Hogwarts Moments sets - and other official buildable books

[Bruce N H]

Hi all,

LEGO released images of four [url=http://bricksfanz.com/first-look-at-lego-ha ... ble-books/]upcoming "Hogwarts Moments" sets[/url] due out in January. These are books that open up to fold out scenes:

[url=http://bricksfanz.com/first-look-at-lego-ha ... ble-books/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50610021 ... a35d_w.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://bricksfanz.com/first-look-at-lego-ha ... ble-books/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50609918 ... e75c_w.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://bricksfanz.com/first-look-at-lego-ha ... ble-books/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50609918 ... 48c2_w.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://bricksfanz.com/first-look-at-lego-ha ... ble-books/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50610033 ... 863c_n.jpg[/img][/url]

As far as parts go I don't see a lot of interest here, with the exception of those printed panels which are great (unless those are stickers). But as an idea these are really cool. I could imagine taking the general design of these and making it the basis for all kinds of MOCs (including entries in the Fairy Tale category of the [url=http://classic-castle.com/events/contest/cc ... rizes.html]Colossal Castle Contest[/url], hint, hint). The one negative, IMO, is that these new sets seem completely reliant on a new modified 10x16 plate with bars along one side. It seems this could have been accomplished with standard pieces, though it would be 2-plates thick rather than one.

This got me thinking about official brick-built book sets, so I thought I'd do a survey:

In 2018 LEGO released [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/tormentalous/42506752031/]Creative Personalities: Hans Christian Andersen[/url]. This is totally brick built and a lovely piece. It doesn't fold up, though, so the book is more of a display stand for two vignettes.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/tormentalous/42506752031/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/877/4250675203 ... 155b_w.jpg[/img][/url]

Later that year LEGO released the ideas set [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/thebricktime/31531915268/]Pop-Up Book[/url] - This is, of course, the best of the lot as it is designed by AFOLs Jason Alleman and (CC member) Grant Davis. It's all basic bricks and as such is eminently customizable. The working mechanism to make it fold up is really cool and can be swapped out. Several builders have taken Jason and Grant's design and made their own versions.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/thebricktime/31531915268/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/1976/315319152 ... a936_w.jpg[/img][/url]

Early this year LEGO released four [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/thropots/album ... 5122473252]Disney Storybook Adventures[/url] - these are cute and fine for what they are. I'm sure younger kids loved them - they'd be perfect to bring along in the car IMO. The mini-minidolls are absolutely adorable IMO. The big downfall is that they're all based on these big single-use book parts and the actual build is minimal. If the book parts were in better colors, though, I would probably buy a few to modify. I'm showing my favorite of the four.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/thropots/album ... 5122473252][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50119513 ... 302a_w.jpg[/img][/url]

This month LEGO has a promo set [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/brickset/50608 ... 909425631/]40410 Charles Dickens Tribute[/url] that is similar to the Hans Christian Andersen set from a couple of years ago - a brick-built book that serves as the base for a vig. This is nice (though stickers ). Again, the book doesn't open, but there is a slide-out hidden drawer.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/brickset/50608 ... 909425631/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50608689 ... 3c60_w.jpg[/img][/url]

And now there will be these new Harry Potter sets. Did I miss anything? As I said I like the idea, though the ones that are fully brick-built are preferable to depending on large single-use pieces.

Oh, I would include [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/tormentalous/43999105861/]75952 Newt's Case of Magical Creatures[/url] as having a similar feel - a brick built suitcase that opens up to a scene inside is similar-ish to a brick built book that opens up to a scene inside.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/tormentalous/43999105861/][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/1837/439991058 ... 508a_w.jpg[/img][/url]

[Formendacil]

I'm surprising myself a little, but I'm really liking the look of those new Harry Potter books--I also hope those are prints, not stickers, but at least in the images, the appear to be well done enough that I'd buy them even if they are. Hopefully, they aren't TOO "licenced = arm & a leg" priced. They have around 250 pieces each and three figs, so I'd be really happy if they came in around $25 USD (less, obviously, is always better). But pricepoint will be key.

Of course, the fact that I am mostly a Lego-comicker these days probably gives me a greater interest in sets that function well as a movie set compared with your average fan.

[jtooker]

They have around 250 pieces each and three figs, so I'd be really happy if they came in around $25 USD (less, obviously, is always better). But pricepoint will be key.

They are $30 USD: https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/hogwarts- ... lass-76382

[Formendacil]

They have around 250 pieces each and three figs, so I'd be really happy if they came in around $25 USD (less, obviously, is always better). But pricepoint will be key.

They are $30 USD: https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/hogwarts- ... lass-76382

That's not... terrible... for a Licenced theme, though it does put it sort of right on the line of "do I? don't I?"

On sale or with a Redcard discount at Target, that might be okay, though.

[Bruce N H]

Hey,

Bricksfanz has a [url=http://bricksfanz.com/lego-harry-potter-hog ... ts-review/]review of these sets[/url], including close-up photos. Unfortunately the graphic details are mostly stickers, not printed bricks, which is too bad for some of those details like the windows and the shelf full of potions. The one thing that seems to be printed is the large modified plates used as the book covers, which is the one I would have rather had as stickers as it makes them less useful to make your own fold-out books.

I do think the McGonagall and Flitwick figs are outstanding.

Bruce

[Frank_Lloyd_Knight]

Whose bright idea was it to release the Harry Potter sets at the beginning of January, and not at the beginning of December?! I have Christmas shopping I need to do!

[Azaghal]

Whose bright idea was it to release the Harry Potter sets at the beginning of January, and not at the beginning of December?! I have Christmas shopping I need to do!

I've been wondering about this quirk in LEGO's production schedule for years.

[jtooker]

...this quirk in LEGO's production schedule...

My theory is that kids get money for Christmas and then want to spend it. Also the colder months in the northern hemisphere give people more time to build LEGO (vs. play outside). Christmas might also be a good way to sell off any lingering inventory so that TLG makes more money overall than if they'd have new products available before Christmas.

[Bruce N H]

Usually those January releases are on the shelves of local stores before Christmas. I don't know if COVID affects the distribution schedule though.

Bruce

[ffilz]

Usually those January releases are on the shelves of local stores before Christmas. I don't know if COVID affects the distribution schedule though.

Bruce

But they don't tend to be out early enough for most folks to plan on. When I was much more active in constantly chasing down Lego, my observation is that the new sets tended to hit just a week or two before Christmas, or sometimes just after Christmas. I think it can really depend on how stores shelf space works out.

To genuinely be part of the Christmas rush, it would seem sets would need to come out at least as early as November. And they have to show up in catalogs so kids know they're coming so they can start asking for them.

[JBM]

yeah they look like nice sets, did you see that the torso print is new?