LEGO® elements are great for building cars, spaceships and buildings. The wild and natural shapes created by Mother Nature aren’t necessarily the first thing you think of when you see LEGO bricks. But thanks to the Botanical Collection, plants can definitely be added to that list. The first few sets certainly affirmed that but this particular set really enforces it. The Orchid is a widespread and diverse family of beautifully flowering plants. Their petals almost resemble the wings of a butterfly and the species of orchid which has inspired this LEGO recreation seems to be the Moth Orchid. But can LEGO elements really recreate the delicate and complex appearance of an Orchid? Spoiler Alert – ABSOLUTELY!. There’s no question you should buy this set, but if you want to learn more, read on for my review of the LEGO Botanical Collection Orchid.
Product Details
Enjoy a mindful building project and create a beautiful plant display for your home with this LEGO® Orchid (10311) model building project for adults. Take your time crafting all the details of the white and pink flowers and the vase. Inspired by a real orchid, the model has 5 leaves at the base and 2 wandering air roots to create an authentic display. Build the blue fluted vase and fill it with the brown LEGO elements to recreate the bark mix that a real orchid would grow in.
Customize your display
Pose your orchid in a variety of ways by rotating the stems, blooms, roots, and leaves of the model to achieve the perfect look. Or personalize your display by rebuilding the stems to create new combinations of flower arrangements.
- Set Name: Orchids
- Set Number: 10311
- Theme: Botanical Collection
- Pieces: 608
- RRP: £44.99/$49.99/49.99€
- Number of Bags: Bags x 4
- Stickers: N/A
- Instructions: Booklet x 1 + LEGO Building Instructions App
- Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail From May 1st
The build is split across 4 bags and begins with the multiple coloured core of the pot. This acts as a base of the pot as well as a means to anchor the foliage of the plant. The inner section of the pot is crafted from layers of plates and bricks. These are coloured coded to help with the placement of Technic beams a few steps later. Once the layers are correctly aligned those beams are fixed to their relevant stack of bricks. A similar technique was used for the tower in the Hogwarts Castle set.
Those columns of Technic beams, which circle the pot, act as a canvas to clad it with sloped bricks. This creates a fluted surface of the vase. The Sand Blue colouring of the vase contrasts nicely with the plant part of the set.
The bulk of the Orchid features two main stalks, which split off into various other branches. These are largely constructed with dark green Technic connector elements. These are all stabilised against two long rods. These are often included with real plants, so they not only offer a purpose in terms of the build but do form part of real plants. From smaller connection points within the pot, a mix of different sized leaves are sprouting out. These use large sloped pieces and pieces often used for vehicle canopies. The stems and leaves can be configured in different ways, as noted in the instructions.
Once the greenery is in place, you add the flowers of the Orchid. There are two types of flowers on the plant, including two buds which are created with the first unlikely element – the head of the Demogorgon from the Stranger Things set. The face flaps make the perfect petals and a little print detail finishes off this simple element perfectly.
The other flowers are in full bloom and really show off the creativity of the Botanical Collection. Each of the six flowers are crafted from a collection of really unusual elements. The large petals are the shoulder plates found in the buildable figures. The smaller petals are minifigure shields and they are connected using minifigure forks. The centre of each flower features a pink frog. It’s this blend of elements that help to give the set a natural appearance. But they also offer a unique and genuinely delightful build experience.
The build is finished by adding a few loose pieces around the base of the plant to represent the barky mulch used to help orchids drain water. The set can be pre-ordered now ahead of its release on May 1st, alongside the LEGO Botanical Collection Succulents set. I’ll be taking a look at that set shortly.
Review Round-up
The Orchid is quite simply an outstanding set. It uses the most unlikely elements in the most unusual ways to create a piece of art. Seeing how elements have been used to craft the set is mind-boggling. If you thought the use of parts in the Modular Buildings was impressive, you haven’t seen anything yet. You might not be able to zoom around the living room with it or use it to create a vast city, but it still evokes a sense of wonder and amazement. Even if you have little interest in this set, I urge you to build it or at the very least try and see it in person. You’ll appreciate just how versatile LEGO bricks are.
For
+ Outstanding use of elements
+ Great build experience
+ Did I mention – outstanding use of elements
Against
– Nothing – it really is an amazing set
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This set was provided to BricksFanz by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
