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LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton Model Unveiled

Author：Kristen Update：Apr 11,2025

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, available exclusively at the LEGO Store, is a visually stunning and ambitious build. Upon first glance, you'll be struck by its impressive size; this is a 1:12 scale model that truly captures the grandeur of a real T-Rex.

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

Priced at $249.99, this set impresses not just with its scale but also with its intricate detail. The ribs are crafted at varying lengths to form a realistic rib "cage," and the use of dark-colored bricks creates a shadow effect that highlights the light-colored "bone" bricks, giving the model a lifelike quality. Despite its complexity, the set is surprisingly easy to assemble, which only adds to its appeal.

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

As a child fascinated by dinosaurs, visits to the American Museum of Natural History always left me in awe of the towering T-Rex skeleton. Later, Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" further fueled my imagination with its vivid description:

"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."

Like many, I grew up with the image of the T-Rex standing upright with its tail dragging on the ground:

Source: American Museum of Natural History

However, recent scientific discoveries have revealed that the T-Rex actually stood with its spine parallel to the ground, using its tail as a counterbalance:

Source: Field Museum

This photo is of "Sue," the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever found (90%). Its discovery by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson in 1990 reshaped our understanding of the T-Rex, particularly with the identification of the gastralia—bones that supported the creature's belly and aided in breathing.

Source: Universal Pictures

The T-Rex from the 1993 film Jurassic Park reflects an outdated view of dinosaurs. While its horizontal positioning is closer to modern understanding, it lacks the heavier build that the discovery of gastralia revealed. The T-Rex was estimated to weigh between nine to ten tons, much more than the previously thought five to seven tons.

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

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

Isn't it surprising to see a chubbier, more endearing T-Rex than we once imagined?

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set aligns with these scientific insights by maintaining a horizontal posture. While it doesn't include the gastralia, the rib structure suggests a "barrel-chested" creature, differing from the lean, efficient killing machine often portrayed in popular media. The model's arms are positioned forward, mirroring the updated display of Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago.

The set, comprising 25 sealed plastic bags, begins with the construction of the black stand. You then build the T-Rex's backbone, which attaches to the vertical supports, followed by the neck, legs, hips, ribs, arms, tail, and finally the head. The legs and torso are fixed in place, but the arms, head, and tail are adjustable, allowing for dynamic posing.

Stretching nearly three-and-a-half feet from tip to tail, this model requires ample space. It's best suited for a wide, flat surface like a dresser or coffee table, where it can command attention without being cramped.

The set is part of LEGO's Jurassic Park franchise, including minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original film, along with a Jurassic Park-branded placard. However, this tie-in feels somewhat forced. The set's name, 'Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex,' doesn't reference the movie, and the instructions even offer an option to detach the minifigure and placard display, emphasizing the model's standalone appeal.

The inclusion of the Jurassic Park elements seems unnecessary, as the T-Rex's size, scope, and price are compelling enough on their own. Much like the LEGO Titanic set, this model stands on its own merit, transcending mere movie memorabilia.

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