Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!

LEGO recently released the LEGO Time Machine from Back to the Future and our trusty toy photography contributors created some imagery to showcase this set.

Chellie (@littleplanetchell)

My only previous experience with LEGO Back to the Future sets is the 71201 “LEGO Dimensions BTTF Level Pack” (2015) with its cute DeLorean version. And I do have the Doc Brown and Marty minifigs from the Dimensions sets. But I was very, very excited to see the 77256 set and happily pre-ordered it. That turned out to be a great decision. The set has so many positives:

  • It’s minifig scaled!  Both Marty and Doc will sit comfortably in the car.
  • It has lots of detail and printed new versions of the time settings display, two license plates, the flux capacitor screen, and the Mr. Fusion energy reactor.
  • The overall look of the car is much cleaner than the previous version in the LEGO 21103 “The DeLorean Time Machine” set from 2013.
  • You can build two different time machine versions – the original 1985 car and the flying car. And there instructions online (thank you MOC designers!) to modify this set to build the 1885 and 1955 Back to the Future III versions.
  • I thought it was very reasonably priced for a branded LEGO set.

The 77256 set has a tremendous amount of photo potential.  To start with, here’s a couple iconic scenes from Back to the Future I.

The time machine reveal.  I built the van using firefabric’s “Doc Brown Value Van” plans from Rebrickable.

I do wish the car had the cool gull-wing doors that open, but honestly that’s the only downside I have found to this set. I really think it would look amazing with one of the many lighting kits, but sadly the currently available kits cost nearly as much as (or more than) the LEGO set. Maybe someday.

“Roads?  Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”

Matt | @equalmotion

I have patiently been waiting for my hoverboard. If I had a time machine I would travel into the future and get one and that is exactly what I created with the Time Machine from Back to the Future LEGO set.

Marty using his boring old skateboard in front of Doc.

Doc let’s Marty know in the future there are skateboard without wheels!

So they hop in the DeLorean and fly into the future!

They do nothing, but steal that hoverboard from that kid and immediately travel back to the present. Mission accomplished!

Tomek | @tomekskog

Time travel, extraordinary adventures along the way, a young hero you can relate to, a mad scientist, and a futuristic [time travelling] super sports car! My young mind and heart needed nothing more, so I instantly fell in love with the Back to the Future series. And when, in the second part, the time machine lifted into the air, I was completely sold!

That’s why the newest, 77256 set, inspired by BTTF, materialized at my place very quickly. I managed to capture the moment when it suddenly appeared on my table in a cloud of steam.


And even in these few quick shots, it looks really great! I wanted the photos to have the vibe of 80s and 90s promotional car photography — low key lighting, details of the silhouette emerging from and fading into darkness, strong lines and reflections.

This vehicle will definitely be staying in front of my lens for longer, especially since it will sit on the shelf next to the Lego CUSOO set. That will give me a great opportunity to compare the two versions.

When this baby hits 88mph…