Seaber

http://thehobbit.lego.com/en-us/products/79018

That Bilbo looks a bit like the one at the beginning of An Unexpected Jouney, with the yellow Waistcoat

My PS3 copy of the game comes with an exclusive armoury dlc for PS3 and PS4 only. Do any other systems have exclusive stuff? I seem to remember only PS3 had the Faramir and Barrow-wight pack for LotR.

Also, the Orc on the left is Narzug (the one captured then beheaded). He has different face and torso prints to the regular Gundabad Orcs. It would be cool if he was made physically, but as he's dead, I doubt he's in a TABA set. Also, I'm colourblind so I'm not sure if the colours are right, but could the CMS Elf be used as a basis for the Mirkwood Palace Guards. I'm not sure what helmet could be used, but the veil over the mouth could just be painted or glued on. We already have the shield, and I'd like a character to hold it!

What makes me think the image is fake is the lightsaber. Lego normally do not have a weapon or accessory obstructing the torso details. From memory this is true anyway! I think the pose would be with the lightsaber facing outwards, with the other hand raised slightly. Although, of course, it still may be genuine :)

1 Minas Tirith (The city and Grond, Gandalf, Pippin, Denathor, Gothmog, brown warg, 3 Gondorian soldiers, 3 orcs) 2 Osgiliath (ruins and seige tower, Faramir, 2 Gondorian soldiers, 1 ranger, 2 orcs) 3 Balrog (Collapsing stairs and the Bridge of Khazad Dum, Gandalf, Balrog, 2 Moria Orcs) 4 Witch-King (Eowyn, Merry, Witch-King, Fell Beast) 5 Mumakil (Mumakil, Mumak Leader, 2 Haradhrim, 2 Easterlings, Rider of Rohan, horse) Everyone had pretty similar lists I think...

Well, it could have the Bridge of Khazad-Dum, the collapsing stars, the Dwarrowdelf and more Goblins of course. A Balrog isn't one of my top priorities, but why would you not want one?

Those are Erebor Dwarves from AUJ.

Do what you like really, there are no rules with Lego. Batman, Superman, etc worked well in the Lego Movie which was mostly yellow figs. What I've done is use flesh coloured heads for Harry Potter/LOTR/The Hobbit characters, and use all my yellow ones for Star Wars figs. Might be an idea for you if you collect a variety of themes. If you wanna go all yellow, you can easily get yellow heads (and loads of other pieces) through Lego stores or the Lego pick a brick website. If you want to go flesh coloured, eBay and bricklink are probably your best bet.

Did we ever find out if we were getting Bain and/or Dain? I remember there being a bit of confusion in one of the reports.

Would have loved Beru (maybe a May the fourth or in a future Tatooine set) or one of the two minifigure droids, but the set as a whole is beautiful. Although, I'm not sure how I'm going to afford this, Ewok Village, Star Destroyer, B-Wing, Mos Eisley and the AT-AT....

The head depends on if you want Flesh or yellow, but for the torso I'd use any tan Jedi torso you have. Personally I'm going for this one as I have a few to spare: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=973pb361c01 Brown or Tan legs (you never see them) so whichever you prefer, with brown standard male hair.

I missed the first Sandcrawler as it was too expensive for me when I was young, but I have seen it and I was never taken with it. It didn't look right, but it was a good set for 2005. I'm sure this new one will look truer to the designs. The figure selection was odd as well. Owen, the Jawas and the Gonk droid were fine, R2 and 3PO the same as every other R2 and 3PO at that time, but the other droids were pretty poor. The ASP droid didn't even feature near the Sandcrawler. Jawas and Owen are essential new figures to the Sandcrawler, with R2 and 3PO welcome returns, especially if they feature new printing (Dark Blue R2, Chrome/Legs printed 3PO). As said above, Porkin's astromech could be used as the malfunctioning R5. Lots of people have said about either Banthas with Tusken Raiders, or the Lars Homestead. If the $300 price is correct, then why not both? Lars Homestead with Beru and Luke, or else three Sandpeople and a Bantha. For the Various background droids, there could be minifigure RA-7 (same mold as from the second JEK set), or the CZ droid (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/CZ-series_communications/business_droid). Brickbuilt droids could include various Treadwells, the R1, the Minelayer droid, the KPR servant droid, the Scrubber droid, and the binary hydromech droid. The new Sandcrawler is another of the Pre-Death Star sets to get a revamp. I hope, in addition to new parts of the OT, Lego goes back and released updated version of some of the old sets, such as Cloud City and the Cloud Car, Yoda's Hut, the TIE Bomber, Interceptor and Imperial Shuttle. But Lego also released the Imperial Landing Craft and the Skyhopper, which could be re-released with a Bantha and Tuskens (ILC) or the Lars Homestead (Skyhopper). Obi-Wan's hut is another possibility. So, it is possible that we'll see the Lars Home or Sandpeople and Bathas outside this set.

The character has got to be in either AUJ or DOS, and a new print, but requiring no special molds. So far, they've all been main characters, rather than units. I don't think they'd make any dwarves other than Thorin, so the options were: Bilbo - Waistcoat, (Dressing Gown), Tatty Clothes, Lake-town Clothes Thorin - Young, Azanulbizar, Erebor Bilbo's Lake-town clothes and Thorin's Erebor outfit could easily appear in the next wave, his Azanulbizar clothes are similar to his BO5A armour, and he is unlikely to get a new mold for his Dwarven or Oaken Shield. Bilbo in his Waistcoat, Dressing Gown and Thorin's Young outfit are shown for just a few minutes in fairly quiet scenes, which maybe makes them better for a pre-order figure. I'm happy anyway.

I love it! I thought it would be Bilbo in his waistcoat, but this is very nice!

Is the white assassin droid in The Death Star based on one appearing there in the films? I don't recall seeing one!

If we get bear Born, they might include the minifigure version as well. If so, I hope he has an alternative face print, like Gollum in his two appearances. A calm one would be welcome.

@Deathleech , how many of the Mordor/Hunter/Gundabad Orcs and Goblins do you have? I was going to combine all mine into a larger army, but I think I'm a bit behind you! Also, why so many Lake-town Guards? I appreciate the polybag is a good one and the minifigure is excellent, but in the film there's only about 16 in the scene with the most guards. They look great all together though!

NB: Frix is easily made from a Y-Wing Pilot helmet and a Lando face. I'm hoping generic B-Wing pilot and Nien Numb rather than Ten Numb.

Surely one of the main reasons for hoods is so the elves can have quivers.

Great review, just one thing to add. The DSG have two face prints, one with a closed mouth (also in the SD microfighter set) and one with an open mouth.

Also, this Bain/Dain business could get a little confusing to non-fans! Both will probably have short legs too!

Witch King and Elrond is probably at Dol Guldur, Smaug is at Lake-town, so the last two sets are probably BOFA. That makes Galadriel look a little more unlikely then, but who knows! Maybe we'll get another LOTR wave with Lorien, and then it won't matter much. The reports are sketchy, but I'm glad they've started coming through. I'm glad Smaug isn't brick built as well. Be interesting to see his arms/wings. If his LEGO design was completed before WETA redesigned him, we could have another Yazneg on a White Warg situation.

Lorien, although I would love to have a Barliman minifigure!

I'm guessing Shire Bilbo, we see him in the trailers and he looks great!