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The LEGO® Winter Village collection has always been a holiday highlight for adult fans, and this year’s 10361 Holiday Express Train is no exception. But there’s a new passenger on board: the first-ever 3D-printed LEGO® element in a retail set. This tiny blue locomotive, complete with moving wheels and a bobbing smokestack, is causing quite the stir.
A Technical Marvel or a Slippery Slope?
The 3D-printed train is undeniably impressive. At such a small scale, achieving movement with traditional LEGO® bricks would be nearly impossible. The piece features print-in-place mechanics, allowing the wheels and smokestack to move in unison, a feat that has some fans applauding the innovation. As one YouTuber put it, “The wheels on this little train rotate along with the arm, and what looks to be a piece in the smokestack that has a little movement as well. This wouldn’t be possible at such a small scale with traditional LEGO® pieces”.
But not everyone is on board. The introduction of a hyper-specialized, non-brick-built element has left many wondering if this is the start of a trend. “The point of LEGO® really is that you can deconstruct the parts and use them for something else,” argued one Reddit user. “The blue train part, on the other hand, is set in being train-esque forever”. Others echo this sentiment, fearing that 3D printing could lead to more single-use parts, straying from the LEGO® ethos of creativity and reusability. Also are they becoming Playmobil?
Fan Reactions: From Excitement to Apprehension
Reactions are split. Some see the 3D-printed piece as a clever solution for achieving complex movement in a compact form. Others, however, feel it undermines the brick-built charm that makes LEGO® so beloved. “It LOOKS out of place. Like someone accidentally put a piece from a different toy into the set,” commented a YouTube viewer. The debate isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about what makes LEGO®, well, LEGO®.
There’s also the question of cost. At €119.99, the set is pricier than previous Winter Village releases, and the inclusion of a 3D-printed element, which, as some point out, is likely more expensive to produce than injection-molded parts, has fans scratching their heads. “I don’t understand LEGO’s strategy,” one fan wrote. “Unless the part has some kind of gimmick I’m missing, why switch to an uncreative, specialized mold?”.
What’s Next for 3D Printing in LEGO® Sets?
Could this be a one-off experiment, or the beginning of a broader shift? Some speculate that 3D printing might offer a way to bring back retired pieces, like beloved BIONICLE elements, without the cost of recreating old molds. But for now, the Holiday Express Train stands alone as the first retail set to feature this technology.
For those who prefer their trains brick-built, there’s good news: the 41843 Family Christmas Tree set, releasing the same day, includes a miniature toy train constructed entirely from traditional LEGO® bricks.
To Buy or Not to Buy?
If you’re a fan of technical innovation and don’t mind a few non-traditional elements, the 10361 Holiday Express Train might be a must-have. But if you’re all about the brick-built experience, you might want to wait and see how this experiment plays out. After all, as one fan put it, “A 3D-printed LEGO® is not a LEGO®, it’s a toy that’s been included in a box of LEGO®”.
One thing’s for sure: this little blue train has got everyone talking. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
