Review: 10253 Big Ben
Posted by CapnRex101,
The direct to consumer range often yields many of the most appealing and popular sets annually, particularly among adult fans. Unfortunately, this year's selection has elicited some disappointment as a couple of the sets released under the banner have not reached the exceptionally high standard expected of a direct to consumer set.
However, 10253 Big Ben was revealed in May and received a fantastic response. The Palace of Westminster is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world and the Elizabeth Tower, commonly known by the nickname of the Great Bell inside, is an icon of London and the entire United Kingdom. It is therefore an ideal subject for an official model of this size and it looks incredible based on images alone. Read on to find out whether the set matches these high expectations...
Box and Contents
The front of the box exhibits the model as part of the Palace of Westminster and it lines up perfectly with the real building visible in the background. The Creator Expert logo appears as well, just above a shot of Big Ben itself and some images which show the dimensions of the model.
The reverse shows the building surrounded by fireworks, perhaps celebrating New Year's Eve. This lighting does not quite capture the vivid orange shade of the Palace of Westminster at nighttime, as you can see in this image. Nevertheless, the model looks great against the background and smaller panels usefully show off some of the finer details.
The box contains a single instruction manual which features facts about the building much like the booklets included with the Architecture series. There are 27 bags full of pieces numbered from one to seven and another which holds the larger elements and four sets of tools. Oddly, the six bags printed with the number two are kept in a small white box. The contents are not markedly different from those in other bags so I am not sure why some are in the smaller box while others are not.
Building Experience
Construction begins at the base, as one would expect. The entire model stands on three bright green 16x16 plates along with a pair of 8x16 plates in bright green and blue, all of which are strapped together by additional plates underneath. The early stages of assembly are reminiscent of a Modular Building as tiles and bricks are laid in a seemingly random pattern. It is not until later that the purpose of the studs which are left exposed becomes clear and this is very satisfying.
Repetition defines construction of this model and that is particularly prevalent during the early stages as the lower wall sections are assembled. This is inevitable given the nature of the real structure and the use of some remarkable techniques involving the inversion of various pieces maintains occasional interest throughout construction. Among the most notable of these is found at the base of Speaker's Tower where corner panels are cleverly used upside down to form a smooth outer surface.
The entire structure continues to ascend as the third set of bags are opened. This section is almost identical to the last and is puncuated by repeated instances of stacking pairs of 1x1 bricks to form the windows and exterior detailing. The resultant design looks splendid but lining up hundreds of these bricks and ensuring that they are angled evenly is tedious.
Speaker's Tower is the focus of the next section of the build and the monotony is broken up at last as a result, at least to some extent. More statues and windows are installed but so is the roof of Speaker's Tower as well as another section of the clock tower. This is a relatively simple section of the build but the change is welcome and my enjoyment certainly increased as a mixture of larger, structural components and small details are assembled.
Bag five contains the pieces for two modules of Elizabeth Tower, shown below. These are identical but actually come together fairly quickly and are not as boring to construct as I had anticipated. The central structure uses a number of large pieces which ensure a sturdy design while the panels on the exterior are arranged sideways using brackets to present a vertically facade rather than a horizontal one. 1x2 plates with door rails are integral to this aspect of the design and over 250 are used throughout the model.
The roof is the next section to be constructed, completing the Palace of Westminster. Arranging the 52 1x1 clips on top is a little dull but they look splendid and a similar technique could be adapted for other models. In reality the roof is lined with a series of organic shapes, similar to fleur de lis, but these little clips are a good approximation of the architecture.
The best known section of the entire building is the last to be constructed as the clock faces and bell are put in place. This yields further repetition but the clever use of taps, appearing in tan for only the second time, to form the carved stonework just beneath the clock face is impressive, as is the assembly of the clock faces themselves.
Construction took me about nine hours from start to finish, although that was divided quite significantly as breaks are a necessity for this building process. The nature of the Palace of Westminster and Elizabeth Tower is such that a repetitive build is inevitable but the few unusual building techniques which are used do not entirely balance the monotony in my opinion. However, the results are well worth it!
The Completed Model
This set replicates the northern end of the Palace of Westminster, incorporating part of Speaker's Tower as well as Speaker's House and the famous Elizabeth Tower, better known by its nickname of Big Ben. The entire model looks absolutely spectacular in my opinion, with intricate detailing across the front and authentic architecture which beautifully replicates the Neo-Gothic style of the real building.
The size of the model is impressive. It measures just over 60cm in height, dwarfing 21013 Big Ben from the Architecture range, with a width of 43cm and a depth of 19cm. These dimensions yield a versatile display piece as it will fit into a relatively small space but is imposing due to its height.
Speaker's Tower adjoins the River Thames and a blue plate is used at the base to represent the water which looks perfect. The tower itself is a little plainer than the rest of the building but is realistic nonetheless. I love the tooth pieces which form the carved shield at the front while the windows at the side protrude slightly and are mounted on jumper plates at the top and bottom, with clips securing this panel in the centre.
The River Thames is separated from Speaker's Green by a fence, replicated here using 4L and 3L bars on top of seven skeleton legs. Dark bluish grey tiles surround the structure and the shape of this paved area is a perfect match for reality, as is the placement of a tree just in front of one of the entrances!
This tree looks fantastic, making use of five stalk components which are arranged around a 1x1 brick with studs on four sides. The proportions are excellent and I like the combination of green and bright green leaves as well. The same technique was used in 10247 Ferris Wheel last year but I think this version looks significantly better as the length of the trunk is more realistic. This is certainly the best micro scale tree I have seen but I think there are still advancements to be made for trees constructed at minifigure scale.
The top of Speaker's Tower is extremely ornate, with gilded finials and stone spires surrounding a lead roof. Dark bluish grey is an ideal choice of colour for the roof and it contrasts beautifully with the tan and pearl gold surrounding it. Black half-cylinders are used on top of the windows and this is a bit of a shame as trans-black would have been even better, although the difference in colour is surprisingly subtle, particularly when viewed from a distance.
The reverse side is bland to represent where the actual building would continue. Dark tan is used for this area but the shaping of the stonework is maintained at the edges using 1x8 tiles as this is visible when the model is viewed from the front.
The northern end of the Palace of Westminster is adorned with over one hundred statues, with each one representing a saint or a monarch. These are set in between the windows to recreate the recessing of these statues on the actual building which are visible in this image of the carved stonework.
The walls look spectacular when viewed from afar and they look equally impressive up close, as you can see below. Stacks of 1x1 bricks and plates are angled to create an interesting profile and I like the plates which are mounted sideways at regular intervals to create some further texture.
The base of Elizabeth Tower is also highly detailed but uses very different techniques to create a lovely effect. 1x2 plates with door rails are arranged vertically using brackets and tiles are attached at the corners, producing a lovely contrast between smooth and ridged finishes which is faithful to the real building.
Three lamp posts are arranged along the edge of the pavement to the side of the model, just in front of the cloisters which are easily recognisable in relation with the real thing. The windows on this side are larger than on the front and there are lots of tooth components used to represent shields moulded above each one.
The building is only finished on three sides but there are some windows found at the back which would face onto Speaker's Court. A small clock is also hidden at the back and this controls the rotation of the hands of the clock, which will be discussed further later in the review.
The roof is lined with 1x1 clips to replicate the ornamental ridge and it looks marvellous, despite the relative simplicity of the design. Once again, dark bluish grey slopes are used and this looks fantastic as it breaks up the colour scheme of the structure brilliantly.
Elizabeth Tower is perfectly proportioned beside the Houses of Parliament at its base. The vertical lines are a little more defined on this model than they are in reality but that is unavoidable and it still looks brilliant to me, with an accurate number of narrow windows hidden between the bands. The small panels used to create texture between the vertical bands are particularly impressive, nicely breaking up the tan colour scheme of the model by introducing some shadowy areas.
The only issue with regard to accuracy comes just beneath the clock face as a series of taps are lined up to create some moulded detailing. These look splendid but should actually extend a little further out beneath the casing of the clock, reducing the sudden change in width between the tower and the stonework around the clock face. A slight modification would probably be fairly easy to implement but this minor problem is hardly noticeable given the splendour which surrounds it.
The clock face itself is beautiful, with a wonderful design printed on a 6x6 dish which is then mounted backwards, showing the numerals. Each one is authentically printed and the golden flowers around the outside also match the ornate casing of the clock face on the actual building. The hands can be moved manually to show any time, although they do not pass over one another cleanly as the handles of the wrenches used are slightly too thick. Nevertheless, it is pleasing to be able to show any time.
Twisting the clock at the back of the model allows you to turn the hands in unison on all four clock faces. This works very smoothly. It is slightly unfortunate that the hands do not move at different rates but the scale does not permit a realistic movement so this is easily excusable in my view.
The Great Bell, commonly known as Big Ben, is hidden inside the clock tower and can be accessed by removing the roof. The bell is slightly oversized in relation to the tower but I think the increased scale is worth it as this is a reasonably realistic model of the bell, even including the hammer which is mounted on a hinge. The design is simple but it is easily recognisable and hangs nicely inside the tower, just above the clock.
The roof also features the Ayrton Light, a lantern installed at the request of Queen Victoria in 1885 which indicates when Parliament is in session after dark. This can be seen through the golden bars just beneath the peak of the roof which is a lovely detail. I like the golden flowers which are used once again to create some texturing at the base of the roof and four more ski poles are used to represent the gilded finials.
A final golden decoration appears on top and caps off a brilliant structure. The level of detail is extraordinary and the model compares very favourably with the real thing considering the scale at which it is constructed.
Overall
This is an incredible model. 10253 Big Ben looks spectacular from most angles and the level of detail represented by intricate assemblies on the exterior is unmatched. Furthermore, the numerous tiny statues are authentic and the arrangement of the windows is an almost exact replica of the real building.
The price has been a point of contention for many larger sets recently but this one has not such issues. £169.99 or $249.99 seems like an excellent price to me, based both on the number of pieces and the size of the final model. It should be noted that many of the elements used are quite small but I still consider this to be one of the best sets of the year with regard to value as well as in respect of its quality.
If you are a LEGO VIP you can now purchase it at shop.LEGO.com:
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50 comments on this article
No joke, thought the picture was of the real big Ben
I thought the same.
Nice set, would go well with my tower bridge as they are both the same color AND are based in the same city. It is expensive, but the price per piece ratio is superb, I hope to eventually get this.
Excellent set, wish it would get to my door sooner!!
The dark tan makes me think they will release a houses of parliament later on, especially because they added a little section of wall next to the hidden clock
This looks absolutely amazing! I love the real building and will be buying the set during a double VIP points event, if I can wait that long!
Thanks for the excellent review. I appreciate the historical tidbits included in the text.
Great review, but could we get a picture showing the mechanism behind the clock faces? Just curious.
Can't wait for the next double VIP point opportunity to pick this set up. Very nicely done!
awesome set looks great.
Yeah, the outdoor shots could easily fool you at a glance, which just shows how well-done this model is. I wish it was something I had the budget for, but I can (and will) still appreciate the craftsmanship of it.
Thanks for the review! Great set, and I really wish I could get this, but I don't have a huge price range for Lego. Maybe for christmas?
If anybody was wondering, I did the calculations and this set is just under 11% larger than the Tower Bridge set (10214) when compared to the real buildings, I think. That's hardly a difference worth noticing, considering the real buildings are roughly 3 miles apart along the bank of the Thames. Does anybody know what they look like next to each other?
I wasn't able to get the long technic piece to connect with anything at the bottom for the mechanic that turns the clock. I attempted to break down the actual clock building but never managed to get into the actual mechanics to get the rod connected, so the clock dial turns but it's not making contact with the actual clock. Other than that, fun build!
I like to imagine that this is the first in a series of future sets that will ultimately recreate the entire Palace of Westminster; a la the modular building series.
A guy can hope, right?
The set looks amazing btw; can't wait to pick one up.
Can't wait to put it next to the Tower Bridge! Also, I thought that last pic was the real Big Ben! Well done!
woahhhhh...looks amazing.
I feel like they might not make a set building the rest, or more, of the palace, since more stuff would block the knob for the clock feature.
Saw this at Mowbray Bricks yesterday, it's every bit as impressive up close as the pics suggest.
^ yeah, I would seriously doubt it. They've set the scale, created the groundwork, made the pieces needed, and left the areas available to connect to. But anyone who wants the full palace is going to have to MOC it from there
What an in-depth review! Well done! And what a beautiful set, too.
Dang, this set looks good.
This next London set really needs to be the Tower of London. If walls could talk that place would have some stories to tell I'm sure.
love this set it was a first day purchase for me. but the build will have to wait until the new man cave is finished in a few months (just poured the concrete today.)
With this many tan microfigs dumped into the market I expect a sudden spike in the number of Terracotta Army MOCs in the future :)
I don't get all the excitement. I love the top of the tower; the bell, the clock faces and the shape of the roof. After that all I see is an extremely repetitive stack of tan bricks. The tower section are repetitive, the palace repeats horizontally and vertically. Yes it's big but man is it boring...
This is one Creator Expert set I won't be buying.
The clock mechanism: a flat 36 tooth bevel gear that drives 4 16 bevel gears standing upright on each side of the tower.
Lovely set albeit somewhat repetitious (but so was Taj Mahal and Tower Bridge)
Rexy, so all eight hands turn at the same rate simultaneously? If I set one face to show 08:00, then tweaking the knob at the back of the model will turn the two hands on that face to show 09:05, then 10:10, then 11:15 and so on?
And can I set all eight hands any old way I please, each clock face showing a different time?
And I presume that I can mount anything I choose on the clock axles, as long as it has a Ø3.2mm hole. I could replace the tools with http://brickset.com/parts/6106812 mounted on http://brickset.com/parts/6100627 and hypnotise all of London...
This one looks boring and from the reviews seems quite a boring build. I won't be buying this one.
Absolutely gorgeous set, and my favorite in the landmark series so far. But I'll be waiting until the classic Castle giveaway starts until I pick mine up. Saw this on display at the local LEGO Store, and it looks even better in person than it does in the photos. I do wish it came with vehicles like Tower Bridge though, or some other small accessory besides the tree.
I can't wait to get the set down here in New Zealand.
How does it look in a regular Lego city that is populated with modulars and creator houses? I know it's not the same scale but figure it will still look good.
This is an impressive model, but the build looks kind of boring, while the result will never be more than a (significant) fraction of the complete Palace of Westminster. I do love the complete design though, it looks absolutely wonderful. But it's one of those sets that I like admiring once or twice in a Lego store, before moving on to the actual 'fun' sets.
It does look spendid when finished, but so repetitive a build... even more than Tower Bridge it seems. But, like you said - it's unavoidable. Nevertheless, the price tag is very fair. Great review, I only wished you took some pictures of the clock mechanism.
I will be buying this at the weekend, and The Boy and I have reserved the full two days for the big build.
This set seriously needs LED lighting. The designer missed a trick, but I'll step in. :o)
The clock mechanism is pointless. I'll ignore it if I can, and use the pieces elsewhere.
So 4-5 of these would allow you to build the entire house of parliament?
@Drakuhl: you'd probably need more like 10-12 of these sets for a complete Palace of Westminster :)
http://www.photographers-resource.co.uk/images/A_heritage/castles/England/wesminster_palace/800px-Westminster_palace.jpg
Really nice set. I am waiting to see an image of this beside the Tower Bridge. (I tend to purchase sets a fair way into their lifespan - live in Aussie and I like discounts :) ).
^^ That's good point: I suspect that it would indeed be possible to build the majority of the entire building with just parts from multiples of this set given level of repetition.
A worthy project for someone to undertake!
The fireworks on the box conjures their Guy Fawkes night holiday. It is their fireworks version of USA July 4th. "Penny for the guy?"
@Huw
That is a challenge I accept!
...now, who will sponsor me? :P
A round of applause for Lego! Unbelievably realstic. I might consider saving up for this set.
Have a look at these links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Parliament
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tally_stick
This is the background story as to why the present building was built.
@ RivasJakara
There is no "Guy Fawkes night" holiday, nor is it a version of your July 4th.
"Penny for the Guy" you got right!
This is a fantastic set and I enjoyed building it. I don't get the 4 or so people (who aren't in the UK) who have taken a dislike to it. It is well designed, well priced and no errors. All in all a return to the LEGO we know.
The scale is just right, more if the building than the architecture Big Ben but not enough to be repetitive.
I guess it was excellent timing on the part of Lego, releasing this set around the EU referendum. It is certainly the most prominently featured British building on European television these days.
I think with 4 sets you could build the outside along the river. The tower looks very similar to London bridge. What is along the back side (opposite big ben)? I couldn't find any photos.
Would be interested in knowing if there is enough room in the clock assembly to stick a couple of LED's in to light it up.
I like the look of this immensely, and I also admire the commercial design of the packaging. I'm sure I am not the only one to think it would be great (although expensive) to get a couple of these and build the entire Westminster building!! The pictures even suggest this.
{on reading more of the comments I now see this is indeed a common thought!!}
Great review guys!
hi-
i wasn't able to get the long technic piece to connect with anything at the bottom for the mechanic that turns the clock EITHER!
i too, broke the whole tower down and checked the instructions, thinking it was ME - i seemed to have put it together correctly - but it just doesn't seem to connect to anything to make the hands turn....
anybody else find this issue?
i also didn't quite understand the need for some of the instructions to be written as they were....
if you need to place three of the same piece on one piece - why the need for two or more "steps"....
i also found a few places, where putting the pieces on AFTER the fact, would have been much better served, if they had been put on during a PREVIOUS step.....
otherwise - magnificent model.....
Just seen this in the flesh. It's mighty impressive.