LEGO Icons Douglas DC-3 Pan Am Airliner (11378) Set Showcases Wings from Another Era That Now Fit on Any Shelf

Aviation enthusiasts now have direct access to the planes that once transformed the way people traveled across oceans and countries. The LEGO company has just launched its new Icons entry, the Douglas DC-3 Pan Am Airliner (set 11378), and every detail transports builders back to the 1930s, when air travel still held a certain mystique.

The finished model is made up of approximately 1,903 pieces, and for those with keen eyes, the plane measures 51 cm long and 76 cm across its wings, with the display stand adding 24 cm to its height. Remove a few panels from the fuselage, and the interior opens up like a little time capsule from the past.

Seats line both sides of the small aisle within the passenger cabin, each of which has been scaled down just a teeny bit, so while it appears to be a miniature economy section, you can tell it’s from the past. Up front, the cockpit has some clever little details, such as Battle Droid torsos repurposed as seat backs to give you a sense of the cramped quarters pilots used to operate in. The entire thing feels lived-in, as if it was created from authentic archive images and blueprints rather than a wild guess.

The landing gear dial is conveniently located near the plane’s belly. When you spin it one way, the wheels tuck neatly within; turn the other way, and they come out, ready for touchdown, which is great every time you show it off to visitors. The model includes four rare minifigures, each outfitted in historically correct Pan Am outfits.

There’s a pilot, a purser, a hostess, and a flight attendant, all wearing caps and coats and with tiny printed elements that contribute to the realism. An information plaque on the base adds even more detail, such as the DC-3’s first flying year, cruising speed, and the rather amazing statistic that more than 10,000 replicas served during WWII. This just adds an extra layer of discourse to the show. Available from April 4th for $219.99.