Brickset Bouts: NASA Apollo Saturn V vs Destiny's Bounty
Posted by Huw,
This is the fourth and last bout for today in our knockout competition to find the best set released since Brickset was founded 20 years ago.
In this contest, the Ideas set 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V meets Ninjago 70618 Destiny's Bounty.
Read what advocates AustinPowers has to say about 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V and Mister_Jonny about 70618 Destiny's Bounty after the break, then cast your vote!
If you've not yet voted in the first, second and third bouts, there's still time to do so. Voting for all four of today's matches will end at 8am BST tomorrow.
21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V
Why should you vote for 21309 Apollo Saturn V?
Well, there's actually hardly one good reason not to.
For starters, the build is awesome, there are so many great and ingenious techniques used it's mind-boggling. The final result, while highly accurate to the source material, is so sturdy that it is even swooshable! Hard to believe for a set this size, but absolutely true. I've tried it myself :-)
Then there's the features. You can basically reenact the entire voyage with all its stages, from before the launch right up to recovery from the splash-down at the end. So, while it is a tremendous display piece it is also a cool play set in its own right.
Lastly there's the educational aspect as well as the source material itself. I mean, this is the vehicle that made possible one of the greatest moments in human history, and just looking at this set in front of me right now gives me goosebumps of excitement when I think about those images of Neil Armstrong setting his foot on the Moon.
And if all that wasn't enough, it has the most awesome tongue-in-cheek piece count of any set I know, and boasts an RRP that's incredible value for money.
Seriously, which set can offer so many varied positives all in one package? Best set since 2000? I think this would even deserve a place among the best LEGO sets ever.
70618 Destiny's Bounty
Although it didn't set the box office ablaze, The Lego Ninjago Movie inspired many wonderful Lego sets. 70618 Destiny’s Bounty is no exception, and it's one of the most interesting sets Lego have recently produced.
The most obvious selling point is the ship’s overall design. Before this version of Destiny’s Bounty came along, most of Lego’s big, complex ships were fairly conventional pirate ships. Those are all beloved models, and rightly so.
But Destiny’s Bounty is immediately striking both in comparison to Lego’s Pirates range, other Destiny’s Bounty models and even Lego models in general. Its large size and Asian inspiration allows for plenty of unique elements like the dual dragon figureheads, 'bamboo’ roofing and decorated fabric sails. There are also practical elements to consider like the working capstan, weapons storage and removable sections that make the set a joy to interact with.
Crucially, the ship’s attention to detail extends to every part of it. Planters on the deck, a compass on the helm, a dedicated ninja training area, both a bed and a toilet in the hull…there are plenty of things to uncover and appreciate, including multiple references to the Ninjago TV show. It’s this level of detail that have really elevated Lego’s larger sets in recent years, and on that front Destiny’s Bounty certainly delivers.
But, to be fair, detail in big Lego sets isn’t really a unique selling point any more. It’s not an unexpected bonus; it’s what we expect for the high prices these sets command. So what makes this set special?
One of Destiny’s Bounty’s best qualities is that it works well as both a play set and a display model. You can take it apart easily, and there’s plenty of places for minifigures to stand and things for them to interact with. If Lego is a toy first and foremost, Destiny’s Bounty meets that criterion without sacrificing appearance.
Another great feature of the set is its price. With an RRP of £109.99, Destiny’s Bounty wasn’t exactly cheap. But in comparison to other models it was excellent value for money, especially since it included the entire Secret Ninja Force (and the fabled Ultimate Weapon) into the bargain.
Ultimately, however, Destiny’s Bounty’s crowning achievement is its impressively broad appeal. It crosses many of the usual boundaries for a set’s target audience; it’s ideal for young fans, old fans, and even people who’ve never seen the show or movie in their lives. Within my own family it’s considered a jewel of my collection, and when we consider what inspired it—a movie squarely targeted at Lego’s younger fans—it’s nothing short of a miracle. I cannot recommend it enough.
Cast your vote!
Having read the above, which of these two sets do you think should go through to the quarter-final for a chance to be crowned "best set of the millennium" ?
That's the last bout for today. Voting for this one will remain open until 8am BST Tuesday morning and I will announce the result shortly after.
91 likes
71 comments on this article
One small vote for Brickset...
this is gonna be a difficult one
Noooooo!!! How can I possibly choose in this one?
Oh, cruel fate. The only way to win is not to play.
Oh man, another one where I have both. I haven’t completed Destiny’s Bounty yet but it gets my vote. I love that set and can’t wait to assemble it. Saturn V is cool but wasn’t my cup of tea.
My first Brickset comment, which fittingly is in support of the first Lego set I’d bought since the 1980’s; the might Saturn V.
I bought it from a love of space, not realising how good a set it was until building other since then with my son who has just begun his Lego journey (we’ve been buying mostly Jurassic World and Hidden Side).
From my point of view, it’s already the best Lego set since the mid 80’s Space sets.
You spelled my name wrong! (Though in all fairness, people IRL usually do...)
Houston, we do NOT have a problem. 21309!
Thanks to AustinPowers and Mister_Jonny!
Another tough choice here. I've built both and can agree that both builds are incredible fun to construct.
I enjoyed TLNM, however, The Saturn V rocket gets my vote. It's such a significant human achievement and the LEGO depiction is nothing short of breathtaking too. I believe the set deserved a longer run on shelves, possibly a perennial one.
I have both sets, and while Destiny's Bounty is a very good set, the Saturn V rocket is just on another level. An excellent, interesting and intricate build, very sturdy, all the different sections, and it makes a perfect display model for even the smallest of spaces. It could well be my set of the millennium.
"Swooshable" lol I love it. Both advocates made excellent cases but I gotta go with the rocket on this one.
I think the best thing about the Saturn V is that its piece count is '1969', the year Apollo 11 landed on the moon.
Ironic.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"You spelled my name wrong! (Though in all fairness, people IRL usually do...)"
Sorry, sorted!
Wow that was a very easy Vote for the Destiny's Bounty
I might be one of the few people that doesn’t like any of the realistic Space sets
man tough call! i have both but gotta go with DB
Hmm, these votes are a lot harder to make than I anticipated.
Destiny's Bounty - what a cool ship. Awesome movie and the best series of sets we've seen for ages.
This is the only head-to-head in which I own both sets, but I only nominated one of these in my top five: the Saturn V.
Destinys bounty is an amazing set, I highly recommend it and you dont have to be a Ninjago fan to love it, but I still voted for the Saturn V for all the reasons described, it’s mind blowing how it’s put together and the only set I have on display in my living room
No question for me.
The Bounty is just beautiful, the rocket is.... Just a rocket.
Oh, goodness.
The realistic space sets, while cool, never really interested me, and I breathe Ninjago so this is an easy call for me!
The Destiny's Bounty gets my vote. The Saturn V is amazing, but I own the Destiny's Bounty and it's absolutely my favourite set.
The Saturn V is an amazing set and amazing human achievement. Kudos to the fan designer and lego designers for making it a reality.
But the bounty has so much more life to it IMHO. From the greenery to the objects inside to the completeness of it (there is full interior with a usable bed and a bathroom in the ship!), it is an amazing set.
Again, personally I try to look at sets without the broader connotations of what they depict. Otherwise a recognisable model would always win from an original idea simply because recognition makes you like it more. And in this case, I think the Saturn V would lose a lot if it wasn't the Saturn V. However, the bounty would still be an amazing deal if it wasn't from the Ninjago Movie.
Don't get me wrong, as a model the sheer stability, size and small details of the Saturn V are amazing. But personally I prefer more intimate, varied builds. That is why I eventually had to cut the knot for this difficult choice and went with the Destiny's Bounty.
The Saturn V is such a well made set. The craftsmanship of it, and how it all fits and comes together is amazing. One of the best Lego sets ever in my opinion. Destiny’s Bounty is awesome, and has amazing detail. But the Saturn V is just marvelous.
@xcrossx said:
"No question for me.
The Bounty is just beautiful, the rocket is.... Just a rocket. "
I agree, to me, this is just a white pencil versus one of the greatest Lego ships ever created.
Whoaaaa this is tough. I have both of them and love both of them. Saturn v is so amazing but my vote might have to go to destiny’s bounty for the variance in colors and parts. What a tough match up!
I know which set I'm expecting to win this poll...
But it's not the one I'm voting for. While I'm sure Saturn V is going to be the far and away winner here, I just... I dunno. Binnekamp and Zeb, above, summed it up better than I ever could, I think; the Bounty just has so much more *appeal* in my eyes, where the spaceship looks kinda bland to me. I'm sure that's accurate to the source material, but it doesn't leap out to me as something I'd want to buy, even if I could afford it.
Or, I dunno. Maybe I'm just one of those 'realistic space isn't my cup of tea' type guys. That could be it too xD
This one is a difficult one. I’ve spent the longest time trying to pick a winner here. I’ve chosen other more creative sets over the Star Wars sets for depicting reference material. In some sense that’s the case of Destiny’s bounty so it’s a difficult choice.
I love the design and build for Saturn V, plus the concept and 1969 reference. Once built it is massive but also tricky to display. Destiny’s bounty is also a great build, lovely techniques, and wins me over only very slightly as a beautiful display piece.
Overall though, for me, these two sets would lose out to any of the other sets in the other rounds.
Argh, this is the most difficult one yet!!
This was the most easy, I chosed the Destiny's Bounty.
I own both of these but have built neither yet. But for me a great pirate ship will always be far more appealing than a great rocket ship!
The Saturn V! One of the few sets that I really, really wanted, and couldn't wait to start building. It's still in one piece. And while building it was still exciting.
Destiny's Bounty is also very nice looking, but so far I have only taken it apart after buying it second hand. So still waiting for the building experience there.
I know there's the argument that "a rocket is just a rocket", but it's actually a really incredible challenge that they have been able to integrate very interesting build techniques to make the varying diameter cylindrical sections. It's an excellent set to build, in addition to being one of the most impressive and recognizable display pieces.
This is a tough one because they're both such great sets! I voted Saturn V because Lego hadn't done anything like it before and its cylinder techniques have become the de facto standard for most large rocket MOCs ever since. While the Bounty is one of the best Lego sailing ships ever released, it's not nearly as unique in Lego's portfolio and it didn't introduce any new building techniques.
Saturn V for me.
It works wonderfully as both a play and display set, is excellent value relative to its size, is an iconic design and surprisingly educational during the build. On top of all that, it achieves the elusive roundness that is normally so difficult with Lego.
Of the hundreds of LEGO sets I own, the Saturn V is the only set I have on display for guests. It transcends being a LEGO set to become something greater.
Saturn V - no contest!!
Reviewed it. Bought it. Bought it again for others x2 still built. No other set has this status!
The Saturn V will reach the final no matter which opponents it faces, and probably win the prize.
I love Destiny’s Bounty and all the sets in the top 16, but 21309 is my all time favorite LEGO set.
This is another tough one for me. I have a feeling that Saturn V is gonna win this one, but to me I think Destiny's Bounty is better. It's just a better looking model to me. Plus, I am not a fan of rockets and they look kinda plain to me. It just looks like a tall white tower from a distance. Destiny's Bounty, on the other hand, is pretty clear that it looks way more interesting and colorful. Just my 2 cents and again I do think Saturn V is gonna win this one, just not my cup of tea. If I have to pick just one model to display, I will have to pick a model boat rather than a rocket, which I think most ordinary people (include people outside of the Lego community) would agree. Many people have model boats in their home, pretty sure the same cannot be said for rockets.
Easy vote, destiny's bounty. The saturn V is an interesting build, but I dunno, looks a bit bland.
Fine, Saturn V, you can have my vote.
Thar said though, if it had been ANY date other than SPECIFICALLY the 20th of July, I'd have had to consider not voting at all.
Destiny's Bounty is one of my favourite sets ever.
Destiny's Bounty definitely has my vote. Saturn V is an incredible human achievement, but as a set it really only serves as a display piece. The Bounty, however, is the perfect combination of vehicle, playset, and display model. Nothing beats it!
Poor Destiny's Bounty. A great set that had to go against the greatest set of all time.
One consideration I always factor in are new and ingenious building techniques. The Saturn V is the pinnacle of this achievement to the point that a few of the other sets in the top 16 borrowed techniques from the Saturn V. It's legacy will live on for decades...
Love them both. But Saturn was a VERY repetitive build, and a piece that's almost impossible to display properly in a small apartment. DESTINY'S BOUNTY has pride of place atop our china cabinet, where it looks splendid. And it was such a fun build.
Saturn V all the way for me!!!
I have the bounty and have seen the Saturn V in person. The Saturn is a truly amazing build, massive, realistic, feature rich. But for me, the bounty has colour, style and crucially play value. I may be too old to play like I used to now, but when I look at the destiny’s bounty it makes my imagination run. reminds me of my youth in the 80’s and 90’s with pirates.
Destiny’s bounty for me.
Unpopular opinion: Saturn V was never a high priority for me. Destiny’s Bounty however, even though the film was pretty meh, is one of the most beautiful looking sets of all time!
This one's an easy one for me. The Ninjago set is a fine set. The Apollo Rocket is historically significant, accurate, has broad appeal, playable, amazingly designed, and looks fantastic on display. It was easily the first model I thought of when asked to submit models for this little competition. And there's also this: https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/d8npxa/lego_saturn_v_display/
Tough choice. I own both. As much as I love Saturn V, Destiny's Bounty blew me away when I built it.
This is a tough one. I've built both as a slow relaxing project and as a team speed build at BricksLA.
I loved Destiny's Bounty and it is full of great parts. But the technical building and sheer height of the Saturn really kind of weigh in its favor.
I may have to sit this one out.
Saturn V!
i have both, and love both. so vere difficult call.
buy i made my vote :P
Umm, this is a tough pick for me, ai chose Destiny Bounty and while I don't own either of these two it's such a beautiful set that can be in either a display manner or in a City diaroma.....
SPACE! Also, just a teensy bit bitter that they're doing stuff like the Destiny's Bounty after they skipped Sao Feng's Empress from PotC3. And by teensy, I mean massively.
@HandPositions:
Not ironic. Planned. As far as I'm aware, Saturn V is the only set ever released that includes an easter egg in the piece count. They actually had to swap out some large pieces for paired smaller pieces in the stands just to pull that off, as I think the original piece count ended up at 1967 or 1965.
@tgewin:
Indeed. Pulling off certain increments is easy, as it still works with the same core structure and all you have to do is add more or less filler to bulk it out. Others require you to design a completely new core that has zero similarities with the core above or below it. And has to connect to both. Tapered lighthouses are a giant pain for this same reason.
Space theme...meh.
Saturn V, no question.
The complexities and cleverness of its internal structure, as well as the work that went into making it buildable and the instructions easy to follow, is at the peak of what has been done in official sets.
Still kicking myself I didn’t pick up Destiny’s Bounty at the time.
@PurpleDave said:
"SPACE! Also, just a teensy bit bitter that they're doing stuff like the Destiny's Bounty after they skipped Sao Feng's Empress from PotC3. And by teensy, I mean massively.
@HandPositions:
Not ironic. Planned. As far as I'm aware, Saturn V is the only set ever released that includes an easter egg in the piece count. They actually had to swap out some large pieces for paired smaller pieces in the stands just to pull that off, as I think the original piece count ended up at 1967 or 1965.
@tgewin:
Indeed. Pulling off certain increments is easy, as it still works with the same core structure and all you have to do is add more or less filler to bulk it out. Others require you to design a completely new core that has zero similarities with the core above or below it. And has to connect to both. Tapered lighthouses are a giant pain for this same reason."
Don’t forget that 1969 pieces includes the brick separator, so technically the model has 1968 pieces!!! I’m sure you can add the spare spaceman to make it 1969 pieces.
Both sets are amazing but I chose NASA due to the outstanding education value represented, and the swoosh effects.
As a massive space fan that owns both sets it was an easy choice for me, Destiny's Bounty by a mile.
Tough one. I have both, and both sets are excellent in their own ways. But I have to pick the Saturn V here since it represents NASA's hard work and one of humanity's best achievements.
Saturn 5 - If it was Saturn 5 vs Ninjago City I coulda gone Ninjago City... but you know... guiltily
Saturn V by a mile... Although it may well depend on what you were doing in the early hours of the morning 51 years ago!
I own neither and don’t plan on getting either, although that doesn’t mean I don’t want them. I grew up with Classic Space and now I buy mostly Star Wars. It would seem logical to buy the Saturn rocket, but for some reason it just doesn’t appeal that much to me. It just looks too boring (although obviously it is very accurate). Destiny Bounty on the other hand looks anything but boring. I do own one pirate ship, the one from the LOTR line, and while I bought that entire line, I was particularly excited about the pirate ship which was one of my first purchases from the line. Ultimately I was a bit disappointed with its simplicity and shallowness. However Destiny Bounty adds the much needed depth to the hull and looks really amazing. My son is really into Ninjago and I did enjoy the movie. Destiny Bounty gets my vote.
I own neither and don’t plan on getting either, although that doesn’t mean I don’t want them. I grew up with Classic Space and now I buy mostly Star Wars. It would seem logical to buy the Saturn rocket, but for some reason it just doesn’t appeal that much to me. It just looks too boring (although obviously it is very accurate). Destiny Bounty on the other hand looks anything but boring. I do own one pirate ship, the one from the LOTR line, and while I bought that entire line, I was particularly excited about the pirate ship which was one of my first purchases from the line. Ultimately I was a bit disappointed with its simplicity and shallowness. However Destiny Bounty adds the much needed depth to the hull and looks really amazing. My son is really into Ninjago and I did enjoy the movie. Destiny Bounty gets my vote.
Saturn V ...great nostalgia, great subject matter, great build and great model. Thank you LEGO :)
Oooh, now here's a tough one. Chose Destiny's Bounty cause I prefer Ninjago over space, but I have a strong feeling Saturn V is gonna take the vote and run with it (and deservedly so).
The Saturn V set has some of the most intricate construction techniques I've ever seen, which is why I'm giving it my vote. And I absolutely don't care for Ninjago anyway.
I don't own either set, but both are on my wish list. That being said, if I can only ever end up acquiring one of these sets someday, it would without a doubt be the Saturn V. I have been interested in space exploration and science since I was little, so I think that's what mainly tips the scales for me. This version of the Destiny's Bounty is definitely the best and one of the best Ninjago sets ever made, but in the end my main interest in it is that it's just a cool ship.
Out of all 16 sets that are in the bouts, these are the 2 that I own, so it was really hard to choose