Steam Powered Science

Be it heavens above or oceans deep, no mystery is too remote for science! 

Set Features

• 3,405 pieces 
• Hinged Frame – Open to view interior or Closed for a stand-alone building 
• Retractable Telescope – The telescope is stored inside & raised through a circular door on the roof. 
• Oceanic Microcosm – This rotatable aquarium contains a variety of oceanic life in a self-contained ecosystem.  
• Lighthouse Crane – Spin the spotlight to pull up the crate. 
• Steam-Powered Dynamo – Turn the waterwheel and watch the steam-powered piston come alive. 
• 8 Minifigures – 2 Professors, 1 Musician, 2 Invention Thieves, 1 Old Mariner with Diving Suit, & 1 Submersible Pilot 
• Steam Powered Submersible – Including 8 different arm attachments! 
• Minifigure Orrery – A Minifigure scale model of the solar system.

About the Set

The Steam Powered Science (previously known as the Exploratorium) is a Steam-Punk themed research facility whose mission is to delve into the mysteries of the universe. One half of the facility is dedicated to researching celestial motion while the other is dedicated to traversing the ocean’s depths. The set was designed as part of the Flight Works Series, a group of Steam-Punk themed submissions on LEGO Ideas.

Originally, the Steam Powered Science took about a year and a half to develop before being submitted to LEGO Ideas. It’s now been part of the BrickLink Designer Program for nearly as long. There were many challenges getting the Steam Powered Science ready for crowdfunding. LEGO Ideas is more focused on concepts than production and the submission that reached 10k had never been built in real life. Although the original design was structurally sound and most of the elements functioned as intended, it used impossible colors and parts that were discontinued in the distant past. 90% of the bricks had to be swapped out to meet the program requirements and all the functional elements went through at least one revision. Half of the set was at risk of being cut for non-standard building techniques at one point or another and the whole design was in danger of being kicked out of the program more than once. The revision process was incredibly stressful, as my building techniques pushed the limits of what could be allowed while the scope and complexity of the project made the process drag on longer and longer. 

I know many of you have waited a long time for the opportunity to buy your own Steam Powered Science, and I’ve waited even longer for this chance. However, as a designer, there is always something more I wish I could do to make my work that little bit better. God willing, this set will soon make its way to your doorsteps and I hope you find enjoyment in the things we worked to create. 

Keep exploring, 

~ Scott Nussbaum 

Author Bio

Hello everybody, my name is Scott Nussbaum. I live in the United States in a small city in Wisconsin and am currently employed as a Behavioral Technician, doing work with Autistic children. The study of philosophy and theology is one of my favorite pursuits and I’ve been a LEGO fan since I was a kid. I’ve always thought becoming a LEGO designer would be fun and my interests in LEGO revived after I started using my old sets for a tabletop RPG. Eventually, I learned about LEGO Ideas and decided to see how far I could get. Being part of the BrickLink Designer Program has taken up more of my life than I’d originally thought it would, but it’s been interesting to experience my hobby on a more professional level. Thank you for all your support.