Lego throws its own Hail Mary

Lego has released a set to coincide with the Project Hail Mary movie, and it's a clever bit of Technic-style engineering, even if the price is a little high. Usually, we only look at Lego builds of real objects - think Concorde and the recent Artemis set. However, having enjoyed Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary (the book more than the film), I was keen to see what Lego had done with its license. The answer is: it's good, but a bit pricey. The 830-piece set comprises a model of the eponymous spacecraft, a minifig-scale Ryland Grace, and Lego's version of the Rocky character. It also, thankfully, does not have the stickers that have blighted recent Lego sets. This set is not cheap, though Lego has at least invested in some pre-printed components rather than making customers fiddle with sticky transfers that invariably end up looking awful. Lego lists the set's age as 18+, which I'd quibble with. It's a lengthy (at least in terms of steps) but straightforward build. Budget around half a day to a full day for building it, depending on your skill level and how often little bits of Lego get flung around the room. Starting with the spacecraft, it's worth emphasizing that this is essentially a Technic set. If Technic components aren't your thing, this set isn't for you. However, persevere, and it is difficult not to be impressed with the design work. As the spacecraft comes together, so the mechanism reveals itself. Turn a crank, and the crew modules slide out before the entire spacecraft rotates to simulate gravity. Turn the crank in the opposite direction to return the crew modules. No, it's not like the book, but it is like the film, which deviates from the book in several other places too. We'd be tempted to fit a motor to achieve smoother rotation. The spacecraft is mounted on a stand that also includes a place for the Grace minifigure and the Rocky character. Both have pre-printed accessories, such as a tape measure, which will be familiar to those who have seen the film. It's a fun build and an impressive bit of Technic design. The elephant in the room, however, is cost. At 99.99 in the UK, this is not cheap. Certainly not when compared to the Artemis Technic set, which retails for 54.99. Turn the crank there, and the SLS rises, boosters separate, and Orion heads off to the Moon. Yes, there are fewer pieces (and some stickers to deal with), but for our money, it's a better value set. However, if you're a fan of Weir's book or the movie adaptation, there's a lot to like here, and the Technic designer deserves an award for making the mechanics of the spacecraft work. If only it were a little cheaper. (R)