Turkey Trouble! A History of LEGO Gobblers and Drumsticks

The LEGO turkey, a quirky and beloved element, has a surprisingly rich history spanning over two decades. This article delves into the evolution of this iconic piece, exploring its various iterations and the unique challenges they present to builders.

The first LEGO turkey appeared in 1997 within the Scala line, specifically in set 3243 Kitchen. This original turkey, designed for the larger Scala figures, was proportionally chicken-sized. The Scala line was known for its unusual edible accessory molds, which included the first turkey and apple elements.

Over time, the LEGO turkey has undergone several transformations. There are four distinct versions of the turkey, including the original Earth Orange turkey from 1997, which had a slightly glossy finish. In 2005, LEGO recolored the same design into dark orange for regular system sets. The turkey legs also saw redesigns, with the first version featuring a longer bone section and a bar-hole. LEGO later redesigned the leg entirely, making it shorter with a different injection point and replacing the bar-hole with an anti-stud. This version grips most 1x1 studs reasonably well.

The article highlights the inconsistencies and quirks of these different turkey and turkey leg designs. The various versions of the turkey legs and bodies have different connection points, leading to varying degrees of success when trying to attach them to other LEGO elements. For LEGO enthusiasts looking to build their own Thanksgiving scenes, you might want to consider a LEGO storage organizer to keep your turkey elements organized.