LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner review

LEGO Icons is back in the air to celebrate the birth of modern commercial aviation with 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner, which carves out its own place in the LEGO history books.

Do you look for the data plate while walking on to an aircraft? Do you check flight radar every time you see a plane cross the sky? If so, good news: LEGO Icons has rewound the clock again, not to the golden age of travel, but to the birth of the industry itself.

11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner

Release: Apr 1, 2026

Retiring: Dec 31, 2028

Price: £199.99 / $219.99 / €219.99

Pieces: 1,903

Minifigures: 4

Buy now at LEGO.com

11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner is a beautifully designed scale model of the original steel and aluminium bullet that once graced the skies. With 1,903 pieces, it’s a fair bit smaller than many of the past commercial models, but the final product packs the same punch with a striking aesthetic that is sure to dominate any collection. On its stand, the set measures 24cm x 76cm x 51cm, meaning that despite the somewhat disappointing piece count, the final product still holds its own amongst other Icons models.

One of the most common complaints about LEGO planes, trains, and automobiles is the repetition of the build. You’re always constructing mirror images of simple walls, wings and bases, and it can get rather monotonous. The DC-3 does something interesting in this realm by mixing up the order of operations.

Between the wings you work on the landing gear and you make it down a large portion of the fuselage before beginning on the opposite side. I found myself forgetting how to build the second half by the time I got around to it, keeping the build fresh throughout. This isn’t to say, however, that the build process is seamless.

You of course need to rotate the set countless times throughout, but you do spend a disproportionate amount of time with the main fuselage fully constructed but placed upside down. This doesn’t cause much of a logistical problem, but it does feel unnatural and fragile. Perhaps the instructional order could have been mixed up even further, prioritising the landing gear so the set sits upright throughout the process.

Let’s talk about the landing gear, then, which is a highlight of the set for me. The mechanics of the semi-retractable wheels are solid, and even more importantly, hidden. Unlike with Technic models where the axle-turning knob sits uncomfortably upon the roof, the gears are hidden within and underneath the main body of the DC-3. Maybe it’s because of the original 1936 design more than anything, but the wheels feel far sturdier than past aircraft, making the choice between the pedestal and simply resting on a table or shelf a far more difficult choice. 

Although an extremely solid build overall, there remain a few stress points that make build and play tedious. The wings themselves are extremely solid, far more so than past models like the 787 Dreamliner, but the actual task of attaching the wings is remarkably tiresome. I consider myself a medium-clumsy person and I dropped each wing at least twice. They didn’t break (good job, design team), but my patience was being tested.

The set is also advertised to have a removable roof and cockpit, revealing the era-accurate red carpet and controls. Although this is technically true, it feels more like deconstructing to take these elements off rather than areas designed to be removed.

In another departure from past LEGO Creator Expert and Icons aircraft, this model includes four minifigures. They represent the plane’s own little flight crew, and they’re fabulous.

Every so often, the instructions feature a nugget of information on the history of Pan-Am or the aircraft itself. One I found quite interesting was that Pan-Am was one of the first ever airlines to have consistent uniforms based on a naval design. This shows in the minifigures with their clean colours, sharp collars and playful hats.

LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner is a premium aircraft model with a host of extras that sets it apart from the rest. The price per piece is a bit hefty compared to other models, but what the build lacks in pieces, it makes up for in pure flying elegance.

LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner Comparison

LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner is a sequel (or prequel, perhaps) to 10318 Concorde. On the surface, it would seem… worse. It’s more expensive, contains fewer pieces, and has only two retractable wheels instead of the Concorde’s three. While the DC-3 trails in technicality and scale, it makes up for it in elegance and grace.

Both real-life aircraft represented the most luxurious travel of their time, but 10318 Concorde remains far boxier than the DC-3. The actual Concorde was an engineering marvel of sleek curves and sharp tapers. The LEGO model, though, seems a bit like the 8-bit representation. LEGO is, after all, based around bricks, but there have been some remarkable curves achieved in the past years.

The DC-3 is one of those triumphs: the subtle curve to the front tail fins gives a special shine to the model while the slope joining the wings to the body looks like a seamless aluminium weld. In aesthetics, the DC-3 wins in every area.

Going even further back in time, we can look at how the DC-3 stacks up against LEGO Creator Expert 10177 787 Dreamliner. Again, the DC-3 wins in the aesthetics, but not just in its slick curves. All the decorated elements on the DC-3 are printed.

The Pan-Am logo is a solid, crisp circle, while the plaque is a single rectangular piece. On the 787, all the decals were stickers, leading to misplacement and unclean lines. To be fair, 10177 787 Dreamliner was half the price of 11378 DC-3 (even adjusted for inflation), but I would expect a premium look from these premium models.

Our honest opinion: 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner is the logical next step in the Icons aircraft series, and although a bit pricey, it delivers a near-excellent build experience and a highly display-worthy model.

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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Does LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner look good on display?

LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner is one of the most display-worthy Icons aircraft sets yet. It’s slightly more compact than the Concorde, and with its large Pan Am logo and elegant curves, it holds its own against the other beautiful LEGO models out there.

How long does it take to build LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner?

You’ll spend around four to five hours putting together 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner. Just don’t try to build it on a plane…

How big is LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner?

The finished plane stands 24cm tall, 76cm wide, and 51cm long, and includes 1,903 pieces.

How much does LEGO Icons 11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner cost?

11378 Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner is available now and retails for £199.99 in the UK, $219.99 in the US and from €219.99 in Europe.