The upcoming 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner looks to be a faithful recreation, but how does the LEGO Icons set compare to the original classic airplane?
The LEGO Icons theme will be adding 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner to its line-up next month, with the aviation model being based on the legendary 1930's airplane. Measuring over 51cm long and comprised of 1,903 pieces, just how closely does the upcoming set mirror its real-world counterpart?
Taking an in-depth look at 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner reveals just how detailed the build really is and how accurately it manages to reflect a slice of golden age travel in brick-built form.
1 – Twin-engines
The original Douglas Commercial (DC) aircraft was a twin-engine vehicle that boasted a pair of Pratt & Whitney radial piston engines capable of 1,200 horsepower each. Both have been recreated on the LEGO Icons model, along with the plane’s three-bladed Hamilton Standard propellers, which appear to be able to be rotated by hand.
2 – Cockpit
Inside 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner’s removable cockpit is a compact area where the real plane’s pilot and co-pilot would have been seated. The original aircraft featured a central console and instrument cluster, with its 1930's design ultimately setting the standard for modern commercial aviation to come.
3 – Passenger cabin
The top of the LEGO Icons build’s fuselage can also be removed, revealing a detailed passenger cabin highlighted by the blue-and-white PAN AM colour scheme used for the aircraft’s seating. While 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner has a total of 15 sets in all, the real plane was in fact capable of carrying up to 32 passengers, depending on flight configurations.
4 – PAN AM livery
Speaking of colour, the LEGO Icons model’s appearance is based on the aircraft’s livery circa 1950, when a white crown was added to the vehicle’s eye-catching look. The classic PAN AM globe logo designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes and Charles Forberg was also adopted on the tail around this time, an image that would last until 1973.
5 – Flight crew
11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner’s minifigures are also historically accurate, including a pilot, a purser (lead flight attendant), a stewardess, and a flight attendant, all based on specific eras. For instance, the grey-blue of the flight attendant reflects the 1950s and the distinctive bowler hat of the stewardess is from the late 1970s and 1980s, while all four minifigures feature the iconic golden PAN AM globe and wing pin on their chests.
6 – Retractable landing gear
The LEGO Icons model’s standout feature is its retractable landing gear, with the wheels of the brick-built aircraft able to be lowered or raised by using a dial hidden underneath the main fuselage. That matches the functionality of the real vehicle, although the much smaller tail wheel remains fixed in place on both versions.
11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner will be taking off on April 1 for Insiders members, followed by April 4 for all, with the LEGO Icons set priced at £199.99 / $219.99 / €219.99.
Featured image: Ed Whisenant Aviation
Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO using our affiliate links. Thanks!
Comments
Be the first to comment!