Celebrating 60 Years of Star Trek with LEGO® Icons

Sixty years ago, a television show about a starship changed what science fiction could be.

More than just a TV set, the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 is the heart of a long-lasting love affair between the franchise and its fans.

To learn more about the process behind the creation of the LEGO® Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701™ (11385), we’ve spoken with Henrik Andersen, the Design Master at the LEGO Group responsible for this impressive set.

It’s not just a set, it’s a dream made reality

Some sets begin with a brief. This one began with a boy in Denmark, flicking between TV channels, stumbling onto something that would stay with him for decades.

“I grew up in Denmark and we only had one TV channel,” Henrik says. “But we also had three German channels and one of them would show Raumschiff Enterprise (German for Star Trek). I loved it. I have been a Star Trek superfan most of my life.”

The release of this set to celebrate Star Trek’s 60th anniversary is for Henrik the fulfilment of a few decades-long dream .

“I have been waiting to build a LEGO Star Trek model ever since I joined the LEGO Group (in 1998),” he mentions. “It is a really big dream of mine that has come true and I am so happy with the result. I look forward to the release, but most of all to being able to reveal it to my older brother, who introduced me to Star Trek in the late ‘70s. I can’t wait to tell him.”

Recreating a legend in LEGO® bricks

When the original Star Trek series premiered in September 1966, the world watched a crew of courageous explorers begin their mission aboard the most recognizable ship in the history of science fiction, with the ship’s bridge becoming as iconic as the ship itself.

The place where Kirk made impossible decisions, where Spock raised an eyebrow, where Uhura opened hailing frequencies, where Scotty delivered miracles on deadline.

Its design was so clean, sleek and quietly revolutionary that it still looks futuristic today.

So, how was the process of recreating it in LEGO form? What kind of research was needed?

“As I remembered more from the old Star Trek movies than the show, I decided to rewatch the original series from 1966,” he says. “I also used official images from the show and my memories of fun things I had seen.”

Recreating the Enterprise bridge’s circular form may sound simple. Well, it is anything but when we’re talking about LEGO bricks.

“The main challenge was to build a big open circle as the base and make it sturdy enough to be moved around. I wanted the model to be as circular as possible, that was the first focus,” he explains.

From the beginning, it was decided to make the main console section and the transporter room as separate, interlocking modules. “They would cause even bigger stability issues as part of the main ring,” he says. The modular approach has a pleasing echo of the original set, which was also built in separate sections for practical reasons.

Making the transporter room was another challenge in its own. After all, how can one build a model where minifigures get to disappear? You’ll have to see it for yourself to find out.

What makes this set truly unique?

Well, this isn’t just another commemorative set. It’s a love letter from a Star Trek fan to an incredible franchise, packed with delightful details and Easter eggs that all fans will love.

It contains exactly 1,701 pieces, the same registry number of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701. No, it was not a coincidence… but it almost didn’t happen.

“It was my idea from the beginning,” he explains. “But the model changed ever so slightly during the design process, so only later on could we make it happen. I was in continuous dialog with different partners in my team to keep the focus and make sure it would end up at exactly 1,701 pieces.”

It also includes 8 detailed minifigures from the Starfleet crew. With Kirk in his command chair, Spock at his science station, Uhura at communications and Scott in engineering. The essence of this series was never just about the ship or its mission; it was about the people aboard the Enterprise and the adventure in creating a better future for all.