The official, final version of the fan-inspired LEGO Ideas 21356 River Steamboat has been unveiled – and it’s the largest LEGO Ideas set yet.
LEGO Ideas 21356 River Steamboat was inspired by a concept from LEGO fan Aaron Hall. His model reached 10,000 votes on the LEGO Ideas platform and was then approved by the review panel. Senior Model Designer Marina Stampoli created the official version of the model.
It will launch on April 7, priced at £289.99 / $329.99 / €329.99. It is made up of 4,060 pieces, making it the largest LEGO Ideas set ever released. If you buy it between April 7 and 13, you can get a bonus freebie – 5009157 Ameilia Ticket Booth.
If you like free LEGO sets, Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine for adult fans, is giving away a FREE polybag with 12 and 24 month print subscriptions this weekend. Be quick though – the deal ends on March 3, 2025 at 8.00am UK time (unless stock runs out before then).
The enormous model is inspired by classic river steamboats that have been refitted for tourists. Each layer of the model can be removed, revealing a pilothouse, crew cabin, music stage and restaurant on the main deck, kitchen and museum.
Functional aspects include a working paddle connected to a steam engine and a rudder activated by the ship’s wheel.
“My fascination with LEGO boats began with [6285] Black Seas Barracuda, which captivated me with its intricate rigging for the masts and sails,” said Aaron. “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.”
“I started from the fan submission, because we try to be based on and respect the fan submission,” said Marina. “I like boats. I’ve been on many different boats in my life. I come from Greece, so we have a lot of connection with the sea, but I had never any experience with steamboats.
“[I did] my research. I tried to find something that I could connect to my own personality. I started with the exterior design from the fan submission. Then I thought about what could add more interest to me in the first place, then that would also be more interesting for the fans. So that was my process.”
You can learn more detail about the design process in our exclusive interview with Marina, which you will find in an upcoming issue of Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine for adult fans.
Upgrade your LEGO hobby! If you take out a subscription to Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine, you’ll get each issue first and at a discount, plus other perks including a free digital subscription and the chance to win LEGO prizes every month.
LEGO Senior Model Designer Marina Stampoli presents the details of 21356 River Steamboat
“First of all, the design is based on the fan submission by Aaron Hall from the US. We did a few changes on the design, mainly because we wanted the steamboat to be more universal. So we drew inspiration from steamboats from the Nile River, also from River Clyde in Scotland and from the Mississippi. Of course, that’s very iconic. The boat is supposed to be a 19th century boat that has been refurbished and is used for tours.
“We have very elaborate exterior details and also interior details that were inspired by the steamboats of that era. Steamboats were mostly used was the 19th century, so mostly around the 1850s. It’s a really nice display model. It’s very long, but it’s not wide, so it can fit on your shelf, hopefully.”
When the set is rolled along the table, wheels in the base drive the paddle at the back. “That was very important for us to include. Aaron was also very excited that we managed to include the functions. It’s very satisfying.
“Besides that, I was talking to a fellow designer who was building something similar. He [asks] me, ‘does your boat have steering?’ And I’m like, ‘no, but it could have.’ I decided to add the steering function. You can control the rudder down by the steering wheel in the pilot house. And if you don’t have tiny fingers, there’s also an alternative at the front, which makes it a bit easier.
“So we have a steering function and then we have the boarding stages for the passengers. We can raise them and lower them, there’s a tiny locking mechanism. We can rotate them so passengers can board, no matter which port you are in.
“Last but not least, all the floors are removable, so you can have full access to the interior. We have the pilot house here where the steering wheel is – and if we remove it, we see that strange thing.”
The strange thing is a new element with friction on one end and no friction on the other; that means that when you remove the top level, the non-friction side detaches from the Technic element below. When you put the top deck back, the new connector slots over the top of that Technic element and the function resumes. “That was very crucial to get the function working throughout all the removable floors.
“The first floor is the Texas deck. The Texas deck has the smokestacks where the smoke comes off from the boiler, then it has a crew cabin with a bunk bed and a full bathroom, because everyone loves bathrooms. It also has a very nice string going throughout it and no sewing skills needed.
“Then we have another [new] cross axle that we have to remove. We have the main deck and it includes a very luxurious restaurant. We also have a music stage that I will show you.
“I will also show you the bottom floor, we have the restaurant’s kitchen. [I am] a bit of a research nerd, so I wanted to include something around the history of steamboats. So we added a steam engine museum. We have a James Watt steam engine, then we have an aeolipile, which is from the Roman time and it’s supposed to be the first steam engine. We have a working LEGO piston, just for fun.
“Besides all that, on the interior of the museum you can also see the actual engine of the boat that’s working, made to look as accurate as possible. It’s made to look like a steamboat engine, like the original engine such a boat would have. The original fan submission had the boiler in the boiler room. We moved it to the interior of the hull so you see it as you build the boat, but then it’s covered to make room for the rest of the interior.
“We also have a few easter eggs for the fan designer, the first is [the name] – Ameilia is the fan designer’s daughter. Most ships have female names, so what better than to include the fan designer’s daughter?”