Everything is Awesome II: 10 More Fantastic Unofficial Lego Sets

By on February 1, 2021

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Building Lego toys is fun, whether you’re building from the manual or creating something entirely new, a.k.a. a Lego MOC (My Own Creation).

A select few expert builders from around the world are even hired by Lego and become what are known as Lego Master Model Builders. They usually have architectural or engineering degrees and can also work at Lego theme parks in addition to the Lego headquarters in Denmark.

LEGO Ideas imageMOC designs can be submitted to the Kickstarter-like website Lego Ideas (formerly known as LEGO CUUSOO). Once the submission reaches 10,000 supporters, it’s reviewed for several months by a team of Lego set designers, program managers and marketing reps. If it’s approved, the former MOC can be launched as an official set!

We’ve seen many CUUSOO/Ideas projects like the Back to the Future DeLorean,  Ghostbusters Ecto-1, Wall-E and Doctor Who and Companions make it into production. Here are 10 of our favorite Lego Ideas sets that either didn’t get approved or may just one day be flying off store shelves on Black Friday.

1. Lego Back to the Future Jules Verne Train

Created by Masashi Togami, this LEGO set based on Doc Brown’s flying locomotive time machine from Back to the Future III, reached 10,000 supporters, but it was ultimately not approved into production during the second 2014 review.

This cool-looking train can even be built with moving parts thanks to Lego Power Functions (YouTube video).

Status: Not approved.

BTTF Jules Verne

2) Lego Ghostbusters Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

Now that the Ghostbusters Firehouse and Ecto-1 are available to consumers, the StayPuft Marshmallow Man, designed by LEGO super creator Brent Waller (who also did Ecto-1), is a natural fit.

Consisting of over 1,800 pieces, it stands 13 inches tall with articulated head, arms, legs, feet and hands, which makes the deceptively evil Stay Puft an unusual but awesome addition to the Lego family.

Status: In review (early 2016).

Stay Puft

3) Lego Lord of the Rings Lothlorien

The home of the Elves has been faithfully recreated in this 1,400-piece set which also includes essential minifigs like Celebor, Galadriel, Legolas, Boromir, Aragorn and Frodo.

Like the Lego Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Lothlorien makes for an unusual-looking but very imaginative and elegant set worthy of the Lego name.

Status: In review (early 2016).

Lothlorien

4) Lego Disney 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Nautilus

Alex Jones built this set as a faithful recreation of Harper Goff’s design from the classic Disney movie based on Jules Verne’s beloved sci-fi novel.

Although it doesn’t dovetail with other Lego themes, the Nautilus looks like a fun and challenging build, particularly the large scale version pictured here (4.5 ft. and 3000 pieces).

Status: 10,000 supporters.

Lego-Nautilus

5) Lego Physics

The Lego Physics set combines Lego dominoes and a marble run for a very unique Lego experience that opens up new avenues for the kinds of official sets we might see in the future (much as Lego Birds did). A science-related theme to get kids interested in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) sounds like a slam dunk.

My hunch is, of all the Lego Ideas projects in the second 2015 Lego review, this one is the most likely to make it onto store shelves.

Status: In Review (early 2016).

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6) Toyota Landcruiser 40 Series (BJ42)

Submitted in summer 2015, this super-detailed recreation of the classic off-roader has amassed the requisite 10,000 supporters in four short months.

It’s built with around 1,700 pieces and seems like a shoo-in for the LEGO Creator series.

Status: 10,000 Supporters

Toyota Landcruisesr

7) Lego Pirates of the Caribbean Flying Dutchman

This dazzling set based on Davy Jones’s cursed ship from the movie series is an incredible effort that harkens back to the kind of detail you would see from old-school ships in a bottle.

Sadly, this project did not the pass the third 2014 Lego review. It may not be for mass market consumption but this set represents the pinnacle of what Lego bricks and ingenuity can do.

Status: Not approved.

Flying Dutchman

8) Lego Jurassic Park Visitor Center

Submitted in June 2015, this 2,623-piece set is gaining steam on Lego Ideas with an impressive recreation of the iconic visitor center from the first Jurassic Park movie. Like many popular Lego sets, the various rooms are hinged or detachable.

In addition to minfigures of the main characters, you get a molded Velociraptor and two brick-built skeletons of the T-Rex and Sauropod.

Status: 7,400+ supporters (10k deadline: June 2017)

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9) Lego Modular Buildings Train Station

The Lego Modular Buildings Collection has been a big hit with AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego), and this 3,000-piece set submitted in 2015 would be a cool addition to that theme, as well as Lego’s long history of train sets.

While there are no trains included, the platform height is sized for standard Lego trains. Also, the roof and upper back wall detach for interior play.

Status: 7,600+ supporters (10k deadline: April 2017)

Lego Modular Train Station

10) Lego Vintage Tram

Created by Lego super MOC Kevin Szeto (Lego Ideas Wall-E) and submitted in October 2015, this 600+ piece Vintage Tram would be an awesome mode of transport in any self-respecting Lego City.

The 10-inch Lego tram is modeled after vintage Portuguese trams. It rides on regular Lego City tracks and can fit up to 8 minifig passengers via a removable top—plus the driver.

Status: 3,600+ supporters (10k deadline: April 2017)

Vintage Tram

 

Check Out Part One: The 17 Awesomest Official Lego Sets

About Joe Warner

I'm the senior editor of The CheckOut. I am an aficionado of shiny gadgets and classic Hollywood movies and can also tell you the names of the late '80s Swedish Davis Cup team members.

2 Comments

  1. Eileen Deliz

    November 22, 2015 at 9:05 am

    I showed (emailed) these to my grandson and he added some ideas for his Christmas List. THANK YOU! As a grandparent who lives a few states away, it’s great when they can tell you exactly what they want.

    • Joe Warner

      November 22, 2015 at 11:10 am

      Hi Eileen, thanks for dropping by. This list is for Lego sets that haven’t been made yet, but we did put together a list last month of the 10 Best Star Wars Lego Sets, and we also made a list last year of some of our favorite Lego sets (though a few are no longer in production).

      Good luck!

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