krimimimi

DA seems like it has a lot of details going for it, but I just can't get around the colour choices. I might have been able to stomach Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes on its own (I wouldn't have liked it, but I could have coped, and eh, it's at the end of the street), but not with the humongous QQS build in the same set. So if I ever do break down and get it (presupposing I ever save enough first... ) there are two buildings right off the bat I'd want to replace most of the bricks of, which is prohibitive. So at that point, even "bland" minifigs become the bigger draw for me. (That said, I do want Lockhart and Lucius and the grown up twins, and I didn't find them bland. Draco's Slytherin robes are also nice, and I certainly wouldn't mind the DP photographer or Florian Fortescue... And you can see how that quickly gets pricey. )

(emphasis mine) You say that, but I was just checking the prices of the minifigs from DA on Bricklink. Ouch. At that rate, I may as well buy the set. I expect the same will be true of this summer's CoS/GH mashup I really don't like, it will be better value to buy the set and use the bricks for MOCs. And I bet I'm not alone on this. They put a bunch of rare/exclusive/new minifigs in the summer sets, and punters like me will come along and buy it regardless of the design...

@Textorix when you make a comment, at the bottom is a blue bar that permits you to "drag files here". In the same field there's a grey drop down menu "Insert other media". Select one and voila... For example here our @Whovastron's Bell Towers. Edit: I don't really feel the need for the Bell Towers or miss them in my Hogwarts display, but if Lego released a set like this, I would definitely be all over it.

They could just make the rails and vault separate, sort of as an updated version of what they did in 2002's 4714. Give us a decent building and have a few extra add ons for the other locations. Personally I'm hoping we eventually get Bellatrix' vault as a separate set that way. I don't need to waste parts putting it under the bank. I loved all the weird little nooks and bits and bobs chock full of "make up your own story". It wouldn't take a lot of pieces to do that to the current sets, so I wish they'd go back to including those. A hinge here and there, maybe a rotating panel... And all the little spell tiles and books and such really made it special. We used to chuck the printed 1x2's at each other, "Serpentsortia!" "I cast Protego!" Hogsmeade is supposed to be above the frost line and permanently snowy. (Mind, how it gets that way when Hogwarts is so close and clearly isn't... Magic!) With the abundance of adult fans, as a product idea that might go over a bit better now.

@Alexandrina Thanks. Found him. He doesn't appear to have been cut, but I can't say even looking at the photos that I remember him at all. (Which practically guarantees we are getting him as a minifig before I get my Poppy Pomfrey. )

And would you believe some people want the Battle of Seven Potters as a set??? Who is Michael? The only Michael that comes to mind is Michael Corner, and I thought he's a Ravenclaw? Well foo, I think I want almost all of that except for the change of style and maybe different scales. This is going to get expensive. I *really* want those shops for both DA and Hogsmeade, and more minifigs.

@Roonil Wazlib you're right, it was a "stringy Slytherin boy standing just behind Goyle" which means it also wasn't Draco who is mentioned by name repeatedly in the scene or Crabbe who is just as well known as Goyle. That leaves Zabini and the at this point nearly unknown Nott as possibilities, of which Nott was far more probable. @Alexandrina snap again. lol

I'd be thrilled if they ever got that deep, nearly black purple colour down, but I'll be happy with a black waistcoat. That bright purple thing he's sporting feels too much like clown school. Daphne is virtually non-existent, and Tracey nothing more than a name, sadly. Wasted potential. But for all the source material provided there, they can just as easily invent new characters for the films, and that way they were less likely to create future paradoxes with the books. Blaise is definitely a blood-supremacist *and* a snob. There's that one exchange between him and Pansy about Ginny being a "filthy blood-traitor" which quite economically establishes both of those traits (in addition to him being very picky ) in something like two sentences. So again, for me (mileage varies, obviously) it makes a difference keeping Theo's nose clean, and it also makes a difference that it's a male, because equating Slytherin maleness = Death Eater-lite isn't as rich a story, and gives young Snape a bit more of a pass than I prefer while cheapening his redemption arc. (Lego-wise, Zabini is a character I very much want as a minifig. Perhaps if they do another Quidditch set... Oh! Or they could make him one of the Quidditch accessory pack players. I'd love that. And for the other three not to be Cedric / Cho / and Harry again... They could always have the Gryffindor player be one of the Weasley twins, and I'd have even more reason to pick up two packs.) As far as Nott Sr.'s age, fwiw my own father was fifty when my brother was born, so I don't see why the timelines don't work for someone of magical blood (with the associated lengthier natural lifespan) to have fathered Nott. (If he was in school with Voldemort, that would mean he's in his early to mid fifties at the time of Theo's birth. Less problematic in a wizard than a witch, too, I'd imagine, and certainly if one has an army of house elves to play nanny... ) If anything, an age gap might help explain why someone presumably so radical such as his father was more distant and influenced his (half-orphaned) son less than Lucius did Draco, say, without the son himself having been shown to have an exceptionally strong character of his own. Anyway, I found it not improbable. As far as my wishlist goes, I want not-Nott as a minifig about as much as I want Nigel (I guess ultimately I'm more of a book fan), but I'm perfectly capable of lying to myself so no worries there. Seriously a variety of figs is great and will be welcomed no matter whom they're supposed to represent. It would be so nice to populate the castle with a variety of students... As far as Theo in a Lego set... the scene I always think of is with the Thestrals, which establishes that he's lost his mum, but I can't really see them releasing it. I would like an outdoors scene for CMC, though (without another hut ), perhaps with a Thestral and a Skrewt? We haven't had the former in a HP set, or the latter at all. Ooh, snap. Great minds, etc...

I really liked the idea of the glow in the dark Snape, actually. (Not so much the execution, but the concept.) Snape was described as "sallow", which literally means "yellowish", but at the time, all the HP minifigs were yellow skinned. Making Snape gitd, for me, is kind of like making Voldemort the only fig with a nose. It got a giggle out of me. That said, I really wish we'd finally see a decent Snape this series. The other three Heads of House have been improved, but I really miss 2010's 4842's Snape. I completely understand the objection to making a new character, sort of like with Nigel Wolpert (as the ersatz Colin / Dennis / bits of Lee), but I appreciated them not making Theo Nott something he wasn't. It was nice to have one canon Slytherin boy who wasn't a bully or a budding Death Eater, or even a demonstrable snob, and that despite the fact Theo's father was basically the only original flavour Death Eater left from Riddle's school days. For me it gets too one dimensional when it's reduced to "all Slytherins are evil". This suggested at least the possibility of a more nuanced tack.

Thanks @Seaber & @Guyon2002 (I think I know which build you mean.)

@Guyon2002 What's Kro? (Bricklink had no answer for me...)

Offer for virtual "Krankenbesuch" stands. (Mind, if that's the French part of Switzerland that'll make less sense.) Winerva McGonagall. Streamlining ftw. Finally someone else who's looking forward to the lav! After zusammengebaut article on this year's "Toy Expo" with all the concomitant fun poking, I was feeling a little called out for being excited about this set. (And it doesn't help that I also want the "troll in the (other) lav" 4712 set to be re-released.) Hey, I was thinking about a Gunhilda of Gorsemoor statue (the one-eyed, humpbacked Healer in front of the tunnel to Honeydukes). I know there've been one-eyed, one-legged and one-handed figs in the past, so it's not that they wouldn't go there categorically, but does anyone know if lego has ever done a hunchback piece? There's an actual "hunchback" fig from 2002 that doesn't even have the hunch, so I'm not hopeful. (Never mind the fact it very likely wouldn't have the right colour for a statue...) Or a potbelly for that matter?

@Micmac Wow! Or as Hermione would say: "Holy Cricket!" Thanks so much for trying that out. Seriously, this is so helpful. I just so happened to order a second Potions Moments classroom last week and I now know precisely what I'll be doing with the extra "book". That architectural detail of the snakes is now a definite must for over the fireplace, too; the book is taller than the "original" and that helps make some sense of the height. Haven't the pieces for the organ lying about as luck would have it... (bricklink here I come lol) And I really like the way you suspended the chandelier (just realised it's one long chain and not two), particularly as it's so crucial to the scene. If lego were doing it... Yeah, I can already picture a sticker with the portrait of a Malfoy ancestor over the organ. Comparing the two builds side by side, I think the first profits greatly from having some space to either side for the fireplace to "breathe". (And of course the brick bricks (?? no idea what they're called, but you know what I mean) are much nicer, but I can't see them spending the budget on that or the brick built books, more's the pity...) I haven't tried expanding the Moments sets to a wider format, but this just gave me the incentive to do so. (As an added bonus, I can get away with leaving the books lying around in our household longer than the regular builds. ) I think I'll also be adding the Death Eater dining table of challenging digestion (lego is never going to give me an official Professor Charity Burbage fig, are they?), and perhaps some armchairs for in front of the fire... But this is definitely something I want to tinker with. Thanks again for trying that out.

Wow!! I absolutely love this! I think since the first time I saw that sketch, I've wanted to see a build of that set. You've done a great job of capturing all the elements of the concept art. Of course, now I find myself wondering how they'd change it into a Moments set, because you're right, it would make a good one. That does do a much better job of capturing the room from the film, even down to the detail of the corner shelf. Seriously, nice eye for detail. Thanks for sharing it.

Thank you, that makes much more sense, especially in CMC. Sort of like a healed Bill, I suppose.

Hmm. Excellent argument. :| A few months ago @Guyon2002 rather patiently explained why my notion of a Godric's Hollow set with Bathilda Bagshot (as a potential Christmas set no less ) was thoroughly inappropriate. (Slowly but surely I'm learning I haven't the proper mindset for toy development. ) Carrows are definite musts. For one thing, I need Death Eaters, and for another Snape has to incapacitate them. That was one of I think two things I preferred measurably in the movies over the books. (The other was the scene in front of the Whomping Willow with a werewolf Lupin.) Does Grubbly-Plank have stripes? (Adding my best wishes to the list for surgery as well. I'm not sure how to phrase this, but I found hospitalization last year simultaneously boring and lonely as no visitors were permitted. If that's still the case when you go in, the virus being what it is, perhaps we can start a "keep Lego-Freak diverted" thread? ) Ooo! I want that Duelling Club set! Given we can come by Snape and Draco fairly inexpensively in the Moments / Potions Classroom set (and Seamus wasn't a repeat either), I suppose it makes sense they're not included in the upcoming GH/CoS set, and yet McGonagall is included in the Hogsmeade set... There are definitely more sets with McGonagalls and fewer Snapes and Dracos than usual since 2018. (Sets prior to 2018 / from 2018 on with: McGonagall 3 / 3, Snape 9 / 4, Draco 13 / 7) @Yope had posted a list with minutes of screen time vs book mentions of various characters. If you have those links handy, I'd love to know how those three characters measure up in both metrics.

It still feels odd that they haven't included Snape and Draco in this set. The duelling scene was just so iconic, and Draco needs to cast Serpentsortia in order for the whole Parslemouth thing with Harry and Justin to occur. That complaint aside, I'm pleased to have Professor Sinistra. Aside from Binns (History of Magic), she was the only one of the Professors of the core courses we haven't had yet. From previous waves, we're also missing random goblins (like Bogrod), suits of armour, statues (like the Marauder's Map statue - I'd like to see Gunhilda of Gorsemoor, the one-eyed, hump-backed Healer whose statue blocks the tunnel to Honeydukes), sleeping Hermione and Ron from the second task, swimming suit Harry and Viktor (plus shark's head), I'd add Professor Binns to your list of ghosts. As far as the rest of staff, I'd also add Madam Pince and Firenze, and in a perfect world, Professors Vector, Burbage, Babbling, Grubbly-Plank and the Carrows. I'm still hoping for other BNDE (big name Death Eaters ) like Dolohov and Yaxley and a Snatcher or two like Scabiour. And I'd also like to see Bill and Charlie Weasley in addition to Percy.

@Jacob Bricks Alot great work on the Divination classroom. Love to see it in more detail if you get shots with more contrast. Adding that to the list of things I did not know I needed... But yes, brilliant! Without trying to kick off the discussion on exclusivity again, I just wanted to say thanks for your openness and let you know you definitely aren't alone. I viewed it the same way. Last year was pretty uncertain for us in truly unprecedented ways. Knowing lego holds its value took the guilt out of accepting the nanoscale Hogwarts the family gifted me. There are other things that lose their value immediately, those purchases were put off.

I just needed to say "thank you" to the people who always seem to know which movies the characters appear in, and how often, and in which outfits. I love that there are very obviously real Potterheads here. And extra points for the occasional bit of "pedantry" and phenomenal memories (like remembering three of the four founders were printed with the articles that eventually became horcruxes.) You are genuine treasures. Isn't part of the problem the short legs we now have for Firsties and second year students? You'd need a leg print for robes. To the best of my knowledge, none of the minifigure, legs, modified - "legs short" have a print. I think we have the same issue as well with the motorcycle (with sidecar) that many of us want for Hagrid. With the short legs the minifig now has, he would no longer fit properly on the motorcycle. That's part of what I like about the Moments classrooms, they tuck away very neatly. I didn't expect to like them as much as I do, but that's a feature that comes in very handy. If they continue the series, I'd love to see more of them, and the Adventskalender. They can do the AC forever and I'd keep buying them.

I thought we weren't likely to get Battle of the Seven Potters 1) because of deaths (Hedwig and Moody) and 2) because it's seriously minifig intensive, and most of them are repetitive? (A 4 Privet Drive including Hagrid's bike instead of the Ford Anglia was most likely our best shot at that.) Along similar lines, which price point could you picture for the wedding and what should it contain for the money? (I'm betting if we get a tent, it'll be the tent from DH instead.) When I look at how the Friends sets have done a party tent, I'm not even sure I want them to go there at all, but I am holding out hope for Hermione's red dress from the wedding and a Bill minifig, at least as CMFs, and a Forest of Dean set.

Well I'm dead chuffed about Myrtle's lav. (Even without Myrtle... ) Wish we were seeing a troll in the lav from PS, but the girls' lavatory makes more sense as a location. It appears more often, including HBP and DH. (Now I need a thoroughly bloodied Draco, and an earnest rescuing Snape.) I was pleased too, especially as he's replaced later by Nigel Wolpert in the films. I guess it makes sense given his role (getting petrified) in CoS. Well now I feel thick. I was hoping it was a lost in communication thing and they meant "Poltergeist" instead of "House ghost", but of course you're right that he'd been petrified in CoS. I went back and counted them recently out of curiosity (I couldn't sleep ), and there are actually an equal number of Hermiones and Rons to appear in each year. They literally included an Infirmary in a set without the Matron. I've sort of given up hope... It's especially odd as I don't think Sinistra even has a single line in the films. (Not sure she has any lines in the books, either, for that matter...) Does anyone know? Now I really want that boar. lol Justin was also in the duelling scene when Harry appears to set the snake on him, so that's a nice inclusion. I like your ideas for the staircases. Here's hoping... How about Her-mine-y for the gold edition?

Local store or did you find it for that price online? (And if so, where, if you don't mind?)

Based off the £ I'm going to assume UK, but I know the Monster Book of Monsters is available as a GWP in the US S@H again. That may be true of other lego stores, so it might be worth having a look around. Also, if you aren't paying the "buy it now" prices, I know it went for much less at the auctions on ebay in the states. (So also worth taking a look around if you're interested.) Customs and shipping are obvious considerations, though. To add to the "Lost in Translation" from zusammengebaut: Schrumpfhörniger Schnarchkackler is a Crumple-Horned Snorkack.

Technically that locket isn't a horcrux... I think I'd rather see them as sets than books, at 20 EUR instead of 30, at least the Room of Hidden things in flames, and the Gringotts vault. CoS I'd like a real set at some point. IIRC, Smyth's had had the nanoscale castle for around 300 EUR instead of 400 at one point, but then the virus hit, demand soared, many places were sold out and everyone jacked the prices up. HP things are still selling like hot cakes, so I can't imagine they'll drop the DA set's price anytime soon. And suddenly I find myself wanting one... Bet this would be a good use of the sleeping Ron face from the second task... I think if we get a tent, it will be the Weasley tent from the Forest of Dean and the Quidditch World Championship. (Not really sure how I feel about that, as the lego tents have never been my jam.) For Bill's & Fleur's wedding, except for Kingsley's patronus, I can't really think of any elements (besides a tent) to include. It's mostly just minifigures, so to me that would make more sense to cover it in a CMF set. (Hermione's dress. Finally getting a Bill fig. Affordable adult Fred and George figs...) I have been eagerly awaiting a Polyjuice / Slytherin / COS based AC. Using last year's as a model, give us a green couch, a fireplace and support panels in grey bricks, a couch table, perhaps a chair or a second couch so we can seat the three characters in the scene, a buildable Slytherin crest thing to hang over the fireplace (like in the Moments set), floating cupcakes (on clear poles) to drug Crabbe and Goyle, a cauldron over a fire, and several phials / flasks of polyjuice to quaff, and the six figs are Harry, Ron, Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and for Christmas Hermione with extra cat head. So three recycled, and three new ones, which seems in keeping with what they've done so far. @Bugbot20082 Love the idea of including some elements from HBP in a Slug Club AC. Memory cabinet and Pensieve, a decent Snape (please not with the god awful purple vest; go back to the 2010 4842 version if nothing else). From the SC Christmas party, the only missing characters I can come up with are Draco in his black suit, Cormac, Sanguini, Gwenyth Jones, and possibly the Carrow twins... but with the exception of a decent Snape and alternative Draco, I don't really need to see any of those. So I was thinking it might make more sense to give us the set in some years time, when the AT is no longer available, to allow people to close gaps in their collections. The line up might be more appealing then.

Wow, this came out so well. Fantastic job! And I really like what you did by way of landscaping. The flowers are lovely.