We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Most Impressive Skeleton Model in 68 Million Years

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, available exclusively at the LEGO Store, is a visually stunning and ambitious build that immediately captures your attention with its size. This impressive model is a 1:12 scale replica of a real T-Rex, standing out for its sheer scale and intricate detail.

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex

$249.99 at LEGO Store

Upon closer inspection, the level of detail is remarkable. The set features ribs built at varying lengths to form a realistic rib "cage," and the use of dark-colored bricks creates shadows that accentuate the light-colored "bone" bricks. Despite its intricate appearance, the set is surprisingly straightforward to assemble, making the building process enjoyable and rewarding.

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

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As a child, I was fascinated by dinosaurs, especially the towering T-Rex skeleton at the American Museum of Natural History. This fascination was further fueled by Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," a sci-fi short story that vividly described the awe-inspiring presence of a T-Rex:

"It came on great oiled, resilient, striding legs. It towered thirty feet above half of the trees, a great evil god, folding its delicate watchmaker's claws close to its oily reptilian chest. Each lower leg was a piston, a thousand pounds of white bone, sunk in thick ropes of muscle, sheathed over in a gleam of pebbled skin like the mail of a terrible warrior."

For many years, the popular image of the T-Rex was of it standing upright with its tail dragging on the ground:

Source: American Museum of Natural History

However, scientific research has since revealed that the T-Rex actually stood with its spine parallel to the ground, using its tail as a counterbalance:

Source: Field Museum

The photo above shows "Sue," the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found (90%). Discovered by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson in 1990, this find revolutionized our understanding of the T-Rex's anatomy. The tiny bones in the belly area, known as *gastralia*, were initially omitted from public displays due to uncertainty about their position. Now, we know they supported the T-Rex's breathing and contributed to its bulk.

Source: Universal Pictures

The 1993 film *Jurassic Park* depicted the T-Rex with a more accurate horizontal posture but underestimated its weight. New discoveries indicate that the T-Rex weighed between nine and ten tons, rather than the previously estimated five to seven tons, due to the presence of gastralia.

This life-sized model, based on Sue's bones, provides the most updated and accurate depiction of a T-Rex:

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set reflects these scientific findings, maintaining a horizontal posture. While it does not include the gastralia, the rib positioning suggests a "barrel-chested" creature. The set's arms are positioned forward, consistent with the latest T-Rex displays at the Field Museum.

The set includes 25 sealed plastic bags. You start by assembling the black stand, followed by the T-Rex's backbone, which attaches to vertical supports. The rest of the model, including the neck, legs, hips, ribs, arms, tail, and head, is built and attached sequentially. The legs and torso are fixed, while the arms, head, and tail are adjustable and posable.

Measuring nearly three-and-a-half feet from tip to tail, this model requires a significant amount of space. It's best displayed on a wide, flat surface like a dresser or coffee table, where it can truly dominate the space.

Although technically part of LEGO's Jurassic Park franchise, the set includes minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original film, along with a Jurassic Park-branded placard. However, the set's name and the option to remove the minifigure display suggest a disconnect from the movie tie-in. This T-Rex model stands on its own merits, much like the LEGO Titanic set, and does not rely on brand synergy for its appeal.

LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Set #10335, retails for $269.99 and consists of 3011 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.