In case you haven’t noticed, LEGO has been on a spree with a growing fleet of Technic and Creator vehicles licensed by actual manufacturers, and I’ve sat by patiently awaiting the addition of a car from one of my all time favourite marques: McLaren. So imagine my delight when they announced a kit for the LEGO McLaren Senna GTR, and shortly thereafter sent us one to build. After admitting that there’s only so much housework you can do during a lockdown, I was amped to build something that didn’t involve drywall, paint, or sawdust.
The folks at LEGO went through some pretty painstaking lengths to pack a ton of details and working mechanics into this kit, and after convincing my loving partner that she didn’t really need to use the dining table for the next day or two, I cracked open the box to discover them for myself. The kit itself is set out into three stages, and having labeled bags for each stage really, really helps unless you’re a masochist who wants to search through 830 pieces in a single pile. I like to think I’m too methodical for this masochism, so I set out building the kit stage-by-stage.
The first stage involved assembling the chassis and drivetrain, which includes an engine with firing pistons, and a functional steering rack. The pistons are particularly cool, and maintain firing order as you spin the rear axle – (take special care in assembling this portion as I mucked it up with one poorly placed piece and had to use some wizardry to fix my mistake without taking the whole thing apart).
The second stage sees you starting to assemble the bodywork at the rear of the car, the signature massive spoiler/rear diffuser, and of course, a roof scoop (because honestly who wants a McLaren without a roof scoop? Not me.) Easily my favourite part of this is the diffuser – it really adds a such a cool detail to the model.
The final stage obviously completes the kit, adding the rest of the bodywork, signature McLaren-style helix doors, and a knob on the roof to control the steering. It’s always satisfying to see a kit completed, but let me tell you, keep your caffeine intake to a minimum for this portion: there are a lot of stickers to add. They’re not particularly difficult to place under normal circumstances, but after my third cup of beans I am no surgeon.
This kit is a great way to pass the lockdown time while catering to my inner man-child. Overall it took me about 8-9 hours to complete, which is a lot more than I would have expected from a set that’s only $69.99. Not only was this a great way to pass the time, but this impressive set looks badass in my home office and honestly, I think this is the start of a new collection. Next up will be the Creator Porsche 911 that has just arrived. A man-child can dream.
