LEGO Icons Hubble Space Telescope (11382): £119.99, 1,252 Pieces, Out 1 August

LEGO Icons Hubble Space Telescope (11382) goes on sale 1 August via LEGO.com and LEGO Stores, with pre-orders open now in select countries. Rated 18+, the set contains 1,252 pieces and is priced at £119.99 / $139.99 / €129.99.

The release marks 35 years since Hubble launched aboard STS-31 in 1990. At 32cm wide and 33cm tall, this is a standalone display model - not something to tuck alongside other sets, but a centrepiece in its own right.

The build's headline feature is a pair of removable exterior panels that open to reveal an interior instrument bay depicting gyroscopes and the primary and secondary mirrors. Solar arrays and antennas are positionable, the aperture door functions, and the finished model sits on a display stand with an information plaque. The stand features imagery of the Pillars of Creation, Galaxy NGC 2525, and the Butterfly Nebula. An astronaut minifigure is included to give a sense of scale.

The entire model is built in light blueish grey, which is accurate to the real telescope but noticeably flat alongside the small Hubble in the cargo bay of 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, where lacquered silver and metallic pieces gave that miniature version considerably more visual presence. Chrome or metallic parts would have made 11382 something special; their absence is the most obvious criticism of the release.

At roughly 9.5p per piece, 11382 sits in line with other Icons display sets at this scale. The interior detail - the instrument bay in particular - is what earns the price. External-only builds rarely justify the outlay at this level, but the removable panels signal there is enough going on beneath the shell to sustain interest across what should be a solid weekend build.

If 10283 is already on your shelf, 11382 is genuinely optional - it comes down to whether you want Hubble as a centrepiece in its own right rather than a cargo bay accessory. If you skipped the Space Shuttle, or simply want to give the telescope the prominence it deserves, this is an easy recommendation for anyone with a soft spot for space history.

Pre-order the LEGO Icons Hubble Space Telescope (11382) at LEGO.com