I’m a big fan of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Despite owning them on 4K UHD, I’m tempted to go check out the theatrical release of the extended versions of the trilogy in theaters next month just to see them on the big screen. So it was with no small amount of excitement that I set out to build one of the largest LEGO sets ever, The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell.
What Is the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell?
The LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell, set #10316, is a 6,167-pcs set that comes with a whopping 15 Minifigures. The set, when assembled, measures 16″ high x 29″ wide x 20″ deep, so be sure to have plenty of shelf space. It is modeled after the appearance of Rivendell in the 2001 film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell retails for $499.99 and is available from the LEGO store on Amazon or directly from LEGO and LEGO stores.
Unpacking the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell
With that big box, it comes as no surprise that there are 49 labeled bags included to put together Rivendell. There are also two sticker sheets, to be used in various stages of assembly.
There are 3 separate instruction books. The first book is 184 pages long and covers the construction of the tower. The second book is 164 pages long and has instructions for the river, forge, and armory. The third and final book is the largest at 332 pages and details how to assemble the council ring.
LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell – The Build
As with any LEGO kit, the Minifigures are spaced out throughout the build.
Some of the Minifigures have alternate looks. Both Gimli and Gandalf can be displayed with or without headwear. With Bilbo, you can choose between two expressions: the kindly old Hobbit or his ring-obsessed countenance.
Some of the Minifigures also have alternate pieces to allow them to have a seated position, such as Bilbo and Frodo:
Book One – The Tower
The first book focuses solely on the construction of the tower section of Rivendell. Here’s a look at the build:
And here is the completed tower:
Of particular challenge in this section was the statuary section and their alcoves. It took me a few tries to get everything to fit just right, so extra care should be taken on this step.
And while not particularly a hard part of the build, the construction of the tower also sees the assembly of the first of multiple roof pieces that you’ll put together. Smartly, you’ll use a long LEGO brick and slide it between the mosaic pieces to help line up all the tile work.
Book Two – The River, Forge, and Armory
While the tower is on one end of Rivendell, the river, forge, and armory make up the other end.
Here is the completed section:
There are a lot of beautiful elements in this section. The use of both translucent aqua and solid white bricks creates a very nice illusion of running water. It is in this section that you also build trees, which use many different colors of leaves to great effect.
The roof of the removable pavilion has an elegant architecture, while the forge speaks of a more practical purpose:
As does the adjacent smithing area:
Book Three – The Council Ring
The Council Ring, and the building surrounding it, take up the bulk of the build:
The Council Ring itself is removable from the larger piece:
And here is the Council Ring section, in its entirety:
As with the other two sections of the build, the Council Ring is bursting with details. There’s a manuscript to be found in the study which is about the eye of Sauron:
And almost tucked away in the back is the broken sword Narsil, which Isildur used to cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand:
Putting It All Together
All three sections of the build easily snap together at their bases, and then Rivendell is born!
Once the set is complete, you can populate it with the Minifigures, recreating scenes from the film or creating new scenes of your own.
The LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell – Final Thoughts
Wow, what a build! Needless to say, this is not a set that you’ll knock out in one night. But the work is definitely worth it. If you’re a fan of the Peter Jackson LotR films, you’ll find a LEGO set bursting with fantastical details. There are hidden treasures sprinkled throughout, like the chest that you’ll find in Bilbo’s quarters:
There’s a lot of creative use of LEGO bricks to recreate the elegant architecture of Rivendell. Every part of the build will fill you with delight, from the tiled floors all the way up to the mosaic rooftops. Befitting the subject matter, the architecture melds with nature, as Rivendell was built amongst trees and a river.
The LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set is a fantastically fun build, especially for fans of The Lord of the Rings. If you’re not a fan, that $499.99 price tag might be a little harder to swallow, as you won’t have the same level of appreciation for all of the details to be found throughout the set. But even if you’re not a fan, it’s hard to argue with the results. Rivendell is a beautiful display piece, and a pleasure to assemble.
As of this point, I can easily say that the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell is my favorite of all the LEGO sets I’ve ever built… and that’s saying a lot. Another big LotR LEGO Icons set, The Lord Of The Rings: Barad-Dûr, is slated to release later this spring or summer. I can only hope that it offers the same enjoyment and satisfaction that Rivendell has given me.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set, head to the LEGO website.
Click That Brick!
Click That Brick! is a look at LEGO building sets that appeal to the geek in all of us. I’ll be bringing you previews and reviews of various LEGO sets, such as the LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter. So be sure to keep your eyeballs peeled for more great LEGO content here on GeekDad.
LEGO sent this set for evaluation but had no input into the review. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission on qualified purchases.
