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  1. It's been a long time since I last interacted with this page.

    But oh boy, as soon as I saw the new sets on Instagram, I felt the need to jot down my thoughts somewhere.

    HC Owlery: While it doesn't have the polish of the 2018 Castle sets, I still love this. The owls are great, the size is nice, the snowy details are lovely. Plus I like how they dip into the book by including Filch.

    Forbidden Forest Magical Creatures: Well this is an interesting new look for the forest. Nice way to get the baby thestral, hippogriff & pixie. The 'ground' looks a bit chunky though. But I like the use of blue & purple + glow in the dark mushrooms is a great idea.

    Flying Ford Anglia: Looks basically the same as the previous versions, and wow thinking about it, it has been a long time since the 2018/9 sets. It looks like it pairs well with the shrieking shack set. Plus I approve of smaller, cheaper sets.

    Hedwig at Privet Drive: Maybe not for me, but it's still nice. Again, looks like it'll pair well with the Dobby build. The History of Magic book is cool, and the picture of Harry & his parents is adorable. 

    HC Boathouse: Pretty cute, glad there's finally a set of this location (as well as the owlery). Also nice to get 5 minifigs in a smaller set like this, including Dean, good pick.

    Hagrid's Hut: An Unexpected Visit: Wow wow wow. This is fantastic. I love how it looks distinct to the 2019 version. The figs are great (nice Harry sweater representation), the Fang & Norbert moulds are everything we wanted, the build itself is lovely, how it opens up to make the cosy home.

    Overall, love these sets. So glad there are some cheaper, simpler sets as I'm just not that into the behemoth that is Gringotts. Also, the unique portraits is a great idea, great way to decorate sets, in fact I think it's better than the chocolate frog tiles.


  2. 1 hour ago, Ferder said:

    Nice choice with the Advent Calendar to make it a companion to the play sets again, as opposed to more microscale builds. I like how this can be combined with the Hogsmeade Village set, the Shrieking Shack and the new train station to make a nice little Hogsmeade Christmas town.

    I agree it's a good choice. In the past I wanted a Burrow theme or Grimmauld Place as that's where Harry spent Christmas in books 5 & 6, but with the Hogsmeade Station set coming I think this the ming works much better.

    Also since that Hogsmeade Village set didn't have Ron or Hermione, and the Shrieking Shack set was based on the later scene in PoA, it works to have their winter versions here.

    Whether it's Aberforth as the minifig on the side of the box remains to be seen, as we only see the Hogs Head in 5 and 7. Hope it is as I can't see Lego doing a whole HH set. 


  3. I'm liking the Prisoner of Azkaban theme for the Advent Calendar here.

    Just rewatched the scene where Harry throws snowballs at Draco to see if the figs were accurate.

    Hermione's looks completely spot on, really like the hair/hat piece choice, and good scarf printing.

    Ron is alright, shame there's not a more accurate hat piece to pick from. The jumper colour looks more grey/blue than brown.

    Harry's is good, hope he has the invisibility cloak accessory. The colour is really dark in the film, but it is red and blue.

    Draco also looks good, but has the same slight issue as Ron with the film hat being a little different. (tbh I'm glad they aren't making new moulds for something so insignificant).

     

    As for the new microscale, I'm not a massive fan of huge piece count sets, but honestly it looks great. Very complete and looks like a nice 360° display piece. Cool to include the beaubaton carriage and Durmstrang ship, reminds me how they had them at the studio tour in London around the real giant Hogwarts model as the type was themed on Goblet of Fire.


  4. Some thoughts of mine on the new pics of the sets:

    Expecto Patronum: From the concept I knew I didn't care for this. And yeah I still don't. Looks pretty clunky, and the odd patches of transparent pieces doesn't blend.

    Battle of Hogwarts: I actually quite like this build. The entrance & clock looks right from the film, and the courtyard walls are nice too. But for the price it doesn't look like enough. Hope there's the knight statues on the interior. Minifigs are alright, glad the Voldemort reflects how washed out he is by the final battle. The snatcher is alright, might've preferred McGonagal in black though.

    Quidditch trunk: Like the other trunk I think it's a bit pointless. I always thought there should be another of those student expansions but for Quidditch. This is okay, at least they made them look a little different with the hoods.

    Dobby: I said before I think this actually turned out pretty good. The face is cute not creepy. The pudding and book are good choices too. But I'm not that interested in getting statue builds like this.

    Weasley Wizard Wheezes: Still no clue why they bothered with Eyelops, those pieces should have gone towards WWW. But I really love all the details on the interior: snack boxes, Peruvian darkness powder, Pgymy Puffs, Umbridge on a trapeze & the Puking Pastilles display that's what I love. The Diagon Alley set was stuffed with staircases. Yeah it's a lot of stickers, but it's bursting with book/film details. Minifigs okay, Romilda makes sense here, as idk where else they could put her. Just spotted the punching telescope in Fred's hand, that's a book detail, love it.

    Hogsmeade Station & Express: Pretty good. I really like the station build, it looks a good size and has a very classic Lego look to it. The train is okay, but the front end looks a bit odd to me. And a nice simple minifig line up. So glad to finally see Lee Jordan, although I think he should have had the new Dreamzzz dreadlocks piece.

    There's also the brickheadz on Insta. And yes they look like Brickheadz of the characters. Nothing really to comment on. Glad to see Harry at a normal scale, wasn't a fan of the smaller one with Hagrid.

    One last note, I remember when HP was first mentioned as coming back, I had hoped there would be a new wand piece (which of course there was) and that you could attach spells to the ends, which it seems like they're now doing Huzzah! 

    56 minutes ago, Xcube said:

    But I still have to say that it's weird that this year we don't get any small set like the 76400 Thestral Carriage or 76386 Polyjuice.

    Yeah that is a shame, I think Lego should still strive to make cheaper sets.

    I think they should've scrapped the Patronus set and made a small classroom build of Lupin teaching Harry the spell with a boggart/dementor. Then you could have some of the spine candles and floating orbs as background details.

    Or maybe a slightly bigger set of Lupin's classroom with a few boggart builds: the wardrobe it's in, a Scary clown, giant cobra, and the moon turned balloon. Then have the figs be: Lupin, Pavarti, Harry, 'Dementor'.

    Either of those I'd be much more likely to buy over a chunky blue statue.


  5. Bit late to the party, but I thought I'd put in my thoughts.

    Weasley Wizard Wheezes looks alright. Thought they might have made it a little bigger to distinguish it from the Diagon Alley build. But for what it is I don't mind it. I like the design of the Weasley statue with the rabbit detail on top.

    The build of the Puking Pastille display is also good.

    Eyelops Owl Emporium is a bit odd, I think maybe the pieces could've just made WWW better.

    Minifig selection is also okay, idk who the two on the left are meant to be though.

     

    As for Dobby. It actually looks quite good, much more cute than the Baby Groot. It's not a ridiculously massive build. I won't be getting it, but it's cute. The book and pudding builds are also pretty iconic.


  6. Sometimes I think Lego sets might just get exponentially bigger and pricier, so that one day they'll be releasing a to scale with reality recreation of the Burrow.

    Yeah, the last Burrow obviously wanted a little more interior space, but did we really need a larger remake?

    Same goes for the rumoured Knight Bus remake, it's not really necessary.

     

    As for the Sorting Hat, completely uninterested. These giant models like with the 'Hogwarts Icons' just don't appeal to me. If I wanted something that size to emulate film props, I'd buy a film prop recreation.

    Lego seem to be insistent that anything can and should be made into Lego nowadays: Paintings, Helmet Busts, a typewriter, a table football set, film props.

    I hate to be a moaning myrtle but it just feels like a brand overreaching to excessive proportions.


  7. 15 hours ago, Tariq j said:

    A crumbling away face for Voldermort would be really cool actually. Something similar to Salazar maybe. 

    That's funny, I thought for a moment you meant Salazar Slytherin, as he appeared with the microscale Hogwarts.

    Then I remembered Captain Salazar from Pirates of the Caribbean.


  8. Judging from previous years, I'm guessing Lego will give us:

    - A giant buildable figure of Ron

    - A collectors edition Whomping Willow

    - Another few buildings from Diagon Alley that aren't seen in the books or films

    - An advent calendar devoid of anything relating to Christmas

     

    I jest, but yeah there's definitely some past Lego sets that I've felt were either completely unnecessary or wasted potential.


  9. Just woke up. Saw Holly On Film's video on the sets.

    And I really like them. I haven't been this interested in the HP sets for a while.

    The Room of Requirement: It's alright. I thought it'd be more like the last one, but I don't mind the castle exterior. The interior is a little empty as a result though. I like the fiendfyre design. And getting Blaise Zabini & Helena Ravenclaw is awesome.

    The Black Lake: I like how they've done this. The stand is nicely detailed, the archway has some really cool colours on it. The merperson looks awesome, Krum and Harry are cool too. Weird how they didn't add Gabrielle Delacour (as we had a sleeping face for her) but I guess that'd mean having to add Fleur too.

    The Banners: My expectations were pretty low for these. But wow I really like them. The designers really did their homework, capturing the right place for the common rooms, which also represent the elements for each house: Ravenclaw - sky, Slytherin - water, Hufflepuff - Earth and Gryffindor - Fire.

    Also some fab minifigures choices, great way to get Quidditch robes.

    I've said Lego should include Angelina Johnson and Blaise Zabini in Quidditch robes, so glad they have.

    Also Hannah Abbot and Michael Corner. Really glad to see more book known characters like them included.

    The details in each common room are nice too. The 3D images are a cool touch, and a nice way to get the moving painting effect. Shame it's all on one big sheet though as Huigberts Build's pointed out. But I guess it did have to be a thick card for the holographic effect.

    Nice to see a reference to Newt Scamander, also we get the four Horcruxes for each house. The Gryffindor common room isn't that far off the films iteration which I like. (chess board is a nice sticker)

     

    Overall really happy with how these turned out. So glad Lego haven't shyed away from Deathly Hallows p2 in this. Here's hoping for some more great sets.


  10. 17 hours ago, RODDY said:

    I won’t buy a Gringott’s that’s not compatible with DA. I personally don’t really care for the tracks though an Ironbelly would be cool. Essentially a remake of the 2011 Diagon Alley but swap out Ollivanders for the Leaky Cauldron.

    I'm still salty that Lego made a huge expense Diagon Alley that didn't include the Leaky Cauldron or Gringotts. Literally the first two places Harry goes to with Hagrid.

    But then they included stuff like 'Scribbulus' (a place not mentioned in the books) and Florean Fortesque's (never visited in the film and only by Harry in PoA).

    Combined with the price tag it put me way off the set.

    A pricey Gringotts would have to be pretty spectacular to get my interest. Ukrainian Iron Belly, rails with carts, Bellatrix's vault etc.

    And yes 100% it should fit with the DA set, otherwise it's pointless imo.

    But as the Hogwarts Express showed, Lego will make enormous display sets at vast prices only for super fans with deep pockets and extensive shelves.


  11. So the new Advent Calendar.

    And I'm not interested.

    So they've gone with 2/3 microbuilds and a figure based off each book. I'm getting sick of the microbuilds, especially Goblet of Fire and Triwizard Cup.

    Also boring Snape and Harry figs with Hedwig as always.

    The other microbuilds aren't that bad, they're all pretty recognisable, I did think for a moment the Gringotts and Dragon was a strange Hippogriff.

    I just wish we had some cooler builds, like more paintings, suits of armour, Weasley and Honeydukes products, stuff to fill up sets and add to mocs. Also how about house robes with scarves and hats, which would look more Christmassy?

    And if you want to do a board game, why not just make a full on board game like the older theme did?


  12. On 7/28/2022 at 7:43 AM, Bugbot20082 said:

    I think they could cover most of the figure variants and props which are missing from HBP with an advent calendar (Cormac in quidditch or party outfit, Draco in a suit, the crystal sink, Tom Riddle from the memory, Slughorn in pyjamas, the assassination props etc).

    Someone on Instagram did a great mockup of sofa disguised Slughorn which I agree would be good in an Advent Calendar (even if it's not specifically Christmassy)


  13. On a recent Topic Bricks video of all HP minifigures since the theme was brought back, I commented a load of characters I'm surprised we haven't gotten yet:

    Angelina Johnson
    Barty Crouch (Senior)
    Blaise Zabini
    Cormac McClaggen
    Lee Jordan
    Igor Karkaroff
    Katie Bell
    Margery Dursley
    Percy Weasley (only in a book)
    Rita Skeeter
    Tom the Innkeeper

    And this isn't even including all the Deathly Hallows (film) characters, since Lego is reluctant to make sets off that:
    Aberforth Dumbledore
    Amycus & Alecto Carrow
    Bathilda Bagshot
    Bill Weasley
    Elphias Doge
    Helena Ravenclaw
    Narcissa Malfoy (in the old theme)
    Mundungus Fletcher
    Xenophilius Lovegood


  14. 22 hours ago, Jazzahh said:

    Just saw Secrets of Dumbledore, and though I got the idea it was not that well received (also on here) I actually liked it! I really hope we do get some sets based on it, but I also know Lego seems a bit hesitant to burn their fingers with it. One thing that would be cool is Kowalski’s bakery, slightly in the open back dollhouse style of 4 Privet Drive so that it would also provide a closed building that fits in a city. Probably daydreaming here, but it would be nice!

    A Kowalski Bakery would be cool, they could even recolour the Niffler piece to look like the iced bun version at the end of FB 1

    There's a couple other set ideas I think would've worked great:

    The Zouwu & Cirque de magique

    French Ministry Archives with Matagots


  15. 3 hours ago, drewdotexe said:

    The Tent and the Lake would be a great set, you could cram so much detail into that set (would at least expect beds, a radio, a lamp, Hermione's bag, the Sword of Gryffindor and the Silver Doe).

    Tired ground but once again; Gringotts with the dragon is another iconic scene they could cover (I think this is just a matter of time honestly, I imagine LEGO know this set will sell and are keeping it close to their chest). They could easily go crazy with this and chuck in vaults and all sorts. 

    Cover Hogsmeade with a Hogs Head set perhaps, where Ariana's portrait can swing out and reveal a little tunnel or something? Not sure to be honest, could easily see this being relegated to GWP because the Hogs Head is a bit dull as a set on its own.

    The forest of Dean lake/tent would be nice as a small set. If they wanted to make it bigger you could have a little tent exterior with a lake build then have a little wall of trees around the tent, so that it obscures the other side which is the larger tent interior, with bunk bed and table etc.

    I'm wondering if when Lego eventually make Gringotts, I mean they'll have to, that they'll just give us the building, then release another flying model like the new Hungarian Horntail, but if the Ukrainian Iron Belly.

    A Hogs Head set would be a really nice addition to the Honeydukes and Three Broomsticks set. Love that idea of the Arianna portrait with the secret tunnel behind. Would also be a nice way to get a Aberforth minifigure.


  16. 4 hours ago, drewdotexe said:

    Complete with couches, armchairs, fireplace, Sirius' head in the fire, tapestry, rug, tables, Gryffindor quidditch stuff, noticeboard, a big Christmas tree perhaps.

    I would definitely like to see that.

    The first two HP calendars had a couple nice builds that are reminiscent of the Gryffindor common room.

    I while back I remember wanting another fireplace build in the next calendar with a orange trans head for Sirius Black, then with his hair in red, orange or yellow.


  17. Just the other day I mentioned the lack of paintings in sets, so the new gwp set is a very nice surprise.

    Interesting how the fat lady design is from Philosopher's Stone, yet the staircase being next to the portrait is from Prisoner of Azkaban. But I'm not bothered about that, because I really like the build.

    I can even spot the painting of a wizard on a flying carpet, looking through a telescope.

    Just a shame that it's a GWP, as I don't think I've ever spent enough in one go to reach the reward.


  18. On 6/9/2022 at 8:22 PM, mark1991t said:

    'The Great Staircase'

    Contains two castle walls at a 90-degrees angle and the stairs can be rotated and the walls have various portraits displayed on them. Hermione Minifig Included. Likely GWP Coming July!"

     

    Something I haven't really thought about in the HP line is the near complete lack of paintings.

     

    Here's some I can think of, mostly from Prisoner of Azkaban, including some from a DVD bonus game:

    - The fat lady

    - Sir Cadogan (+ his pony)

    - The 'put that light out' wizard

    - The 'welcome to Hogwarts' wizard

    - Portrait of a Bridesmaid (seen in PS)

    - The giraffe (seen in many paintings in PoA)

    - Dumbledore (in his office at the end of HBP)

    - Arianna (in the Hogs Head, DH)

    - Phineas Nigellus Black (OotP I think was his first appearance)

    - Bearded wizard on a flying carpet + witch in a broomstick

    - Group of old scholars one who's now a skeleton

    - Violet (fat lady's friend)


  19. 28 minutes ago, krimimimi said:

    What a shame about all the micro builds. I really liked the extensions to a set / scene / theme from previous years and have next to no use for these little things. I never got the appeal of them in the Star Wars ACs either, unless you're going to hang it from a tree or something. Purple haired Tonks is nice, but it really feels like they missed a trick not going with Christmas at Grimmauld. 

    Yep, agree with this massively.

    Like we've had the Goblet of Fire so many times.

    The Whomping Willow and Ford Anglia were in the giant microscale set.

    The Hogwarts Express was done in a smaller scale in the first HP calendar where you can see it as a toy someone for for Christmas.

    Everything here looks like a little stand alone build at different scales, meaning nothing will really work in a moc or larger set.


  20. 11 hours ago, krimimimi said:

    I want the owl and that hat/hair piece. I'm trying to expand my wizarding world, and it's usually far too obvious where the pieces came from. Anything new is quite welcome at this point.

    Very jealous of your Minifig Factory. We haven't got one in our Lego store yet. Not sure we ever will, of course, but one does like to dream. Do they do the design your own printed tiles as well?

    More recently I found the same hair hat piece (it's the one for the photographer in the Diagon Alley set) again, but this time its blue and grey and there's a matching wizard torso and dress print.

    So for the minifigure factory, you pick hair, head, legs and accessory like your standard build a Minifig. Then you get to print text on a 1x3 white brick, that has Lego Shop [location] (so for me Birmingham) and then design the white torso.

    The screen you design on has a lot of options: text, freestyle drawing, standard torso prints and decorations ranging from flowers and basketballs to skull and crossbones.

    The Birmingham shop has its own exclusive I <3 Birmingham and a Lego model of the bull statue decorations too. Love the little regional touches like that.


  21.  

    19 hours ago, krimimimi said:

    Build a Minifig has gone live again at least in the German and UK stores, although the selection seems slightly worse than it was during the beta phase. The regular Pick a Brick has been temporarily suspended here, I can't tell if that's true of the UK as well, but both PAB stores seem down to just the Bestseller pieces, which means there's not a lot on offer.

    The two Lego shops in Birmingham UK both have Pick a Brick walls and Build a minifigure stands.

    I don't go in for pick a brick so can't comment on what's there, although I saw a good selection of Brick Yellow pieces perfect for Hogwarts buildings.

    The build a minifig section is decent, I even found a wingspread owl in brick yellow (idk if it was supposed to be there), but I've also got a cool wizard hat/hair piece that's exclusive to build a Minifig.

    There's also more selection in one of the Birmingham shops as we have a Minifigure Factory section to design a torso print, so there's more hair/hat, head, legs and accessory pieces in a separate stall to build a Minifig.


  22. Wasn't expecting those Brickheadz.

    Yeah it's fairly surprising that they didn't go with Flitwick and Sprout to have the four heads of house.

    However I kind of understand it, as I think Trewlawney has more screen time than Sprout. And with Flitwick having 2 designs, maybe they didn't want to go with him, also his second design is a simple black and white suit.