Ideas River Steamboat announced!
Posted by CapnRex101,
The next LEGO Ideas set has been announced: 21356 River Steamboat! The press release follows:
21356 River Steamboat
Rated 18+, 4,090 pieces
$329.99 / £289.99 / €329.99
Available at LEGO.com from 7th April
Set Sail with the New LEGO Ideas River Steamboat
The LEGO Group is thrilled to announce the launch of the LEGO Ideas River Steamboat set, designed by a fan designer as part of the LEGO Ideas platform. This intricately detailed model is designed for adult builders and history enthusiasts alike, offering a captivating building experience and a spectacular display piece for any home or office.
The 4,090-piece set captures the authentic charm of a classic river steamboat, refurbished for entertainment tours and featuring a steam engine museum. Builders can explore the detailed pilothouse, crew cabin, and bathroom on the texas deck; enjoy the music stage and restaurant on the main deck; and discover the kitchen and museum on the boiler deck.
This engaging model includes functional elements such as a working paddle connected to a 'steam' engine, a rudder activated by the ship's wheel, and removable decks for easy access to the interior. The set also provides digital building instructions via the LEGO Builder app, enhancing the building experience with interactive guidance.
The new LEGO set was designed by Illinois, USA-based LEGO fan Aaron Hall, as part of the LEGO Ideas programme. LEGO Ideas allows fan designers to submit suggested sets, which are the. Voted for by the community before being considered to be made into a real LEGO set.
Talking about his design, Aaron said, “My fascination with LEGO boats began with the Black Seas Barracuda set (6285), which captivated me with its intricate rigging for the masts and sails. Growing up along the Mississippi River, I developed a deep interest in paddle boats, which naturally inspired me to create this steamboat model. The design process involved researching images to capture the essence of steamboats and selecting specific LEGO elements to bring my vision to life. I was determined to scale the model for minifigures and incorporate modular boat hull bases as a nod to the classic LEGO pirate ships."
The LEGO Ideas River Steamboat set will be available exclusively for LEGO Insiders early access from 7th April and for all customers from 10th April 2025 at www.LEGO.com/RiverSteamboat and LEGO Stores, priced at €329.99 / £289.99 / $329.99. In addition, between 7th – 13th April, LEGO Insiders will receive a free Gift with Purchase: The LEGO Amelia Ticket Booth (10+), while supplies last.
Are you impressed with the River Steamboat? Let us know in the comments and by responding to our poll.
118 likes
92 comments on this article
I want it.... but can't afford it!
What a BEAST of a set this is, wow! Stunning!
Wow, now THAT is a ship we all have been waiting for! Amazing model from the first sight!
What a coincidence — my family and I literally just rode the Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom a couple of days ago for the first time in years.
Anyway, it's a really nice-looking set; not for me, but still impressive.
Also, does it look slightly smaller than minifig-scale?
HECK YEAH
Meet me in St. Louis, Louis!
I have to ask where are the minifigs?
Just about perfect 1:38 minifig scale for a relatively small river steamer like the Amelia Wheaton!
Seems like a missed opportunity to include a Mark Twain minifigure.
@rljf311 said:
"Meet me in St. Louis, Louis!"
We are known for only a few things here in St. Louis:
- the 1904 Worlds Fair (ice cream cones were invented there, but not the Ferris wheel. That was Chicago in the 1890's)
- 1904 Olympics
- being the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition's starting point
- winning the 1944 World Series (which was between St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns baseball teams)
- the world largest croquet hoop / monument to people leaving St. Louis (the Gateway Arch),
- having the oldest still-standing bridge across the Mississippi River (Eads bridge, 1874)
- loosing out on being the Nations rail hub to Chicago because of the riverboat companies having a lot of influence to not let any bridge be built across the Mississippi at St. Louis for many years.
- being the stand-in for New York City for the film 'Escape from New York' (no, really!)
...and that's it.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @rljf311 said:
"Meet me in St. Louis, Louis!"
We are known for only a few things here in St. Louis:
- the 1904 Worlds Fair (ice cream cones were invented there, but not the Ferris wheel. That was Chicago in the 1890's)
- 1904 Olympics
- being the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition's starting point
- winning the 1944 World Series (which was between St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns baseball teams)
- the world largest croquet hoop / monument to people leaving St. Louis (the Gateway Arch),
- having the oldest still-standing bridge across the Mississippi River (Eads bridge, 1874)
- loosing out on being the Nations rail hub to Chicago because of the riverboat companies having a lot of influence to not let any bridge be built across the Mississippi at St. Louis for many years.
- being the stand-in for New York City for the film 'Escape from New York' (no, really!)
...and that's it."
Also:
-The St. Louis Blues winning the 2019 Stanley Cup!
The president is nude!
Looks great, but a bit too expensive for me. And surely it needs some minifigs? Even the set designer admits it's scaled to them!
I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all.
I have live in either the Quad Cities or the Twin Cities my entire life. This set is a must have for me.
@ikke said:
"I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all. "
No one expects you to buy them all.
It's a gorgeous set, but I did not expect to see an homage to the Tower of Orthanc.
Not something I likely buy, but I do actually quite like it! Granted, it looks a bit small for what it is, this is one of those sets that would have been better had it had been bigger. But as a result also more expensive, so I do get the compromise. And even when I'm not a minifig collector, it is kinda weird that they didn't include a bunch of 19th century style figures.
I've been on a few paddle wheel steamers in my time, and really enjoyed it, so I love this. Looking forward to @FlagsNZ's review.
@rljf311 said:
"Meet me in St. Louis, Louis!"
I got the St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be... (Because I don't have the space for this.)
That's hot.
I like how they used the head of the dragonborn paladin's mace as light fixtures.
It’s really nice, but I have never spent that much on a Lego set before and there is no set they could possibly make that would convince me to.
Smashing looking boat. Reminds me of going on the 'Southern Comfort' on the Norfolk Broads years ago.
The words,
'The set also provides digital building instructions via the LEGO Builder app, enhancing the building experience with interactive guidance'
fill me with trepidation. I'd need confirmation that printed and standard PDF instructions were also supplied... otherwise, no thanks!
Beautiful model. At that price, it should have no stickers. Stop. It's not even a licensed model, so that excuse doesn't work.
I like how it’s minifigure sized as well!
Too expensive.
Does this set include paper instructions? I would love to buy this, but I would like to have paper instructions.
Timing still +3 hour left to buy the Wild West Train.
Beautifull but no place to display or even store it.
The proportions are bad. Boat looks too narrow for the type. Sorry, I can tolerate inaccurate dimensions for certain models, especially imaginary ones. But for a paddlewheeler a correct shape is important, and this one is wrong. Would have to buy multiple sets to enlarge and widen it. Nope, not good.
@dimc said:
"Beautiful model. At that price, no stickers. Stop. It's not even a licensed model, so that excuse doesn't work. "
The drawings in the engine room look like stickers.
Lovely. Excellent size, but too rich for my blood.
that looks awesome
I'll probably end up passing on it, but it's a great looking set
@UProbeck said:
" @dimc said:
"Beautiful model. At that price, no stickers. Stop. It's not even a licensed model, so that excuse doesn't work. "
The drawings in the engine room look like stickers.
"
I know, that's why I'm complaining. Edited for clarity.
@ikke said:
"I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all. "
I feel similarly about cars. Buying them all every year is just unsustainable. I think I might have to skip a few of the 2025 sedans.
Gonna be awesome as a sort-of _Mark Twain_ carrying a load of Disney minifigs all Fantasmic-like.
Nice to see the crystal mace from 71047-4 return here!
@sjr60 said:
"
Smashing looking boat. Reminds me of going on the 'Southern Comfort' on the Norfolk Broads years ago.
The words,
'The set also provides digital building instructions via the LEGO Builder app, enhancing the building experience with interactive guidance'
fill me with trepidation. I'd need confirmation that printed and standard PDF instructions were also supplied... otherwise, no thanks! "
I am sure the standard paper instructions will be included; LEGO just wants to emphasise the digital instructions because they want people to use them.
It looks really well done. I haven't been interested in that subject matter previously, but this could change my mind. But I think financially speaking I will have to pass. But it looks stellar.
Lego peddling too expensive and too large sets again.
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma, chameleeeooonnn....
@Watsonite said:
"Lego peddling too expensive and too large sets again."
As long as LEGO can sell them they will keep doing it sadly.. Now with the current political climate.. we will see how the economy holds up for such 'luxury' purchases.
Very nice, but i'm anticipating another boat coming this year. (The Black Pearl)
Agree about the stickers, it’s ridiculous. Looks great otherwise!
This is a fantastic set.
Obviously two critical questions...
Does it float, and can it be motorised :-)
Stunning set. Love the details! I spot Wednesday's cello in a recolor I think.
I like this set, though I am surprised by the lack of minifigures, they could have gone to town on them.
Expensive, but not as much as I thought. I see the leaks with a different currency and I try to calculate the difference, but it's always a surprise. Then again my maths is appalling.
It really needs a Boimler and Rutherford in their Twain costuming to make it complete!
I’m a sucker for a LEGO drum set.
I am a minifigure guy. If a set doesn’t come with minifigures, I don’t buy it. That goes for any theme. IMHO, LEGO is moving a little too far from sets with minifigures. Just look at Star Wars. They release entire wave and only three sets come with minifigures…and one of those is a boring 4+. So, out of seven or eight sets, you get two traditional sets. The rest are helmets, mini-scale, midi-scale, and juniors. Not good.
A big ghost ship looms in the distance. A ghostly breakfast seems to hang over the balustrade…
@Mind_the_Brick said:
"I have to ask where are the minifigs?"
They've stated in the past that including Minifigures in sets designed for casual adults / mass appeal cuts into sales. Non-Afols see Minifigs as meaning "Playset" and not "Display Piece", the only exceptions to this rule are licensed flagship sets like the Deku Tree (which appeal to casual audiences by creating figures people wanted when they were younger).
Lego's been experimenting more with it this year especially, like with 10362 and the Gardens series.
Tbh if you're an Afol who can even afford this set, you probably have enough spare Minifigs to populate it anyways lol.
@Krutak said:
"Wow, now THAT is a ship we all have been waiting for! Amazing model from the first sight!"
Not all of us.
I guess this is the year of the Boat! (although it really started in November with the Endurance) Stunning model. Definitely going on the wishlist but need to consider if it will be a Day 1 purchase due to price.
The article failed to mention it's a 3-in-1 set. It rebuilds into either a Southern, antebellum plantation or an old west saloon (with upstairs brothel).
This also explains why no minifigures are included.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @sjr60 said:
"
Smashing looking boat. Reminds me of going on the 'Southern Comfort' on the Norfolk Broads years ago.
The words,
'The set also provides digital building instructions via the LEGO Builder app, enhancing the building experience with interactive guidance'
fill me with trepidation. I'd need confirmation that printed and standard PDF instructions were also supplied... otherwise, no thanks! "
I am sure the standard paper instructions will be included; LEGO just wants to emphasise the digital instructions because they want people to use them."
Yes, I assumed that really. Just didn't ever want the same fiasco as with the Batman 8 in 1 :-)
Beautiful set, but
a) it's too expensive and
b) at the moment I don't want to buy anything with a connection to the US, thank you very much.
Yet another boat. Wonderful.
@Nuclearxpotato said:
" @Mind_the_Brick said:
"I have to ask where are the minifigs?"
Tbh if you're an Afol who can even afford this set, you probably have enough spare Minifigs to populate it anyways lol."
I'd agree with that in most cases but when it's a period piece like this, it's a different story. The minifigs on the Orient Express added a lot to the vibe. I also wouldn't have ordered the upcoming Wild West train if it didn't have a bunch of Red Dead characters included.
The ship is slightly scaled down to minifigs scale. It's not a 'wow' at first glance, and although the design allows it, you see too many classic and repetitive pieces for the decoration of the cover... Really tight and out-of-scale indoor spaces
Like the Orca this boat needs a shark… a card shark!
"I was determined to scale the model for minifigures."
Oh, the irony!
It looks beautiful. And subject matter rarely if ever done by Lego! Except for Steam Boat Willy (both of them) and 3673 Paddle Steamer from Fabuland there's not really anything that comes to mind that remotely comes close to the subject matter outside of being a boat. And of course none are THIS well-done.
Of course I will not be buying it. But I really like it.
@Watsonite said:
"Lego peddling too expensive and too large sets again."
No, this is paddling, not peddling.
@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:"Stunning set. Love the details! I spot Wednesday's cello in a recolor I think. "
"Wednesday's cello" was a recolor of https://brickset.com/parts/6422007/bass-no-5 which debuted in 10312.
I love that you added a "No, it's too big" option to the survey. If it was included in previous surveys, I hadn't noticed. Do keep it, please. I didn't select it this time, but there are other time that it is appropriate.
@Nuclearxpotato said: "Non-Afols see Minifigs as meaning 'Playset' and not 'Display Piece'"
So Lego omitted the much-wanted minifigs to make this a pure 'display piece' for serious adult collectors. So why does it have a feature to make the engine and paddlewheel turn when it's pushed along the floor? If that doesn't scream 'playset' then nothing will.
Another thing, while most of the doors are the type introduced with the 21348 DnD set and works reasonably well (except being sa bit tall, as usual), the doors on the port/left side are the all-glass type not fitting this model at all. At first I thought it was a CGI model error, but it appears to be real bricks (note how a tile next to the stairs has come loose in the picture of how the sections splits apart).
@OneIsLit said:
"I love that you added a "No, it's too big" option to the survey. If it was included in previous surveys, I hadn't noticed. Do keep it, please. I didn't select it this time, but there are other time that it is appropriate. "
This wasn't the first time it's been included, but it's pretty new.
Very annoying that there are no minifigures, but I'll just have to dig out my Lone Ranger minifigs to fill in for the cast of Show Boat.
Yes, it's expensive, but as a collector of boats, I can't pass this one up.
@560heliport said:
" @ikke said:
"I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all. "
No one expects you to buy them all."
Unless you look at lego as Pokemon, Then you just gotta Collect 'em all!
That is a lot of white telescopes.
Makes me want to have a croissant for breakfast for some reason.
@Reventon said:
" @Krutak said:
"Wow, now THAT is a ship we all have been waiting for! Amazing model from the first sight!"
Not all of us.
"
All of us ship lovers, duh
Typical, you wait 11 years for them to re release Orthanc and then two come at once.
@560heliport said:
" @ikke said:
"I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all. "
No one expects you to buy them all."
It's a drug, isn't it ? So many fall for it. Who's to blame ?
@Amik said:
" @560heliport said:
" @ikke said:
"I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all. "
No one expects you to buy them all."
It's a drug, isn't it ? So many fall for it. Who's to blame ?"
Is that what you get from sniffing Kraggle?
@lordofthebricks614 said:
"Yet another boat. Wonderful."
Yet another wonderful boat.
The dimensions are wrong to me. The 'house' needs to be twice as wide to match a real boat. And including no minifigures ist plain ridiculous.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Amik said:
" @560heliport said:
" @ikke said:
"I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all. "
No one expects you to buy them all."
It's a drug, isn't it ? So many fall for it. Who's to blame ?"
Is that what you get from sniffing Kraggle?"
Talking about yourself again ?
@Amik said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @Amik said:
" @560heliport said:
" @ikke said:
"I want it, I won't buy it. Lego brings out to much sets. I have neither the space or money to buy them all. "
No one expects you to buy them all."
It's a drug, isn't it ? So many fall for it. Who's to blame ?"
Is that what you get from sniffing Kraggle?"
Talking about yourself again ?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBWq6eHKjwk
@TheOtherMike said:
" @OneIsLit said:
"I love that you added a "No, it's too big" option to the survey. If it was included in previous surveys, I hadn't noticed. Do keep it, please. I didn't select it this time, but there are other time that it is appropriate. "
This wasn't the first time it's been included, but it's pretty new."
It’s been about 3 months. It will be interesting to see the analysis at the end of the year.
https://brickset.com/article/116806/2024-press-release-poll-analysis
By Huw in United Kingdom, 11 Dec 2024 17:07
@yellowcastle said:
" @Huw said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @Huw - the concept of “negativity” seems misleading. I’d love to see a breakdown of the “NOs” on these 35 sets.
Additionally, a few more poll response choices would be welcome for 2025 press releases."
—————————
What would you suggest?"
—————————
Maybe a poll for the poll? :o)
WILL YOU BE BUYING THIS SET?
Yes, as soon as it's released
Yes, eventually
*Yes, if it is discounted
Maybe, I haven't made up my mind yet
No, it doesn't interest me
No, it's too expensive
No, but I like it
*No, it's too big
*Are you kidding me? Who asked for this? (just kidding)"
—————————-
Looks good to me...
@yellowcastle said: " @Huw - the concept of “negativity” seems misleading. I’d love to see a breakdown of the “NOs” on these 35 sets"
I wonder if it would work with an option like "No, cause of that one obvious flaw" - it would of course require that most readers agree what that flaw is, and that it's easy to find back the poll page and its comments like a decade from now.
For example, in this case it would be "a set without minifigs", for 76323 it would be "minifigs without a set", for 40506 it would be "limited availability" (but it could just as well be "it totally creeps me out" so things aren't always that clear-cut), for 21355 it would be "stuff slapped together being less than the sum of its parts", for 31172 it would be "I'm tired of [thing] with flowers growing out of it", for 31215 it would be "I could buy the real one for less", and for 10362 it would be "cursed".
@AustinPowers said:
"Beautiful set, but
a) it's too expensive and
b) at the moment I don't want to buy anything with a connection to the US, thank you very much. "
I understand your feelings. I wish Germany's recent election was a better example of the way forward. Alas.
I love this set.
However, the lack of minifigs is silly and cheap. Not a good look for an expensive toy.
@axeleng said:
" @yellowcastle said: " @Huw - the concept of “negativity” seems misleading. I’d love to see a breakdown of the “NOs” on these 35 sets"
I wonder if it would work with an option like "No, cause of that one obvious flaw" - it would of course require that most readers agree what that flaw is, and that it's easy to find back the poll page and its comments like a decade from now.
For example, in this case it would be "a set without minifigs", for 76323 it would be "minifigs without a set", for 40506 it would be "limited availability" (but it could just as well be "it totally creeps me out" so things aren't always that clear-cut), for 21355 it would be "stuff slapped together being less than the sum of its parts", for 31172 it would be "I'm tired of [thing] with flowers growing out of it", for 31215 it would be "I could buy the real one for less", and for 10362 it would be "cursed"."
Great analysis.
@StyleCounselor said:
" @AustinPowers said:
"Beautiful set, but
a) it's too expensive and
b) at the moment I don't want to buy anything with a connection to the US, thank you very much. "
I understand your feelings. I wish Germany's recent election was a better example of the way forward. Alas."
True, but over here the fashist party will be the opposition, not the ruling party of the government. Big difference. Plus, as the election in the state of Hamburg yesterday has shown, the AfD can also lose big time, if the circumstances are more favorable for the voters than especially in the eastern states, where people appear to be more inclined towards the political fringes.
But in a sense the recent debacle in the Oval Office was a good thing, because it showed the world the true face of the current "leader of the free world" and whose side they are actually on. Goes to show that a country can change from decades long friend and ally to enemy in a very short time, given the "right" people in power.
We know that we are on our own now, and have to make the best of it.
This is the droid I have been waiting for.
There are about ten minifigs missing from this set. That’s quite a shame.
@BabuBrick said:
"What a coincidence — my family and I literally just rode the Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom a couple of days ago for the first time in years.
Anyway, it's a really nice-looking set; not for me, but still impressive.
Also, does it look slightly smaller than minifig-scale?"
Same here, just rode the Steamer Natchez on a recent trip to New Orleans and was thinking about how awesome a Lego steamboat would be!
I am sorry for being like this, but to me a steamboat has to wheels - one on each side - so it doesn't really look like one to me. And yes that is propably because all my knowledge of steam boats come from belgian western comics :)
@Martin_S said:
"I am sorry for being like this, but to me a steamboat has to wheels - one on each side - so it doesn't really look like one to me. And yes that is propably because all my knowledge of steam boats come from belgian western comics :)"
That's called a sidewheeler. This type is called a sternwheeler.
@Martin_S said:
"I am sorry for being like this, but to me a steamboat has to wheels - one on each side - so it doesn't really look like one to me. And yes that is propably because all my knowledge of steam boats come from belgian western comics :)"
Gotta be this one I guess? :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjmZagsin5U
At 2:55 they actually show both types side by side.
I could be wrong, but I think sternwheelers were more typical for these kind of river boats?
@ra226 said:
"It really needs a Boimler and Rutherford in their Twain costuming to make it complete!"
Those would totally make the set!!