LEGO will release a 3rd version of New York’s Empire State Building on August 1st. The set has 1,767 pieces and will retail for $129.99. The finished model is quite inspiring to build and look at as many details of the skyscraper are designed into this model. The parts are housed inside 9 outer bags and the instructions are in 1 booklet.
We received this set ahead of its release from LEGO so that we could build it and photograph it with the actual Empire State Building. I LUG NY member Keith snapped pics for this purpose with assistance from Kurt. These shots were then sent to LEGO to use to promote this set across their social media platforms. These shots are not published by LEGO as of the time of this article so a link will be added here once these shots are live.
As mentioned, the set includes nearly 1,800 parts, many in tan. In fact, there are 684 1×2 grill tiles in tan to make up the facade of the building. This leaves roughly 1,100 other parts included in this set and the bulk of these parts are light blay SNOT elements such 148 of 4654577: Plate 2X2X2/3 W. 2. Horizontal Knob, 72 of 6015344: Brick 1X2 W. 2 Knobs, and 42 of 6123809: Brick 1X2X1 2/3 W/4 Knobs. This means that over half of the parts in this set are just 4 different elements. This can be a positive for those looking to build a collection of these 4 elements but this does mean that there is quite a bit of repetition required to build this model. This repetition did not detract from my building experience however as the light blay SNOT elements were used in clever ways.
The set includes some metallic silver elements such as 1×2 tiles, 1×2 curved slopes and a grated cheese slope (6092115: Roof Tile W. Lattice 1X2X2/3 “No.1000”). The grated cheese slopes are used to create escalators inside the ESB and are not seen once the ground floors are constructed. This is a nice element to receive, even if they are literally buried in the model.
Speaking of the ground floors, taxis circle the ESB on base of the model. Translucent plates recreate windows and light blay tiles depict the sidewalk just above the streets. The streets are made from dark blay tiles and crosswalks are represented by 1×2 grill tiles in white. TWINLUG’s Micropolis standard uses 1×2 black tiles with diagonal stripes from the old LEGO Studios sets.
Tile 1 x 2 with Groove with Diagonal Partial Stripes White Pattern
As a fan of the TWINLUG Micropolis standard, it would have been fantastic to see these tiles re-released for this set and future large scale Architecture sets but the 1×2 grill tiles in white work just fine.
The instruction booklet contains the 201 steps needed to build this model along with some facts about the Empire State Building and the set inventory. There were several steps where I learned new building techniques but maybe the most intricate technique used was the stud reversal pictured between steps 94-99. A pair of 2×3 tiles are set between a row of studs of a 2 x 3 plate. A few steps later this sub assembly is built up a few levels and then two 1 x 6 plates are attached to the underside of two 2 x 3 plates. This is then flipped to rest on top of the aforementioned 2 x 3 tiles.
As I built this I thought “Isn’t this an illegal technique?” I remember this technique of inserting the side of a tile into another element being used recently in the HP Diagon Alley set from last Fall though so I guess this is no longer an illegal technique. This subassembly is repeated four times and when each of these subassemblies is connected to the model you hear and feel a very satisfying snap of the reversed plates clutching to the standing tiles. Huw over on brickset.com reviewed this set and shared that the designer told those attending an event for LEGO Fan Media that attaching tiles this way is not illegal but doing so with plates is. Here is a link to the brickset review of this set: https://brickset.com/article/44192/review-21046-empire-state-building
The sides of the model are repetitive but also incorporate a quite clever use of SNOT bricks that the sides attach to. The sides themselves are flimsy with a lot of give but when they join with the model they are held in place very securely.
The build stretches about 22 inches tall and when compared to the large scale Statue of Liberty Architecture model from 2018 this model is about 4 inches taller than her. As of this release, the ESB is the tallest LEGO Architecture set yet.
I enjoyed putting this set together. Everything about the packaging and instructions of Architecture sets screams high quality (the way the box opens, the binding of the manual, the added facts about the subject matter, and the build itself). This set did not disappoint this I LUG NY member. The model is quite heavy and beyond structurally sound. The inner skeleton which is constructed using many SNOT elements means that the model can be picked up by a non-LEGO fan and that it will survive with all pieces intact. I haven’t built any of the smaller city skyline Architecture sets or the smaller sets that featured one specific skyscraper but after having built this set and the Statue of Liberty I can now say that I am a fan of these builds.
Well done LEGO!