HARRY POTTER AND THE DISAPPEARING ROOM
Three Harry Potter sets and collectors' book.
My husband -- I call him "the Half-Brick Prince" -- loves everything Harry Potter. He read all J.K. Rowling's books, saw all the movies. I saw Brick Queen's reviews of some Harry Potter Lego sets on YouTube. I thought, one of those would make a nice gift for him.
Not being a Lego fan, I had never seen these sets before. They were fascinating! But Potter is also now a "retired product" which means one must pay the "collectibles" price to get one. I thought it was worth it. After all, a collectible is an investment, not a waste of money. I got the first set, Hogwarts 4842 at Amazon, who obliged in record time.
Little did I know what this reckless act would lead to: more Harry Potter collectibles! Soon, more big Amazon boxes were arriving. It was Christmas in July!
We built three sets: Hogwarts Castle, Hogwarts Prisoner of Azkaban, and Diagon Alley. The collectors' book tells us that Diagon Alley - 3 beautiful buildings -- was designed specifically with adult builders in mind. We were certainly in the right hobby!
Hubby refinished an unused hutch we had, installed shelves, took off the doors. The three completed sets fit beautifully, along with the book.
Meanwhile, I also bought a small Lego assortment for our granddaughter's birthday. Not to be left out, I had to buy a general assortment of bricks for myself, along with some doors and windows, plants and trees, roof tiles, and Seaside House (a three-in-one), my own first kit to practice on. I was hooked, too. We decided to get two more Potter sets - Hagrid's Hut and The Burrow
We began to see that this new piece of furniture, however beautiful, was not going to be up to the task if our Lego hobby got any bigger.
Not being a Lego fan, I had never seen these sets before. They were fascinating! But Potter is also now a "retired product" which means one must pay the "collectibles" price to get one. I thought it was worth it. After all, a collectible is an investment, not a waste of money. I got the first set, Hogwarts 4842 at Amazon, who obliged in record time.
Little did I know what this reckless act would lead to: more Harry Potter collectibles! Soon, more big Amazon boxes were arriving. It was Christmas in July!
We built three sets: Hogwarts Castle, Hogwarts Prisoner of Azkaban, and Diagon Alley. The collectors' book tells us that Diagon Alley - 3 beautiful buildings -- was designed specifically with adult builders in mind. We were certainly in the right hobby!
Hubby refinished an unused hutch we had, installed shelves, took off the doors. The three completed sets fit beautifully, along with the book.
Meanwhile, I also bought a small Lego assortment for our granddaughter's birthday. Not to be left out, I had to buy a general assortment of bricks for myself, along with some doors and windows, plants and trees, roof tiles, and Seaside House (a three-in-one), my own first kit to practice on. I was hooked, too. We decided to get two more Potter sets - Hagrid's Hut and The Burrow
We began to see that this new piece of furniture, however beautiful, was not going to be up to the task if our Lego hobby got any bigger.
Lego Harry Potter series:
The elements of the four Hogwarts buildings (in set 4842) are packed in serially numbered bags. Lego takes the builder step by step through the construction process, bag by bag.
Lego instruction manuals are all in pictures without any text. This is a surprise when you first see it, but how could they do it any other way? Lego is an international hobby, designed for all ages: an ingenious solution to a complex problem. (For example, |
see the suffocation warning on Lego's plastic bags are printed in 12 to 19 different languages.)
CLICK PICTURES TO ENLARGE. In the first week, we took turns building the many floors and the Harry Potter story figures, called mini-figs. Above, the Hogwarts Astronomy lab with Gryffindor Commons - complete with owl turrets and owls. That's the notorious Voldemort character, at the telescope. One of the two Dementor figures in the set haunts nearby. |
The Lego Hogwarts set 4842 has four inter-connectable buildings, which can be arranged in any order.
One of several versions of Professor Dumbledore's office is at left, above. The large building is the Main Hall, the Hogwarts common dining hall. At this point we had no display space except for an unfinished cabinet pictured above. The old hutch had no shelves and the tabletop was unfinished, so there was some work to be done here. Picture, top right, shows our first display. |
Hogwarts Castle (#4842) the 2010 edition
Note: we are at first using Styrofoam egg cartons as sorter boxes. They worked well for the smaller parts and minifigs.
Soon we bought two large organizers made by Stanley tools. After that, tackle boxes and fly boxes from a sporting goods store worked well for smaller items. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger chat in Gryffindor Commons. The revolving Knight below them is one of many clever secrets built in by Lego designers; behind it lies the secret diary of Tom Riddle.
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Above is Dumbledore's office from this set, with spiral stairs retracted. The Sorting Hat and the Sword of Gryffindor are in the attic.
Below, the same tower with stairs extended. The large hall in this set is the Hogwarts Main Hall, the dining commons. Below, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape await arrival of their students. The food is ready. (Click picture to enlarge.) AT LEFT:
The Main Hall has beautiful stained glass windows (see lower left) which are not very visible in the frontal view. AT RIGHT: Gryffindor 1, an earlier version of Gryffindor Tower. It has a secret entrance with pivoting desk; and beds upstairs in wings that open out. |
Hogwarts Castle,
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Below is the large 3-part building in the Azkaban set. It features a unique mechanized (wind-up) clock and gate-raising device. The clock face on the front spins around as the gate comes down. Below is a close-up of the wind-up clock and gate mechanism. It gave us fits, but we finally got it to work. On the top floor is Prof. Trelawney's potions classroom, with a skull inside a glass globe.
Below is another classroom, with a pivoting blackboard. A skeleton lurks behind it. |
Harry Potter's Diagon Alley (Lego 10217)
Borgin and Burkes, Gringott's Bank, and Ollivander's.
This is a relatively new set from 2011, containing three impressive buildings quite different in style from the Hogwarts school buildings. These shops are in the city, on a hidden street accessible only by magic.
At left is Borgin and Burkes "dark magic" store, with Gringott's Bank (the source of the orphaned Harry's money) at center, and Ollivander's wand shop at right.
The architecture here is impressive and complex. The builders' age limit is raised here to "14+" as the building process is equally complex. Mr. Half-Brick Prince did all of these buildings himself. Before that, we had been taking turns doing the different floors and sections. By this time I had started off in a slightly different direction with my own kits and bricks.
At left is Borgin and Burkes "dark magic" store, with Gringott's Bank (the source of the orphaned Harry's money) at center, and Ollivander's wand shop at right.
The architecture here is impressive and complex. The builders' age limit is raised here to "14+" as the building process is equally complex. Mr. Half-Brick Prince did all of these buildings himself. Before that, we had been taking turns doing the different floors and sections. By this time I had started off in a slightly different direction with my own kits and bricks.
Our collectors' book (Lego Harry Potter: Building the Magical World) claims "unprecedented detail" in these three buildings, and states that they "are complex models designed exclusively for adult collectors...."
As beginners, we were constantly astonished by the designs and unseen designers and amused by their depictions of the Potter story line. But this set was the most amazing yet! |
By the way, this site is not intended as a "product review" as it may sound, but is rather the first impressions of adult beginners in the Lego hobby as we encountered each new kit. Our overall product review remains one word: "Amazing!"
At this stage we were still learning the names of the various bricks and widgets, and learning how some of the special bricks were used. For example, this set features the first set of bay windows we encountered, along with skylights in both the bank and in Borgin & Burkes' roof. The bank building was our first experience with a solid hinged building that opens out on each side or closes up completely, a common practice in the Lego designs.
At this stage we were still learning the names of the various bricks and widgets, and learning how some of the special bricks were used. For example, this set features the first set of bay windows we encountered, along with skylights in both the bank and in Borgin & Burkes' roof. The bank building was our first experience with a solid hinged building that opens out on each side or closes up completely, a common practice in the Lego designs.
GRINGOTT'S BANK
The architectural detail on this model is amazing. The fluted columns are new and unique - and they are placed at an angle. It has a double skylight and a hinged construction that closes up completely. Inside are the bank's safe, a clerk's desk and a chandelier, along with the two mini-figs. OLLIVANDER'S WAND SHOP There are a lot of mini-figures in the Diagon Alley set: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Lucius Malfoy, Mr. Ollivander, another articulated skeleton, three owls. Lots of accessories such as cauldrons, witches' hats, potions, wands, sale signs, and lamp posts. |
BORGIN AND BURKES
Below is the "dark magic" shop from Harry Potter story. Lucius Malfoy stands atop the building; he also has a Death-Eater disguise. Inside the building is a vanishing cabinet, whereby magical people can teleport. A sister cabinet is in Hogwarts castle. The ornate curved roof contains skylights. The front has a bay window and unique domed top. Construction was now complete on the three large collectible kits for Harry Potter. We thought we were done. But wait...
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What about Hagrid's Hut, and The Burrow (the Weasleys' house)? What about the Flying Car and Hogwarts Express (see Trains)? We had to make some more space!
Hagrid's Hut (4738) 2010 version
There have been quite a few different versions of Hagrid's Hut. This is the latest version, from 2010. It contains Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all in school clothes, and of course Rubeus Hagrid, who is cast in a different scale.
It also contains Aragog, the giant spider, lots of pumpkins and mushrooms, and Norbert the baby dragon. The fun feature of this little model is the Lego light brick (the red handle which extends out of the back of the fireplace at left). Pressing the switch lights the fireplace. (There is also a light brick in Winter Village Cottage.) |
The Burrow (Weasleys' house) Lego set #4840
This model must have been an interesting challenge for the designers. Notice that all the doors and windows are mismatched, and crooked pieces are attached to the house where possible, to make it look... unbalanced. But the interior is neat and clean, with a complete working kitchen, including cabinets with drawers that open, and Mr. Weasley's grandfather clock. There are two bedrooms upstairs with charming small touches.
This set has Harry in civilian clothes, Ginny Weasley, and the parents Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. One of the designers added a pig, but I stole that for the town square of my Medieval Marketplace.
This set has Harry in civilian clothes, Ginny Weasley, and the parents Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. One of the designers added a pig, but I stole that for the town square of my Medieval Marketplace.
Two additional scenes come with this kit. A marshland scene (shown above) features reeds, a catapult, flaming missiles, and two bad guys: Fenrir Greyback and a rare mini-figure of Bellatrix LaStrange. The other is the Floo fireplace device (which sent Harry to Diagon Alley), shown below.
Harry Potter Vehicles: Flying Car and Knight Bus
Above is the flying car that comes with the Hogwarts Express Lego set 4841). It is the second version made by Lego, a little smoother than the first, they say.
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No Harry Potter collection could be complete without the Knight Bus, complete with swinging chandelier, sliding bed, and a talking head. Bright purple bricks!
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