The introduction of 3D-printed objects may seem like something from a sci-fi movie, but the technology has advanced greatly. 3D-printing can create a wide range of items, from the frivolous to the functional. Thanks to the use of plastics in the process of 3D-printing, it’s unsurprising to see the LEGO Group experimenting with the ever-evolving tech. The first step in the LEGO Group’s 3D-printing journey occurred in 2019. As part of the Inside Tour, attendees were gifted a unique LEGO set. For the 2019 tour, it was the LEGO System House; a drafting arm element was included in the set. The next 3D-printed appeared in 2024 and was a version of the classic LEGO® Wooden Duck. This was given to attendees of AFOL Day before being later available as a GWP in the LEGO House shop. When pushed, the duck’s mouth would move. The same element was also included in that year’s Insider Tour set.
In 2022, a partnership with Unbound saw an in-depth LEGO book published through crowdfunding. One of the pledge levels included another 3D-printed LEGO piece. The element in question was a minifigure-scale pogo stick. This could hop thanks to a spring-like function.
The latest LEGO 3D element is a lot less elusive and will appear in this year’s Winter Village set, the 10361: Winter Holiday Express Train. It’s a small train which, like the other 3D pieces, has moving functions. It’s also the first 3D-printed piece to have connection points for additional, standard elements. You can place a 1×1 clip stud into the front section of the train engine and the cab. The cab stud then allows you to add a 2×2 sloped plate. It also includes a small hole in the chimney stack to place a feather piece. When the piece is moved along, the feather element moves, and the wheel linkage arms move.
It’s a unique piece and an important milestone in LEGO history, but it doesn’t feel very ‘LEGO-like’. The nobbly finish that many 3D objects have is at odds with most LEGO pieces. Hopefully, as the technology evolves, the process will improve, and 3D-printed pieces could genuinely enhance LEGO play. But for now, it feels a little disconnected from the fine-tuned LEGO System.
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