LEGO® Icons is known for its large-scale sets, but it also offers some smaller builds. One such set is inspired by one of the world’s inspired minds. Leonardo da Vinci is a celebrated artist, but he was also an inventor and one who was ahead of their time. One of his most famous inventions was the ‘ornithopter’. Not to be confused with the Dune set, however, it does share a similar source of inspiration in nature. Da Vinci’s flying machine featured man-powered flapping wings and a tail similar to a bird. His inspired creation has been recreated with LEGO bricks. Here’s a look at Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machine.
Product Details
Set Name: Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machine | Set Number: 10363 | Pieces: 493 | Theme: Icons
Number of Bags: Bags x 4 + loose elements | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: N/A | Minifigures: Leonardo da Vinci
RRP: £229.99/$269.99/269.99€/399.99AUD/349.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & LEGO retailers
The concept of the model is based on da Vinci’s Flying Machine. The inventor was keen to explore human flight and had different designs, including a screw-like machine inspired by nature. The set is inspired by another design which was based on the flight of a bird. But human-powered flapping wouldn’t be enough, and so da Vinci looked to birds and the Flying Machine was born.
The set has a surprising amount in common with some of the Star Wars sets, most notably the stand. The black stand holds the Flying Machine aloft and also acts as a perch for the da Vinci minifigure and a printed display plate. The Flying Machine simply slots onto the stand. The Flying Machine is an oddly shaped creation, and if it weren’t mounted on a stand, it would look quite awkward.
As mentioned, the Flying Machine is an odd-looking device and would have been designed to be built from traditional materials such as wood. In LEGO form it’s mostly built from natural coloured elements such as browns, sand yellows, dark oranges and medium nougats. To give the Flying Machine the ability to flap, it includes a somewhat elaborate mechanism which combines a string-loaded arm, string and several Technic elements. It’s the Technic pieces which offer the sets’ only downside. These are mostly coloured light grey and stand out against the other surrounding pieces. The best part of the set is the wings. These are made from large material pieces which nearly slot over the frame is the wings. There’s a large section at the back of the Flying Machine, which can be pushed to make the wings and tail flap.
A recent trend for LEGO sets has been the inclusion of minifigures based on real people. Joining the likes of Van Gogh, Jane Goodall, and Galileo Galilei is Leonardo da Vinci. His minifigure is inspired by an illustrated portrait of Leonardo, showing him as he would have looked later in life and not long before his passing in 1519. The minifigure is more of a representation of how he’s often shown in other media. It features a unique torso and legs, plus a printed tile representing one of his many inventions.
The introduction of the Icons theme has really expanded the offerings of LEGO builds. This set may not be as impactful as some of the bigger sets or those based on popular IP, but it still offers an interesting build and unique displayable model. It also celebrates the belief that if you can imagine it, you can build it. The LEGO Icons Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machine is available now.
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