LEGO Ideas Sets Overview

November 25, 2016 2 Comments A+ a-


Six years have already passed since introduction of the LEGO Ideas theme, originally known as a CUUSOO. Did you know that the first LEGO Ideas set was a submarine and it now sells for 9 times of its original retail price ? Not only that these sets make LEGO fans happier, they also make us richer. :-) Majority of them (retired ones) has already increased in price quite significantly.
As the name of the theme suggests, these sets are not about the number of pieces or complexity, but about the IDEA behind the set. And their LEGO fan inventors seems to have an unlimited creativity ! :-)
15 LEGO Ideas sets have been introduced so far and each of them has something which makes it wanted.

2010 - SHINKAI 6500 SUBMARINE (412 pieces, 0 minifigs)
It can dive up to a depth of 6,500 m - deeper than any other manned submersible. But it holded her record only by the end of June 2012 when it was beaten by Jiaolong which dived 6,965 m. :-( However, it is Shinkai 6500 not Jiaolong who can boast with her own LEGO replica made out of bricks ! 
Set 21100 - Shinkai 6500 Submarine
  • Very rare ! You will hardly find a review of this set on the internet. 
  • RRP in 2010: $49.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Oct 2016: $470
2012 - HAYABUSA (369 pieces, 1 minifig)
Developed by Japan to explore a small near-Earth asteroid Itokawa. It was 2 years on journey to the Itokawa and finally landed there in 2005. In 2011 scientists announced that dust collected from Itokawa asteroid is about 8 million years old and that it was originally a part of a larger asteroid. Interesting ! 
Set 21101 - Hayabusa 
  • Originally intended to be sold only in Japan as the Shinkai 6500 Submarine, however later available worldwide in the LEGO Online Shop. 
  • RRP in 2012: $49.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Oct 2016: $145
2012 - MINECRAFT MICRO WORLD: THE FOREST (471 pieces, 2 minifigs)
The Minecraft is a phenomena in the video game industry. And it slowly becomes a phenomena also in the world of LEGO bricks. :-) It also includes cute minifigs like any other LEGO theme. 
Set 21102 - Minecraft Micro World: The Forest
  • First post-Japan-only LEGO Ideas set which reached 10,000 supporters in 48 hours. Unbelievable ! 
  • RRP in 2012: $34.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Oct 2016: $25
2013 - THE DELOREAN TIME MACHINE (401 pieces, 2 minifigs)
Back to the Future released in 1985 became a legend thanks to the famous DeLorean car immortalised by the movie. Did you know that originally the time machine was the chamber ? :-)
Set 21103 - The DeLorean Time Machine

  • First LEGO Ideas set inspired by a movie 
  • RRP: $34.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Nov 2016 : $118
2014 - NASA MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY CURIOSITY ROVER (295 pieces, 0 minifigs)
The most technologically advanced rover ever built with a mission to determine whether there ever was (or is ?) a life on Mars.  
Set 21104 - Nasa Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover

  • Second space related LEGO Ideas set following the Hayabusa. Great work !
  • RRP: $29.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Nov 2016: $165 
2014 - GHOSTBUSTERS ECTO-1 (508 pieces, 4 minifigs)
If there's something strange in your neighborhood. Who you gonna call ? Ghostbusters !
Set 21108 - Ghostbusters Ecto-1
  • Second LEGO Ideas set inspired by a movie - and again it is a replica of a legendary movie car, a famous Ghostbusters Ecto-1 !
  • RRP: $49.99
  • Still available for sale in LEGO Online Store
2014 - EXO-SUIT (321 pieces, 2 minifigs)
If you haven't seen The Transformers or you have just never heard the word exo suit before, you probably don't know that it is a wearable machine full of technologies that gives you special skills. 
Set 21109 - Exo-Suit
  • Very special and different LEGO Ideas set ! Very shortly in sale. 
  • RRP: $34.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Oct 2016: $27
2014 - RESEARCH INSTITUTE (165 pieces, 3 minifigs)
There are many research institutes around the world. But did you know that the very first one was established in Europe and focused on mapping of stars ? 
Set 21110 - Research Institute
  • Did you know that the set was originally known as a Female Minifigure Set ? It is featuring three female scientists. 
  • RRP: $19.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Nov 2016: $35
2015 - BIRDS (580 pieces, 0 minifigs)
Birds have always played a key role in research and helped humans to advance our understanding of evolution. V
Set 21301 - Birds
  • The most elegant LEGO Ideas Set so far, in my opinion. :-)
  • RRP: $44.99
  • Sold on Ebay in Nov 2016: $43
2015 - THE BIG BANG THEORY (484 pieces, 7 minifigs)
Legendary sitcom full of unforgettable shouts. Shows that nerds can be very cool ! :-)
Set 21302 - The Big Bang Theory
  • First LEGO Ideas set in which Minifigures play a major role. 
  • RRP: $59.99
  • Still available for sale in LEGO Online Store
2015 - WALL-E (677 pieces, 0 minifigs)
Heartbreaking movie about the cleaning robot WALL-E which falls in love with EVE. If you haven't seen the movie, it's definitely worth watching. 
Set 21303 - Wall-E
  • Very similar to the original ! With movable arms and a very cute look. 
  • RRP: $59.99
  • Still available for sale in LEGO Online Store


2015 - DOCTOR WHO (623 pieces, 6 minifigs)
Doctor Who celebrate 53 years this year. And it is still number one in Britain ! 
Set 21304 - Doctor Who
  • You can choose to have the Tardis either opened or closed. There are more options. 
  • RRP: $59.99
  • Still available for sale in LEGO Online Store
2015 - MAZE (769 pieces, 0 minifigs)
Can you find the way out from the maze?

Set 21305 - Maze

  • If I should choose one of LEGO Ideas which is the most different from others. It would be this one ! Sometimes, difference is good. :-)
  • RRP: $69.99
  • Still available for sale in LEGO Online Store


2016 - THE BEATLES YELLOW SUBMARINE (550 pieces, 5 minifigs)
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine...
Set 21306 - The Beatles Yellow Submarine
  • I am not sure whether The Beatles would manage to live in such a small LEGO yellow submarine as they sing in their famous song. :-) But that's not the thing ! I love this shiny set and The Beatles minifigs are irresistible. 
  • RRP: $59.99 
  • Still available for sale in LEGO Online Store

2016 - CATERHAM SEVEN 620R (771 pieces, 5 minifigs)
Not ordinary car ! 
Set 21307 - Caterham Seven 620R
  • Finally the LEGO Ideas set for real racing car lovers ! 
  • RRP: $79.99
  • Still available for sale in LEGO Online Store

Veeeeeeery long list ! 
And if you have read this far, I will be very happy if you let me know which set is your most favourite out of those 15. 
Do you prefer the older or the newer LEGO Ideas sets ? 

I will be very happy if you comment below. 

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    ericb
    AUTHOR
    25 November 2016 at 19:49 delete

    The Mars Curiosity Rover is definitely my favorite. The six wheel suspension is cleverly done. Driving it over terrain is so cool. I'm eagerly awaiting images of the upcoming Apollo 11 Saturn-V Ideas set. I recall reading that it will be the largest Ideas set yet!

    Birds is my second favorite Ideas set.

    My least favorite is The Big Bang Theory, which is primarily due to the fact that I don't enjoy the show.

    Do you have a favorite?

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    Lego Girl
    AUTHOR
    27 November 2016 at 00:17 delete

    I agree with you regarding my least favorite ideas set - The Big Bang Theory ... And it's not because I do not enjoy the show, I actually do a lot, but it didn't enthused me enough to think about buying it.
    On the other hand, there are two ideas sets that I wish I had in my collection - and these two are both replicas of two famous submarines. What fascinates me about these two sets is that they show the same thing but each submarine is completely different. :-) It would be perfect to have them both side by side on the shelf. However, it will not gonna happen because I'm not prepared to pay such a high price for the Shinkai set. :-(

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