The LEGO Apollo 11 Saturn-V Rocket was originally submitted by LEGO fans whatsuptoday and saabfan back in the fall of 2014. The project achieved the required 10,000 public votes by the end of the following year, and it was announced to become the next LEGO Ideas set in the summer of 2016. We have heard almost nothing about the set since then, but a couple of days ago LEGO finally released the following teaser-image on their Facebook page. So let’s talk about it! 🙂
As you probably know already, LEGO Ideas submissions are created by LEGO fans, and if the project is chosen to become an official LEGO set, LEGO’s own designers will fine-tune the model to meet LEGO’s strict quality standards, while also remaining as faithful as possible to the original idea.
The original submission of the LEGO Apollo 11 Saturn-V Rocket is large… very large. The rocket is one meter (or 130 studs) high, which translates to an approximate 1:110 scale. This would make it the largest LEGO Ideas set to date, and the tallest LEGO set ever. Because of this, fans of the model feared that LEGO designers will shrink the model down to be more in line with previously released LEGO Ideas sets. However, the 1,179 piece-count did fit under the maximum threshold specified in the LEGO Ideas guidelines, which gave some hope.
Fortunately, it looks like any fears were unfounded, as looking at the picture, it is clear that this model is going to be enormous. While we can only see the top section, it is pretty obvious that LEGO didn’t shave down the size, and we are going to get a glorious one-meter high rocket!
The original model also includes a number of authentic features: a removable 1st rocket-stage with the main rocket engine, a removable 2nd rocket-stage with rocket engine, a removable 3rd rocket-stage with the Apollo spacecraft, the Apollo spacecraft with the Eagle Lunar Lander and the Lunar Orbiter, the rescue rocket on top of the whole spacecraft, and two minifigure astronauts. While we can’t see any of these features on the teaser-image, based on how similar the top section is to the original submission, we can be fairly certain that the rest will be there as well.
As the real-life Apollo 11 Saturn-V Rocket broke a number of records and is still one of the most amazing spacecraft ever built, it looks like the LEGO Ideas Apollo 11 Saturn-V Rocket is going to break a number of records as well. Even though we have only seen the top section so far, feedback from LEGO fans and the general public has been overwhelmingly positive. We can’t wait for this rocket to launch!
The LEGO Ideas Apollo 11 Saturn-V Rocket is going to be available sometime in June. In the meantime, you can also check out the currently available sets originally submitted by LEGO fans under the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Ideas Apollo 11 Saturn-V Rocket? Are you excited? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉
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I hope it includes detailed minifigs of the 3 Astronauts. And hopefully they follow it up with minifig scaled CSM, LM, and rover sets.
Only two, it seems. They skimped out on this one… =P
Yeah, two. I hope they will be very nice though.
Yeah, that would be awesome, however LEGO’s policy is not to make a LEGO Ideas set into a series. Of course they can release compatible sets under LEGO Creator, if the Ideas set does really well.
I love all the greebling on the support arm! I know it’s just part of the picture, but I wish it was also included in the set. But either way, I can’t wait! Best set of the year (besides Assembly Square).
I love it.but I’m wondering how it will stay up and not fall over if there is no support.otherwise I can’t wait to buy it
Hm… that’s a really good question. It’s not mentioned in the original submission how the model stays upright, and we can’t see the bottom of the actual final product, so not sure. Maybe there will be an invisible arm hovering next to it like on the picture. 🙄
This set looks fantastic! I’m really curious to see how the splitting function will work, and also what Matthew said above about being able to stand up on its own. Can’t wait for June!
I submit a small correction in the names of the pieces as show in the picture. It looks like what is called the ‘Rescue Rocket’ is the pointy cylinder at the very tip top of the rocket assembly. It was actually called the ‘Launch Escape System’, or LES. No such thing as Rescue Rocket on the Saturn V. Its function was obviously Rescue – in case of a booster malfunction, but wasn’t called that.
Burdell, thanks for sharing that. Very interesting. I’m sure in the final LEGO set they will get the parts names right. Or at least we can hope so. 😀