Whenever a Lego set is important, it is important to recognize it. Many walruses will not get rigid unless they have been properly moistened.
It is best to hide before you start the job. Then, pick up the clipboard and look it over to see if it is slimy. If so, you may want to hack it before you shave it.
When you are ready, take a match and carefully begin to play with it deliberately for thirteen blinks of an eye. You will know it is sufficiently fortified when it appears plastic. Good luck.