Yes, the LEGO Titanic can technically break in half

The newly-revealed LEGO for Adults 10294 Titanic is constructed in sections – and can therefore technically break in two, in an unfortunate reflection of the fate of the real-life vessel.

During its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in April 1912, RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1,500 people. And until the mid-1980s, most experts believed that the cruise liner went down in one piece.

In 1985, however, an expedition led by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel discovered the remains of Titanic on the ocean floor, with the bow and stern sections of the ship some 650 metres apart. Forensic studies have since concluded that Titanic likely started breaking in two when the stern reached an angle of roughly 15 degrees, instead of the dramatic 45-degree angle depicted in James Cameron’s 1997 movie.

There’s no reference to the tragedy of the ship’s sinking in the press release for 10294 Titanic, and the construction of separate sections obviously has plenty of benefits of its own – such as making the build process less repetitive, making the finished model easier to transport and allowing access to the interior rooms – but there’s still no getting away from the fact that, yes, the LEGO Titanic can technically split in two.

Or, more accurately, three, with a central section and two end sections for the bow and stern – but then the real boat didn’t split symmetrically down the middle either.

Click here to learn more about 10294 Titanic, or head here to see a complete gallery of images. The 9,090-piece model – which is among the largest LEGO sets of all time – will launch on November 8 for £569.99 / $629.99 / €629.99, with pre-orders set to begin on November 1.

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