Build Review of LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356)

Trekkies rejoiced at the end of last year as LEGO announced the spectacular LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356) for a November 28th release date.

It's a showstopper of a build, measuring two feet in length, over 1.5 feet wide and nearly a foot in height, with nine LEGO Star Trek Minifigures (plus Spot the cat!) and 3,600 pieces in total.

A set on this scale deserves to be displayed in style, which is why we have two ways for you to show off your LEGO Starship Enterprise:

• Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Display Case for LEGO 10356
• 2in1 Display Stand for LEGO Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D 10356

But is the LEGO Star Trek Enterprise D an enjoyable build? We trekked through this 30-bag marathon to bring you this exclusive build review of LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356).

LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356)

• Price: $399.99
• Release Date: Available Now
• Ages: 18+
• Pieces: 3,600
• LEGO Minifigures: 9
• LEGO Insiders Points: 2,600
• Size: 27 x 60 x 48 cm (H x L x W)

First impressions of LEGO Star Trek 10356 are good, even before opening the box. The artwork shows the LEGO Enterprise D flying through a starfield, with the blue of the Main Deflector Dish and the red Bussard collectors visible below the saucer section.

It's a tantalising glimpse of what the epic 3,600-piece, 30-bag build has in store, and it's smart to show the iconic details of the secondary 'stardrive' hull which, let's face it, has more going on than the saucer.

Let's bust open that box and get to building...star

What's in the box?

In the box, you should find 30 numbered bags with a total of 3,600 pieces inside. There are two books of building instructions - one for the engineering section, and one for the saucer.

A familiar crew of nine LEGO Star Trek TNG Minifigures also awaits:

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Commanding Officer)
• Commander William Riker (First Officer)
• Lieutenant Commander Data (Second Officer)
• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge (Chief Engineer)
• Lieutenant Worf (Chief of Security)
• Dr Beverly Crusher (Chief Medical Officer)
• Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi (Ship's Counsellor)
• Guinan (Ten Forward Bartender)
• Wesley Crusher (Ensign)

The first crew member out of a bag is actually Dr Crusher, which is a welcome honour for a character who wasn't always given the limelight she deserved in the show.

As you meet the remaining crew members throughout the build, you'll also encounter accessories for each:

• Spot the cat
• a teacup
• a bottle
• a phaser
• a tricorder
• an engineering case
• a trombone with stand
• a portable tractor beam generator
• a PADD (Personal Access Display Device)

It's actually a lot of fun just watching the line-up of Enterprise D bridge crew grow as the ship build progresses - like seeing old friends arrive one by one to the party. We're low-key obsessed with the hairless hero himself, LEGO Minifigure Jean-Luc Picard (or should that be Jean-Luc Brickard??)

What's the build process like?

Instruction book 1 covers 405 steps and exactly half of the bags. By the end of it, you have the secondary engineering hull complete - basically everything apart from the saucer section.

Another 422 steps await you in book 2, as the (sort-of) circular saucer section grows out like a spiderweb. It's an interesting challenge to assemble the 'spokes' of the saucer and then snap the smooth hull plates firmly into place.

Book 1: Engineering/Stardrive Hull and Display Stand

The very first thing you assemble is the stand for the Minifigures, complete with Star Trek: The Next Generation logo. It's nice that this is done first, so you can add each new member of personnel to the line as you go along.

Next is the 'neck' of the ship and the Main Deflector Dish, before the build takes an abrupt turn - instead of completing the stardrive hull by adding the warp nacelles, you have to put together the black brick-built display stand.

We're not exaggerating when we say the stand included with this set is hideous. It's so distracting to the eye compared with the light grey of the Enterprise D, it's impossible to imagine the ship cruising through outer space.

That's why we created our 2in1 Display Stand for LEGO Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D 10356, which can show the finished Enterprise D in the same position as the brick-built stand, or at an even more dynamic tilt of 20 degrees left or right.

After the stand, it's time to assemble and attach the warp nacelles, and the engineering section is done.

Book 2: Saucer Section and Display Plaque

Book 2 covers the saucer section, which is a surprisingly interesting process. The Star Trek: TNG saucer has a lot more going on than the OG Enterprise from The Original Series, so nothing feels too repetitive.

We LOVE that the saucer section can detach from the stardrive hull, just like in the show. Although it only happened three times on TV, and once in Star Trek: Generations, it's still one of the defining features of the ship and something fans will enjoy recreating.

There's one final Minifigure to meet (we won't spoil who's last to join the line-up!) and a very simple 4-piece display plaque to put the finishing touches to a very enjoyable build.

Our impressions of the build

We had a lot of fun with this one. It's definitely a display piece - not a child's play set - but it's not at all boring or repetitive like some 'Adults Welcome' builds can be.

That's down to the complexity of the design, which keeps things interesting and also adds to the accurate aesthetics of the finished LEGO Starship Enterprise D.

A circular saucer from rectangular bricks was always going to be a big ask, but there are plenty of curved pieces and smooth plates to give the LEGO NCC-1701-D a truly Galaxy Class profile.

The underside is not so elegant, and seems to lack a bit of polish, especially because the top side looks so clean. But the build as a whole is excellent.

We're also really happy with the LEGO Star Trek TNG Minifigures included in this set. All of the regular bridge crew are recreated and they're all recognisable, plus the personal accessories are a nice touch.

Again - this is not a play set. But if you wanted to make your own LEGO Star Trek fan film, you'd have the ship AND the crew ready to warp into stop-motion action!

What are the problem points?

That brick-built display stand is truly awful, partly because it's so bulky, but also because it's so dark that it draws your eye away from the Enterprise.

Why not save yourself the bother of building it - skip bags 10 and 11, and instead show off your LEGO Enterprise D on our 2in1 dynamic display stand for LEGO Star Trek 10356.

As mentioned, the underside of the ship is not quite as pretty as the top side, as it just feels like there's a little bit less finesse. That's not a dealbreaker though.

Finally, don't lift the finished build by the edges! The building instructions literally include a page called 'How to Hold the Model' showing where the finished set is strong enough to lift (the centre of the saucer's underside, and the lowest part of the engineering hull).

How to display it

Our Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Display Case for LEGO 10356 is a good way to protect your finished ship against getting knocked or bumped - or at least, to catch any pieces that happen to fall off!

There's room inside for the LEGO Minifigures on their stand, the name plaque, and even the LEGO GWP Shuttlepod (40768) if you were lucky enough to get your hands on it.

Our display case for LEGO Star Trek 10356 has an optional background and printed base, with room for our transparent acrylic dynamic display stand, to complete the illusion that the Enterprise D is trekking through the stars.

Final Thoughts

As the first official LEGO Star Trek set, LEGO Icons 10356 U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is a very strong start. We'd love to see more iconic starships from the show built to the same scale (there will ALWAYS be space on our shelf for a LEGO U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656 set...)

Until then, this set really is the final frontier for LEGO Trekkies. Savour every moment of the build, enjoy separating the saucer section, and make sure you mount your LEGO Enterprise D on a display stand this stunning set deserves.

OUR BUILD RATING: 9/10

Purchase from the LEGO Store: LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356)

What do YOU think of LEGO Star Trek Enterprise D? Tell us your thoughts on this galaxy-class build below.