We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Most Impressive Skeleton Model in 68 Million Years

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We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Most Impressive Skeleton Model in 68 Million Years

May 16,25

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, available exclusively at the LEGO Store, is a visually stunning and ambitious build. You're first taken aback by its size; this is a 1:12 scale model of a real T-Rex. The set, priced at $249.99, captivates with its scale and detail.

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex

Upon closer inspection, you'll notice the meticulous detail: the ribs are built at varying lengths to create a realistic rib "cage," while dark-colored bricks enhance the illusion of shadow, making the light-colored "bone" bricks stand out sharply. Despite its apparent complexity, the set is surprisingly easy to assemble, which only adds to its impressiveness.

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

As a child, I was fascinated by dinosaurs, particularly when visiting the American Museum of Natural History where the towering T-Rex skeleton always caught my eye. Years later, Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" captured the thrill and awe of seeing something so unnaturally large with the following passage:

"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."

Like many, I initially believed the T-Rex stood upright with its tail dragging on the ground:

Source: American Museum of Natural History

However, scientific understanding has since evolved, revealing that the T-Rex stood with its spine parallel to the ground, using its tail as a counterbalance to its head:

Source: Field Museum

The photo above features "Sue," the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton discovered (90%). Discovered by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson, it revolutionized our understanding of the T-Rex's life and appearance. The tiny bones near the T-Rex's belly are called *gastralia,* which were initially omitted from public displays due to uncertainty about their placement. We now know they supported the T-Rex's breathing and lined its belly.

Source: Universal Pictures

The 1993 film *Jurassic Park* reflected the outdated perception of dinosaurs, showing a leaner T-Rex. However, discoveries like the gastralia have led us to understand that the T-Rex was much heavier, weighing nine to ten tons rather than five to seven, with a substantial belly close to the ground.

This life-sized model, based on Sue's bones, offers our most accurate depiction of a T-Rex:

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

It's chubbier and cuter than previously thought, isn't it?

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set reflects these scientific updates with its horizontal positioning. While it does not include the gastralia, the rib placement suggests a "barrel-chested" creature rather than the lean, efficient killing machine often depicted in popular media. The set also features forward-positioned arms, consistent with the updated display of Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago.

The set, comprising 25 sealed plastic bags, involves constructing the black stand first, followed by the T-Rex's backbone, neck, legs, hips, ribs, arms, tail, and head. The legs and torso are fixed, but the arms, head, and tail are adjustable and posable.

At nearly three-and-a-half feet long from tip to tail, this model may pose space concerns. It's best displayed on a wide, flat surface like a dresser or coffee table rather than a shelf between other shelves. Choose a location that complements its magnificence.

This set is part of LEGO's Jurassic Park franchise, including two minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original film, placed in front of the fossil on a stand attachment. The accompanying placard features the Jurassic Park logo. However, the franchise tie-in feels somewhat forced, as the set's name, 'Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex,' lacks any movie reference, and the instruction booklet even offers an option to display the skeleton without the minifigures and placard.

This tie-in feels superfluous because a T-Rex model of this size, scope, and price will sell itself. It stands as a classy piece, akin to the LEGO Titanic build, which also did not rely on minifigure tie-ins. This set transcends mere movie memorabilia, offering a significant and impressive display piece.

LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Set #10335, retails for $269.99 and consists of 3011 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.