Home News LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Building the T-Rex Skeleton Model

LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Building the T-Rex Skeleton Model

Author: Scarlett Apr 02,2025

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, available exclusively at the LEGO Store, is a visually stunning and ambitious build that captures the awe-inspiring nature of this prehistoric giant. You'll be immediately struck by its impressive size; this is a meticulously crafted 1:12 scale model of a real T-Rex.

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex

$249.99 at LEGO Store

Upon closer inspection, you'll notice the intricate detail: the ribs are cleverly constructed at varying lengths to simulate a realistic rib "cage," and the dark-colored bricks enhance the illusion of shadow, highlighting the light-colored "bone" bricks. Despite its complexity, the set is surprisingly easy to assemble, which only adds to its impressive intricacy.

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

168 Images

As a child, I was fascinated by dinosaurs, and visits to the American Museum of Natural History 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 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 of my generation, 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, scientific understanding has evolved, revealing that the T-Rex actually stood with its spine parallel to the ground, using its tail as a counterbalance:

Source: Field Museum

The above photo is of "Sue," the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever found (90%). Discovered by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson, it 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 but are now recognized as supporting the T-Rex's breathing.

Source: Universal Pictures

The T-Rex from the 1993 film Jurassic Park reflects outdated perceptions, showing a leaner body than what we now know to be accurate. Thanks to the discovery of the gastralia, we understand that the T-Rex was much heavier, weighing nine to ten tons, with a significant belly close to the ground.

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

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

It's chubbier and perhaps even cuter than previously thought, isn't it?

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set reflects this updated scientific understanding, maintaining the T-Rex's horizontal positioning. While it does not include the gastralia, the rib positioning suggests a "barrel-chested" creature, contrasting with the lean, efficient killing machine often depicted in popular culture. The set's arms are positioned forward, in line with the updated display of Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago.

The set comes in 25 sealed plastic bags. You start by building 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 then assembled and attached. The legs and torso are fixed, but the arms, head, and tail are adjustable and posable.

From tip to tail, the model measures nearly three-and-a-half feet long, which may pose space considerations. It's best displayed on a wide, flat surface like a dresser or coffee table, where it can truly dominate the space.

The set is part of LEGO's Jurassic Park franchise, including two minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original film, along with a Jurassic Park-branded placard. However, the inclusion of these elements feels somewhat forced, as the set's name and instructions offer an option to display the T-Rex without them. This disconnect highlights that the T-Rex's grandeur and detail are the true stars of the set, not the movie tie-in.

In reality, the set's appeal lies in its size, scope, and price, not in its brand synergy. Much like the LEGO Titanic build, this T-Rex set stands on its own merit, offering a classy and significant piece that transcends mere movie memorabilia.

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