You remember the scene. Indy is dangling over a cliff, his father is screaming about the Grail, and the tank is slowly grinding toward a dusty doom. It’s iconic cinema. But for a specific generation of nerds, that tension wasn’t just on a flickering screen; it was sitting on a bedroom floor in a pile of gray and tan plastic bricks. Honestly, the Lego Indiana Jones Last Crusade sets occupy a weird, nostalgic space in the hobby. They weren't just movie tie-ins. They were a masterclass in how to condense a sprawling, globe-trotting adventure into a box small enough to fit under a Christmas tree.
The Tank That Defined an Era
Let’s talk about Set 7198: Fighter Plane Attack and Set 7620: Indiana Jones Motorcycle Chase. These were great, sure. But the absolute king of this sub-theme was Set 7198's big brother, the Fighter Plane Attack, and more importantly, the 7627 Temple of the Akator (wait, that’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—wrong movie). Let's pivot back to the real heavy hitter: the 7623 Temple Escape or the specific Last Crusade centerpiece, the 7198 Fighter Plane Attack.
Actually, if we are being pedantic—and Lego fans usually are—the "Last Crusade" specific wave from 2008 and 2009 was surprisingly lean. You had the 7620 Motorcycle Chase, which gave us that glorious Henry Jones Sr. minifigure with the sidecar. Then there was the 7622 Race for the Stolen Treasure. While technically a Raiders set, many fans lumped it in with the Last Crusade aesthetic because of the desert chase vibes.
The 7198 Fighter Plane Attack is where things got technical. It featured the Pilatus P-2 (disguised as a Messerschmitt) and the biplane Indy and Henry Sr. "borrowed." It was messy. It was clunky by today’s standards. But it captured the frantic energy of that dogfight perfectly. The wings would pop off if you looked at them funny, which, ironically, was exactly what happened in the movie.
Why Collectors Are Obsessed with Henry Jones Sr.
Minifigures drive the secondary market. That is an immutable law of the Lego universe. The Henry Jones Sr. figure from the Lego Indiana Jones Last Crusade sets is a perfect example of why. It wasn’t just a generic old man. They nailed the tweed suit printing. They gave him that slightly panicked, slightly disappointed expression that Sean Connery perfected.
If you try to buy a mint condition Henry Jones Sr. today, you’re going to pay a premium. Why? Because Lego didn't overproduce these. They came out right as the "AFOL" (Adult Fan of Lego) community was beginning to explode, but before Lego started mass-producing "Investable" sets with the intensity they do now.
Back then, you bought a set to play with it. You threw the pieces in a bin. You lost the umbrella. Finding a complete version of the 7620 Motorcycle Chase with the original umbrella and the satchel is like finding the Grail itself. Except instead of eternal life, you get a very nice display piece for your shelf.
The 2023 Revival: A New Hope?
After years of silence, Lego finally brought Indy back in 2023. We saw a new version of the 77012 Fighter Plane Chase. This was a direct "remake" of the Last Crusade scene. And man, the difference is night and day.
The new set is sleeker. The car (a Citroën-inspired beauty) looks like a real vehicle rather than a blocky suggestion of one. But there’s a catch. Some fans argue the soul is different. The original 2008 sets had a certain "chunkiness" that felt more like... well, Lego. The new sets use SNOT (Studs Not On Top) techniques to create smooth surfaces. It’s objectively better design, but does it capture the 1938 vibe as well? That’s a debate that rages on forums like Eurobricks every single day.
One thing the 2023 set did right was the tunnel sequence. Including the signposts and the buildable tunnel entrance added a layer of environmental storytelling that the original sets lacked. It wasn't just two vehicles; it was a moment.
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The Missing Pieces: What We Never Got
It is a genuine tragedy that we never got a proper Lego "Grail Temple" set for the Last Crusade. Think about it. The three trials? The "Breath of God" with the spinning blades? The "Word of God" floor tiles? The "Path of God" invisible bridge?
Lego has the technology. They’ve done complex traps in Ninjago and Harry Potter for years. But for some reason, the Last Crusade never got its "big" location set. We got the Temple of Doom. We got the Lost Tomb. We got the Akator temple from the movie we don't talk about. But the canyon of the crescent moon? Nothing.
Speculation suggests it was a licensing or "thematic" issue. The Last Crusade deals heavily with religious iconography and, obviously, the villains are particularly sensitive historical figures that Lego (rightfully) avoids depicting directly. While they used generic "German soldiers" in the sets, a full-scale Grail temple might have been a bridge too far for the brand guidelines of the late 2000s.
The Investment Trap
Don't buy these sets thinking you're going to retire on them. The market for Lego Indiana Jones Last Crusade is volatile. When the 2023 sets were announced, the price of the originals actually dipped for a second as people realized they could get a "better" version for retail price.
However, the "original" factor always wins in the long run. There is a specific texture to the plastic and a specific style of face printing from the 2008 era that collectors crave. If you’re looking to get into this, look for "Incomplete" lots. Often, you can find the vehicles for cheap because a kid lost the minifigures. You can then source the figures separately. It's a puzzle. It takes work. But it’s cheaper than dropping $300 on a sealed box that you’re going to be too afraid to open anyway.
Practical Steps for the Modern Collector
If you are looking to add some Last Crusade flair to your collection without breaking the bank, here is the move.
First, skip the sealed boxes. The "collector's premium" on a cardboard box from 2008 is insane. Search for "Used - Complete" on sites like BrickLink or even local marketplaces. Often, people sell these in "adventure bundles" with other themes.
Second, check the 2023 77012 Fighter Plane Chase. It is the most accessible entry point. It’s a fun build, and the minifigures are arguably superior in terms of detail. The Henry Jones Sr. in that set has much better printing on the torso.
Third, if you want the "Grail" experience, you’re going to have to go MOC (My Own Creation). There are incredible fan-designed instructions available online for the Grail Room. You’ll have to buy the bricks individually, but building a custom "Leap of Faith" bridge is far more satisfying than waiting for a set that Lego might never release.
Finally, keep an eye on the "dark tan" and "reddish brown" pieces. Older Lego sets from this era are notorious for "brittle brown" syndrome. The plastic formula used back then can become fragile over time. If you’re buying an original 2008 set, handle the brown clips and plates with extreme care. They can snap like dry twigs, and nothing ruins a nostalgia trip faster than the sound of a 15-year-old brick cracking in half.
Focus on the playability. These sets were designed to be swooshed around the living room. Whether it's the 2008 original or the 2023 remake, the point of Lego Indiana Jones Last Crusade is to relive that father-son dynamic. Just make sure you don't use a machine gun to shoot off your own tail fin. Henry wouldn't approve.