Last Chance Project

Detailed ratings

In-depth review analysis

LEGO Icons 11389 Project Hail Mary focuses on displaying the film-inspired spacecraft, with a mechanical function built into its stand. Reviewers see it primarily as a display model, but its appeal goes beyond appearance: the crew compartment can move and rotate to represent the centrifuge configuration. This articulation is central to the positive assessments, even though it also explains many of the compromises noted during the build.

Assembly starts with the characters and their stands, then devotes considerable attention to the base and its mechanism. New Elementary highlights the importance of Technic elements in the experience, while Jay's Brick Blog warns that builders need to pay attention to the axles, beams and connectors. According to the latter, only the final two bags are used to assemble the spacecraft. Zusammengebaut likewise observes that the stand and mechanism take up most of the building time, although the set comes together relatively quickly overall.

This allocation makes the experience subjective. Jay's Brick Blog, which has a dislike of Technic, did not particularly enjoy the build, while acknowledging the quality of the result and how well the function works. By contrast, Zusammengebaut calls the build varied, Brickset found it satisfying, and Brick Fanatics appreciates its techniques and use of parts. Someone mainly interested in building the spacecraft should therefore know that the stand takes up a substantial share; for someone who enjoys understanding a mechanism, that same characteristic may be a major attraction.

The function receives particularly favourable comments. The Brothers Brick describes clever gear assemblies that allow the crew compartment to swing outward. Brickset praises the separation and rotation mechanism, and Jay's Brick Blog says it works remarkably well. Brick Fanatics considers the effort devoted to the mechanism worthwhile and finds that the result combines form and function. These observations concern the operation reviewers observed and do not amount to a guarantee of long-term durability.

Visually, Brickset considers the spacecraft faithful to the film version and appreciates how its geometry is recreated. The Brothers Brick finds the finished model excellent, thanks in part to the printed elements. Zusammengebaut also likes the many printed parts, while Brick Fanatics notes that there are no stickers. Nevertheless, the balance between the substantial stand and the size of the ship remains worth considering: Zusammengebaut calls the latter relatively small, and Brickset finds the stand bulky and slightly unattractive.

The character display also draws nuanced responses. Jay's Brick Blog likes the Ryland Grace minifigure and the way it is paired with Rocky. Brickset praises Grace and the small display, but considers Rocky less accurate than hoped. The Brothers Brick finds the official Rocky acceptable while judging him a little chunky, enough to suggest a modification to his legs. New Elementary, meanwhile, regrets the absence of a piece designed specifically for the character. These reservations concern his depiction, not a documented failure.

The stand’s sturdiness is directly disputed: The Brothers Brick describes it as sturdy with a relatively small footprint, whereas Brickset considers it insufficiently stable despite its bulk. The excerpts do not establish why the experiences differ or allow an assessment of the model’s overall durability. As for the booklet, Zusammengebaut mentions background information and Brickset notes explanations of details in the model. Neither observation is enough to rate the clarity of the building steps.

Finally, value for money depends heavily on the market and on how much importance buyers attach to the printed parts and mechanism. The Brothers Brick considers the US price reasonable given those elements and the characters. Jay's Brick Blog finds it somewhat high in the United States and far too high in the UK and Australia. Zusammengebaut considers the contents modest for the recommended price, while Brick Fanatics hesitates to recommend buying at full price, particularly in the UK. The model is thus most convincing for its mechanism and appearance; its value remains more disputed.

Strengths

• Ingenious mechanism separates and rotates the crew compartment.
• The spacecraft is praised for resembling the film version and for its printed elements.
• The Ryland Grace minifigure and small character display are well received.
• A technique-rich build for fans of mechanisms.

Weaknesses

• The stand and Technic elements account for most of the build.
• Brickset considers the stand bulky and insufficiently stable.
• Several reviewers find Rocky’s depiction chunky or imperfect.
• Several outlets consider the price high, particularly in some markets.

Where reviewers disagree

The Brothers Brick finds the stand sturdy with a relatively small footprint; Brickset considers it bulky and insufficiently stable. — The Brothers Brick · Brickset.com

Jay's Brick Blog is not keen on the Technic-dominated build, whereas Zusammengebaut finds it varied and Brick Fanatics appreciates its techniques. — Jay's Brick Blog · zusammengebaut · Brick Fanatics

The Brothers Brick considers the US price reasonable, whereas Jay's Brick Blog finds it somewhat high in the United States and considerably too high in some other markets. — Jay's Brick Blog · The Brothers Brick

Publications consulted

newelementary.com · Date not provided

Jay's Brick Blog · 2026-02-21

zusammengebaut · 2026-03-07

The Brothers Brick · 2026-02-21

Brickset.com · Date not provided

Brick Fanatics · 2026-03-02