Parts review: 11040 Magical Transparent Box from LEGO® Classic

LEGO® Classic set 11040 Magical Transparent Box is loaded with 228 translucent pieces (plus 12 spares!), comprising 43 unique clear parts. At first glance, the set looks like a box of basic bricks but a closer look reveals a few surprises – including a few new moulds! 

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11040 Magical Transparent Box

• Release date: 1 March 2025
• Pieces: 340

Price: 

• US$ 24.99 on LEGO.com US
• CA$ 29.99 on LEGO.com Canada
• GB£ 17.99 on LEGO.com UK
• AU$ 29.99 on LEGO.com Australia
• NZ$ 34.99 on LEGO.com New Zealand
• DE€ 19,99 on LEGO.com Deutschland
• NL€ 19,99 on LEGO.com Nederland
• FR€ 19,99 on LEGO.com France
• PLN 84.99 on LEGO.com Polska
• NOK 279,90 on LEGO.com Norge
• DKK 179.95 on LEGO.com Danmark

Other countries click here

 

Thanks to Rebrickable user TechnicRCRacer for bringing these updates to my attention!

New moulds

Of the 43 translucent elements, 16 are either new moulds or recolors. Starting with the 4 new moulds:

• 6x Slope Inverted 45° 2 x 2 [No Bottom Pin, Bar-sized Stud Holes] in Trans-Light Blue (6533190 | 7261)
• 8x Slope Inverted 45° 2 x 2 [No Bottom Pin, Bar-sized Stud Holes] in Trans-Yellow (6533191 | 7261)
• 4x Slope Inverted 45° 2 x 2 [No Bottom Pin, Bar-sized Stud Holes] in Trans-Dark Pink (6533192 | 7261)

This is the first time this inverted slope has come in a transparent colour.

Its mould has been updated. The top white brick is the original (part 3660) with an ovoid pin, and the white one below it is the recent update (76959) with a round pin. This new transparent version (7261) has sacrificed the better clutch afforded by the pin and ridges for a better appearance in transparent form.

• 10x Brick Special 1 x 2 with 1 Center Stud on 1 Side, No Bottom Stud Holder in Trans-clear (6523921 | 7133)

Similarly, the internal ridges have disappeared from this new transparent version of a relatively recent SNOT brick.

Here's a comparison with the opaque version, Brick 1 x 2 with 1 Side Stud (86876).

• 8x Brick Curved 1 x 2 x 1 No Studs, No Bottom Stud Holder in Trans-Clear (6525777 | 7134)

Continuing the trend, Brick 1 x 2 Curved has also been updated for the Trans-Clear version.

Here it is next to the existing Brick 1 x 2 Curved (37352) with its "nail rail"-style underside.

Recolours

Brick 2 x 4 is rare in transparent colors, so getting 3 in a single set is very exciting! 

• 4x Brick 2 x 4 without Cross Supports, Modern in Trans-Dark Pink (6508682 | 3556)
• 4x Brick 2 x 4 without Cross Supports, Modern in Trans-Clear (6508677 | 3556)
• 4x Brick 2 x 4 without Cross Supports, Modern in Trans-Light Blue (6508680 | 3556)

However, these are not regular 2x4 bricks…

The 2x4 bricks in 11040 Magical Transparent Box are the 3556 variant (shown on the right). This particular mould was introduced in 2023 in Satin Trans-Clear. It lacks the internal ridges and supports seen in the 'classic' 2x4 (center). It's very similar to an even older variant, 3001a (left), which was used way before internal supports were introduced.

The version with supports was never used for translucent colors. At least, not in official sets – for example Satin Trans-Clear 3001s are known to exist as Q-parts (for use by LEGOLAND® and other model workshops).

• 4x Brick Arch 1 x 6 x 2 - Thin Top without Reinforced Underside [New Version] in Trans-Clear (6518155 | 7069)

Brick Arch 1 x 6 x 2 has received a new mould number (7069), but unlike the new moulds above, which are only slight variations of existing moulds, we couldn't see any differences in this brick compared to the usual arch (15254).

• 2x Brick 1 x 2 with Black Curved Line / Smile print in Trans-clear (6522852 | 3065pr0006)
• 4x Brick Curved 1 x 2 x 1 with Curved Top in Trans-Light Blue (6526019 | 5841)

We've seen the same smile print on the classic 1x2 brick (3004) but this is a new print for the 3065 mould variation (which is differentiated from 3004 by not having an internal pin).

The shortened version of the 1x2 curve with plate extension (5841) was introduced earlier this year. Its first appeared on New E. in my review of the 2025 LEGO Friends sets.

• 4x Brick Curved 2 x 2 Inverted in Trans Clear (6525172 | 6826)
• 2x 5174 Brick Curved Double 2 x 4 Inverted in Trans clear (6523918 | 7132)
• 2x Brick Curved Double 2 x 4 Inverted, Curved Line / Smile Print in Trans-clear (6522853 | 7132)

Brick Curved 2 x 2 Inverted (6826) was introduced in White in January in 4 LEGO Classic sets. The transparent version seems to be identical to the opaque version. 

Brick Curved Double 2 x 4 Inverted receives a new mould number (7132) but it appears identical to the existing version with ID 5174. We get both a smiley-printed and an unprinted version in this set.

• 6x Brick 2 x 2 without Inside Ridges in Trans-Light Blue (6508688 | 6223)
• 6x Slope 45° 2 x 2 in Trans-Dark Pink (6508691 | 3039)

The sloped 2 x 2 is 'just' a recolor in Trans-Dark Pink without any mould updates.

The transparent 2 x 2 Brick (6223, right) lacks the ridges seen in the usual 3003 variant (center) which is used for opaque colours. It is very similar to 3003a (left) which appeared in sets from the 1950s to the ’80s.

Rare elements

• 4x Brick 1 x 4 without Bottom Tubes in Trans-Clear (4101659, 4238274, 6518156 | 3066)

The 1 x 4 brick without tubes is not new to trans-clear, but only ever appeared in one set back in 1983, making it as old as me!

Closing thoughts

Naturally, it still irks that MABS – the material that replaced polycarbonate for transparent LEGO bricks some 6 years ago now – is cloudier and bluer than true transparent, but there is a great payoff for this, and this set is evidence of it. 

MABS alleviates both moulding issues and brick separation issues that exist with polycarbonate, meaning transparent LEGO elements are now vastly easier to mould and build with. With 43 types of transparent element, 11040 Magical Transparent Box unlocks many new options for your own designs. It is a unique parts pack that would surely have been prohibitively expensive for The LEGO Group to produce using polycarbonate. 

As you may have spotted above, the set also contains a new opaque mould: the white 2x2 tile with vertical ring (6805). Elspeth will investigate this separately, soon!

The US price of $24.99 works out at 7.4c per piece, but it is better in Europe where the set only costs 19.99€ making a price per piece of 5.9c. The UK pay £17.99, or 5.3p per piece, and Canada and Australia both $29.99 or 8.8c per piece.

 

READ MORE: On general release Sat 5 April: The Lord Of The Rings The Shire with free Sméagol and Déagol gift

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