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In a crucial chrono-axis-point, inadequate safeguards and the nefarious efforts
of ‘he who must not be named’ proved far too effective and the ‘boy who lived’
did not in fact live.
In this alternate timescape the powerful Voldemort
ironically became the word on everyone’s lips as he gained an unholy and
omnipresent grip on the wizarding world. Refuges like Hogwarts Castle were
prime targets for his fury (and deeply embedded fear of reprisal). These
once-havens were quickly emptied by powerful life and energy-consuming spells.
But the power mad wizard overreached himself and soon dissent within his own
ranks of death-eater lieutenants brought the once-powerful regime to an abrupt
and destructive end. Now there are only the smallest groups of ‘good’ and
‘evil’ scattered here and there, seeking to gather and strengthen each other. .
. and the fortress of Hogwarts (devoid now of even spirits) remains a silent,
sullen shell of what was once good.
This is the Lego Group’s fourth version of the Hogwarts Castle/estate, the
various released versions are as follows (by year):
2001 - 4709, 689 pieces
2004 - 4757, 928 pieces
2007 - 5378, 943 pieces
2010 - 4842, 1290 pieces
I can’t give a completely unbiased comparative opinion because I’ve never
actually built the previous versions but the 4842 does seem to give the
best/full version of a fortress construction (with the 5378 being a close
runner-up). At any rate, it’s obvious that this one has the most pieces.
To be honest, I’m a Castle fan at heart and I picked up this set with an eye to
modifying this into a standard fortress-type model. With this particular set
we’re going to get various castle pieces/portions with each section linked to
another through peg-and-hole connections (keeping in mind that Hogwarts is
really more of a campus than a single castle anyway).
Facing the castle from the inside looking out and going left to right, the first
construction is comprised of three levels with the first level featuring what
looks like a large closet or doorway to a passage (though it actually leads
nowhere). The second level features a bookshelf with sliding transparent doors
(nicely designed). Handcuff elements are secured to each sliding door with the
suggestion that inserting keys into the base of the doors and twisting the keys
will pop off the cuffs/binders. The idea is novel but the cuff elements are
just too wobbly and will undoubtedly come loose in play (or whenever moving the
entire construction) and could very easily be lost. The third level of this
section is an open battlement with a large powerful telescope that is actually
done quite well.
The second castle section is a four level tower with the bottom floor featuring
a small waiting room/lounge with two revolving chairs. The rear wall is adorned
with a Slytherin tile/plaque and two snake elements adorn each side wall (nice
touch). The second level features a suit of armor standing on a revolving base
(though nothing in particular is featured on the other side of the base). The
third floor is another lounge with, again, two chairs, but this room features a
fireplace. The fireplace is very well done with a sliding mechanism that makes
a 2x2 tile (with what appears to be some sort of fire demon) come out of the
fireplace. A Griffindor banner hangs above the hearth. The fourth level
features an enclosed owlery, complete with perches, three owls, and poop bits on
the perches (again, nice, subtle touches).
The third and largest castle section is the dining hall. It’s very well
executed with two long dining tables and benches, two chairs and a lectern at
the back/head of the room and a door near the back of the room for exiting. The
tables are filled with all kinds of elements for food (including a large turkey)
and goblets (great accessory assortment). Two banners hang over the room
(Griffindor and Slytherin) and a simple but effective chandelier hangs from the
main rafter. The design of the hall is very well done, particularly with
multiple windows at the rear wall, sturdy columns made up of 1x2 bricks (rather
than a one-piece pillar element) and the use of transparent 1x1 bricks set high
in the side walls to denote stain-glass.
The fourth and final castle section is a three-level construction with the first
floor featuring an entrance door, a trophy-type shelf, a chest and a winding
staircase. The second level features some simple but great shelves (with
non-sliding drawers) for various vials and potion jars. The drawers do contain
items (bone bits in one, a letter in another) but the drawers can’t actually be
accessed unless the shelves are removed from the construction and partially
disassembled, still the idea is interesting (weren’t there sliding drawers in
early Lego sets?). The room also features a low table with a crystal ball and a
large (almost throne-like) chair. The third level is a partially open
battlement with a large one-piece roof element (similar to the one that encases
the owlery) that houses a stand for the ‘sorting’ hat and a large silver sword.
None of the multi-level sections provide any access to the various upper levels
except for the fourth section winding staircase and these particular assemblies
have never impressed me with the way they fold up and aren’t very stable. I’d
much more prefer a single-piece, smaller, spiral staircase. (I’m sure the
collapsing staircase is essential to the ‘wow’ factor, but the instability of
the assembly detracts from the desired result.)
Figures in the set include Harry, Hermione (class uniform prints), Professors
Dumbledore, Snape, McGonnagal and Flitwick, Argus Filch, Voldemort and two
dementors (with McGonnagal getting the best dress print/slope in my opinion, she
makes a great sorceress fig). The dementors are also pretty cool (half-figures
really) with the upper torsos and arms of a skeleton (in dark grey) and tattered
cloaks. The bottom half of these ‘phantoms’ is comprised of a single stand
(instead of legs) that gives them a ‘floating’ appearance. It’s a neat gimmick
that could also work elsewhere for floating spectres. Lastly, there are a bunch
of animal elements included in the set: two snakes, a spider, a grey rat, a
frog, bat and a kitty (with a painted face).
There are a lot of minifig accessories including books, a magnifying glass, two
different swords, a shield, the sorting hat and a crystal ball (plus the
aforementioned food elements). Stickers are included for the castle walls,
various banners and a couple of book covers. There are also a number of
pre-painted tiles making up a newspaper, map, scroll, crest and a letter of
correspondence. It’s also worth noting that the set comes with THREE
instruction books.
Standing back and looking at the construction as a whole, there are some great
and innovative ideas for castle builders such as ledges for the windows and
recessed facades that add for a great look to the design. There is a great
assortment of parts including basic building bricks, plates and hinges (and the
aforementioned peg and hole connectors for modular building options). With the
set probably right on the verge of going out of circulation, this is a good time
to pick it up and it’s definitely worth the price-per-part ratio.
!!!4x2ReVu Stats!!!
Rating: Seven out of eight studs.
Thumbs up for: Terrific designs implemented that will give great ideas to
castle enthusiasts who might normally have passed-up this set because they’re
not into the Harry Potter genre.
Wallet-Wise: $130.00 suggested U.S.
retail for 1,290 pieces, if you can find it on clearance, GRAB IT!
Date:
5/16/2012
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