LEGO - Ideas - 21321 International Space Station

The Lego International Space Station is lots of fun to build and is filled with creative details and surprises. For kids and adult of all ages, you will enjoy putting this together but, beware that if you get the ISS as your first Space themed piece, you will feel compelled to also get the Apollo Lander, the Saturn V and the Discovery Shuttle; all awesome pieces. So if your looking to reignite your love for Lego as a kid, have kids and want to share your love for Legos or just love Space, then the ISS is a great lego set for your collection. Lots of fun and highly recommended!!

My boyfriend got me this set on my birthday and it might just be my favorite thing because I am studying space in university. The little docking stations, movable arms and tiny astronauts make the set absolutely complete. However, these are small pieces and took me about 6 hours to build. It’s about 2.5 ft big and a wonderful addition to any collection! It also comes with a. Space shuttle and the quality and printing details are absolutely top notch as someone who is completely obsessed with space.

A Wonderfully Accurate Model

I am a space enthusiast and a LEGO enthusiast so this was the perfect set for me (I already have the Saturn V rocket and I'll be building the Lunar Module tonight!) As soon as I found out there was going to be a LEGO model of the ISS I knew I'd have to buy it and I was pleasantly surprised by the price. For such an intricate model with nearly a thousand pieces, the price is pretty good.First of all, this is quite a fiddly model. Most people are stating that the build is easy (which is how I found it as well) but I assume those people, like me, a huge LEGO fans and no stranger to building these models. From the point of view of a sixteen year old (the recommended minimum age of the set) and perhaps someone who doesn't build as much as I do, I'd say the difficulty ... MoreI am a space enthusiast and a LEGO enthusiast so this was the perfect set for me (I already have the Saturn V rocket and I'll be building the Lunar Module tonight!) As soon as I found out there was going to be a LEGO model of the ISS I knew I'd have to buy it and I was pleasantly surprised by the price. For such an intricate model with nearly a thousand pieces, the price is pretty good.First of all, this is quite a fiddly model. Most people are stating that the build is easy (which is how I found it as well) but I assume those people, like me, a huge LEGO fans and no stranger to building these models. From the point of view of a sixteen year old (the recommended minimum age of the set) and perhaps someone who doesn't build as much as I do, I'd say the difficulty is average. You have to build the stand first and then you start the station. Once you've made a start, you have to mount the station on the stand and finish it there (which can be slightly tricky).As always, LEGO delivers on the detail and this model is a very accurate representation of the ISS. You have a space shuttle (now defunct, but it was essential in the station's construction), the Cupola window, the Canadarm, and what I'm guessing is a Dragon supply module. The set also comes with two astronauts in space suits and a third as a spare. I'm actually displaying mine with all three astronauts as there are typically three astronauts per crew (and two crews overlap for a total of six).What I've never understood about LEGO sets is how sometimes they come with stickers and other times they have pieces with the detail printed directly on the bricks. Well good news, this is one of the models where the bricks are printed so no stickers to apply this time!The build was fun throughout. I saw what was coming in the final bag of bricks, building eight separate solar arrays. It looked like one of those repetitive and boring jobs but I took the approach of building them all at the same time and it was actually surprisingly enjoyable. The model was finished quite quickly, though I wasn't rushing it.I loved this model and with all my others, I'll display it for a while before taking it apart again so I can build it in another year or so.

A fun build, plus so much more

A fun build, plus so much moreI have always been intrigued to watch the ISS (International Space Station) fly over my house, so when I saw this Lego Idea in a magazine, it was an impulse buy.I have not played with Lego for more years than I will admit to, so had no idea what I was letting myself in for.It arrived in a beautiful box, full of pictures of the finished product, and inside were 6 plastic bags, each full of a multitude of tiny LEGO parts in all shapes and sizes. Plus a nearly A4 sized booklet with 100 pages of instructions!There are 6 stages of completion, so I did one each day. It certainly took concentration to ensure I was adding the pieces correctly, and was fun to see it grow. Finger dexterity and a steady hand are required to add some of the ... MoreA fun build, plus so much moreI have always been intrigued to watch the ISS (International Space Station) fly over my house, so when I saw this Lego Idea in a magazine, it was an impulse buy.I have not played with Lego for more years than I will admit to, so had no idea what I was letting myself in for.It arrived in a beautiful box, full of pictures of the finished product, and inside were 6 plastic bags, each full of a multitude of tiny LEGO parts in all shapes and sizes. Plus a nearly A4 sized booklet with 100 pages of instructions!There are 6 stages of completion, so I did one each day. It certainly took concentration to ensure I was adding the pieces correctly, and was fun to see it grow. Finger dexterity and a steady hand are required to add some of the fiddly parts. Rectifying a mistake was a bit tricky if there was much to take apart. I soon learnt to really be careful to ensure I was getting it right!The model stands on its own stand, though needs careful handling to ensure bits don’t fall off!I loved this. Having read Endurance by Scott Kelly, about his year in space, my interest in the ISS has grown, so putting this together was fun and informative. As a result of this LEGO project I have now started a free MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) on An Introduction to Human Space Flight. I am keen to know more about the model I have built – like where the living quarters are, what the various parts purpose are etc, so I anticipate spending hours on the NASA site finding out more.5* from me, as by following the instructions carefully it assembled well and relatively simply. All the parts were present (thank goodness), and the instructions were clear and concise. Great value as building it has sparked my interest to know more about the ISS.

Docking Time

I've been on a Space kick of late and this one has been catching my eye for a while. I am glad I took the plunge and purchased the kit as it was a lot of fun to build. This starts with the instruction book that has a plethora of information on the I.S.S. which was interesting to read through before I started the build. One downside is the blue background of the instruction manual, I found it distracted from the build experience and made some of the diagrams hard to see - some are in a white background fly out and much clearer.One good thing about it is there are no stickers, everything is prepinted. With the number of tiles needed to create the solar panel fins this is a very, very good thing.As a completed figure it is enormous and much bigger than I expected. ... MoreI've been on a Space kick of late and this one has been catching my eye for a while. I am glad I took the plunge and purchased the kit as it was a lot of fun to build. This starts with the instruction book that has a plethora of information on the I.S.S. which was interesting to read through before I started the build. One downside is the blue background of the instruction manual, I found it distracted from the build experience and made some of the diagrams hard to see - some are in a white background fly out and much clearer.One good thing about it is there are no stickers, everything is prepinted. With the number of tiles needed to create the solar panel fins this is a very, very good thing.As a completed figure it is enormous and much bigger than I expected. Looks really good on display and it is really east to adjust the fins for the solar panels and also the white stabilisers.Very happy with the finished look and the sturdiness of it. Despite having a few issues when constructing it because I am ham fisted it was nicely rigid when carrying it upstairs to my display area.Number Of Pieces: 864Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.08Build Time: 2 Hours

Exquisite model of an international project...

An exquisite model by a truly international toymaker of a truly international subject! Just completed this having done the Aston Martin and the Saturn V after a 35-year abatement from Lego and thoroughly enjoyed this experience of what is a fascinating subject. Incredulous to read that this model suggestion was originally rejected! As often with Lego, I absolutely love the engineering standards of the construction. Some reviews speak of the delicacy and precariousness of the finished product, but I didn't have a problem, it is after all a model not a toy. I really like the intricate reproduction of the station's components. Having downloaded the NASA Reference Guide to the ISS (2015), I can see that most components have been captured somehow, are in the right place, ... MoreAn exquisite model by a truly international toymaker of a truly international subject! Just completed this having done the Aston Martin and the Saturn V after a 35-year abatement from Lego and thoroughly enjoyed this experience of what is a fascinating subject. Incredulous to read that this model suggestion was originally rejected! As often with Lego, I absolutely love the engineering standards of the construction. Some reviews speak of the delicacy and precariousness of the finished product, but I didn't have a problem, it is after all a model not a toy. I really like the intricate reproduction of the station's components. Having downloaded the NASA Reference Guide to the ISS (2015), I can see that most components have been captured somehow, are in the right place, and are often done as accurately as the limitations of Lego will allow. I'm particularly impressed by the Integrated Truss Assembly and the solar panels, but the various habitation modules are not too bad either. I only had two misgivings here: first the Kibo Module's Remote Manipulator System should be a little more substantial than the small grapple hook provided; and second, I don't like those flat domes on the underside of the Shuttle Orbiter. I have two other suggested improvements to this model. First, the longitudinal rods holding the Canadarm 2 in place should be longer without obstruction allowing the arm to slide as if on a rail like on the real ISS. Second, the instructions could have identified each major component and module, and maybe a bit about what it does and when it was launched. This would have enhanced the learning potential for the project, especially for younger builders, and also showed just how complex the undertaking was. This aside, I think this is an exquisite model. Hope to see more on the space theme, maybe a really good larger Space Shuttle Orbiter...?

Lego Space Station

These things are called "Legos". Made of small pieces of plastic in various shapes, sizes and configurations, these "building blocks" enable the user to assemble a previously designed and built model as indicated in a step-by-step instruction manual, or to go completely rogue and build monstrous designs of horrific scope and complexity that fall well outside the intent of the toys' designers. These individuals have been dubbed "Lego Maniacs" by the general public. You are advised to steer clear of these individuals; their manic behavior is easily transmittable.This particular set, while interesting, is actually a bit disappointing regarding its scale. A proper space station would have been best represented in a model two to three times this size; on scale with the ... MoreThese things are called "Legos". Made of small pieces of plastic in various shapes, sizes and configurations, these "building blocks" enable the user to assemble a previously designed and built model as indicated in a step-by-step instruction manual, or to go completely rogue and build monstrous designs of horrific scope and complexity that fall well outside the intent of the toys' designers. These individuals have been dubbed "Lego Maniacs" by the general public. You are advised to steer clear of these individuals; their manic behavior is easily transmittable.This particular set, while interesting, is actually a bit disappointing regarding its scale. A proper space station would have been best represented in a model two to three times this size; on scale with the traditional mini-figures would have been wiser that the micro-figure scale seen in this set. Still, it's a good deal for a creator set, and it will satisfy anyone who enjoys a space theme.

Super nice display piece

If you love space and LEGO, you will love this set. It is a stunning replica of the International Space Station, with realistic details and features. You can admire the solar panels, the robotic arm, the mini shuttle and the astronauts. It is a great display piece that will impress your friends and family.However, be warned: this set is not for the faint of heart. It is very fragile and delicate, and it requires a lot of care and attention. You cannot move it around or play with it, or it will fall apart. You need to find a permanent place for it, preferably away from children and pets. This is not a toy, it is a masterpiece.

This was my first ideas purchase and was well worth it!

Whilst this set is now sold out I wanted to provide my review on this fantastic set. I started getting into Lego this year and it has been incredible. I managed to pick this up back in January, and it was so amazing to build and is still up there with my top favourite Lego sets. The solar panel designs were repetitive but enjoyable, and the mid section of the ISS was detailed and required some patience for some parts. Overall definitely worth purchasing if you are able to find this back in stock at Lego Stores or other online retailers. 10/10 set for sure!

Very fragile

It was an easy build, although the model felt more and more fragile as it went.This set is rated for ages 16+, and I agree with that. Children definitely won’t have enough fine motor skill to make the build process enjoyable, and half the model will end up in the vacuum cleaner :) Also, you can’t build much else with the pieces. Although Mir space station and a space telescope or two are achievable :) Finally, there are just way to many tiny parts.As a display piece, this model is remarkably fragile. You’d need to guard it very diligently from the guests’, partner’s and children’s hands. Getting the dust off of it would be a non-trivial task. Also, the stand would need some redesign, because the model isn’t actually attached to it - it just balances on top of it ... MoreIt was an easy build, although the model felt more and more fragile as it went.This set is rated for ages 16+, and I agree with that. Children definitely won’t have enough fine motor skill to make the build process enjoyable, and half the model will end up in the vacuum cleaner :) Also, you can’t build much else with the pieces. Although Mir space station and a space telescope or two are achievable :) Finally, there are just way to many tiny parts.As a display piece, this model is remarkably fragile. You’d need to guard it very diligently from the guests’, partner’s and children’s hands. Getting the dust off of it would be a non-trivial task. Also, the stand would need some redesign, because the model isn’t actually attached to it - it just balances on top of it and wobbles pretty freely. Any slight draft in the room, and the station will go off the shelf orbit XDI think the main problem of the model is its scale - it’s very small (approximately 1:220), and as a consequence, there are tons of microscopic pieces barely hanging on other microscopic pieces. If it were larger it could have been funner to build and potentially less fragile. Speaking of scale, the astronauts figures included with the set are 2x too large for the scale of the model, and the space shuttle included in the set is about 1.5x too small.All in all, would make a nice display piece with the caveat that something must be done with the stand.