Land Rover Defender 90 from Lego bricks

This year’s May weekend I used it in an unusual way. In addition to editorial duties and exploring the surrounding area on a bicycle, I spent a lot of time arranging blocks. I came across a special set, the Lego Icons Land Rover Classic Defender 90 series (set number 10317). This is a very faithful copy of the old Land Rover of the 80s. And it is very different from the one that Lego has produced as part of the Technic series (the latest Defender model shown in 2019).

Lego Icons 10317 is already a huge set that has more than 2.3 thousand. stuff packed in 16 bags (surprisingly still foil, not paper like in other sets). Is that much? Definitely not for the brick lover. However, those who rarely reach for Lego must prepare themselves for a long time of fun and read very carefully the instructions that are not very clear. Sometimes it resembles the vague instructions of the Cobi bricks and surprises in terms of the order in which the individual elements are assembled.

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

How long does it take to assemble a Land Rover from Lego?

An important question – how long does it take to assemble a large and very expensive set (suggested price is more than 1.1 thousand PLN)? It depends. I spent eight evenings solving with my son. A skilled stacker will probably manage in one day. You need a little patience and a lot of concentration, because some of the graphics in the manual are not very readable. Fortunately, a mistake was avoided, as in the case of Lego Technic set with a new Defender (as a result of errors in the instructions, the gears on the train could be damaged).

The stacking arrangement is confusing. We start construction with equipment such as canisters, tool boxes (key copies are similar to those used in cheap sets of other companies) or elevators. At first, it also has one of two engines (you can choose between a V8 petrol and a traditional turbodiesel). Other equipment, such as a second engine, a fire extinguisher or a winch, is folded almost at the end. It is also surprising that things like the suspension are integrated around the finished car.

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Gentle defender?

You need a lot of patience when assembling. At first, it’s easy to get the impression that the Defender’s construction is too flimsy. Gradually, however, more features are added to enhance the overall design. Lego gave up freedom of choice. You can collect the standard version of the Defender without the cage and off-road equipment (then you have to look at the gently placed roof) or the version with full equipment for field trips (I recommend it because it is more stable and looks a lot more combat). The roof is easily removed to create an open version of the car.

Lego receives well-deserved praise for its attention to detail. They took care of the opening doors (they open and close better than, for example, in the Ford GT from the Technic series), the steering system, decent suspension, stickers with characteristic registration numbers (model code and first memory. plate used by Land Rover) or an opening mask with additional support. In the cabin you will even find a place for a coffee cup near the lever to simulate the gearbox control (unfortunately, this was not there).

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

A good show or a toy for children?

Unlike the Technic set (the new Defender), however, it doesn’t have a better map engine or gearbox. There is also no additional operational control. Its looseness is so great (which is not surprising) that trying to drive it directly is not as easy as it might seem (this is one of the reasons why the Defender should be treated more like a nice display on the shelf than a children’s toy. ) However, Lego does not hide that is a collector’s set intended for adults. And what is stopping an adult to also allow himself to drive the Defender not only on a comfortable sofa at home?

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

Classic Land Rover Defender from the Lego Icons series – 10317 Tomasz Okurowski

There was no off-road driving. I also picked up a Land Rover Defender from the Technic series. Both cars handled not only on the forest paths, but also on the sand dunes. Fortunately, there was nothing known as an entry (in the jargon of road car enthusiasts, it is nothing more than getting stuck in mud or sand). Unfortunately, during the trip, several items fell from the regular Defender, such as the exhaust tip, hook or wheel trim. In this regard, the Method set performed better. So it is easy to conclude that it is better to leave the beautiful Defender collection in the living room and go with a different car to play with the children. And there are many of those who can withstand heavy play in stores. The set of blocks was available for review by Lego. More information about the automotive industry can be found at Gazeta.pl