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If you love trains and LEGO, you are in for a treat. The LEGO Group has just announced the LEGO 21344 Orient Express Ideas set, a stunning brick recreation of the one of the most famous and luxurious trains in history. The set is based on a fan design that received 10,000 votes from the LEGO community and will be released on December 1, 2021.
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this amazing set of LEGO 21344 Orient Express, from its features and details to its price and availability. Read on and get ready to board the LEGO Ideas Orient Express Set!
The Design Process of LEGO 21344 Orient Express
The LEGO Ideas Orient Express set was designed by Thomas Lajon, a 27-year old LEGO fan from Paris. Lajon has always been fascinated by locomotives, sailing ships and ocean liners, and he decided to create his own version of the Orient Express using LEGO bricks. His girlfriend encouraged him to submit his design to the LEGO Ideas Orient Express set programme, where fans can propose and vote for new LEGO sets. Lajon’s design received over 10,000 votes from the LEGO community, and was selected to be made into an official LEGO set.
Lajon said, “I have always been a great fan of locomotives, sailing ships and ocean liners. As a child, I collected everything related to them. Years later, my girlfriend encouraged me to get back in touch with LEGO bricks and knowing my love for trains, she encouraged me to make one. Obviously, I chose to make the Orient Express. A sumptuous French train, at the heart of many stories.”
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LEGO 21344 Orient Express Features of the Set
The LEGO Orient Express Ideas set consists of 2,540 pieces and features the main locomotive, tender, dining and sleeping cars of the train. The set also includes 8 LEGO minifigures, such as the conductor, a chef, staff, and various passengers. The minifigures are dressed in period costumes and have accessories that reflect the destinations that the train visited on its original route, such as Paris, Venice, Vienna, Budapest and Istanbul.
The set also has removable roofs that allow access to the detailed interiors of the cars. The dining car has a table with plates, cups and cutlery, as well as a kitchen with a stove, oven and sink. The sleeping car has four compartments with beds, pillows and blankets, as well as a luggage rack and a washbasin. The locomotive has a driver’s cab with a steering wheel, gauges and levers, as well as a coal bunker and a firebox.
The set is designed to be compatible with the LEGO Powered Up system, which allows the train to be controlled remotely using a smartphone app or a remote control. The set also comes with a display stand and a plaque with information about the Orient Express.
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The Availability and Price of the Set
The LEGO Orient Express Ideas set will be available from December 1, 2021 via LEGO Stores and www.LEGO.com/Orient-Express. The set will retail for $299.99/€299.99/£259.99. The set is a perfect gift for LEGO fans and train enthusiasts, as well as anyone who loves history and adventure.
The LEGO Group invites builders to travel through time with the LEGO 21344 Orient Express Ideas set and experience the glamour and mystery of the Orient Express. The set is a tribute to the legendary train that inspired countless stories and movies, and a celebration of the 140th anniversary of its first journey.
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Conclusion
The LEGO 21344 Orient Express Ideas set is a tribute to the world’s first international luxury train that ran from 1883 to 1977. The set features a realistic and detailed model of the train, with removable roofs, 8 minifigures, and decorations of the destinations. The set was designed by a LEGO fan who submitted his idea to the LEGO Ideas Orient Express set platform and received 10,000 votes. The set will be available from December 1, 2021, and will cost $299.99/€299.99/£259.99. The set is a great way to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Orient Express and enjoy the nostalgia and adventure of the legendary train.