Dinosaur Fossils

I have been building LEGO sets since I was 5, but this set is much harder than any other set I've ever built. I still consider myself an Expert Builder, but it was still very difficult and fun. I very much see why it's 16+, but I think it would be okay for any kid down to about 12.5, depending on how patient, gentle, and focused your child is on getting this done. Anyone who looks at my previous reviews will realize I am obsessed about the LEGO Jurassic World theme. When I saw this set I knew I needed it. (In the movie, Jurassic World, Main Street is lined with several dinosaur skeletons, and a fun laugh for intense fans is that the T Rex absolutely destroys the Spinosaurus one.) I got this for my birthday, and opened it soon after starting the LEGO Jurassic World Indominus Rex vs Ankylosaurus. The Pteranodon is okay for even down to age 7, in my opinion. It has moving parts at almost every joint, and is even removable around the connection to the movable display pole. The others are much harder to build. The triceratops is on the largest stand, so large that in order to put it on a baseplate, I had to rebuild most of the base and legs. The hips were fragile, but the rest of this was pretty strong. Not like, play-strong, but strong enough for a dinosaur skeleton for older kids that is literally attached to the base. I do wish it wasn't leaning down in the dog-like "Do you want to play?" position, so it could be in an action pose, but I guess it could be about to jab the T Rex. The T Rex was extremely difficult, but completely worth it. Not only is it extremely accurate, but it has a 8-jointed tail, a 3-jointed neck, movable fingers, elbows, shoulders, and jaw. My only problem with the T Rex skeleton, is the clip joint on the neck is very loose, and always leans down. I would, on a normal set, simply edit that joint with my variety of extra pieces, but I don't want to make this set no longer anatomically correct. It can still roar down, but not up without looking awkward. However, I still give this model a 5/5. In entirety, this was an amazing set that was very much worth the challenge. I can't comment on the price because it was a gift, but I am pretty sure it would have been worth it. more less

Overall, it's great that they've included these dinosaurs, but I would have liked to have seen more of a tie back to the original submission. To me, this seems like way too much of a deviation away from the project, and a whole different set. The parts that are included are more than enough to make a different dinosaur if you wish, and the displayed versions look extremely cool, especially if you're a dino fan. It's a good price and a good build. more less

I do like the overall look of them. My favorite is probably the Triceratops but I don't like that the feet don't actually connect to the legs. All three are at a 1:32 scale so it's accurate and cool to have it displayed on a desk or shelf. I'm now wondering if LEGO will do any expansion packs to this set to include the other dinosaurs. more less

I wasn't expected much from this set, it's basically a mass of white elements and often stuff with bones in, can be a bit of a ‘clipfest', with less building. So I have been pleasantly surprised by the set, it looks great, making it a great display piece and there is actually a decent amount of building across the set. more less

These models certainly include some wonderful detail and look attractive on display but I think there is some potential for improvement. The skeletal structures appear very bulky when compared with actual skeletons and including further supports would have removed the need for such robust cores. more less

The limitations of LEGO bricks and requirements for stability must have made designing 21320 Dinosaur Fossils quite the challenge, yet once again the LEGO Ideas theme has provided something completely unique that will look attractive on the shelf. Much like LEGO Architecture sets, these distinctive white builds have a stylish quality that makes them feel more like a display piece than a toy. Capturing these dinosaur fossils as they look while retaining the essence of the creatures, this is a set that dinosaur enthusiasts are unlikely to regret buying. more less

Readers of this review will certainly have sensed that I have many issues with this set, not least of which is the accuracy of naming for both the set itself (pterosaurs are not dinosaurs) and most obviously the Styrachosaurus labeled as a Triceratops, as well as the shining white color of the skeletons. At the same time, the fun of the build is in assembling anatomically accurate skeletons of extinct creatures, not in innovative building techniques with new parts. In reality, perhaps my annoyance with these inaccuracies is because I really love this set. There's obviously deep care that both the fan designer and in-house LEGO design team have taken to ensure LEGO builders have an opportunity to recreate and display fantastic LEGO dinosaurs and a pterosaur. more less

With no new elements, no new colours and lots of parts that are easily purchased on the secondary market, I would not recommend this as a parts pack to MOC builders unless you like the kind of White elements offered. This is a build and display set although I imagine quite a few LEGO Natural History Museums will be under construction soon to house these fine specimens. more less