United States flags in LEGO sets
Posted by Huw,
With voting in the US presidential election taking place today we thought we would post a couple of US-related articles.
First I am writing a piece on US flags; later on CapnRex101 will post something more in-depth.
Flags were one of the first specialised pieces to be produced for the LEGO system, with the first examples appearing around 1957. The majority of those produced were of European flags but three sets did contain a United States flag. Many sets have contained stickered US flags since, such as 10029 Lunar Lander.
There has also been three sets of the flag as well as minifigures adorned with the stars and stripes.
American flag (2002)
The first set of a US flag we have in the database is this promotional set that was available at LEGOLAND California in 2002. It was not really an official set at all, just a zip-lock bag of parts, photocopied instructions and a sticker for the stars.
10042 US Flag (2003)
In 2003, probably for US Independence Day, this direct-to-consumer set was available in LEGO brand stores. It was packaged in a clear polybag with no image on the front. It is notable mainly for the Technic half-pins in white which are now rare as hens' teeth as they have not appeared in a set since 2005.
MMMB010 US Flag (2009)
This version of the flag was the monthly mini model build in July 2009. It was available only in the US from LEGO brand stores; European stores had an ice cream instead.
In those days, the MMMBs were not packaged in polybags but were assembled from loose parts, so the collectable bit of this set is the card that was included.
Around 2000, LEGO released a swathe of football (soccer) related sets for the football championships that year.
Among them was 3406 Americas Team Bus which came with stickers to embellish the players with a choice of five American team flags. Here is the goalkeeper with the US flag.
(Image courtesy of BrickLink).
I will leave you with these custom minifigures which are now available from minifigs.me.
Happy Election Day -- I bet you will be glad when it is all over. I know I will!
31 likes
28 comments on this article
You forgot the flag on fire brigade!
Yeah, what about 10197 Fire Brigade?
Rated RP for "Really Patriotic"!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UlhiYP0nw0
Also, there was no Football World Cup in 2000, that was the European Championship in Belgium & the Netherlands. World Cups took place in 1998 and 2002.
There was no FIFA World Cup in 2000, they take place every four years, and the last one by that time had been in France in 1998.
The original Lunar Lander, 367 from 1975, had an American flag, as well as stickers of the stars and stripes on the bodies of the astronauts.
@Duq -- thanks for noting that. It was my first set and I remember it well.
I thought the American Flag with the six Technic pins was useless. I have 3-4, they gave them away like candy on Halloween. Never thought about the pins not being blue. I need to find them now.
Those custom minifigures might give me Lego nightmares!! I already have Lord Business set up as Autocrat over my Lego City; I don't need one of those two yahoos to join him! :D
Thanks for the article, Huw!
Fire bridage is indeed the first thing that came to my mind to that's left out.
@Duq -- I had that set too. I still have most of the parts from it, including the flag.
You might be glad the campaigns will be over, Huw, but we here in the U.S. will have deal with one of these morons for the next four years!
Trump and Hilary.... wow.
Make Star Wars UCS Great Again...
Awesome article! I find it ironic that neither of the two people making articles for this day live in the US. XD
@Build & Rebuild True that! While I wholeheartedly support Trump, I cannot deny some of his idiotic tendencies. And don't even get me started on Hillary... but I digress; this isn't the place for political views.
In a tiny bit less than a year, though, I'll be officially eligible to vote AND finally an actual AFOL!
I like those two last minifigures you posted (as as a puertorican we aren't allowed to participate in the general US presidential election even though we are US citezens oh, it may be because the territory of Puerto Rico is a colony). Those Hillary emails may have been seen by up to five different countries.
What's the most recent use of an American flag? The 911 GT Finish Line from Speed Champions?
I think that the hands on that Trump minifig are too large. And perhaps an orange head might have been more accurate?
1682: Space Shuttle Launch immediately popped into mind as having one, but you can also browse through other sets tagged as "Space Shuttle" and "NASA" for a few more with U.S. flags.
Today I am very glad that I do not live in the United Snakes of Arrestobia. This election is a true dilemma: pluck out the left eyeball, or the right eyeball? Either way, an eyeball is getting plucked today!
MakeLEGOStarWarsGreatAgain!!! XD
MakeLEGOStarWarsGreatAgain Lol
MakeLEGOStarWarsGreatAgain!!!! Keep it going!
This was not meant to be an exhaustive list of every set with a US flag on it, but thanks everyone for pointing them out.
@ TheBrickPal Those "idiotic tendencies" has a definitions. It is called being a racist, sexist, ableist (and) bigot.
^ Okay, I get that, but let's not fight about this. Like I said, not the place...
I think of Engine Company No . 9, the fire station from 1978 (set 590) which had an American flag piece for the front lawn (on base plates!) - one of my first two Lego sets ever got. Flag is in my town as is the original clock tower from the set (added to a different building) and a MOC sightseeing tram is built on the base of ladder truck.
Yep, still have the instructions .
@TheBrickPal I respect you for not turning this into a comment war, thanks for being the bigger person.
Too late he's won!