How to build better trees for LEGO 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire
Disappointed with the trees as they come in 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire? One Rebrickable user is already on the case with instructions to beef up your latest LEGO purchase…
It’s fair to say that 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire hasn’t arrived to the same widely positive reception as the previous two Middle-earth models. Most of the criticism so far has focused on either the price of the set (too high) or the quality of its trees (too low). Not much can be done about the former – save for maximising returns by picking it up with its exclusive GWP – but there’s already a great solution for the latter.
That comes courtesy of Rebrickable user rebelnili, who has already cooked up bigger and better foliage more appropriate for the lush and leafy Shire. There are instructions available for both the tree that sits atop Bag End and the Party Tree – the subject of most shrub-related criticism in this set – under which Bilbo gives his farewell speech during his eleventy-first birthday celebrations.
Fair warning: achieving trees as large, sprawling and leafy as these doesn’t come cheap. According to the designer, the Bag End tree costs around $50 to assemble, while the Party Tree elements will set you back roughly $90. The expansion requires a whopping 1,469 pieces in total, or an additional 75% of 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire’s base piece count of 2,017.
This is very much a modification for those with the cash to splash on making their Shire the best it can possibly be, or those who already have a stockpile of the leaf elements that these trees use. But if the design of the trees as they come in the set was a dealbreaker for you and you do have the budget for the upgrade, this might just help you seal the deal. And there’s no better time than right now, while 40761 The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol and Déagol is still available.
That companion gift-with-purchase is free with all orders of 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire through April 8, or while stocks last.
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