The LEGO Shuttle Expedition 10231 set is great for the LEGO builder in your life. It challenges their ability to craft with a slightly harder build. However, it may also frustrate them with its less than stellar bay door design that catches with the top and bottom side. Check out our best LEGO sets list to find the right LEGO set for you or your LEGO lover!
Related: If you prefer modular buildings, read our LEGO Pet Shop 10218 review
Why We Like It – LEGO Shuttle Expedition 10231
The LEGO Shuttle Expedition 10231 set gives you an amazing rendering of a rocket ship on a launch pad. With many curved pieces and other colourful blocks, the Shuttle Expedition set can tickle that curved pieces itch that you need scratching. It also comes with only three crew members which places the focus where it should be. On the rocket itself.
- Slightly more difficult build
- Minimalistic yet challenging design
- Great array of pieces
- Some boring building moments
- Bay doors require some jiggling to close properly
- Expensive
Related: Looking for an ideal LEGO for newbies? Read the LEGO Technic Bucket Truck 8071 review
Performance
The LEGO space shuttle looks fantastic for a slightly-than-harder build. We’ll let you decide whether that’s a good thing or bad thing. The most boring part of building the LEGO Shuttle Expedition set is when you get to the rocket boosters and have to stack 4×4 bricks and rounded plated over and over again. Twice. Thankfully the fuel tank, located on top, is much more interesting. If you want something that will be interesting throughout, try the LEGO Star Wars Death Star 10188.
Design
Each LEGO Shuttle Expedition set comes with a service crew of 3 people. Two astronauts and one service crew member on the ground stationed on the launch pad (or wherever you want to put him, really). Unfortunately, the bay doors on the shuttle set do catch a bit at both the bottom and top side and require a little jiggling to get them to close properly. Try the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon 7965 LEGO Set if you want something that fits like a glove.
Value
Overall, the LEGO Space Shuttle is a great set that looks good like and has easily recognizable shapes when you’re building it. The set contains 1,230 pieces. About 200 more than the LEGO Star Wars Republic Frigate 7964 which is another great set. And if you spend over $35.00 at the online LEGO Store in the United States you qualify for free shipping. An extra bonus! The set also comes with many curved pieces, which is natural considering the object is cylindrical, so it can also help you gather those curved pieces that you’ve been looking for.
LEGO Shuttle Expedition 10231 Wrap Up
LEGO released the Shuttle Expedition set back in 2011. Because it’s been almost 10 years since the origins; release, and because LEGO hasn’t re-issued it, the price for the set has gone up a lot. It’s $419.00 right now on Amazon, and that’s for a used set. Expect a new one to set you back much further. The good news? If you already have one, you could be sitting on a gold mine.
