Altair1

My Shire was shipped yesterday April 3, just one day after I ordered it. Not bad, if you ask me :-)

We already have Helm's Deep (maybe not all of us, but many of us have it). I hope we get at least one Gondor set before getting more remakes.

Haha :-) I have quite a few white sets (mostly star wars and space) and most of them are still white so far, even after 10 years. But yeah in the long run, who knows...

If they do make Minas Tirith, I really hope it is the whole city, not just a playset with a couple scenes. In spite of what some people say, after seeing the beautiful existing MOCs, I am convinced it is possible with about 10,000 pieces. And I would have no problem with paying up to 1,000 Euros for it (barely the price of an iphone, if you think of it, and you get to keep it for ever!)

As many, I would be extremely disappointed if they stopped the revival of the LOTR theme and did not do Minas Tirith next year... After a long phase of depression and therapy I would probably go back to the MOC of the White City I had started years ago and try to finish it, but it would not be the same :-(

OK just purchased the Shire with Smeagol & Deagol plus the Easter Bunny offered :-)

Nah, I will buy it the second it releases on the online shop as usual. Am not sleeping till it's ordered. Never missed a GWP this way.

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.

Really nice, but a bit expensive. I will prioritize fixing the party tree, and am thinking of using pieces from my Bonsai tree (10281) and Attack of the Wargs (79002).

Yes I love it too and can't wait to build it :-) Eventually I plan to have a whole room dedicated to my LOTR display on a giant map of Middle-Earth with all the main sets : the Shire, Attack on Weathertop, Rivendell, Mines of Moria, Helm's Deep, Orthanc, full Black Gate (bought 2 sets especially), Barad Dur… Then hopefully I can add Minas Tirith next year if it is confirmed. I would love to add Edoras and Lothlorien too, but I will probably need to MOC them, unless Lego also miraculously makes them!

Hopefully this is just a reference to the LOTR movies trilogy. And in any case it is not the last as we are getting Gandalf & Balrog in June.

Shire officially unveiled! Price confirmed at 270 bucks. Release date for Insiders : 2 April.

Short answer: no

Indeed, I watched the movie scene again and the set is quite faithful. I find it a worthy GWP overall, even if it is not as unique as the Fellbeast.

Yes!!! So glad it is not a Brickheadz... The Shire is definitely a day one purchase for me then, can't wait :-)

Exactly. We did not get any LOTR set for 10 years, and now that we are getting a big one every year, some people still find reasons to be unhappy... Carpe Diem guys, these are great times to be a LOTR and Lego fan :-)

I don't really understand the complaints. The back of the set looks fine by me, the most important scenes are there. To me this set is still a big yes, except for the birthday tree which I plan to fix. I don't really care if it costs 200, 250 or 270 bucks, I will buy it (the only question is whether it will be on day one or a bit later, depending on the GWP being a Brickheadz or not)

Yes, to me this is the only weak point of the set, and will be my first priority to fix after building it ;-)

Hear, hear! Could not agree more.

It all comes down to whether you personally consider the GWP worth it or not. I bought Barad-Dur day 1 because I really wanted the Fell beast. If the Smeagol & Deagol GWP is minifig based I have no problem with paying 270 bucks for the Shire.

I have to disagree. I also own the original Bag End and it was really good at the time for its price and piece count, but the new one is just so much better and I would never think of skipping it! I watched again the beginning of the first LOTR movie to compare and this set is remarkably faithful to it. The only criticism I agree with is regarding the tree behind Bilbo, but I plan to fix this. As for my 79003 set, I will certainly not sell it as some people have. i will probably use it to extend the Shire (may need to change the door color), and anyway I need the dwarves to have the complete collection (I bought all the Hobbit sets especially for that).

Really hope this source is right! Will believe it when I see the set image :-)

Now that I think of it, I am afraid that the GWP Smeagol & Deagol 40761 might be a BrickHeadz... I really hope it is not the case, otherwise no day one purchase for me on the Lego Shop as there would be no point in paying the full price.

Amazing! I was not too excited initially as I already own the previous Bag End (79003), but this one is much more ambitious and includes all the scenes and new hobbits I wanted! Definitely a day one purchase for me again, I would not want to miss the Smeagol and Deagol GWP :-) And for those still sad we did not get MInas Tirith instead, just be patient, something tells me we will get it next year (I can feel it!)

I am praying the Lego God every day for this :-)