About
The build breaks the station into pressurised modules and a long truss structure with articulated solar arrays and radiators. Canadarm2 has several points of articulation and brings the model to life, letting you stage dockings with the miniature spacecraft. The base is solid and the connection to the stand is secure, which makes it easy to pick up and rotate to adjust the display angle. The fun lies in the subassemblies, Kibo, Columbus, Destiny, Quest, repetitive enough to establish rhythm, with variations that prevent monotony. The finished model has strong shelf presence for the part count, reads instantly as the ISS, and delivers convincing detail for the scale. Typical compromises are there, the central truss is slender and can be delicate if handled roughly, and aligning the eight solar panels in parallel takes some patience. Beyond that, it is a clean, didactic display with good interaction thanks to the robotic arm and the extra craft.
Box design
The box uses a dark backdrop with Earth, LEGO Ideas branding and a front photo of the model on its stand. The reverse highlights key functions, panel articulation, Canadarm2, and the micro scale spacecraft. It is an “adult collector” presentation, compact enough to store and robust enough to protect the thinner sections during transport.
Instruction manual
The book follows the LEGO Ideas pattern, premium cover, good paper weight, and editorial content with notes about the ISS, timeline, mission trivia and profiles of the fan designer and the LEGO design team. Steps are clear, subassemblies are well segmented, and no step jumps across a page turn. The LEGO Builder digital version helps if you want to zoom into truss areas before closing modules.
So…
For the price, parts and scale, 21321 is an excellent display piece that balances fidelity, smart engineering and a relaxing build. It is perfect if you want an iconic space exploration model without taking up half a shelf, it has enough information to please enthusiasts and is friendly for returning builders. If you are looking for minifigure play, this is not the focus, as an informative display model it is hard to miss. And since is one of mine must wanted I love it!
