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LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton Model Unveiled

by Liam Apr 26,2025

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

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex

Priced at $249.99 at the LEGO Store, this set boasts intricate details that elevate it beyond a simple toy. The ribs are constructed at varying lengths to create an authentic rib "cage," while the use of dark-colored bricks enhances the shadowing effect, making the light-colored "bone" bricks stand out vividly. Despite its complex appearance, the set is surprisingly user-friendly to assemble, which only adds to its allure.

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

168 Images

As a child, my fascination with dinosaurs was fueled by visits to the American Museum of Natural History, where the towering T-Rex skeleton left an indelible mark. Later, Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" further stoked this interest with its vivid description of the 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."

Like many from my generation, I grew up believing the T-Rex stood upright with its tail dragging on the ground:

Source: American Museum of Natural History

However, scientific understanding has evolved. We now know the T-Rex stood with its spine parallel to the ground, using its tail as a counterbalance:

Source: Field Museum

The above image is of "Sue," the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found (90% complete). Discovered by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson, this find reshaped our understanding of the T-Rex. Notably, the small bones in the belly area, known as gastralia, were initially left out of public displays due to uncertainty about their position. We now know they supported the T-Rex's breathing.

Source: Universal Pictures

The 1993 film Jurassic Park depicted a more horizontal T-Rex than earlier portrayals, but still leaner than current understanding. Thanks to the gastralia, we now know the T-Rex was much heavier, weighing nine to ten tons with a sizable belly.

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

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

It's a chubbier and more endearing image than previously thought.

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set reflects this updated scientific understanding, maintaining the T-Rex's horizontal posture. While it does not include the gastralia, the rib positioning suggests a "barrel-chested" creature, aligning with modern interpretations. The set's arms are positioned forward, consistent with the latest display of Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Comprising 25 sealed plastic bags, the build process begins with constructing the black stand, followed by the T-Rex's backbone, neck, legs, hips, ribs, arms, tail, and finally, the head. The legs and torso are fixed, but the arms, head, and tail are adjustable and posable.

At nearly three-and-a-half feet long from tip to tail, this model demands a spacious display area. A wide, flat surface such as a dresser or coffee table is ideal, ensuring it can dominate the space without being cramped.

“This set is part of LEGO's Jurassic Park franchise, hence the inclusion of minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original film, along with a Jurassic Park-branded placard. However, the tie-in feels somewhat forced. The set's name, 'Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex,' doesn't reflect a movie connection, and the instructions even offer an option to remove the minifigures and placard, allowing the skeleton to stand alone.

This disconnect underscores the set's true value. At its size, scope, and price, it doesn't rely on brand synergy to sell. Like the LEGO Titanic build, it stands as a piece of art in its own right, transcending mere movie memorabilia.

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