, stunningly poor and disappointing. Oh well, I can just skip this one...
But why the big grey wall? That was a poor designers choice. The front models will look much better without that wall. The mini models look good but also would look better if they were not on an ugly grey brick wall. Very strange choices are made here
This set is stunningly similar of a certain LEGO Obi-wan Kenobi release...
@Brickodillo said:
"But why the big grey wall? That was a poor designers choice. The front models will look much better without that wall. The mini models look good but also would look better if they were not on an ugly grey brick wall. Very strange choices are made here"
The grey wall replicates what you see when you go to the history section at LEGO House. Dark gold is secondary colour, so that’s why those tiles on top
@lordofdragonss said:
"AL least it has Bionicle! I dont understand why Lego thinks Treehouse is a SPECTACULAR set. IMO it was one of weakest builds ever. Way too fragile."
Completely agree. Buying the Tree house was the biggest mistake I ever made. Terrible building experience all around. Imho one of the most disappointing LEGO sets ever. I only bought it because my kids wanted it, but while building they got so frustrated that in the end I had to finish it. Took me weeks because I got fed up so often in between that I even considered stopping completely and selling off the half-finished set on ebay. In the end I did finish it, but it's not even on display but gathering dust in a corner of the attic.
At least I got it at a sizeable discount.
Yellow vehicle is the yellow version of 651-2
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=651pb01c01T=S&C=3&O=%7B%22color%22:%223%22,%22iconly%22:0%7D
I'm not convinced that the yellow truck is 651-2 as that one has 2 axles and the mini model here has 4.
I think a better bet is 335-2, being a 4-axle delivery truck.
Here's my analysis and interpretation of the microbuilds in the back:
upper row: wooden duck/40501, 344/350, 116/118/119, 375, 2653/2452, 6285, 8534, 70751, 21318
lower row: wooden fire truck/4000040, 335, 511, 850, 497/10497, 1040. 8480, 856/8275, 8421, 41095
@WizardOfOss said:
"Maybe a bit off-topic, but if I were to visit the Lego House, how much time should I schedule for it? Just a few hours, or is it ore like a full day destination?
(and I assume it's the latter for Legoland?)"
I would definitely make the LEGO House a day-long trip. I've been there twice, and time flies every time. As an AFOL, I spend the largest share of my time there in the Masterpiece Gallery and the History Collection.
I haven't been to LEGOLand Billund, so I don't know how long that would take.
I like how there are 1x3 jumper plates to make hollow studs on the roof of the Duplo train, and I do like the mini-version of the Technic card. And. Err. That's it. The rest? Hmm. It's not exactly must-have like the upscaled pirate fig was, is it?
@DoonsterBuildsLego said:
"I'm not convinced that the yellow truck is 651-2 as that one has 2 axles and the mini model here has 4.
I think a better bet is 335-2, being a 4-axle delivery truck."
I would agree with that, except that pictures from the presentation in Lego House yesterday clearly show it as 651-2. ;-)
The dark grey wall just kills it, it just looks so unappealing and dull. Pretty much any other colour (even black or light grey) would've been better.
For me the weakest point of this set is technic build not made with technic pieces. I can see like 3 of them, and the rest is system but upside-down. It should be made mostly with technic pieces and incorporates some (even basic and just one) function. A big missed opportunity for a real tribute in my opinion.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @yo_dabrick (or anybody else) - Perhaps you can help with identifying a couple of the mini models on the back. Huw and I recognise most between us, but not these:
The house in the first section, which I assume is an early Samsonite set, but not one I recognise.
The yellow vehicle in the first section, which is presumably an HO scale truck. 657-2 1:87 Mercedes Delivery Van seems most likely, based on the colours.
The blue vehicle in the third section. I initially assumed this was a train, but none seem to fit the 1980s and 1990s era of the neighbouring sets, so perhaps not."
Here are the relevant slides from the presentation, just in case this wasn't all resolved.
https://bricksafe.com/pages/Spaceman2000/billund