LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton Model Unveiled After 68 Million Years

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, available exclusively at the LEGO Store, is a visually stunning and ambitious build that captures the imagination of dinosaur enthusiasts and LEGO builders alike. This set, priced at $249.99, presents a 1:12 scale model of a real T-Rex that immediately impresses with its sheer size and detailed construction.

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex

19$249.99 at LEGO Store

Upon closer inspection, the set's intricacy is awe-inspiring. The ribs are cleverly designed at varying lengths to form a realistic rib "cage," and the use of dark-colored bricks to create shadows enhances the contrast against the light-colored "bone" bricks, making the skeleton pop. Despite its complexity, the set is surprisingly user-friendly to assemble, adding to its appeal.

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

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As a child, I was fascinated by dinosaurs, particularly the towering T-Rex skeleton at the American Museum of Natural History. This fascination was reignited years later when I read Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," a sci-fi short story about time travel that vividly describes the T-Rex:

"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."

For many years, popular culture depicted the T-Rex standing upright with its tail dragging on the ground:

Source: American Museum of Natural History

However, recent scientific discoveries have revised this image. The T-Rex actually stood with its spine parallel to the ground, using its tail as a counterbalance to its head:

Source: Field Museum

The above photo showcases "Sue," the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered, at 90% completeness. When Sue Hendrickson unearthed this specimen in 1990, it transformed our understanding of the T-Rex's anatomy. Notably, the *gastralia*—tiny bones supporting the T-Rex's belly—were initially omitted from public displays due to their mysterious placement. Now, we know these bones lined the T-Rex's belly, aiding in its respiratory system.

Source: Universal Pictures

The T-Rex from the 1993 film *Jurassic Park* reflects the outdated view of dinosaurs. While its body position is more horizontal and closer to current scientific understanding, it still appears lean. Thanks to the discovery of gastralia, we now recognize the T-Rex as a much heavier creature—nine to ten tons, rather than five to seven tons—with a substantial belly close to the ground.

The most updated and accurate depiction of a T-Rex, based on Sue's bones, showcases a more robust and endearing creature:

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set aligns with these scientific updates, presenting the T-Rex in a horizontal position. Though it does not include the gastralia, the rib positioning suggests a "barrel-chested" form, contrasting with the lean, efficient predator often seen in popular media. The set's arms are positioned forward, reflecting the updated display of Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Comprising 25 sealed plastic bags, the assembly process starts with building the black stand, followed by the backbone, neck, legs, hips, ribs, arms, tail, and finally, the head. The legs and torso are fixed, but the arms, head, and tail are adjustable and posable.

With a length of nearly three-and-a-half feet from tip to tail, this model demands significant space. It's best displayed on a wide, flat surface like a dresser or coffee table, where it can truly command attention.

Although part of the LEGO Jurassic Park franchise, the set's connection feels somewhat forced. It includes minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original Jurassic Park film, along with a Jurassic Park logo placard. However, the set's name and instructions offer an option to remove these elements entirely, emphasizing the model's standalone appeal. This set, like the LEGO Titanic, stands on its own merit without needing movie tie-ins.

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