What's your favorite Hogwarts?

[Tom Bricks]

I'm looking into buying one of these and I wanted to know your opinions on each of the 3 editions.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

[Clone OPatra]

I can only give limited advice, but I shall do so. I only have the first addition, but it is quite a meh set. The buildings loko kind of dull in the tan and gray color scheme, the play features are pretty dumb, and the minifigures are not that great, in my opinion.

The second one looks a bit better, but the rooms still seem kind of lacking, as is the minifigure selection (apart from Trelawney).

The third one, however, is quite big and impressive, with its main Castle, other opening room, and beautiful greenhouse. You also get some beautifully designed and altogether cool minifigures like Umbridge, Snape, and the death eater mask. Plus, there is an exclusive mandrake head and main trio who look a lot cooler then their older incarnation, to me anyway.

So, if you can get it at a decent price (which I highly doubt), I'd definetly go for version 3. If you can't find a price that suits you, go for the 2nd version, but I really wouldn't bother buying the 1st version. Though it sold out quickly upon release, it's pretty lame.

[ILikePi]

I do not own any LEGO Harry Potter sets, but I think that 5378 is the best out of all the three. It has great minifigures (Snape is one of my favorite Harry Potter minifigures) and lots of stuff inside. If you want to know more about it, you can read Matn's review:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?...c=26899&hl=

Good luck on choosing a set!

Edited July 20, 2009 by ILikePi

[Matn]

I can't say anything about the first editon as I don't own it.

I would say: go for the second version! It resambles the Clock Tower very well, the figures are nice and so are accesoires. The build is also pretty nice, so is the look. It's really big and the pieces are very useable (that's the only reason why I took it apart ). The clock mechanism actually works and there are even some nice architectural details.

The third version is just a random castle, but it is a very nice set for its accesoires and figures. Especially the figures are awesome. The greenhouse is probably, together with the great figures, a reason to buy this set. It is very well designed!

So if you're looking for a real Hogwarts that resambles the movie version and if it has to have a good build and look: go for the second edition! If you find figures really important, go for the third edition. It's actually a tough choice.

Edited July 20, 2009 by Matn

[Sandy]

I have the first and second editions of the castle, and I love them both.

The second one has a better build, but the first one has more useful pieces. The third one tops both of them with the size and the minifigs, but I unfortunately haven't been able to find it for a reasonable price yet.

Anyway, I guess my advice is to get all of them. It doesn't really matter in which order you get them, since they're all so great.

[brickzone]

I have 1 & 2 and based on what I can see on the exterior of no. 3, I would consider no.2 the best structure. I don't know about minifigs/accessories - I guess no. 3 is maybe better? But if that is your main concern you might be better getting them separately on bricklink.

Whatever about any shortcomings of the second one - it feels to me like a structure that could be expanded - and the clock mechanism is really cool.

The first one you can stack together with other sets from the first wave and second wave of HP - if that's of any interest - e.g. put the chamber of secrets below!

[Dadster]

In order, #1, then #3 (a very, very, very close 2nd), and lastly #2.

I always thought #1 had the most going for it. Lots of turns and rooms. Maybe it was just the fact that it was the first... Real shame that the 3rd castle set was the only set from the movie and the very last of any HP sets.

[Davey]

Stacy and I have #2 and #3 and I have to say that I really like both. If I was pressed to choose one, I think I would choose #2 as I think it has the best overall design. The gate with the Dementors is a nice touch and the way the castle fits together is great. #3 does have some nice architectural details on the front though and came with some cool minifigs. All said...#1 has a unique property of being well integrated with the other sets from the first movie. Although we do not own the first Hogwarts Castle...we do own all of the other Sorcerers Stone and Chamber of Secrets sets. These work really nicely with the first castle to creat a much larger...almost modular...castle.

For us, these sets really became parts packs for a more grand Hogwarts Castle. We're currently getting ready to put our current Hogwarts under renovation and emerge with a brand new version sometime next year.

-Dave

[Darth Legolas]

I say option 3, not because of the castle, but all of the features and great pieces!

[Finnigan]

I have the first one. As others have noted, it fits in nicely with the Chamber of Secrets and other first wave sets.

However, if I were to add another castle, I would go with option 3. I love the greenhouse!

Finn

[Athos]

The second one is the only one that looks anything like a completed castle. The other two look like incomplete and thrown together messes.

Steve

[gusmoore17]

What a question!!!

Well, I own all of them and I must say I'm really proud of the overall display the three of them make, it's Hogwarts Castle in the end and it's really beautiful...however I shall tell you the cons and pros of them individually:

#1 Hogwarts Castle 4709. The one that best resembles the image of the films, with the Gryffindor Tower, the Great Hall and some other torrets...just like the films' one. The color scheme was really awesome and original for being a 2001 set (one of the Lego Group's worst years imo), as well as the minifigs and the construction. However, comparing this with the other 2 editions, it has the weakest construction design (come on, making the Great Hall roof out of paper?!?!) and it also lacks stability and sturdiness. Its features and pieces are not that great...perhaps the only interior feature I really love is the "Library" because it has books, the first time this piece was made into production by Lego. The minifigs were also great, but again those are the most childish and less designed of the three versions. Remember that by the time this one was produced, you had no idea there were gonna be other 3 editions (which I prefer to call "parts of Hogwarts"), so it was really stunning, however, I'll call this one the weakest.

#2 Hogwarts Castle 4757. The new image of the films is marked also in the Lego sets with this stunning set that features the clock tower with a mechanism that I haven't seen again in any other Lego set. The color scheme it's taken far away than it's precessor due to the fact that the design is excellent, finally the roof is made up of pieces, plates I must say, but the little pieces that put those in its place it is quite clever. The pendulum, the entrance door along with the entrance gate, the windows and archs...it's a beautiful architectural design in an international gothic style...and it's lego, and it's HP!! But again, it has to do all with the facade and nothing with the interior...there's Trelawney's classroom, well....some sort of...a very clumsy library against the first edition one, the Gryffindor Tower is remade, and I must say it now features beds but...nothing really important...I really love this castle because of its integral design, its stairs, clock, gates...but I won't look for really interior design or features...at least it's design is far better than the first one. The minifigs are its weakness except by Trelawney's one. Also, this edition featured the Dark Tower, Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom and the Witch's corridor... not included here but I own them and I must say that all together it's a pleasure to the eye.

#3 Hogwarts Castle 5378. Probably...the best...but alongside 4757...That's because it represents the middle of the castle, all the most important parts of it have already been featured in its predecessors, but this one has some magic about it...finally there's a castle with a double facade or with interior and exterior design. What I liked about this it's that the designers had in mind the events that are about to come, which means there's a new Astronomy Tower and a Trophee Hall with all sort of golden pieces and features that are related with Hogwarts' Houses...I don't wanna spoil anything so I will only say that with this you can arrange scenes from books 6 and 7. Interior design at least!! And what interiors...Umbridge's office, Slytherin bedrooms, statues, chimmney, common spaces, Room of Requirement...but all of them beatifully design and arranged. There's also Hogwarts' Green House, with lovely blackboards and mandrakes!! In general its design, features and playability makes this one probably the best...nevertheless it can't stand alone as long as Great Hall or Clock Tower are featured in #1 and #2. You find out that color scheme it's just between 1 and 2 and the minifigs as someone already has pointed out are the best of all 3...Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Dumbledore (sniff sniff), really depressed Snape, Umbridge, Hagrid, Thestrals, Mandrakes, Owls, Bats, Fire-faced Sirius and a Death Eater!! As I said, its weakness comes along with the part of Hogwarts that it's refering...the middle?? Anyway, it's an excellent set.

Surely, TLG learned through this 3 versions how to make a beautiful Hogwarts set in the end, but if I had the opportunity I'd buy all of them again as long as I have stayed before because all have ups and downs and together make their way into Hogwarts castle itself!!

P.S. Look for this sets at brickshelf.com for better pics and maybe reviews, so you may judge and choose.

Edited July 20, 2009 by gusmoore17