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

Author：Kristen Update：Mar 20,2025

The LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex set, a LEGO Store exclusive, is a breathtakingly ambitious build. Its sheer size is immediately striking; this is a meticulously crafted 1:12 scale model of a real T-Rex. Upon closer inspection, the detail is astonishing: the ribs, built with varying lengths to create a realistic rib cage; the use of dark bricks to simulate shadow, enhancing the light-colored "bone" bricks. Despite its apparent complexity, the build is surprisingly straightforward, making its intricate realism all the more impressive.

LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex
$249.99 at LEGO Store

Our Build: LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex

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My childhood fascination with dinosaurs, particularly the towering T-Rex skeleton at the American Museum of Natural History, was reignited by Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder." The passage describing the T-Rex as "a great evil god, folding its delicate watchmaker's claws close to its oily reptilian chest" perfectly captured the awe-inspiring scale and power of the creature. For years, the popular image of the T-Rex was that of an upright beast, tail dragging on the ground:

Source: American Museum of Natural History

However, scientific understanding has evolved. The T-Rex, contrary to earlier depictions, didn't walk upright. Its posture was more horizontal, its tail acting as a counterbalance, as seen in the "Sue" skeleton at the Field Museum:

Source: Field Museum

"Sue," the most complete T-Rex fossil ever discovered (90%), revealed previously unknown details, including the *gastralia*, belly ribs that supported its breathing and significantly altered our understanding of its size and weight (nine to ten tons, not five to seven). Compare the older depiction in the 1993 film *Jurassic Park*:

Source: Universal Pictures

to a more accurate, modern representation based on "Sue":

Source: Blue Rhino Studio

The LEGO T-Rex reflects this updated understanding, accurately portraying its horizontal posture. While it doesn't include the gastralia, the ribcage suggests a more "barrel-chested" build, departing from the leaner depictions in fiction. The forward-facing arms align with the current "Sue" display at the Field Museum.

The 25-bag set begins with the stand, followed by the backbone, neck, legs, hips, ribs, arms, tail, and finally, the head. The legs and torso are fixed, but the arms, head, and tail are posable. At nearly three-and-a-half feet long, this model demands a prominent display location.

While technically part of the LEGO Jurassic Park franchise, the inclusion of Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler minifigures from the original film feels somewhat forced. The set's name, "Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex," and the option to detach the minifigure display highlight this disconnect. However, the set's sheer size, scope, and price point make the Jurassic Park branding largely irrelevant. This is a magnificent model in its own right, comparable to the LEGO Titanic set, needing no movie tie-in to enhance its appeal.