Head-to-head
LEGO Ideas Dinosaur Fossils vs LEGO Ideas Typewriter
Both built. Both reviewed. Here's how they actually compare on the things that matter.
Set #21320
LEGO Ideas Dinosaur Fossils
Three museum skeletons on wood-look display bases. The closest LEGO has come to letting you walk into a natural history museum.
Set #21327
LEGO Ideas Typewriter
The keys press. The carriage moves. The paper scrolls. This is one of the cleverest mechanical builds LEGO has ever shipped — and it's now retired.
By the numbers
The spec sheet.
| Metric | LEGO Ideas Dinosaur Fossils | LEGO Ideas Typewriter |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4/5 | 5/5WINS |
| Pieces | 910 | 2,079WINS |
| MSRP | $59.99WINS | $249.99 |
| Price per piece | $0.07WINS | $0.12 |
| Verdict | Recommended | Must buy |
| Best for | Natural-history fans, kid-room display builders, and LEGO Ideas collectors hunting retired sets. | Writers, designers, vintage-aesthetic collectors, and anyone who appreciates working mechanisms over static display. |
Pros & cons
What I actually noticed.
LEGO Ideas Dinosaur Fossils
Pros
- Three complete dinosaur skeletons (T. rex, Triceratops, Pteranodon)
- Each on its own wood-look display base — modular and rearrangeable
- Retired since 2021 — secondary market up 60%+ over MSRP
- Skeleton anatomy is surprisingly accurate for a LEGO set
- Best value retired LEGO Ideas set per piece
Cons
- Skeletons are static — no articulation or movable poses
- Aftermarket pricing has crossed into 'wait for a deal' territory
- Display bases are unforgiving if you bump them — skeletons separate easily
LEGO Ideas Typewriter
Pros
- All 36 type bars actually move when you press the keys
- Carriage advances and the paper scrolls — fully working mechanism
- Vintage aesthetic that doesn't look like a LEGO set on a shelf
- Now retired — secondary-market value has risen 40%+ since 2024
- Excellent build pacing, never a dull bag
Cons
- Retired status means you're paying $300–$400+ on the aftermarket
- Type-bar mechanism is delicate — keep cats and toddlers away
- Doesn't actually print, despite what the box photography implies
Made up your mind?
Pick a retailer.
Comparison generated from our individual reviews. Pros, cons, and ratings come from full hands-on builds — see each review for the complete take.