LEGO has announced it is going green with the re-release of an old fan-favorite set currently owned by very few: the 10268 Vestas Wind Turbine. The original set (numbered 4999) was released a decade ago as a limited production run for Vestas, a sustainable energy company, and never saw wider availability. That changes on Black Friday.
Following in the path of the last year’s re-released 10256 Taj Mahal, LEGO is “opening the vault” once again with a slightly updated rendition of the Creator Expert Vestas Wind Turbine. The set comes with 826 pieces (11 more than the first version), three minifigures, a dog, and Power Functions motor and lights, as well as the first spruce tree element made from plants available in a retail set.
The set is slightly more than three feet tall (one meter) and will retail at $199.99 USD from LEGO (coming in at $249.99 CA and £159.99 UK respectively). It will be available for purchase by everyone starting Friday, November 23 (also known as Black Friday).
The set is a near-identical replica of its first rendition, including the rotating white wind turbine with aircraft warning lights, a red cottage with working porch light, green wooded hills in the back, and a Vestas service van.
Tim Brooks, Vice President of Environmental Responsibility for LEGO, told TBB that the company is “striving to make a positive impact on the environment and is committed to climate action and to use sustainable materials in products and packaging.” The Creator Expert Vestas Wind Turbine is literally bringing that ambition to life by celebrating renewable energy and including plant-based elements.
The service van is a straightforward rendition, evoking nostalgia of simpler times with boxy vehicles. Most notably, all the Vestas logos in the entire set are printed this time around, rather than created with stickers like the first version.
Like the first version, the wind turbine set comes with a Power Function medium motor, battery box, lights and two new extension cords. All the cables are expertly hidden in the final build.
Looking at elements of note, the set comes with a green “BURP” (Big Ugly Rock Piece), which many builders will be excited about since that piece has only ever been available in the previous version of the set and currently retails for around $10 each on the secondary market. The set also includes a 32×32 green baseplate, only recently available in 10255 Assembly Square.
In real life, Vestas has installed more than 65,000 wind turbines in around 80 countries, dwarfing the initial limited run of the LEGO version. Morten Dyrholm, Vestas Group Senior Vice President, told TBB that the original LEGO model “was specially created for Vestas to promote wind energy to a small audience” but that the company is excited for the broad re-launch of the set to “tell the story of how wind energy has gone from niche to mainstream.”
The Brothers Brick will have a full review of the Creator Expert 10268 Vestas Wind Turbine in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can read the full product press release and see the complete photo gallery below.
10268 Vestas® Wind Turbine
Ages 12+. 826 pieces
US $199.99 – CA $249.99 – DE 179.99€ – UK £159.99 – FR 179.99€ – DK 1499DKK
Build and discover the iconic Vestas® Wind Turbine!
Celebrate green energy innovation with the LEGO® Creator Expert 10268 Vestas® Wind Turbine. Developed in partnership with Vestas, this detailed, motorized LEGO model captures the elegance and graceful movement of a traditional wind turbine and features a new-for-January 2019 spruce tree, manufactured from sustainably sourced plant-based plastic. At approximately 39” (1m) high, the structure towers above a wooded hill and a house with furnished patio, mailbox, flowers and a white picket fence. Turn the nacelle left or right and switch on the included Power Functions motor to rotate the adjustable wind turbine blades and illuminate the cottage’s porch light. This collectible model has been designed to provide a challenging and rewarding building experience with a touch of nostalgia and makes a great display piece for the home or office. This big LEGO set also includes a Vestas service vehicle and 3 minifigures: 2 Vestas service technicians kitted out with safety helmets and a woman, plus a dog figure.
- Includes 3 minifigures: a woman and 2 Vestas® service technicians with v-printed torsos, plus a dog figure.
- Includes a LEGO® Power Functions medium motor, battery box and 2 new-for-January-2018 19.6” (50cm) extension wires.
- This LEGO® Creator Expert Vestas® Wind Turbine set also features adjustable wind turbine blades, detailed tower, movable nacelle with aircraft warning lights, Vestas service vehicle, trees, greenery and a house with garden, flowers, picket fence and a patio with 2 chairs, table and a parasol.
- Turn the nacelle left or right and switch on the included Power Functions motor to activate the adjustable wind turbine blades and working porch light.
- Celebrate renewable energy technology with this buildable science toy.
- Open the service vehicle doors and slide out the retractable tool compartment.
- Includes a new-for-January-2019 spruce tree; manufactured from sustainably sourced plant-based plastic.
- Accessory elements include 2 safety helmets, tools and 2 envelopes.
- This set includes over 800 pieces and is suitable for ages 12+.
- Measures approximately 39” (100 cm) high, 24” (62cm) wide and 12” (31cm) deep.
Available directly from LEGO Stores & shop.LEGO.com starting on the 23rd of November 2018.
