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LEGO Ideas River Steamboat Review with Video

by Thita (admin) on November 17, 2025

in LEGO Exclusives

(Written by William)

When the #21356 LEGO Ideas River Steamboat was first announced, I got very excited. I proposed to my wife on a riverboat cruise, so this one felt especially meaningful. But then I saw the $329.99 price tag. Fortunately, there was an opportunity to get the set as a review copy, so I got on board to see where it took me.

From the outside, it is really hard to determine exactly what type of set this is. There are no minifigures, so does that make it a scaled model? It has a paddle in the rear, so is it a working model? It looks really fancy, so is it a delicate model? Let’s try tackling this one section at a time and bring a bit more clarity.

LEGO IDEAS RIVER STEAMBOAT – WORKING ELEMENTS

The first thing to note is that this set has quite a few working elements. At the bottom of the boat, there is a wheel that drives the back half of the boat. This wheel will perform two functions at the same time. The first is that it makes the paddle in the rear move. The second is hidden away in a quasi-engine/museum section of the boat. There is a simulated piston on the port side of the boat that looks like it is operating the engine.

Also, inside this engine/museum compartment are a number of displays. One is an old-timey boiler, another is a mechanism that looks like it is demonstrating something, and the last is a sample of a different piston that you can turn and watch it operate.

Moving to the prow of the boat, there needs to be some way to get on and off the craft. To accomplish this, two working gang planks can be hoisted up and out of the way through a working pulley system. These work in tandem with one another, so they have to be operated at the same time. Also, at the front of the boat is the anchor. It is clipped in place, but can be released and operated with a vertical wench.

As for the last working element, it is the rudder. This was rather surprising since most watercraft LEGO makes don’t have a working rudder. In order to accomplish this, there are a series of three gearbox connections and a lot of piecemeal axles. The back rudder section is built directly into one of the gearboxes in order to slow the turning reaction down.

The next gearbox is found deep in the hull of the boat around the mid-section. This just changes the direction of the axle from horizontal to vertical. The final gearbox is up in the wheelhouse. This allows the steering wheel to actually turn the entire mechanism. Fortunately, they also added a decorative knob in front of the wheelhouse that also operates the steering mechanism.

The end result is a highly functional model. This is more comparable to the LEGO Icons vehicles series rather than any other LEGO ship or boat. The closest model I could think of is the #21317 LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie set. That is only because it had a drive wheel under the boat, which moved the paddles and the steam stacks at the top. But by no means would I call that set functional. So, this is a LEGO Icons vehicle, then, right? Well… not really.

LEGO IDEAS RIVER STEAMBOAT – MODEL SCALE

It is safe to say, minifigure scale models can be a bit all over the place. This is partly due to shortcuts made in order to build something within a reasonable size. With that said, this model is probably just a tiny bit under minifigure scale. Everything is just a little bit tight.

But here’s the weird thing. I’ve been on several riverboats, including paddleboats. Those boats are just a little too cramped for comfort. Passageways are narrow, ceilings aren’t very high, and stairs can be downright claustrophobic. In other words, I think this model is actually perfectly scaled for minifigures.

If that wasn’t confusing enough, the model does detailed interiors for all the spaces on the boat. In doing so, there are plenty of scenes that are perfectly suited for minifigures, which only reinforces my opinion. So, then this is definitely a minifigure model, right? Well… again, not really.

I think the problem comes down to the fact that this set is not an easy model to play with. Minifigures are often the representation of how fans can play with finished models. The best you can do with this particular one is pose your characters in various locations to simulate something happening. That is probably why most of the flooring in the model is tiled. It avoids the concept of minifigure play.

LEGO IDEAS RIVER STEAMBOAT – WHAT’S ON BOARD

With how tight the quarters are in this set, it may be hard to make out what is in each cabin. So, let’s go floor by floor and talk about what is in each section of the boat.

On the first floor, there are two separate compartments. The front section is the galley. This has an oven and stove, along with a sink and refrigerator. There are some random pots along with some cooking utensils, including a cleaver and a whisk. Sadly, the fridge does not open up. The door to the galley is near the front of the boat on the starboard (right) side of the boat.

The rear section of the first floor has a door on the port (left) side. Inside this compartment is a museum/engine room. There are three displays to demonstrate the principles of how a steam engine works. There is also a clear railing that shows off a piston that works while the boat is moving. In this section, there are three stickers. Two of these stickers look to be diagrams of a steamboat. The third sticker is a tiny “Caution” sign to warn passengers not to mess with the working engine.

Moving up the stairs at the front of the boat takes us to the second floor. Both the door facing the front of the boat and the one facing the port side lead into the same area. This is an eating section with two dining tables. Lamps with ornate lampshades stick into this area, which can make things hard to see. It is interesting to note that the tops of the tables are built upside-down, leaving room for some creative part usage. I also like the backs of the chairs made of LEGO Technic cams. This is a teardrop-shaped element with lots of holes for axles. As a chair back, this element looks amazingly realistic with an elaborate open weave design.

Moving to the stern of the boat, we enter a hallway with three additional stickers. On the starboard wall are two posters. One is a menu of what is on offer from the galley. The other poster is an advertisement for a jazz band that performs on the boat. On the port side wall, there is a wide landscape picture. Finally, in the rear-most section of the second floor is a small dance area with side tables for refreshment and a small stage featuring a bass guitar, drum set, and saxophone.

To get to the third floor, you can either walk on the outside path on either side of the boat. The stairs leading up to the top deck are built into the wall of the second floor. Exiting on the top deck allows passengers to enjoy a fairly clear view around the boat. On this deck, there are a number of tall structures that are secured with lines. This is also where you see a faux skylight as well as a wench for the gangway. This floor also has a small two-compartment interior section. Both doors are found on the starboard side of the boat. The rear compartment is a sleeping area for the crew. It consists of two bunks and little else. The other compartment is the bathroom. This contains a shower complete with a towel bar, a toilet with toilet paper, and a sink. The mirror over the sink is the final sticker in the set. It is also interesting to see a minifigure pen being used as the sink’s faucet. It is disturbing just how many windows look into this bathroom.

Finally, to reach the fourth and final level of the boat, you can climb ladders on either side of the bunk compartment. This leads up to a door that opens up to the boat’s steering compartment. Turning this wheel will turn the rudder. Fortunately, the gauges on the control panel are printed and don’t require a sticker.

LEGO IDEAS RIVER STEAMBOAT – FINAL THOUGHTS

This set is an amazing build. It is much more thorough in its design than I was expecting. All the small details really give builders a sense of creating something intricate. At times, I felt I was sort of building a LEGO Modular Building with the amount of detail that was being put into the set. And with the addition of the working mechanisms, you get a boat that has been much more pleasurable to build than others I’ve put together. I’m comparing sets like the #10294 LEGO Ideas Titanic and the #910010 LEGO BrickLink Designer Program Great Fishing Boat in this category.

Despite it being the best boat I’ve built in recent memory, it does have some issues. The price point, for one, is not something you can easily overlook. Don’t get me wrong, you do get a lot of parts in this model. In fact, I was shocked to see over 170 white telescopes that help make up the railing for the second and third floors, but the parts that are lacking are glaring. This really feels like it should have had some minifigures. Since it doesn’t, I know a whole host of fans are immediately not interested.

So, where does this leave us? Probably with the fans who picked up models like the #10294 LEGO Ideas Titanic and the #10335 LEGO Icons Endurance. The nautical buffs finally get a boat to go along with the various ships they’ve been collecting. I’d also think it might be interesting for those who have been collecting the LEGO Icons vehicles. This is a smaller scale, but it does have all the characteristics of those types of sets. I personally think this is going to be one of those amazing build experiences that the majority of builders will not experience, which is a shame. Though if you are planning to build your own boat and plan to have a fairly large scale, this might not be a bad option for a parts-pack to start your big project. You can even build it before breaking it down for parts. Ultimately, this is going to be a niche model that I can recommend as a great building experience, but I will admit its price is prohibitive, especially given the other options LEGO has out there currently. In the video below, I talk about the set in a bit more detail so you can decide for yourself.

Impressive set, isn’t it? If you would like to check it out, along with other currently available LEGO ship models, visit the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.

What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Ideas River Steamboat? Do you have the set already? Feel free to share your thoughts and own reviews in the comment section below!

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LEGO Ideas Minifigure Vending Machine Review

by Thita (admin) on November 15, 2025

in LEGO Exclusives

(Written by William)

The #21358 LEGO Ideas Minifigure Vending Machine has been on my short list to buy as soon as it was revealed, and I guess other people felt the same, as the set kept going in and out of backorder. Also, the $179.99 price tag did give me pause. Eventually, I was able to get it for review, build it, and share my thoughts with you.

What interested me the most was the mechanism of the machine, but the set is also very popular with minifigure collectors. An amazing 16 minifigures are included in the set! The bottom line is that the set has some rather compelling features. But is it $179.99 good? Let’s find out!

LEGO MINIFIG VENDING MACHINE – THE MINIFIGS

I don’t plan to go over every minifigure in the set, as it has been out long enough. It’s easy enough to find information on all the characters. Some might even point out that several of the minifigures have duplicate copies, like the spacemen and knights. The interesting thing is that even when the minifigs repeat, they still have some unique features like accessories or male/female versions. Although the differences may be minor, the bottom line is that you get 16 distinct prizes in the machine.

This brings me to the matter of value. The best comparison is the LEGO Collectible Minifigure Series. They come in sets of 16 different characters. Granted, the LEGO Collectible Minifigure Series offers more variety, including larger elements like costumes, surfboards, and spears, but overall, it evokes the same novelty as this lot of characters.

Generally, even bland LEGO Collectible Minifigures hold their retail price of around $4.99. So, if we say that the vending machine has a full set of normal minifigures, that would equate to an $80 evaluation. That means the machine itself would need to be worth around $100, and with new elements like the prize bubbles, 90-degree curved clear wall panels, and a novel mechanism, I think the set lives up to its price.

LEGO MINIFIG VENDING MACHINE – THE MECHANISM

One way I like to judge a mechanism is by examining all the challenges it needs to overcome. So, let’s identify the challenges in this set. First, it needs to only operate if it has a coin inserted. This brings up three challenges of its own. The crank cannot move counter-clockwise; it can’t move clockwise unless it has a coin, and it has to be ready to receive a coin.

Next, the machine will need to drop one, and only one prize. Then, the machine needs to be able to reload itself to repeat the prize dispensing action. Finally, for convenience, you need the machine to have a nice way to retrieve prizes and spent coins, plus adding in that ratchet sound wouldn’t hurt either. Would you believe it? LEGO designers managed to do all this with only two rotating sections!

Before detailing how this was all done, I do want to point out some smart design decisions in general. When moving an object, like a prize bubble, it is very handy to visualize the path it will need to travel. While building the set, I noticed LEGO designers colored this path in black. This means the designer can easily look at the model in action and follow how well the design follows the path. Pathing will never be a solution to a problem by itself, but it is a fantastic tool to diagnose any issue and thus quite useful.

As for the working elements, the set has two rotating sections. One is horizontal while the other is vertical. There are other elements that move and interact with these two sections, but these additional features are passive and only react when the conditions are right.

Let’s start with the horizontal section. This contains the handle you turn, the coin slot, and two gears. Additionally, the coin slot has a latch that prevents the section from turning clockwise unless a coin pushes it out of the way. The coin slot also has a small chute off to the side, allowing the coin to exit the machine.

Moving along the section, we come to the first gear. This gear has a LEGO Technic T-connector pressed into its teeth. The connector is held in place with a rubbery lift-arm element. This setup lets the gear turn freely in a clockwise direction, but it will bind up the gear if you try to move counter-clockwise, plus it makes a ratchet sound as it clicks against the gear’s teeth. And the final gear is what turns the vertical section.

The vertical section has a few elements, but is fairly simple. First there is a circular platform with a wedge section cut out. This wedge section is just large enough to admit a single prize bubble. The other two elements are two cams with rubber lift-arm connectors sticking out in different directions. These cams help push the prize bubbles along in order to reload the wedge with a new bubble. In case this doesn’t make sense, check out the accompanying video where I try to highlight these elements while the model is partially built.

LEGO MINIFIG VENDING MACHINE – FINAL THOUGHTS

With this set, my major reservation was the price. With all the expensive sets that are out there, can this one really stand up and be worth the $179.99 asking price? Frankly, I’ve been building sets recently around the same price point, the Shelby Cobra, the Transformers Soundwave, and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and I have to say this one feels better than all of those.

It looks great from every angle. It has more interesting minifigures than others at this price point. It has a mechanism that is interesting to build and fun to play with, but not impossible to construct. It has some new parts like the prize bubbles and clear panels that give some unique build options. And it does all this while giving some serious nostalgia vibes.

Then there is the collector angle. All the minifigures are collectible and nostalgic in their own right. Builders will love the repeat elements, making this set a great parts pack. And since it is an LEGO Ideas set, it probably won’t have a long shelf life before it is retired. Honestly, I’m considering picking another one up as an investment to sell later down the line.

Overall, I highly recommend this set. Your collection would have to be extremely specialized for it not to be a good fit. For instance, if you only collect cars or trains or LEGO BrickHeadz, this set might not be for you, but even if you only collect a certain IP like Star Wars, you can replace the minifigures with Star Wars characters. Even the side panels of the machine wouldn’t be hard to decorate in the style you prefer. In short, this is a prize you want for your LEGO collection! If you want to check it out, it’s available at the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.

What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Minifigure Vending Machine? Do you have the set already? Feel free to share your thoughts and own reviews in the comment section below!