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10350 Icons Tudor Corner Review

By Rakesh Gosai (SAFOLs Brick Deputy)

The LEGO® Icons Tudor Corner (Set 10350) marks the latest addition to the esteemed Modular Buildings Collection, a series renowned for its intricate designs and appeal to adult LEGO® enthusiasts. This newest instalment distinguishes itself by focusing on the unique architectural heritage of the British Tudor period, a style not explicitly explored in previous modular buildings.

The consistent release of sets within the Modular Buildings Collection indicates a strong and dedicated fan base, suggesting that the Tudor Corner is designed to meet the high expectations of experienced builders within this community. The official description’s specific reference to a “British accent” in the set’s design implies a deliberate effort to capture a distinct regional architectural style.

To properly enjoy the LEGO® set, it was essential for me to first understand the historical context and key features of Tudor architecture. The Tudor period in England, spanning from 1485 to 1603, was a time of significant cultural and architectural transition, bridging the late Medieval period and the Renaissance. This era witnessed an “eclectic mixture” of building traditions, resulting in a style characterized by several distinctive elements. One of the most recognizable features is half-timbering, where an exposed timber framework on the exterior of buildings is infilled with materials such as wattle and daub, brick, or plaster. This technique was not solely structural but also served as a significant decorative aspect of Tudor buildings.

Roofs in Tudor architecture are typically steeply pitched, often featuring multiple gables and dormer windows, sometimes adorned with decorative verge boards. This steep pitch served both an aesthetic purpose, creating a dramatic skyline, and a practical one, efficiently shedding rain and snow. Windows in Tudor buildings are often rectangular in shape, and frequently feature leaded glass with small panes, sometimes arranged in diamond patterns, set within wooden or metal frames. The small panes and leaded effect were a result of the glassmaking technology of the time. Prominent chimneys, often tall and decorative, sometimes with the addition of chimney pots, constructed from brick or stone, are another defining characteristic. These tall, often ornamented chimneys were also indicative of wealth and status.

Doorways in Tudor architecture frequently feature arched designs, sometimes incorporating the distinctive Tudor arch, which is flatter and four-centred. Projecting oriel and bay windows, adding both interior light and exterior visual interest, are also common features, sometimes exhibiting rich decoration. Finally, jettying, a technique where upper floors overhang the ground floor, is sometimes associated with Tudor buildings, although its prevalence and the reasons behind it are subjects of ongoing discussion. Tudor architecture, while rooted in the 16th century, also experienced revivals in later periods, and the LEGO® set draw inspiration from these later interpretations as well.

The LEGO® Tudor Corner (Set 10350) masterfully translates many of these key architectural features into brick form. The top floor of the model showcases half-timbering, effectively using black LEGO® plates against white and nougat elements. This brick-built representation offers a textured and three-dimensional interpretation, a notable improvement over printed panels used in some older LEGO® sets. The roof is steeply pitched and constructed in a striking red colour, complete with multiple gables and brick-built chimney stacks. The model incorporates a variety of windows, including rectangular ones on the ground and first floors, and smaller panes on the timbered upper level, suggesting the leaded glass effect often seen in Tudor architecture. The “rustic chimney stacks” are constructed from brick elements, adding to the overall texture of the model. The entrance to the inn features an arched doorway, a typical element in Tudor design. A bay window is included on the second floor, cleverly angled at 45 degrees, adding architectural complexity and visual interest.

The overall colour palette of the set, with its dark green for the inn, nougat and white for the timbering, and red for the roof, effectively evokes the traditional materials and aesthetic often associated with Tudor buildings.

The LEGO® Tudor Corner adheres to the modular design principle of the collection, allowing for the rearrangement of interior spaces and seamless integration with other sets. The set highlights the employment of several advanced and engaging building techniques. These include the use of SNOT techniques to create the steep staircase and angled facade, intricate roof construction with varying slopes and gables, unique methods for achieving the half-timbered effect, sideways building for the staircase, and clever utilization of parts for interior details.

The set comprises a substantial 3266 pieces, divided into 20 numbered bags, suggesting a detailed designed build.

The interior of the LEGO® Tudor Corner is richly detailed, offering glimpses into various aspects of life within the building. The ground floor houses a restaurant or inn named “The Old Guarded Inn”, complete with a counter, stools, a table, and a kitchen area that even includes a brick-built full English breakfast. A cleverly concealed bathroom is also located on this floor. Adjacent to the inn is a haberdashery, also described as a Men’s Clothing Department, featuring hats and possibly other small articles. The first floor accommodates a clockmaker’s workshop, filled with an impressive array of clocks, including grandfather and cuckoo clocks, along with a detailed workbench. The second floor, nestled under the half-timbered roof, serves as an attic apartment or living space, furnished with a sofa, bookcase, and an intriguing insect collection displayed in vivaria. A cat tree and a printed tile depicting a shelf with a sunflower lanyard are also notable details in this space. These detailed interiors contribute significantly to the narrative of the set, suggesting a vibrant community within the Tudor Corner Set.

The LEGO® Tudor Corner includes eight minifigures, each adding to the storytelling potential of the model. These include a chef, a chimney sweep, a restaurant owner, a clockmaker, a haberdasher, an apartment resident (who wears a Sunflower lanyard symbolizing a non-visible disability), and a mannequin. The occupations represented by these minifigures, such as chef, clockmaker, haberdasher, and chimney sweep, have historical connections to the Tudor period. The inclusion of cats within the scene further enhances the sense of domestic life.

Measuring 31cm high, 26cm wide, and 25cm deep, the LEGO® Tudor Corner occupies a standard 32×32 stud baseplate, ensuring compatibility with the existing LEGO® Modular Buildings Collection. Despite its unique architectural style, reviews and community discussions suggest that the Tudor Corner integrates well with other modular buildings, offering a visually distinct yet complementary addition to a LEGO® city layout. With a piece count of 3266, it stands as one of the more detailed modular buildings within the 32×32 footprint.

In conclusion, the LEGO® Icons Tudor Corner (Set 10350) is a meticulously designed set that successfully captures the key visual elements of Tudor architecture, including its distinctive half-timbering, steeply pitched roof, and varied window styles. The build process is engaging and intricate, utilizing advanced LEGO® techniques that will appeal to experienced builders. The richly detailed interiors and the carefully chosen minifigures contribute to a compelling narrative, offering a glimpse into a Tudor-inspired setting. While the specific combination of businesses might reflect some artistic license, the overall architectural style and the level of detail make the LEGO® Tudor Corner a worthwhile and visually striking addition to the Modular Buildings Collection, bringing a unique touch of British heritage to the brick-built cityscape.

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76328 The Classic TV Series Batmobile Review

Review by Brett Thomas (SAFOLs Members, CapeLUG Members)

Introduction

I will start of by saying this version of the Batmobile is my favourite one having watched the Adam West shows as a kid. It is the 3rd LEGO® version of the classic Batmobile in my collection. The first was in set 76052 The classic TV series Batcave and was around 21 x 7 x 6 cm in dimension. The second was in set 76188 classic TV series Boatmobile and was a similar size but did come with a cool display stand. I was super stoked to se the much bigger version hit the shelves late in 2024. This version has 1817 parts and measures 50 x 18 x 14 cm. This makes it roughly 6 times the part count and more than double the overall size of the previous versions. The size alone made this a must buy set for me. It currently retails at R 2999.

Packaging

The box is appropriately all black with great Images of the finished product. It has a lid that comes completely off unlike most boxes that just have opening sides. The opening revealed 17 numbered paper bags plus 4 more paper bags each containing an individual windscreen. This is a very good way to ensure these clear parts stay clean of any scratches from being in bags with other parts. Well done to LEGO® for this. This was also the first set I have opened where all the bags have been paper and no plastic, the instruction manual and stickers were in a cardboard envelope also. On opening the first bag I also saw the smaller bags within the main bag were also paper although a few of the later bags did contain some small plastic bags. The only drawback with the paper bag is you need to be much more certain that you have emptied a bag of all parts as you can no longer see through the bag.

Manual & stickers

There was a single manual of 340 odd pages. The first few pages have some pictures of the classic TV series showing the on screen Batmobile and the actors. There are also some facts on the original TV version and the LEGO® version. There are couple of pages dedicated to the “special features” of this version also. Looking at these was super nostalgic for me and brought back some memories of that famous speech bubble effect series.

There are 2 sticker sheets, 1 with 27 number stickers and the 2nd with 1 stick for the display plaque. The purists will probably have a gripe about sticker numbers but most of these are justified. More printed parts would probably drive up the price. I would have liked the door bat logos to be printed as opposed to stickers though.

Build

Bag 1 contains the only minifigure included in this set a classic TV Batman, the major difference to previous versions is a rubber cape as opposed the fabric version of previous sets, this one also has dual moulded legs. There has been some “noise” about the lack of a Robin minifig, but since the build is not minifig scale I don’t mind.

he build of the base of the model in bags 1 and 2 is largely done with technic beams and frames which creates a good stable base and gives an immediate impression of how big this model is going to be.

The model is built up in layers with some very clever parts use to create the distinctive rear shape and the striking black and red colour contrast. No stickers are required to create the red line around the vehicle. The Bat crime computer is brick-built ad placed in the rear.

As you move up the layers the build alternates between the front and rear of the vehicle and again at the front more clever building techniques and parts use can be seen.

The cockpit build is nicely detailed and contains all of the essential items, including the Batphone, fire extinguisher, Batscanner, Batram , compass and emergency Batturn lever, There are also foot pedals built in the drives floor well. The one disappointment is the lack or a steering mechanism and only a static steering wheel. One of my favourite part of the build were the seats which used black brick profile bricks to crate the lines that you would expect in a leather seat and again the brick built red seat trim looks brilliant. Many of the special functions in the cockpit are crested by using stickers and they all look in place when completed.

The build again moves to the rear of the car and the interesting build methods and clever parts use continue. The rear parachutes bags are shown by using brown minifig backpack elements. The shape of the rear remains close to the TV version in my view and is finished with a boot that opens to reveal the computer. Next, we add the famous arch over the cockpit and the 4 new windscreen pieces. A good sturdy build and representation of the original car. There have been some complaints that the windscreens are cloudy, something I don’t really notice in my model.

Those famous tail fins on each side, both built in a long piece and added to the sides, 6 hinge pieces are used to give these a realistic angle and 2 stickers per side to give the batwing effect to each end. When fitted these give a more complete look to the back end of the Batmobile.

The last step to complete bag 16 is to clip the final part of the bonnet, a red wheel arch is used to create the middle of this.

Last bag to open and the build is almost complete, a few finishing touches. First the wheels with the only printed element a bat symbol on the wheel caps on a 1 x 2 round tile (a new element for me) They look great. They do emphasis the relative squareness of the wheel arches which I think the smaller models do better. A small mod may improve this, but this is not desperately needed in my opinion.

Then we finish off the underside of the front view the same red curved plate used in the top side is fitted upside down to create the perfect front view, followed by the black bow piece again upside down and the front is complete. I think they designers have been very faithful to the original in the front end of this model.

The number plate, rear rocket and arial complete a fantastic building experience. Oh no I am wrong; we still have a small build depicting a corner of a building in Gotham on which to place the Batman minifig. It is similar if not identical to a polybag recently released.

Last bult not least we get to attach the largest sticker to the info display plate, this is brightened somewhat by a colourful 1960’s Batman logo.

Overall, I really enjoyed this build and learned some new build techniques. Despite some minor flaws this will make an excellent display piece due to both its size and the brilliant black and red contrast which is almost completely brick created. I also view this as a good depiction of the TV series Batmobile with striking front and rear views.  I would recommend you buy this set; it will be a great addition to your collection.

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21338 Ideas A-Frame Cabin Review

By Rakesh Gosai (SAFOLs Brick Deputy)

The 21338 Ideas A-Frame Cabin, an insanely detailed model that was satisfying to put together but a bit on the controversial side of things, due to significant changes when compared to the original fan submission on the LEGO® Ideas platform, more on than later.

Looking at the model, I have to say, it looks stunning! It has such a unique style that it really shows what the LEGO® system has to offer. What’s also stunning is the artwork for the building instructions.

There’s a daylight scene in book one, and a nighttime scene in the book two. Hopefully we’ll get to see a lot more of this in upcoming releases.

The building instructions are split into two books, which means that this is a great build to share with someone else, which I feel is always great to have.

Let’s look at the side builds first, which actually come off of the main build. The cross-axle connectors make it so that the side builds are always loose, to avoid the model breaking if you were to lift the whole set. The smallest of the two has a wood storage space with different sizes of logs to chop

Down, and an autumn shaded tree with lots of different foliage elements with the red leaves being a new colour exclusive to this set.

You’ll also find some wildlife, a blue bird up the tree and a butterfly which seems to be the first

time it’s been printed. The second side build is significantly bigger, with bigger trees as well, designed in a similar way as the previous one, but featuring different colour schemes, a yellow and a green

one on top of which we can find the red bird. There’s also a different print to the butterfly, an otter and a frog by the simple creek build.

It will be hard to miss the canoe, under it some life vests in a crate, and the paddles by the barrel.

The base has different kinds of shapes and colours which looks like it could have been better put together. The mushrooms were a nice touch, and a rock element built sideways for some cool stone texture on the ground was an interesting building technique.

The two sections can be connected together for a small mini forest scene if you want to have this detached from the cabin. This could have also been a gift with purchase set! The set is all about the cabin and, I find it absolutely stunning. The official GWP is shown here: https://norton74.com/2024/11/12/exclusive-gwp-for-the-a-frame-cabin/

From the start of the main build, a frog is hidden under the stairs that lead to the house, a few more mushrooms and a squirrel.  The cobblestone work is amazing because it uses a bunch of Thor’s Mjolnir hammer as the stones in a staggered way! Talk about nice part usage. It’s also worth mentioning that the first few steps of the set also have us building a secret Italian flag, a cool Easter Egg that references the nationality of the designer of the set, Andrea Lattanzio, aka Norton74 in the AFOL community. More of his portfolio can be seen here : https://norton74.com/portfolio/

On the porch, there is a rocking chair with the whip element, a very clever detail, an egg being fried here and another small bench to the other side. There’s two more butterflies, the same prints as the ones previously mentioned and a small bird house next to one of the windows, that feature the dark green colour with printed wooden plank pieces above it, something that can be seen on all windows of the cabin, like the ones on the sides of the roof.

There’s a ton of tiles used here on the roof, for a nice effect, though I think the model would have benefited with the use of at least an extra colour for some variation. There isn’t a lack of detail on the back as well with a gas tank and a petrol container, judging by the Octan colour scheme to the left a shower with a pink soap and a door element for a towel. Or is it toilet paper next to a shovel?

There’s also a chimney that goes all the way up, and I would also like to highlight the texturing of the wall. It is very interesting with the use of different pieces and there’s also a lot of different layers of depth, achieved with a mix of modified bricks and brackets on the layers underneath, breaking an otherwise flat surface really well.

The roofs could have benefited with the use of a few more colours.  Both sides of the roof can be removed, and they’re actually only resting, relying on gravity to stay in place which is great for ease of access to the interior.


The roofs don’t line up perfectly as they do on the box as there’s this small gap at the top, not a real issue but something I wanted to mention. There’s a ton of interior details, a bit too much for my taste but I have to agree that it resembles what you would expect to see in these kinds of cabins.

Starting from the top there’s a bedroom with lots of objects lying around. I’ll have to highlight the painting above the bed, an image of a custom build by the fan designer of the set, a cool little Easter

egg in there, a miniature LEGO® Ideas Tree House reference and a hidden nut that the squirrel placed under the bed.

He isn’t the only creature that has been inside though…look out for the spider!

The whole top floor can be removed for easier access to the ground floor, and I like how the chimney outside was split but still matches the lower section when in place.

The ground floor has an even crazier number of details that are really fun to put together, like a desk with a typewriter, a reference to yet another LEGO® Ideas set, the wooden stove in there is very neat, the exhaust was made with a car spoiler element on its side, or the sink’s tap made with the flintlock piece.

In the couch area there’s a collection of vinyl disks, a record player and a collection of minerals as well.

As you probably know, there’s no stickers in the set, everything is printed including the entrance mat with the LEGO® print, an element only seen once before in the red pickup truck set, and above the door, a tile that up until now was exclusive to the LEGO® Ideas Blacksmith set.

Well Priced with 2082 pieces, no stickers, a great building experience, fun details and an amazing looking model when put together, I think this set offers a lot of value and then there are the 4 minifigures, all featuring appropriate clothing for the setting were the action plays out.

It does confuse me how these four people will sleep with the cabin only having a double bed upstairs though. Maybe they’ll share the woods with all the different animals that this set has to offer.

This set seems to be getting some criticism due to a few changes when we compare the final model, to the initial fan designer submission on the LEGO® Ideas platform. The trees are the most obvious changes which understandably can make some people less happy. The original ones also seem incredibly difficult to build strongly enough for LEGO® quality standards. I can understand if the changes were made due to stability. There’s also the overall look of the model, the original looked way more dated, whereas the final model looks a bit more modern looking.

I don’t mind the changes all that much and the model still looks amazing!

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21351 Ideas Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Review

By Barry Kay (SAFOLs Brick Boss, CapeLUG Member, Batman … Ssshhhh!)

The Ideas 21351 Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas set is an exciting and intricately detailed build that offers fans of both LEGO® and Tim Burton’s 1993 film a chance to recreate iconic scenes from the beloved holiday classic. With 2,193 pieces, the set masterfully captures key locations from Halloween Town, combining aesthetic accuracy with LEGO®’s signature brick-based creativity. Priced at R3,799, this set provides a rewarding and intricate build, appealing both to collectors and LEGO® enthusiasts.

Set Overview and Design

The LEGO® set centers around three major scenes from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Jack Skellington’s house, the iconic Spiral Hill, and Halloween Town’s Town Hall. The designers, through careful scaling and layout, managed to condense these locations into a display-friendly model while still maintaining the film’s distinctive gothic atmosphere. The set’s gothic and eerie charm, characteristic of Tim Burton’s style, is rendered beautifully through a variety of LEGO® building techniques and parts.

The design of Jack Skellington’s house is one of the most visually striking components. Constructed in three distinct segments, it features a crooked, winding path leading to a set of gates guarded by cat statues, with many Halloween-themed decorative elements along the way. The building captures the dilapidated, surreal look from the film, with hinged sections and angled plates that recreate the house’s warped architecture. Inside, builders will find Jack’s workshop, complete with a chalkboard featuring his Christmas formula, a detail that fans of the film will recognize instantly. The upper floors hold hidden Christmas wreaths and other seasonal decorations, adding a festive twist to the typically spooky aesthetic.

Spiral Hill, the iconic curling mound featured in the movie’s most memorable scenes, is also well-executed. LEGO® achieved the hill’s twisted design using curved slopes and angled elements, with a Technic pin holding a plastic piece to represent the giant yellow moon in the background. Although the use of non-traditional LEGO® elements for the moon may raise some eyebrows among purists, the effect is visually stunning and faithful to the movie’s look. The graveyard at the base of Spiral Hill is filled with gravestones and various references to Sally’s potion ingredients, providing an immersive environment for the minifigures.

The Town Hall, another central feature of the set, is recreated with great attention to detail. The structure’s widening design, characteristic of the buildings in Halloween Town, is complemented by various decorative elements such as a Halloween banner and a Christmas countdown clock. The exterior, with cobblestone paths and a gnarled, posable tree, adds to the eerie atmosphere. Inside the Town Hall, builders will find Jack’s podium and several other fun details, such as skulls and candlesticks, giving the building an authentic Halloween Town feel. The podium is removable, allowing for easy access to the limited but well-detailed interior.

Building Techniques

One of the most impressive aspects of this LEGO® set is its use of advanced building techniques. Jack’s house, for example, incorporates hinged and angled pieces to achieve the building’s twisted, asymmetrical shape. LEGO®’s designers skilfully integrated Technic elements into the traditional System bricks to handle some of the more difficult angles, such as the roof panels and the coiling shape of Spiral Hill. The mixture of System and Technic bricks highlights the set’s sophisticated design and creates a visually striking model.

LEGO®’s use of irregularity throughout the set helps to evoke the off-kilter aesthetic of the movie. For example, the slime-filled fountain in front of the Town Hall is built using a mixture of translucent green studs and slopes, which are arranged in a way that makes the slime appear to be bubbling. The irregular angles of the fountain’s basin and the uneven layout of the cobblestone path contribute to the unsettling, eerie atmosphere of the set.

The set’s use of colour is also noteworthy. Dark grey, black, and muted colours dominate the palette, reflecting Halloween Town’s gothic and grim aesthetic. However, the addition of bright green elements in the fountain and the Christmas-themed decorations in Jack’s house offer a nice contrast, balancing the darkness with the whimsy that characterizes The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Minifigures and Characters

The set includes a variety of minifigures that represent some of the film’s most beloved characters. Jack Skellington is the star of the set, with his long, gangly frame brought to life using LEGO®’s taller minifigure leg elements. Jack’s iconic black and white striped suit is printed onto his torso and legs, and his face has been specially designed to capture his skeletal grin.

Sally, Jack’s love interest, also receives an updated minifigure design. Her patchwork dress and stitched-together appearance are faithfully recreated with intricate printing on both the torso and legs. Zero, Jack’s ghostly dog, is represented with a new figure that includes a trans-clear support piece to give him the appearance of floating, just like in the film.

The set also includes Lock, Shock, and Barrel, the mischievous trick-or-treaters who help kidnap Santa “Sandy” Claus. Their minifigures are cleverly designed, with double-sided heads that show their signature mischievous expressions. These characters come with a brick-built walking bathtub, a fun accessory that adds to the playability of the set. Finally, the Mayor, with his two-faced head, is included as a brick-built figure, providing another fun character from the film to complete Halloween Town’s ensemble.

Challenges and Criticisms

While the LEGO® The Nightmare Before Christmas set is a stunning display piece, it does have some limitations. One challenge is the compactness of the structures. For example, the interior of the Town Hall is relatively small, limiting the potential for character placement and interaction. Although this is understandable given the constraints of translating animated locations into LEGO® form, it may slightly limit the playability for some builders.

The use of stickers rather than printed elements for key details, such as Jack’s chalkboard and the gravestones in the graveyard, might be a downside for some fans who prefer printed pieces. Additionally, the structural stability of Jack’s house, especially the removable roof sections, can feel somewhat fragile, making the set better suited for display rather than frequent handling.

The absence of Oogie Boogie, one of the film’s central villains, is another noticeable omission. While the set includes most of the key characters, many fans would have appreciated a brick-built Oogie Boogie figure to complete the cast.

Conclusion

Overall, LEGO® Ideas 21351 The Nightmare Before Christmas is a fantastic set that offers a highly detailed and engaging building experience. From its complex use of building techniques to its faithful recreation of iconic scenes from the movie, this set is a must-have for fans of the film and LEGO® collectors alike. While it may have some limitations in terms of playability and character selection, its display value and nostalgic charm make it a standout addition to the LEGO® Ideas lineup. Whether you’re a fan of the film, a seasoned LEGO® builder, or both, this set is sure to impress and bring a touch of Halloween Town to your LEGO® collection.

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76419 Hogwarts Castle and Grounds Review

By Rakesh Gosai (SAFOLs Brick Deputy)

Hey there SAFOLs! How do you get into Hogwarts? Through the Dumble-door.

Brace yourselves for the exciting news about the 76419 Hogwarts Castle and Grounds set. It showcases a super cool micro scale version of Hogwarts Castle!

This compact model takes inspiration from the LEGO® Architecture series, and let me tell you, it doesn’t hold back on the awesomeness. With 2,660 pieces, it manages to capture the essence of Hogwarts without taking up all your space or emptying your wallet.

I mean, let’s be real here, not everyone can afford the epic 71043 Hogwarts Castle set that costs a small fortune. LEGO® knows that, and they’ve heard our pleas. They’ve created this more practical and affordable option that still looks absolutely stunning.

The design itself is on point, with all the iconic towers and spires of Hogwarts beautifully represented. But that’s not all – they’ve also included references to key moments and places in the Harry Potter series. From the Chamber of Secrets to the Durmstrang Ship, the Weasley’s Ford Anglia stuck in the Whomping Willow, and even the Beauxbatons Carriage landing, you’ll find all the magical details you love.

Opening the box, you’ll find lots and lots of numbered bags, this was a very full box and includes two very thick instruction manuals, they look beautiful and throughout the instructions, there’s detailed info about each section of Hogwarts.

In this set, the Castle looks like it is coming out of the water with all of the White Caps around it. I do really like it I think it’s an amazing display piece. The castle build, the rock work behind it and throughout the build is excellent, you can see some Crystal pieces and sand green being used to represent trees as well as ice cream cone pieces and dark green pieces. Very good looking at the bottom of the build. The Boathouse with 12 pieces looks really good! This set has all printed tiles!!

There’s a couple of Pathways leading away from the boathouse, one in a tan colour and one in a dark tan colour. The dark tan leads to Beauxbatons Carriage flying through the sky and The Great Hall, you can see that Shield piece is printed with a clock, and just below that we have the printed doorway and a courtyard. The Great Hall overall just looks phenomenal, and it’s built at a really cool angle, just to the right of that we have the Grand Tower where you would find Dumbledore’s office.

The back side of the Great Hall there are printed window pieces, with more trees and a pathway leading into another large building and Courtyard area. There’s a bridge with a small stream of water underneath it, leading across to the next section where you’ll find some very nice, printed window pieces. The Astronomy Tower which also looks pretty great on the side, although the side of it with all the holes looks a little bit weird, I think this needs to be tweaked.

I really found the underneath of the build very strange as I am used to building on a baseplate and this set does not use one! They have instead used plates, maybe something for me to change at a later date.

If you’re into minifigures, this set comes with an exclusive Architect of Hogwarts Minifigure. This guy is dressed to impress, with a snazzy pearl gold outfit. Plus, can we take a moment to appreciate his new beard? It really grows on you!

All in all, LEGO® has really went all out in designing this set. I had the chance to see it up close AND build it, trust me, Harry Potter fans are going to be over the moon with this Pottercularly version of Hogwarts Castle. Whether you’re a collector or just a fan of all things magical, this set is a must-have.

Head on out to your closest LEGO® store and be sure to use the spell Accio to summon this set!