TheDoctor

Well, if you ask ChatGPT to extrapolate the data for minifig to piece count ratio from the past 10 years, and specify it's a licensed Lord of the Rings Icons set. The answer is 6-10 figures, which I think is about right. (I suspect it will be on the lower end of that guess too) Obviously guaranteed: Gandalf Frodo (sand green shirt & braces) Bilbo (burgundy jacket) Sam (he is their gardener after all!) That only leaves a few slots to fill. I actually wasn't expecting Merry and Pippin because they're never at that location in the film. More likely to be Lobelia and Odo. I think that will be all, given that it's Bag End-centric and not a few different Hobbit holes. When we first heard the rumour I was sure we'd get some background 'filler' Hobbits, but now i'm not so sure. It's a disappointing line-up with a lot of repeats (with new prints), but a considerable number of people won't have those figures from past releases or the more recent ones due to cost. This is a more 'wallet-friendly' set and needs to have mass appeal.

Yeah, should be a teaser in the first week of March (based on previous releases) with a full reveal a few days later.

I think people are far too critical of the Hobbit Trilogy and whilst I agree it is drawn out in places and did not necessitate 3 films, I will always be grateful for it giving us plots from the Silmarillion which would otherwise never be committed to film. But to return to the topic of LEGO... I was very pleased when this part was released a few years ago: We now finally have a decent Arkenstone compared to whatever this was! (I presume it was based off some concept art, similar to Dwalin's Jade green axe that was in the set, but I don't think was in the film)

Yeah, it is a small piece count when you take into account the amount of pieces the foliage detail will take up on the outside. (plus Gandalf's cart!) I think it will be marginally bigger than the last one, and it will definitely have a detailed interior and probably a light brick for the fire. I'm expecting it to be more of a 'desk set' than the others. Here's hoping it's not a vignette with pieces wasted on the base! (still annoyed at how many pieces the 'enclosure' for the book nook will inevitably eat up )

Yeah, I remember the huge discounts in the UK too. The one that sticks in my mind was 79018 The Lonely Mountain getting reduced to £40 in Argos! I picked up two. I wish I'd have bought 50 79015 Witch-king Battles when they were on clearance. In hindsight, it's obvious that that would become a desirable set, but I never expected the price of Smaug to climb so high. (I keep my two in PP ziplocs inside a HDPE box filled with Silica Gel sachets. So far so good, no powder, oil or stickyness on the wings.)

I wonder what the extent of the model will be this time? The 2012 version roughly captured this portion... (minus one window) (I also forgot just how basic the old set is!) But I didn't really realise just how HUGE Bag End is! The WETA model is by far the best reference for scale, it's actually so large you can't even see additional windows on the left-hand side as well as a back door which wraps around the side. I think we'll see a similar portion again, which includes the Study window as well as the extra bedroom window to the right of the front door. Problem is, that's only 3 rooms represented (Hall, Study & Bedroom) It would arguably be missing the most important room of any Hobbit hole; the kitchen!

So I guess based on previous teasers... Rivendell teaser 7th Feb / Release 5th March Barad Dur teaser 11th May / Release 1st June We can expect the first Bag End teaser sometime in the first week of March. Not long to go!!!

Thanks, it's been in loads of sets. Part 86038 I tried a plain black cape, but it didn't look right. His cape is actually pretty tatty and worn in the film and other merchandise.

Yeah, I can't see any problem, if anything the wrist joint is stiffer than before! I don't mind, I don't plan on selling it, and it's only going to be posed once and left in that position.

I never understood why they gave Sauron grey hands. Finally updated mine with the Dark Pearl Grey hands. Updated the mace and cape too (I understand the use of the single hole cape because any other cape would get squished beneath the helmet.) The cape does make him look larger and more intimidating. Was hoping that the 1x1 plate had been made in Dark pearl Grey to add to his feet and give him some height, but that will have to wait. Still waiting for a recolour of this D&D mace piece for Sauron to use.

This made me worry and check all my brown figs (which Hobbit/LotR is dominated by!) All seem good and no cracks, but the limbs are so stiff! I guess the value of them will continue to rise as more and more eventually break.

I don't think i've ever broken any old brown break when putting it together, it normally breaks when taking it apart. Especially plates when you use a brick separator.

Yeah, mine seem fine. I bought the original sets when I was 18, so they were built, posed and stored. But I do handle them very carefully now! Unfortunately, I didn't fully disassemble the sets to store them, so any brown pieces are never being taken apart (looking at you, Orc Forge!)

The entire company would require 9 new moulds(!) if they're going for the same look as the previous releases. Rivendell is the perfect example of LEGOs reticence to create new molds, only using one new elf hairpiece to represent every elf in the set. The Hobbit trilogy is also very divisive. One of the frequent pitfalls on this forum is people demanding what they want rather than anticipating LEGO releasing a set that appeals to the widest audience possible (to make the biggest return on investment). It will be based on the Fellowship of the Ring. (and like I said before, I expect there to be some references to the hobbit) Like everybody here, I'd love some more Rohan and Gondor representation, but the sad truth is that those are risky sets for the Icons theme. (maybe the exception of Edoras) ______________ Most of the piece count on this set will be on plant detailing and I suspect interior floor tiling. It's amazing how quickly that eats up the part count. There's roughly 250 1x1 tiles on the Rivendell roof alone. Expect a compact, detail rich rendition of Bag End. I can't find it anymore, it was on the #legoleaks results on my phone, I just saw it when scrolling. Presumably deleted? (Always a surprise to see something other than Star Wars on that feed)

There's no way we're getting Thorin's company in a 2000 piece set. That's too many minifigures and new moulds as the old ones were destroyed. (maybe there will be some Easter eggs like the big contract he signed, the Mithril vest etc.) Not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to the 'potential' leaked Bilbo, but I think it's far more likely to be Bilbo's 111th Birthday with some side builds like the cake, tables & tent along with Gandalf's cart. A majority of people missed out on the original sets and so far, Gandalf and Frodo have only appeared in a $500 set. It will be made to appeal to a very wide audience with Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, maybe a few background hobbits like Everard Proudfoot and Lobelia. No doubt there will be a light brick too for extra 'cosiness'.

Did anybody else catch that Bilbo figure posted on Instagram, looked like one of those China leak pics. Ian Holm's Bilbo in the burgundy jacket and red waistcoat, grey recolour of the hobbit hair, regular brown legs though, presume that was a mistake! I pray it's legit!

Be interested to see if it's multiple Hobbit holes or just Bag end. If they continue on the current LotR Icons trend, it will likely be a 'slice' of the shire with multiple holes. LEGO's refusal to acknowledge Gondor is just funny to me now

@Maeve @Jazlovespink I had no idea that you'd replied to this sorry! I'll work out how to upload the instructions for you I finished modifying the new Malkins set too, just haven't bought the parts yet. Again, tried to capture the spirit and design of the official LEGO set.... It's interesting to me that these 'new' Diagon Alley buildings are based off the Universal Studios buildings rather than the actual ones seen in the movie.

There's a lot of very bold statements in that video with zero sources (or even a hint towards a source). I don't doubt that we'll get more LotR LEGO, but I think that video is just wild speculation and fantasy...

At the risk of getting off-topic, it should be half decent as Jackson is returning to produce along with a couple of the the original writers; as well as WETA being involved too.

I went for some Pear Gold 6L bars instead, mush less noticeable... Also quite a bright window behind the model in this picture, looks better when it's not as sunny outside!

Still struggling to believe it's 500 pieces less than Rivendell given how huge and imposing it is (then I remembered the roof tiles!) I've modded those awful orange buttresses, I think they were so jarring because there was no indication of where that light was coming from unlike the eye and the lava. Also attached the Fell Beast to the side too and put the widened Black Gate in-front of the model. A very impressive build!

I've missed a few pieces stuck in the creased corners of the new paper bags.

I'm still building it, but it feels like better value than Rivendell. Slightly repetitive on the first lower 'module', but I appreciate how they broke the build up to negate that a bit. Also switched out Frodo and Sam for my old ones, outfits look more accurate to the Mordor scenes and Frodo's face looks more weary as well and having a scared Sam face. Given the size of it do far, mid-construction, I'm looking at Rivendell and wondering where the extra money & pieces in that set went. (I suppose it had more unique Minifigures and a wider selection of parts & colours) On a side-note, big turn-out for the LEGO store in Southampton, people queuing to get into the shopping center before it opened! Pleased to say I was 3rd in-line, but it didn't look like they had that many GWP. Walked past about 45minutes later and people were still queuing out of the door.

That was a photoshop somebody made waaaay back in the day! I saved it so I could make my own, no instructions exist for it as far as I know. But it's a much easier mod than the 'long-gate' because it required no extra pieces. I'll check when I get mine down from the attic, but I think it was as simple as building those 1x2 hinge bricks into the tower so the spare gates can attach to the sides.