Review: LEGO Icons Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D (10356)
Where no LEGO brick has gone before.
Alina and I are huge Star Trek fans, so when LEGO announced that we were finally getting a proper set based on Star Trek: The Next Generation, we were unbelievably happy. Both of us have watched all 7 seasons of the show multiple times, and we completely support what Star Trek stands for: equality, friendship, exploration, the search for the meaning of life, and everything else.
We bought our first copy the moment it became available on Black Friday and the second a few days later, during a short trip to Copenhagen on December 1. The plan was to build one and store the other to sell it in about ten years. After finishing the main model and the gift-with-purchase shuttlepod, we can say that these are models that we will always treasure.
The building experience is good, but you need to be patient. This is a complex model with lots of angled connections, layered plates, and large subassemblies that come together late in the build. For me, following those steps by touch alone was difficult, and it was not always easy for Alina to explain exactly how pieces were offset or tilted. We ended up splitting the work in a way that made sense.
I sorted all the parts by size and type, which helped me understand how each section was supposed to come together, and Alina built most of the ship. That turned the process into something enjoyable and fun.
Once built, the Enterprise looks and feels exactly like it should. The ship is mainly light gray, with small variations in tone that give the hull structure without overloading it with detail. The saucer section is wide, flat, and round, with layered surfaces and a ring of small dark windows around the edge. The center of the saucer is slightly raised, clearly showing the different deck levels.
A nice feature that fans of the show will really appreciate is that the ship can be separated into two main parts. The saucer section can be detached from the battle bridge below, just like in Encounter at Farpoint, the first episode of The Next Generation. This shows that the designers knew what mattered, and they probably went to great lengths in order to achieve this.
Below the saucer sits the secondary hull, longer and more narrow, with a translucent blue deflector dish at the front. Small transparent blue elements along the hull suggest windows and internal systems. The two warp nacelles extend backward on angled pylons. They are light gray, with long translucent blue strips representing the warp coils and small red transparent elements for navigation lights. Everything is mounted on a black display stand that holds the ship at a dynamic, banking angle.
The finished model is quite large considering that the set consists of just over 3,600 pieces, and once built, it measures roughly 60 centimeters in length, about 48 centimeters in width, and around 27 centimeters in height on its stand. It is a serious display model and needs space. In our home, it has an entire shelf dedicated to it and its shuttlepod.
With such an awesome model of the ship, this set deserves a complete collection of minifigs, and it surely got them! Geordi La Forge wears a gold uniform, holds a tricorder, and has his VISOR printed on his face. Beverly Crusher is in a blue medical uniform with a medical tricorder. Deanna Troi wears her purple counselor outfit instead of a standard Starfleet uniform. Wesley Crusher has a grey knitted sweater and holds a portable tractor beam. Data is in gold and comes with a small orange cat representing Spot. Jean-Luc Picard wears red and holds a small cup showing his love for “Tea, Earl Grey, hot”. William Riker is also in red and comes with a golden trombone. Guinan wears her wide hat and distinctive purple outfit and holds a small shaker. Worf is in gold and carries a phaser.
The gift with purchase Type-15 Shuttlepod (40768) is a nice extra, and it comes with an exclusive Ensign Ro Laren minifigure, which is a fantastic addition for fans. The shuttle itself is well-shaped, instantly recognizable, and was fun to build.
If you love LEGO and Star Trek as much as we do, the LEGO Icons U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is a set you should not miss. With 2026 marking 60 years since Star Trek first aired, we really hope this is only the beginning and that LEGO has more Star Trek sets planned.
Victor Dima
