LEGO GWP exclusive to 10335 The Endurance Ship rumoured

A rumoured LEGO GWP could be exclusive to a set expected to release for Black Friday 2024, depicting another ship that played a key role in Shackleton’s dramatic expedition.

We last heard rumours about LEGO Icons 10335 The Endurance Ship back in May, with Instagram user itavixbrix (via Brick Clicker) reporting that the set would come out on Black Friday (November 29), retailing for $259.99 in the US (so likely £219.99 in the UK and €259.99 in Europe). Now, the rumoured LEGO Icons set could be getting its own exclusive GWP in the form of 40729 James Caird Boat, according to fresh rumours from Instagram user itavixbrix (once again via Brick Clicker).

Where 10335 The Endurance Ship is expected to recreate the ship in which Sir Ernest Shackleton embarked on his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1914, the 232-piece 40729 James Caird Boat should depict the boat that Shackleton and five crew used to complete a journey of 800 miles from Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands through the Southern Ocean to South Georgia. The group was seeking rescue support for the rest of the crew they had left beyond on Elephant Island after the Endurance had sunk.

The James Caird was launched from Elephant Island on 24 April 1916 with one month’s worth of provisions, with Shackleton writing later that “if we did not make South Georgia in that time we were sure to go under.” Braving a near-capsizing and a host of other dangers, the James Caird landed in South Georgia after 17 days of travel, after which three members of the crew (including Shackleton) made it to a whaling station and organised relief for the other two members of their crew and the rest of the expedition on Elephant Island. As a result, the entire crew of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition survived.

The two ships undoubtedly would pair well together, making 40729 James Caird Boat a suitable GWP for the rumoured LEGO Icons set. Made up of 232 pieces and including two minifigures, it will undoubtedly be a less detailed model than 10335 The Endurance Ship. However, seeing as we haven’t heard any rumours of minifigures being included in 10335 The Endurance Ship, this could be the only opportunity to get a minifigure of Shackleton himself.

That last tidbit is only speculation and all the details mentioned above about both sets are far from sure until we get official confirmation from the LEGO Group, so take it with a pinch of salt for now.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by buying your LEGO sets using our affiliate links. Thanks!