Black Friday Sales are approaching. Just in case you had spent the entire year indulging in day 1 purchases, the LEGO Group have today announced that you can have something new on the shopping weekend: The LEGO set with the highest part count ever seen:
10276 LEGO® Colosseum.
- 499.99 EUR/ 449.99 GBP/ 549.99 USD/ 649.99 CAD/749.99 AUD
- Aged 18+
- 9,036 pieces
Construction of the Colosseum began in 70-72 AD, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian Dynasty. It was declared open by his son, Titus in 80AD, with 100 days of games, gladatorial combat and wild animal fights. After nearly 400 years the Flavian Amphitheatre, as it was more properly known, started to fall into neglect, and serve as a source of building materials. At this point, two thirds of the original Colooseum has been destroyed, with much of the material being claimed for other building projects around Rome.
Earlier in the year I didn’t have the chance to actually visit Italy, due to the pandemic. The Colosseum is still somewhere that I have not been to visit. Hopefully , we will get there one day.
With the most recent version of the 75192 Ultimate Collectors’ Series Millenium falcon having 7541 parts, the 9043 element count in this set truly ups the ante!
This Black Friday, LEGO® fans can take home a piece of history and re-create Rome’s most iconic landmark, with the awe-inspiring new LEGO Colosseum set. Made up of 9,036 pieces, this is not only the largest LEGO brick set launched to date (taking the title from the LEGO® Star Wars™ Millennium Falcon) it’s also been expertly designed to mimic the incredible architecture of the original Roman amphitheatre, making it a building project to savour and a set to marvel at.
Both LEGO fans and History buffs need to look no further than their living room to experience a taste of Italian history, as this LEGO brick model is a truly authentic LEGO brick recreation of the mighty Colosseum – featuring many true-to-life details to help builders accurately bring this famous building to life. This epic LEGO model features a recreation of the three distinct stories from the Colosseum, with each of these stories adorned with the columns of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders. These columns have been faithfully recreated in LEGO brick form using a variety of creative building techniques, including decorative volutes that have been created using a recoloured LEGO roller skate element that has been turned upside down to create an authentic look.
Every detail of the set has been meticulously crafted to stay true to the real-life Colosseum – including having 80 ‘ribs’ in the spectator stands (the exact same number as the original) and having three different shades of brick to replicate the different columns and aging of the almost 2,000 year old landmark. The build experience has even been expertly created to match the same process as the original, with the “wooden” LEGO arena being the last build to be placed on the LEGO model, as it has been in the 1990s. As well as being a challenging build, this model is truly a breath-taking focal point for any room. The LEGO Colosseum rests on an oval base, allowing this phenomenal 360-degree display piece to be shown off from any angle. Builders can then choose which side of this magnificent LEGO Brick recreation of one of Rome’s most visited landmarks they display – whether that’s the southern side of the building, which has been destroyed by various earthquakes and natural disasters over the years, or the more complete northern wall. Colosseum features arches, that have been recreated with LEGO brick detailing, allowing a view into the centre of the Colosseum from the outside, just like its real-life counterpart.
The set was designed by Rok Zgalin Kobe who commented:
” One of the biggest challenges and one of the most important things was to convey the Colosseum’s monumentality in the LEGO form. I felt that the LEGO model should display a special architectural feature of the original – the rows of columns flanking the arches in different styles. To achieve that, the model is constructed using an effect of vertical exaggeration. The cross-section is therefore far steeper than on the real structure. Hopefully, people will be inspired to learn more about the original through the experience of building the LEGO model.”
The LEGO Colosseum measures over 10.5” (27cm) high, 20.5” (52cm) wide and 23.5” (59cm) deep making this a spectacular centre piece for any LEGO brick collection.
The set will launch on 27th November, on Black Friday, as part of the LEGO Stores and LEGO.com Black Friday offerings. LEGO VIP members who purchase the exclusive model during the Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend will receive a limited-edition gift with purchase, a Roman Chariot, which can be displayed alongside the Colosseum. Shoppers can sign up to the VIP Program free either in store or online. Included in the Black Friday promotions are a range of other deals including an exclusive Charles Dickens tribute gift with purchases over £150, a Holiday Tree gift with purchases over £40, discounts on selected items, a chance to win 1,000,000 VIP points and exclusive VIP rewards launching throughout the weekend!
NOW REGARDING THE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS: The information we have been sent relates solely to the promotions available through LEGO Brand Retail in the UK. Details of promotions for Black Friday in Australia have not been formally released yet. It is probably safe to presume that the Chariot will be available on the release weekend, although based on the response to Yoda’s Light Saber GWP, released in conjunction with the Mrs Eisley Cantina, it may well be gone within a few hours of becoming available.
We do know that the week before this set is due for release, there will be a VIP Weekend, with double VIP Points, sweep stakes and several Gifts with Purchase available, depending on how much you spend.
I cannot claim much expert Classics Knowledge, or indeed knowledge of the architectural features. But, the nature of the structure does mean that it looks like there are some repetitive aspects of the build, superficially, with an awful lot of tan elements included.
When LEGO started to make the pitch towards the adult audience a couple of years ago, they highlighted the value of a creative project, that would require absolute attention, taking you away from the outside world. I suspect this model is one that will certainly be taxing to build – requiring good focus of attention.
BUT is this a model you would keep build on display? At over half a meter across and half a meter deep, it will challenge many houses for display space. Sure, it will fit on a standard depth bench, but would it leave you with the space you need at home? To say nothing of the opportunity for dust filled nooks and crannies.
The next thing I wonder about is how/where would you display it? With a footprint of 52x59x27cm^3, it’s pretty big, but not the largest footprint that we have seen: the 75192 Millennium Falcon (7540) sits at 84x56x21cm^3 and the 10261 Roller Coaster(4123 parts) 88x41x53 are both larger, but neither has as many elements. The 10256 Taj Mahal (5923 parts) measures 51x51x43cm^3 and this year’s 76161 1989 Batwing (2344 parts) 52x58x11cm^3 – all occupying a significant footprint in your display space.
As a stress relieving exercise, pulling the set apart and sorting the elements before rebuilding could be an extremely satisfying process. Cheaper than therapy, I suspect, but would it be as effective?
The LEGO Group have a small article on the implementation of mindfulness in LEGO building on their website, which you can read here. this is based, in part on Abbie Headon’s book “Build Yourself Happy” – primarily looking at the subject of using it in combination with free building. However, many people I talk to take solace in being able to build a set from the instructions, entering a state of flow, where they exist only with their instructions and the build. I might need to try this sometime soon: all too often, I find myself building with a goal of producing a review, pausing to take photographs along the way. I’ll take a look at the book, and perhaps try to implement some of its lessons in the near future.
I have not built the Colosseum, and I don’t know, for sure, if I see myself getting it: as much because I don’t really have room to build or display it, and I’m not sure that my brick collection would tolerate that many tan eements being added without severely skewing the colour mix in some tubs.
However my friend Jay, over at Jay’s Brick Blog, has build it, and his review will be live by now: I asked him what he thought of it:
Take your time with the build. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the LEGO Colosseum wasn’t designed to be finished in one sitting. You might hate tan elements after you’re done, but the end result is stunning and historic.
jaysbrickblog.com
Jay also tells me that the set is free of printed elements AND stickers.
I’ll have to admit, I do thing the final model is gorgeous, and the sight of it reminds me of the holiday that I didn’t go on, earlier this year. The more I study the images, the more appealing the set becomes to me. I especially like the way that light bounces off every facet in a different way!
What to you think of the set? Does it appeal to your inner Classics Scholar? Did you always want a near lifesize version of the Colosseum to prevent you from sitting at the dining table? Why don’t you comment below, and until next time,
Play Well.
