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That is reasonable, although Harry Potter isn't getting a January wave this year it would seem and is instead getting a March wave, so maybe it's just spacing it out due to production factors.

They look really cool. Was expecting a lighter purple in keeping with the dusky tones from the last round of books, but the rich purple looks great. Always loved the Knight Bus on display with the deep purple.

You're fingers will think differently though!

Oh no! Happy unbuilding .

The pack sure does look nice and great to see some AOTC stiff. And I really hope would you've reasoned is true, but we always do this to ourselves and then ... the logical just doesn't happen. As for the Commander doubling for a pilot, I get your point, but seriously 'It's treason then.'

What annoys me about the Commander figure is that it is now not unique to the UCS Gunship. For some, the appeal of that set will now have been greatly diminished. And yes, there are people who will buy a UCS set for the figures, whether UCS sets are meant to be figure related or not. Sales will be lessened, to what degree I don't know, but I'm sure there will be some who might have got it who now won't. And the first UCS set Lego does this with? A prequel set. If Lego thought that desirable figures shouldn't be locked into expensive sets, then why don't they try doing that with some OT sets too. Sure the figures in the new UCS AT-AT aren't that unique and Veers from the system scale AT-AT can be easily changed to have the same legs, but you don't see that exclusive Snowtrooper commander print in the 'affordable' new Snowtrooper battlepack. An optimist would hope it might mean future figures won't be locked to UCS sets, but unfortunately having followed Lego's actions for a while now, I'm more cynical. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get another prequel UCS because of 'poor sales' of the gunship. As for pack, I'm glad we're getting shinies, but goodness knows where that Rex and Cody rumour came from.

Those are the names of the Minifigure Accessory packs, so they're not new unknown sets.

Maybe Bren Derlin?

I think that's a fake/custom. Interestingly though, Lego Club News has commented on a photo on IG saying 'Fake ...I never said that they'll be plain white troopers.'

Oh yes definitely. Unless they were 'pulling our leg' all along.

Not imagining no. In June it was reported that HP designers said they were aware there is one building missing, but there were currently no plans for it: https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-responds-to-requests-for-gringotts-extension-to-harry-potter-75978-diagon-alley/ It doesn't specifically say it was Marcos though. However, they do say the set was specifically designed to leave possibilities open and if fans want something they should do the website feedback form (I hope everyone has!) So you're right in saying that Gringotts is supposedly not planned, but both the June and August replies sound like rhetoric to me. Like @Roebuck says, Lego's answers often sound like politician answers and in my mind they have a habit of saying something and then out rightly doing a one eighty. The phrase 'cry wolf' often seems synonymous with them to me after a few years of following their statements. So whilst I don't think it should be taken that Lego will do Gringotts, I think it has been made clear to them it is wanted through general fan media.

Did he say that? When he said in August 'I definitely think we're creative enough to sneak in things here and there, so who's to say what will come in the future?' I wouldn't say that was him saying definitely no DH or Gringotts in 2022. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I think their will be, but I just don't think it was an unambiguous denial. Have I missed another interview since then?

40558 Clone Trooper pack $14.99 comes with a forward post build and rifle rack 40557 Hoth Rebel Troopers pack $14.99 comes with 1.4 FD P-Tower and 2 repeating blaster cannons

If Lego doesn't realise that there are lots of consumers out there who want to add a Gringotts to their DA and therefore a Gringotts set if nothing else, possibly DH based considering the dragon potential, would be a really good idea in 2022 before people get too annoyed / bored of waiting then they must be mad ... Oh wait.

For all intents and purposes they are battlepacks, even with the different packaging. I know some were expecting Rex or Cody to make an appearance, but there's no way Lego will do that when they could come in an expensive set. These do at least make sense for the current market - Hoth troopers to got against the AT-AT and snowtroopers and clones for those who may want to fill out their Gunship, non-minifigure scale or not. The Jedi and clone battlepack has become expensive on the aftermarket for the two clones it offers so I'm glad they are reappearing here and in a way people can buy multiples.

So the new accessory packs are supposedly one with 3 x AOTC clone troopers and one with Hoth Rebel troopers. So glad phase 1 clones are coming back!

Okay @Kage Goomba It looks like one of the January accessory packs is AOTC troopers!

Thanks for the photo! Looks very cool. I can understand the knock offs as clones are ridiculously pricey. Some day soon Lego will revisit AOTC or ROTS and give us another way to get plain clones - they have too!

That must look amazing . The width is a killer for display. I know where I could put the AT-AT, but the Gunship might have to end up back in a box. Thanks for the heads up. I've built some big sets recently, including the Hogwarts Moments and Hogwarts Castle, but I think this is going to be a new building experience for me.

Finally got my UCS Republic Gunship. Voted for it, no idea where I'm going to put it, but that ship was my childhood. My first (any maybe only) UCS had to be a prequel ship. I would love that AT-AT though, and ironically it would probably be easier to display as it's more vertical, but that price is another level. Glad to hear you all got on well with getting one last night and the site didn't crash.

They could do the trio, Neville and Luna from the OOTP carriage ride. Sure it's not the most exciting line up, but I would prefer that to a straight out Platform 9 3/4 remake, although I'm definitely not interested in a remake over fresh sets anytime soon. I can't say I'm that interested in a PS HH either though; the build would essentially just be the same, but without the side hut and we've had a lot of different PS trio figures now so I can't see the figures being different. If they bothered to include the PS Hagrid without his coat on then it would be worth it, but otherwise the only thing it could give us is a Fang and maybe a new Norbert(a), but Fang could easily be put into another forest set or minifigure bag without the need to have another hut.

Exactly. Although, I wouldn't mind a remake if the train and carriage builds stayed exactly the same and the only thing different was that you get the Hogsmeade platform and new figures. Now that would allow for adding extra carriages to the current set with the front train and coal tender being the only duplication. But I doubt they would make it that easy.

The Hogwarts Express is currently not rumoured to retire until the end of next year. https://www.brickfanatics.com/the-full-list-of-lego-harry-potter-sets-retiring-in-2021-and-beyond/

Yes exactly. It's a misleading stat sometimes. I get the feeling Lego thought they may have just pushed the UK price a bit too much. It still equates to more than the $ or € prices by all accounts.

I hope the £699.99 isn't the typo . The £749.99 was obviously in all the LAN press kits and everything so it seems like a genuine turn around. Also Brickset has just reported the news and have commented that the Brick Sketches were also reduced following consumer feedback, although on that occasion I would guess that it was more poor sales feedback. Good luck!