Tag: Lego Harry Potter

Lego Harry Potter Review – The Burrow Set 4840

When Lego announced they were revisiting the popular Harry Potter licence in 2010, fans were eagerly guessing which set the company would make while adding input on their own desired sets.

One of those dream sets and without a doubt one of the most loved designs of the Harry Potter universe is the haphazard Weasley Family Home, lovingly known as the Burrow and its addition to the Lego universe in 2010 is well deserved.

Minifigures

One of the most notable features of set 4840 is the minifigures. The set comes with six minifigures and, at the time of release, five of those six are exclusive to this set. And what minifigures they are.

Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort’s favourite Death Eater (with hair to die for), Fenrir Greyback (also with hair to die for, but most of it on his chest!) and on the side of good first time appearances of Arthur and Molly Weasley as well as Ginny Weasley and a Harry Potter figure to round out the set.

The figures themselves are absolutely stunning up close and Lego have gone to great lengths to make them instantly identifiable as their movie counterparts with torso, leg, hair and head-piece detail (both front and back). The bad guys look the part and are so full of detail (Bellatrix both front and back) and the Weasley family is as endearing as can be.

Ginny looks very cool, and I can imagine it was hard to capture her character in a minifig as the subtleties of her personality are hard to convey in a few line strokes but Lego have excelled here. Arthur Weasley looks great in an apple green jacket and Molly has beautiful designs on her apron which extend down to her legs. There is no Ron in the set which feels a little strange but I doubt too many fans will be complaining. There are also two of the new printed owls and a pig included.

The Burrow

The house itself is a fair miniaturized version of the Burrow. Though not quite accurate it captures the ramshackle feel of the Burrow very well and the whole thing looks like more rooms were added together haphazardly to accommodate more baby Weasleys as they came along. It is asymmetrical but Lego have managed to do all this without making it look like something Crookshanks coughed up.

The colors tone in well to each other and the three-level building is made with a mixture of dark red, orangey brown, tan, white and blue. Lots of details distinguish this from other, more regular houses like 2010’s Apple Tree Cottage and there are too many to mention here. For AFOLs it should be noted there are a mix of printed and stickered pieces in the set.

The ground floor is a kitchen and living room area while the second floor is Ron’s bedroom (complete with bunks and a Chudley Cannons poster) while the top floor (really tiny!) is another bedroom.

Outside there is a pig pen, a fire place (complete with floo powder action!) as well as a swamp area where a battle between Bellatrix and Harry took place in the Half Blood Prince.

Overall Verdict – The Burrow Set 4840

Overall this a set that fans of the films and books will appreciate while fans of Lego will love. Highly recommended!

Where To Purchase The Burrow

Like most sets you can pick this up at a number of places but here are the three we recommend.

Lego Diagon Alley – Harry Potter Set 10217 Preview

When I first heard about this set I was intrigued but the more I learnt about it the more enchanted I became.

UPDATE: It is now available at Amazon for a great price.

It is truly the best Harry Potter set Lego have done, and that is saying something! I was deeply impressed with their most recent castle (having owned all the HP castles at one stage) and also their design of The Burrow.

This Diagon Alley set however has completely blown those out of the water.

Which is an interesting move on Lego’s part in regards to timing. I was all ready to splurge on at least three of the 2010 Harry Potter wave…until I saw the photos for 10217.

Now I feel like I need to save my money for early 2011, when this large and highly details masterpiece hits stores.

Buildings

With three separate buildings, all notable in the Harry Potter lexicon, it is reminiscent of the Medieval Village Market (set 10193) and in the accompanying video it was interesting to see that the designer of Diagon Alley had a hand in that set as well.

The buildings are unique, instantly recognizable for fans and come with a number of accessories and features all of which complement the building’s place in the Harry Potter world.

Borgin and Burkes is the dark wizarding store featured in movies two and six. In The Chamber Of Secrets Harry accidentally arrives in the fireplace of the store after mispronouncing “Diagon Alley” to the Floo Powder network in The Burrow.

In film number six, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince Harry, Ron and Hermione view a strange gathering of dark wizards in the store through glass windows on the ceiling (faithfully recreated in the set).

Gringotts Wizarding Bank is featured in the first and I would imagine, last of the films and the new Lego building recreates its distinctive goblin architecture with a beautiful new design style, sloping the columns astride the front door with a simple but effective new piece.

The last building is the home of Ollivander, the wand-making wizard also featured prominently in the first and last films.

Minifigures

There are a total of 11 minifigures in the set:

Harry Potter (casual clothing)

Ron Weasley (casual clothing)

Hermione Granger (casual clothing)

Rubeus Hagrid (equipped with his pink umbrella)

Fred and George Weasley (First appearances in their beautiful orange suits from film #6)

2 Gringotts goblins (not seen since the original release)

Mr. Ollivander (another first release)

Lucius Malfoy (with Death Eater disguise)

Fenrir Greyback (also seen in the Burrow set in 2010)

Overall

On first impressions this set is a beauty and I hope we see it arrive in stores before Christmas. This set is one to watch and will become as sought after as the Medieval Village market set in future years so put one away if you can for the secondary market!

Official Lego Press Release

Expand your very own wizarding world of Harry Potter™!
No need to pass through the Leaky Cauldron. Now even Muggles can shop in Diagon Alley by building this fantastically magical set that includes 3 extensively detailed buildings and 11 minifigures! Join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they shop for their Hogwarts school supplies. Visit Ollivanders, Borgin and Burkes, and Gringotts Bank.

Each Diagon Alley building is realistically detailed. Ollivanders offers an extensive selection of wands, storage shelves and a step ladder that allows Ollivander to gather wands from the top floor. The front desk has an “exploding” function for those inconvenient times when a spell goes awry. Borgin and Burkes includes a scary skeleton, “glow-in-the-dark” elements, a fireplace attached to the Floo Network and a Vanishing Cabinet that Dark wizards might use to sneak into Hogwarts.

Gringotts Bank is an impressive two-story building with large double doors, and can be opened completely into one large building or closed to create one smaller building. The bank’s interior features a removable vault, along with the Philosopher’s Stone, a clerk’s desk, a chandelier and ‘wonky’ support pillars.

  • Includes 11 minifigures: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, each with magic wand; Rubeus Hagrid, equipped with his pink umbrella; Fred and George Weasley; 2 Gringotts goblins; Mr. Ollivander; Lucius Malfoy (with Death Eater disguise); Fenrir Greyback; and 4 new, decorated owls!
  • Diagon Alley is made up of 3 extensively detailed buildings: Ollivanders, Borgin and Burkes and Gringotts Bank!
  • Ollivanders features lots of wands, storage shelves and a step ladder that leads to the top floor!
  • Front desk at Ollivanders has an “exploding” function!
  • Borgin and Burkes includes a skeleton, “glow-in-the-dark” elements, fireplace attached to the Floo Network and even a Vanishing Cabinet!
  • Gringotts Bank is a two-story building featuring large double doors!
  • Open Gringotts Bank completely into one large building and explore inside or close it to create a smaller building!
  • Gringotts Bank features a detailed interior with a removable vault, the Philosopher’s Stone, clerk’s desk, chandelier and ‘wonky’ support pillars!
  • Includes 11 minifigures: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, each with magic wand; Rubeus Hagrid, equipped with his pink umbrella; Fred and George Weasley; 2 Gringotts goblins; Mr. Ollivander; Lucius Malfoy (with Death Eater disguise); Fenrir Greyback; and 4 new, decorated owls!

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