Lord of the Rings Ongoing Discussion

[MAB]

The butterbeer cups from HP also make useful alcoholic drinks.

[TheDoctor]

3 minutes ago, MAB said:

The butterbeer cups from HP also make useful alcoholic drinks.

I thought this, but everyone drinks from pewter tankards at the party and Prancing Pony, I think it's only really Bilbo who's wealthy enough to own fine glassware which he gives to Gandalf.

Over on Reddit somebody posted more of a top-down view of the set...


I think it really highlights how bare and large the area outside Bag End is, and also just how shallow Bag End is.

There's literally no detailing of any sort on the front right side.

The tan path is also very strange and narrow on the left, and it doesn't joint up fully to the tan path outside the fence and gate?
Surely that green corner plate in front of the path should have been covered with tan plates to make the path wider 

[MAB]

It also shows just how dominant those big round pieces are in the landscaping. The tan path looks a bit like it has been placed one stud too far back on the left.

[TheDoctor]

It's not misplaced as that's how it appears on the official pictures.
But I agree, I'll move the angled plate forward one and put a 1x6 tan plate behind it.

I actually like the round slopes, I can't really imagine how else to get the natural, gentle rising slope otherwise (most MOCs just use a huge amount of staggered, stacked plates)
Looks like the hole is melting into the hillside, as it should!
But there's more than enough exposed studs, even using those, that could have been filled in with some foliage.

The LAN reviews are laughable, so much tip-toeing! 

[Lordhelmet]

I am excited for all the Mocs and modifications of this set.  I do like the set but unlike Rivendell and barad Dur there are a lot of things that I want to change or add to this set (although I did some modifications to barad dur too).  Fleshing out the party scene, fixing the trees, connecting things more, maybe even adding another hobbit hole.  It should be fun to add all the projects.

[MAB]

49 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

It's not misplaced as that's how it appears on the official pictures.
But I agree, I'll move the angled plate forward one and put a 1x6 tan plate behind it.
 

Yes, I meant the actual design makes it looks like it has been placed too far back. They selected a different colour for that bit so I don't understand why they didn't go for the continuous flow. I wonder if they had a more detailed design using more parts and were told to cut it down and so to make lots of changes and missed something like that when updating it. Same with the tree. I cannot believe any designer would be satisfied with producing that.

54 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

The LAN reviews are laughable, so much tip-toeing! 

I treat LAN reviews as LEGO adverts with more close up photos than available on the website and press release. Nobody is going to say anything bad and risk getting cut off, especially the youtube ones where they get both the free stuff from LEGO and get paid by youtube for views.

 

58 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

I actually like the round slopes, I can't really imagine how else to get the natural, gentle rising slope otherwise (most MOCs just use a huge amount of staggered, stacked plates)
 

Yeah, I prefer the stacked plates as you can have a bit more variation rather than the same radius smooth curves everywhere. And given that the pieces they would be replacing are large (and expensive to them going by PAB prices), using plates would increase the part count without increasing the cost. As you say, adding a few flowers or foliage can help break the continuous smooth edges. Even just a 1x1 cheese slope by the left hand chimney would help disguise the hard edge left where the curved slope butts up against the chimney. Tiny details make it look unfinished.

[RichardGoring]

2 hours ago, TheDoctor said:

I really dislike that the tent is not connected to anything (I dislike that all the side builds are disconnected, really!)

So I've bought the parts to build it a base and add some party supplies as per the film.


(The bottle on the barrel will be the CMF 'grape' bottle, the closest we'll ever get to real alcohol! )

That's excellent. I considered doing the same thing, so may well steal be heavily inspired by yours. Great idea!

32 minutes ago, MAB said:

I treat LAN reviews as LEGO adverts with more close up photos than available on the website and press release. Nobody is going to say anything bad and risk getting cut off, especially the youtube ones where they get both the free stuff from LEGO and get paid by youtube for views.

Generally agreed. Although I do appreciate that in the Brickset review they called out three pretty negative things right from the outset: Pretty limited interior, Party Tree looks awful, Extremely expensive.

Those are somewhat aggressive terms. All things that I agree with too!

[Cyprinus]

1 hour ago, TheDoctor said:

It's not misplaced as that's how it appears on the official pictures.
But I agree, I'll move the angled plate forward one and put a 1x6 tan plate behind it.
 

Seems it could work with jut an extra 1x3. Though there is a possibility the plates below wouldn't be connected well enough in such a setup

[HarryPotter27]

On 3/28/2025 at 2:11 AM, RichardGoring said:

There are no publicly known plans or rumours for this. Speculation is that they likely won't release playsets. They did poorly last time, but the adult-focused sets have been doing well. But they are releasing a second, smaller set later this year (a Moria book nook), which could lead to more sets being released, but they may still steer towards adult sets rather than playsets. But nobody knows for certain.

If they do continue with adult-focused sets, it seems likely to be large scale sets as they've done for three years, dioramas, or specialty/gimmick sets that they think will appeal to adults. But that's purely speculation on my part, and from what's been discussed above. But again, nobody knows.

I also think playsets wouldn't make that much sense since the youngest fans of LOTR are all adults by now, so adult-oriented sets make more sense. I'm still wondering about the possibility of them doing some sort of smaller sets that can be used as battle packs since the demand for them would be very big, not only by LOTR fans but also castle ones. I remember there was a huge demand for clone troopers, so they started making those battle packs again, and they also started offering knights pieces on their website to satisfy army builders. The helm's deep extension battle pack is now selling for well over 6/7 times the original price, and I guess Lego is aware of that since they have all of the Bricklink data.

[hikouki]

19 hours ago, Roebuck said:

You have a point, but I do not think it ever has happened that anyone has lost their LAN statues because of bad set reviews.
On the other hand several of those brats that are not LAN members complain about everything to get clickbait titles and that is a lot more annoying.

In the end, any publicity is still publicity. I think this is the whole point of LAN.

16 hours ago, TheDoctor said:

I really dislike that the tent is not connected to anything (I dislike that all the side builds are disconnected, really!)

So I've bought the parts to build it a base and add some party supplies as per the film.


(The bottle on the barrel will be the CMF 'grape' bottle, the closest we'll ever get to real alcohol! )

Love that!

I think it is just a matter of time before someone comes up with a MOC base to unify the sidebuilds.

15 hours ago, TheDoctor said:

I thought this, but everyone drinks from pewter tankards at the party and Prancing Pony, I think it's only really Bilbo who's wealthy enough to own fine glassware which he gives to Gandalf.

Over on Reddit somebody posted more of a top-down view of the set...


I think it really highlights how bare and large the area outside Bag End is, and also just how shallow Bag End is.

There's literally no detailing of any sort on the front right side.

The tan path is also very strange and narrow on the left, and it doesn't joint up fully to the tan path outside the fence and gate?
Surely that green corner plate in front of the path should have been covered with tan plates to make the path wider 

Penny-pinching measures... after all, the objective was to deliver a lower-priced set.

14 hours ago, Lordhelmet said:

I am excited for all the Mocs and modifications of this set.  I do like the set but unlike Rivendell and barad Dur there are a lot of things that I want to change or add to this set (although I did some modifications to barad dur too).  Fleshing out the party scene, fixing the trees, connecting things more, maybe even adding another hobbit hole.  It should be fun to add all the projects.

I would think it would take two sets to make one MOC substantial!

[Lordhelmet]

What are we thinking for the book nook?

1) Balrog is a big fig/dino styled molded figure

2) Balrog is brick built as a figure

3) Balrog is brick built but a relief image on a back wall

4) balrog is a sticker

5) Other, please describe

[RichardGoring]

4 minutes ago, Lordhelmet said:

What are we thinking for the book nook?

1) Balrog is a big fig/dino styled molded figure

2) Balrog is brick built as a figure

3) Balrog is brick built but a relief image on a back wall

4) balrog is a sticker

5) Other, please describe

I'm hoping for 2, expecting 3, and fearing 4!

[Danielbrrssn]

3 hours ago, Lordhelmet said:

What are we thinking for the book nook?

1) Balrog is a big fig/dino styled molded figure

2) Balrog is brick built as a figure

3) Balrog is brick built but a relief image on a back wall

4) balrog is a sticker

5) Other, please describe

I hope for nr 1, but I agree with @RichardGoring, I fear 4 (and even 3)…

19 hours ago, Lordhelmet said:

I am excited for all the Mocs and modifications of this set.  I do like the set but unlike Rivendell and barad Dur there are a lot of things that I want to change or add to this set (although I did some modifications to barad dur too).  Fleshing out the party scene, fixing the trees, connecting things more, maybe even adding another hobbit hole.  It should be fun to add all the projects.

I think if I buy it I will treat it mostly the same way as you would.

Edited March 29 by Danielbrrssn

[Arjo]

Balrog as a sticker… this shall not pass! I will cosplay as Gandalf, camp at the lego store, and prevent anyone from even trying to buy this set if it comes to that!!!

[Altair1]

5 hours ago, Lordhelmet said:

What are we thinking for the book nook?

1) Balrog is a big fig/dino styled molded figure

2) Balrog is brick built as a figure

3) Balrog is brick built but a relief image on a back wall

4) balrog is a sticker

5) Other, please describe

I hope it will be either 1 or 2. I really like my Smaug from the Lonely Mountain set so would be happy with a molded Balrog, but I would not mind either a brick built one.  I am pretty sure it won't be a sticker, but I do fear they might have chosen option 3 as it is probably easier for them to make a relief image in a book nook.

Edited March 29 by Altair1

[BrickBob Studpants]

Yeah, as much as I would like to have a moulded Balrog, I‘m afraid that is not gonna happen in an 18+ book nook set  While I pretty much always champion moulded creatures over brick-built ones, I‘m fully on board with a brick-built solution in this case. Since its entire body is on fire, I think a brick-built version is just easier to design.

Edited March 29 by BrickBob Studpants

[zoth33]

17 hours ago, Lordhelmet said:

What are we thinking for the book nook?

1) Balrog is a big fig/dino styled molded figure

2) Balrog is brick built as a figure

3) Balrog is brick built but a relief image on a back wall

4) balrog is a sticker

5) Other, please describe

No way it's a big fig or molded with that price point but I am hoping for a good brick built version of the Balrog.  

[TheDoctor]

I'm a bit concerned as to the size of the set now as details of a Sherlock Holmes book nook have leaked.

It's minifigure scale too, but realistically it's only really going to be either the 221B Baker Street door or Sherlocks'  Living Room...

So if you picture the size of those 2 things, we're in for a pretty underwhelming bridge of Khazad Dum.

I think I said ages ago that a majority of the piece count is going to be on what is essentially a 5 sided box.
(similar to the Batman '89 shadow box)

[MAB]

10 hours ago, TheDoctor said:

I think I said ages ago that a majority of the piece count is going to be on what is essentially a 5 sided box.
(similar to the Batman '89 shadow box)

You might get lucky and have only a 4 sided box, with no top! I've not been interested at all in this set since the original leak for the same reason. I expect it to be a 16x16 plate with walls on three sides and a little vignette in the middle. With a Gandalf minifigure (which I already have lots of) and a fairly flat and small brick built Balrog.

[brimbolet]

I really hope we'll get some picture or much better description soon, because I really can't imagine an enclosed book nook with the rumored piece count. Perhaps it's a small bookend after all and there was a (deliberate) mistranslation from Danish? Two small vignettes one with the Balrog and the second with Gandalf, parts of the bridge some wall or stairs. This seems to be realistic for 1200 pieces.

Apparently the Sherlock Holmes book nook will include more than one minifigure, so this seems to indicate that some emphasis is put on them. I'm hoping for a brick built Balrog perhaps even reusing elements from the Surtur figure. A relief or sticker would be idiotic. I also expect the price to increase.

Edited March 30 by brimbolet

[Lordhelmet]

4 hours ago, brimbolet said:

I really hope we'll get some picture or much better description soon, because I really can't imagine an enclosed book nook with the rumored piece count. Perhaps it's a small bookend after all and there was a (deliberate) mistranslation from Danish? Two small vignettes one with the Balrog and the second with Gandalf, parts of the bridge some wall or stairs. This seems to be realistic for 1200 pieces.

Apparently the Sherlock Holmes book nook will include more than one minifigure, so this seems to indicate that some emphasis is put on them. I'm hoping for a brick built Balrog perhaps even reusing elements from the Surtur figure. A relief or sticker would be idiotic. I also expect the price to increase.

I would love for bookends, but I have been picturing the book nook with two to three sides (bottom, back, top) with like pillars in the front.  I never really pictured it with sides.  I don't know why but that is how I have thought of it.  Five sides would invest a lot into the structure for sure.  

I am hoping it has a brick built or molded Balrog (I do not expect molded, it is just what I would prefer).  Looking at the jurassic world theme there are two sets (the mosasaurus, and the allosaurus sets) that could scale to the price range/piece count that the book nook has.  I think the brick built mosasaurus is probably a better comparison but I think the piece count/size/cost could scale for what the book nook is referenced at.  But a heavy investment in five sides could make the scene disappointing.  Hoping we see it sooner than later to get a better understanding of how it will be executed.  

Lastly most of the LOTR Lego fans have wanted a minifigure based Balrog for over a decade.  Hoping Lego gets it right the first time they make one to pair with what is the best Gandalf figure we have had.

[Cyprinus]

Bookends would be iffy, since there would kinda be an expectation they can keep the books in place. and that would need them to be rather heavy.

And it is true a nook doesn't need full walls - give it a few bricks running the full width at both the bottom and top and they should be good to go.

[Black Falcon]

On 3/29/2025 at 4:05 AM, Lordhelmet said:

What are we thinking for the book nook?

1) Balrog is a big fig/dino styled molded figure

2) Balrog is brick built as a figure

3) Balrog is brick built but a relief image on a back wall

4) balrog is a sticker

5) Other, please describe

It would really surprise me if it is anything than two. Sure they could also try to make a half Balrog only, coming out of the dark, but I highly doubt that. 

17 minutes ago, Lordhelmet said:

I would love for bookends, but I have been picturing the book nook with two to three sides (bottom, back, top) with like pillars in the front.  I never really pictured it with sides.  I don't know why but that is how I have thought of it.  Five sides would invest a lot into the structure for sure.  

Yeah, and this is also the reason why I wasn´t happy about the announcement, in the end it will just be a diorama, which already use tons of bricks for the base, just with even more bricks for the sides. However, I could see them doing half-open sides, but kinda doubt they are completely open.

[Kaijumeister]

Glad to hear the book nook is supposedly minifigure-based going by the Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter leaks! I’m not expecting to be blown away but a ~1200 piece count set should be fairly impressive. 

Seeing the reviews for Bag-End just affirms my original thoughts. I would have much rather the side builds be omitted, and a bit more added to Bag End’s interior instead. 

Still waiting for that hat / hair mould for Gandalf though. But I guess in his fight with DB he isn’t wearing the hat to begin with anyway. I wonder if the book nook will also include Boromir holding back Frodo, but then the set would require more forced perspective.

[Alcarin]

If Rivendell was more or less perfect set, this Shire set leaves alot to be desired in my eyes as LOTR fan... Id rather have Gondor stuff tbh.