One of the most anticipated LEGO sets that was just released is the #21304 LEGO Ideas Doctor Who set. Designed and submitted to LEGO Ideas by LEGO fan Andrew Clark, the project quickly gathered the necessary 10,000 public votes, and was approved by LEGO to become an official LEGO set. The final design was revealed back in November (see: LEGO Ideas Doctor Who Set Revealed!) and it is now available at the Online LEGO Shop. So let’s talk about this beauty. 🙂
First of all, here is the official description of the set: Build, display and role play with Doctor Who! Construct a stunningly detailed LEGO version of the iconic TARDIS and role-play the Doctor’s time-travel adventures! Created by fan-designer Andrew Clark and selected by LEGO Ideas members, this set is based on the BBC’s popular and long-running television series about a Time Lord – the Doctor – exploring the universe in a blue police box. Due to trans-dimensional engineering, the TARDIS is bigger on the inside than the outside and this cool multifunctional set includes the console room that houses all the flight controls. Regenerate the Doctor and defeat the evil Daleks and a Weeping Angel with the help of his extraordinary companion Clara. Then close the doors of the TARDIS and launch into another dimension! Includes 4 minifigures with assorted accessory elements: the Eleventh Doctor, the Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswald and a Weeping Angel, plus 2 Daleks. 623 pieces. Price: $59.99 – BUY HERE
- Features an opening TARDIS, detachable interior console room with assorted flight controls, exclusive graphic details and steps.
- Build an authentic replica of the iconic TARDIS time machine in LEGO bricks!
- Great for display or role-playing scenes from the TV series.
- Accessory elements include the Eleventh Doctor’s Fez and the Doctor’s signature accessory – The Sonic Screwdriver for the Twelfth Doctor.
- The Doctor fits inside the TARDIS when closed.
- Includes a booklet about the fan-designer and the BBC television series.
- The perfect gift for LEGO and Doctor Who fans of all ages!
- TARDIS measures over 4” (11cm) high, 2” (6cm) wide and 2” (6cm) deep.
- Console room measures over 5” (14cm) high, 6” (16cm) wide and 8” (21cm) deep.
- TARDIS with console room measures over 5” (14cm) high, 6” (16cm) wide and 9” (23cm) deep.
Just like all other LEGO Ideas sets, this one comes in a special high quality box with an opening lid (works great as a storage box), and a high quality instruction book. The book includes not just step-by-step instructions for building the set, but also information about the Doctor Who television series, as well as the story itself: “The Doctor is a Time Lord who travels through time and space solving problems and battling injustice across the universe. His old and occasional unreliable time machine, the TARDIS, looks like a small British police box on the outside, but is much, much larger on the inside. As a Time Lord, the Doctor cannot die; instead he ‘regenerates’ into a new body and takes on a new personality each time. The cult BBC science fiction series, Doctor Who, first made its appearance in 1963 and is still immensely popular more than 50 years later, after 800 episodes and 12 different Doctors.”
The back of the book shares a bit about Andrew Clark who submitted the original project, as well as LEGO’s Product Designer Samuel Johnson and LEGO’s Graphic Designer Adam Corbally who worked on the final design of the set. I always liked this section in the LEGO Ideas books because it makes the sets all the more special. Having an idea submitted by a LEGO fan made into an official LEGO set is really awesome, and it deepens the connection between the LEGO fan community and the company. A unique and bold idea not many companies dare to do.
The minifigures included are the Eleventh Doctor, the Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswald and a Weeping Angel. And you also get two Daleks. The printing on all of the minifigures is super detailed, kind of like what we have seen in the #21302 LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory; torsos and heads printed front and back, and for Clara Oswald the legs are made of two different color plastic and also printed. Too bad that on the Eleventh Doctor the suit falling over the legs doesn’t match the color of the rest of the suit. LEGO always had a problem printing light colors on darker backgrounds, but with the technology available today, they should have this fixed by now. Even small LEGO customizers do a better job. Having said that, the minifigures are otherwise excellent, especially the Weeping Angel. The two Daleks are fine too, and you can use your own LEGO elements to make more of them.
I’m very impressed with the design of the set itself, especially how the TARDIS opens, and that the inside of the TARDIS can be connected to the outside. I can’t think of a better way the smaller outside and bigger inside of the TARDIS could be represented in LEGO. Also, the fact that all the decorated parts are printed is a huge plus. Below I will share with you the review of the set by JANGBRiCKS. He will show you the set and the minifigures in more detail.
In summary, I would say that this set is excellent in more than one way. The TARDIS is unmistakable and looks really good by itself. It would even make a perfect display on a desk or in the office. Having the interior of the TARDIS included adds a lot of playability for younger LEGO fans to enjoy. The minifigures are great, although there is always going to be some argument about which Doctor should have been included. But it would not be possible to please everyone in that regard. With Doctor Who also being part of LEGO Dimensions, it is possible that LEGO will release sets with other Doctors in the future. We shall see…
If you like what you see, the LEGO Ideas Doctor Who set is currently available directly from LEGO. Please note that this is a LEGO Ideas set, which means limited production and limited release. Popular LEGO Ideas sets often sell out fast, or become very hard to find. So don’t delay, especially if you want to get it for the holidays. You can find the set under the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Ideas Doctor Who set? Are you planning to add it to your collection? Or did you get it already? How do you like the set itself? And the minifigures? Feel free to share your own thoughts and review in the comment section below! 😉
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I got this set last week when I took my kids to the free mini-build at the Lego Store. I’m not a fan of Dr. Who, I never watch it. I wanted the set for its parts. Dark blue windows! And 24 of them!
The set was very fun to build. The tardis alone is outstanding, then add to that the inside time machine thing. Even someone with no appreciation for Dr. Who will like this set (like me). Although, I do recall in some forums that those who do watch the show like to gripe about the combination of the different characters represented by minifigs. That’s lost on me though. I thought it was a great set.
James, thanks for sharing. That’s pretty much how I view this set too. I’m not a Whovian at all, but I still love this set. I think both the Tardis and the inside of the Tardis has a great design. I use the Tardis in my Modular setup and I plan to use the inside of the Tardis (with some modification) as part of my space-station. 🙂
Yeah, the Tardis interior is full of excellent elements!
My set just arrived. I want to build it now but don’t have the time tonight. I barely have time for the advent calendar. Near the end of class in fact haven’t even opened the CITY one that I plan to build with my son. I’ll getting home after bedtime.
Sweet! Have fun building whenever you do get the time. 🙂
My family started working on this yesterday, my six year old loves the way the Tardis is put together and couldn’t wait to show me how it opens up which I thought was pretty neat. He already took off with the minfigures and Tardis so I will probably buy another set for myself
Yeah, the Tardis is awesome. The color, the design and how it opens are all so satisfying. I think multiples of this set is not a bad idea. 😀
That’s a cool set! I have my own army of Lego daleks as well. I used an incredibly simple design to just sort of give a detailed approximation of the character, thus I was able to conserve elements and build more quite easily.
Would love to see that. Although I like LEGO’s representation of the Daleks, I wish they were more round.
I’m really hoping that I can get this set (especially since LEGO Ideas sets can be a bit difficult to find in Australia). I have just started watching Doctor Who about a month ago, and I’m really enjoying it. The minifigures and the Tardis interior and exterior look really impressive.
I have heard about the LEGO fans in Australia/New Zealand having a really hard time getting LEGO sets. Hopefully when LEGO expands to Asia more, they will also include you guys. And yes, the Doctor Who set is awesome. 🙂
I bought this set last year & just put it together earlier this week. I love the Lego Doctor Who Tardis set & I’d love it more if by a fluke that some pieces were missing…the two small bricks with the hole that supports the dishes on the interior of the TARDIS doors are missing as well as one half of the Police Box sign. I suppose I’ll have to do a hunt for substitute bricks. No idea where I’ll find a Police Box Sign.
Ray, the set is already retired, so it is unlikely that you can get the missing printed pieces directly from LEGO, but you can pick them up on BrickLink. They only costs around 10 cents from various sellers around the world. Here is the list of all the pieces in the set. Scroll through it to find your missing pieces, then find the seller that is closest to you: https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=21304-1