Home News > We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Most Impressive Skeleton Model in 68 Million Years

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Most Impressive Skeleton Model in 68 Million Years

by Jacob Mar 28,2025

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. At first glance, you're taken aback by its impressive size; this model is crafted at a 1:12 scale, mirroring the grandeur of a real T-Rex.

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex

$249.99 at LEGO Store

Upon closer inspection, the intricate details become apparent. The ribs are constructed at varying lengths, creating a realistic rib "cage," while the use of dark-colored bricks casts shadows that enhance the visual impact of the light-colored "bone" bricks. Despite its complexity, the set is surprisingly user-friendly to assemble, making its detailed appearance even more remarkable.

We Build LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

168 Images

As a child, my fascination with dinosaurs was sparked by visits to the American Museum of Natural History, where the towering T-Rex skeleton left a lasting impression. This fascination was deepened years later when reading Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," a sci-fi short story that vividly describes the awe of encountering such a colossal creature:

"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."

For many of us, the image of the T-Rex standing upright with its tail dragging on the ground was once the norm:

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 image is of "Sue," the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered, at 90% completeness. Discovered by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson in 1990, this find 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 due to uncertainty about their placement. Today, we know they supported the T-Rex's breathing and contributed to its bulkier appearance.

Source: Universal Pictures

The T-Rex from the 1993 film *Jurassic Park* reflects the outdated view of dinosaurs as lean and upright. However, with the discovery of the gastralia, we now understand that the T-Rex was much heavier, weighing nine to ten tons, with a significant belly that hung close to the ground.

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

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

It's a chubbier and more endearing image than previously thought, isn't it?

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set reflects this updated scientific understanding, maintaining the T-Rex's horizontal posture. While it does not include the gastralia, the rib positioning suggests a "barrel-chested" creature, contrasting with the lean, efficient killing machine often portrayed in popular culture. The set's arms are positioned forward, consistent 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 connected to the spine and stand. The legs and torso are fixed, but the arms, head, and tail are adjustable and posable.

Measuring nearly three-and-a-half feet from tip to tail, this model demands a significant display space. It's best suited for a wide, flat surface like a dresser or coffee table, where it can truly dominate the space it occupies.

Although technically part of LEGO's Jurassic Park franchise, the set includes minifigures of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler from the original film, along with a Jurassic Park-branded placard. However, this tie-in feels somewhat forced. The set's name, 'Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex,' lacks any direct movie reference, and the instruction booklet even offers an option to remove the minifigure and placard display, allowing the skeleton to stand alone. This option underscores the set's standalone appeal, which is more akin to the elegance of the LEGO Titanic build than mere movie memorabilia.

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