Lego Hobbit-BOT5A

kez

One of the first images we have is for the lonely mountain, this set will retail for an eye watering $130 but I must say it looks fantastic.

kez

Better quality image :D

jediami65

Other than the green elements: this really is underwhelming!!! I was expecting a larger set and much better Smaug.

Shpadoinkle

I'm disappointed (though not surprised) that they are using the standard dragon mold for Smaug.

I for one would love a $200 Orthanc level set with a giant Smaug. I would happily perch him on top of all the Lego treasure pieces I own!

legomatt

I'm kinda disappointed from what i can see so far.

Was hoping it would be a nicely constructed mountain side which works 'in the round', with the secret door and 'blocked' up main entrance one side, and internal lair/stairwell/treasure room the other.

Instead this seems focused solely around the awful 3d cgi gold smelting sequence, and has no 'in the round' value to the display , but is single-angle viewing only.

Difficult to say, but it also looks like figs have same expressions as before, so just a bunch of armour variants. I would've liked to see some expressions befitting the character's development later in the story (i won't say what in case it spoils it for anyone).

Lastly, I hope to god that dragon's neck has a second articulation point behind the head, or he's going to look so damn goofy the whole bloody time. If that neck is static, and only pivots like a clock hand at the body joint - peeeuuuewww - a stinker to pose nicely.

kez

Shpadoinkle said:

I'm disappointed (though not surprised) that they are using the standard dragon mold for Smaug.

I for one would love a $200 Orthanc level set with a giant Smaug. I would happily perch him on top of all the Lego treasure pieces I own!

Luckily this mold for Smaug is completely new and exclusive to this set. Notice the many changes in this dragon compared to the one from 70403, this one has ball joints that allow posing, also this is a more detailed mold compared and much better looking imo. ;D

legomatt

I take back what I said about the dragon. Ball joints is good. Also the wings look like they fold back. Just hope there's a joint behind the head.

...cos y'know, to have a drag-on when he needs to relax, maaaan. ;oP

Shpadoinkle

Yes, you are correct! I guess what I mean is that it is a "molded" Dragon (like the other recent dragons) rather than a huge brick built Dragon that is somewhat close to scale with the minifigs.

TheBigGuy

jediami65 said:

Other than the green elements: this really is underwhelming!!! I was expecting a larger set and much better Smaug.

My thoughts exactly.

teal93mr2

At least it appears to come with the Arkenstone!

graphite

^ Looks like it is just one of these
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=11127

And maybe a 1x1 round tile.

AdeelZubair

For that price I expected a brick-built Smaug.

veign06

graphite said:

^ Looks like it is just one of these
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=11127

And maybe a 1x1 round tile.

The game it was just a round 1x1 with print on it.

I have to say, I don't really dig the $130 price but at least Smaug is a unique mold and actually looks like Smaug from the films.

HokieJoe99

This set may give even the trains a run for their money for the highest price per piece of the year.

Just kidding, but this is no Helms Deep in terms of value for the money even considering Smaug.

rancorbait

Smaug looks great! He's not as big I would have liked, but better than nothing.

Shib

I don't think there was ever a chance of a brick built Smaug. I'm fairly happy with the set, in terms of a way of getting Smaug but it'll definitely be a case of waiting for a bit of a sale/deal.

mountebank

Too bitty. Rubbish Smaug.

Shib

Regardless of how I would have imagined Smaug, I think this is a good representation of Peter Jackson's* Smaug. I don't see what TLG could have done differently and still make it looks like Jackson's Smaug. While scale wise it might have needed to be bigger, but frankly next to the mini figures that is already one big ass lego dragon!

*(nearly wrote Peter Parker then - oops, too early after last nights raffle fun!)

CCC

HokieJoe99 said:

Just kidding, but this is no Helms Deep in terms of value for the money even considering Smaug.

That was my first reaction too, this is the same price as Helms Deep and looks less. But I think when factoring in Smaug, he is probably equivalent to maybe the tower and a bit of wall. "Value wise" (whatever that means, as it will differ for everyone) they are probably about the same. For display it looks less, simply because it is a couple of separate builds joined by a hinge.

Something is cut off on the left hand side, I wonder how much is missing.

legomatt

CCC said:

Something is cut off on the left hand side, I wonder how much is missing.

The entire bloody mountain, that's what! :oP
It should have loads more stuff, tons more figs, and a massive mountainous build... ;oP

Hold on, hold on... calm down everyone... Wait for it. Let me explain.
There's method to this crazed madness which I speak... here:
What if this is a 'teaser' photo, designed specifically for TLG to carefully monitor consumer reaction. Hmmm?

Now, if everyone seems content with what they see, saying 'hmm, yes, good set, i like it', then TLG can just keep it as is, and not reveal or include any extra stuff that might be sitting off to the side in reserve, to instead release that stuff as a separate add-on set (bit like the Helm's Deep extension).

Whereas: If people react with a 'WTF are you pulling, Lego?! Where's the value? What gives? HOW much?!' etc, then it may just scupper any 'split the set in twain' plans they might have, and provoke a consumer-friendly 'Nope. They aren't buying it, gang. We'll have to include the rest of the design in one box, and pretend that image was a teaser reveal'.

*taps nose*

Nyyahh. See? Clever hobbits. BURARUM.

Down with this sort of thing! Boo! Bring out the rest of it... ;oP

mountebank

It is a shame though the designers misread their briefing material and have included a dwarf dragon.

Shib

^To be fair if they made it any bigger then Smaug would have to be sold separately at a stupid price. I don't think much of the set, but definitely want it for that Smaug, and frankly lots of sand green pieces is only going to be an advantage, I think it's a great colour to work in, but seeing as I missed the Harry Potter sets I have very little of it in my collection. I don't think Smaug is the best looking dragon, but thats down to Peter Jackson, not TLG.

jediami65

kez said:

Shpadoinkle said:

I'm disappointed (though not surprised) that they are using the standard dragon mold for Smaug.

I for one would love a $200 Orthanc level set with a giant Smaug. I would happily perch him on top of all the Lego treasure pieces I own!

Luckily this mold for Smaug is completely new and exclusive to this set. Notice the many changes in this dragon compared to the one from 70403, this one has ball joints that allow posing, also this is a more detailed mold compared and much better looking imo. ;D

Looks like the same legs to me as #70403!!! I would've like to have seen a lighted chest plate, they could have done that easily.

Aleydita

I think the set looks fantastic. Not great value, though I suppose the new dragon mould(s) is factored in to that somehow?

Xefan

Next on Smaug is far too long/thin relative to the head. Looks like a classic Chinese dragon rather than a Western European dragon on which Smaug is based.

Prefer the detail on Smaug to the castles dragon, but the castles dragon looks like it has better proportions relative to how Smaug is meant to be.

Though I'm sure I'll buy it anyway, despite it being another one of those sets with a few bits of half-wall and then a load of annoying bits of shrapnel lying around.

Shib

Xefan said:

Neck on Smaug is far too long/thin relative to the head. Looks like a classic Chinese dragon rather than a Western European dragon on which Smaug is based.

Look at images from the film, thats how it was long thin neck, massive head.

Xefan

Yeah, that's actually exactly what I did to check I wasn't imagining it, and they all show the neck being about the same diameter as the head.

Shib

Fair point, I didn't actually check but I remembered it wrong - closer to the Lego interpretation. Looking at screen shots now I think its when he's got his head turned that makes it look like that.

Xefan

This Lego version looks like he's been underfed and desperately needs to eat more dwarves tbh.

I don't think it helps that it looks like you wont be able to post him walking on 4 legs (or 2 legs, and 2 hands if dragons have hands) reasonably because of the design of the neck.

I wonder if they've gone down this route so they can re-use the mould for non-Hobbit Lego sets to be honest as it just looks like a set of changes to the existing Castles dragon when Smaug really needed a complete redesign to that.

CCC

Given the odd proportions of all the characters, I'm not too bothered about Smaug. It is clear who it is, just as it is clear who most characters are given that they can be either short or tall, and nothing else.

Bobkov

I find my self agreeing with everyone else. Ok, so some gold parts and sand green parts in plenty. Smaug looks good, but I fail to see how this couldn't have been a good looking brick-built Smaug, and certainly not $130.

And one thing I really don't understand is the distinct lack of chrome gold coins for a set representing *Erebor*. For $130, you think they could have at least tossed a couple of spindles in there. What the hell is Bilbo supposed to slide on now? I mean, I wanted an Uncle Scrooge level of coin count (http://www.qortuba.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Scrooge-McDuck.jpg) but I'd be willing to settle for 8 or 12 single coins.

emilewski

I was hoping for chrome gold coins too. But I have been adding coins and jewels to my Bricklink orders for the last year in anticipation...I have 112 chrome gold coins at last count and countless gold rings.

CCC

Are the wings made of material / cloth / thin plastic / something else so that they can fold up? There seems to be a jointed arm in the wing.

Shib

^ I've been wondering the same, it does look like it from the join on the wing you pointed out and the shadowing (which could also be print, but I very much doubt it)

theLEGOman

What do we think, £100?

CupIsHalfEmpty

^Looks like the wings are made from cloth. On the hands there is a joint, so it looks like the middle flap on the wings will fold in. looking really close at the middle flap on both sides, the material is shaped differently reflecting it's ability to fold. The wing is mounted to the body using a ball joint. This would allow you to pose Smaug on his hands and feet.

The more I look at Smaug, the more I'm starting to like him.

At $130, I feel this is going to be a set quite similar to Jabba's Palace, low piece count and huge mold, where it's permanently on sale.

Shib

theLEGOman said:

What do we think, £100?

Certainly in that ballpark, with any luck we'll see some 50% reductions like the latest sets to make it more worthwhile.

theLEGOman

Yeah, should be good for £50-£60

prevere

CupIsHalfEmpty said:

^Looks like the wings are made from cloth. On the hands there is a joint, so it looks like the middle flap on the wings will fold in. looking really close at the middle flap on both sides, the material is shaped differently reflecting it's ability to fold. The wing is mounted to the body using a ball joint. This would allow you to pose Smaug on his hands and feet.

The more I look at Smaug, the more I'm starting to like him.

At $130, I feel this is going to be a set quite similar to Jabba's Palace, low piece count and huge mold, where it's permanently on sale.

Oh yeah, or like the Ninjago 4-headed dragon set. I see $91 in its future, 30% off, and that gets the price-per-piece ratio down to almost 10 cents per.

klatu003

@Legomatt "seems focused solely around the awful 3d cgi gold smelting sequence" Yep!
I like the throne portion with all the yummy Sand Green.

Smaug is pretty cool actually. Most of his components are different from the Castle dragon; neck, tail, wings, head, even his body might be two pieces. He will be able to swoosh from the mountain to Lake Town to wreak havoc. Hope the wings are flexible. I just wish the mold had places to attach jewels to his belly.

The "building" is too small for $130. It better be about 1/2 of the final build. It looks like the cut off portion could be the rest of the melted gold delivery system, then another hinged portion with the portal/corridor to the outside of the mountain? That would be good. Perhaps with a smashing/blocking play feature.

Some cool new parts, I believe.
Trans-green Axe Head 53705
Slope 65 2 x 2 x 2 with Bottom Tube 3678b in GOLD. (in what @Xefan called "shrapnel" LOL)

CCC

I don't think that there will be much missing from the picture. The price seems about right, given that it will no doubt be discounted.

Venunder

Or

Although Smaug is not always depicted as a Dragon. In the Books he truly is a Dragon with four legs and 2 wings and not a two legged Wyvern.
The new head and wings are new for Smaug, the mould itself is a Wyvern, so I think the Dragon mountain Dragon is a better image for Smaug.
Maybe I will switch the parts around to make my own Smaug.

kez

Here you can see the rest of the set, however what is cut off from that picture we already have, lets just say there's nothing much added. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=91070&st=2400#entry1948056 :D

kez

Edit: http://toynewsi.com/news.php?itemid=22994

CircleK

If ever there was a time for a molded baseplate... One molded baseplate with mounds of gold would have made all the difference in this set. As it stands now it seems horribly over priced to me. I do really like Smaug however.

klatu003

oh well ... wishful thinking on the missing stuff...

legomatt

Yep, it just feels like there should be so much more to it.

I mean, those two pictured sets compare quite nicely for us, having being released so close together, and both featuring a new dragon mould, 5 figs, 'shrapnel', and wall/build. Yet the prices couldn't be more different.

Once you look beyond the basic aesthetics, there's not a lot between them; The hobbit set comes with a couple hundred more bricks (apparently). Quite a lot of cheeses, technic pins, and round 'dots' i assume, and then the Hobbit license.

Even if we write off a sizable 30% or 40% slice to cover the 'licensing royalties', it still leaves a whopping £30 to £50 difference in RRP between the two. And I don't see £30 to £50 additional build in the design.

I almost feel like picking up the dragon separate. Nothing else in the set screams 'buy me' at all. It's almost a goblin town/moria extension, rather than a dragon-smote mountain kingdom.

The theme really needs a 'look at me' display factor to the set, the mountain dwelling could've been it, if designed along lines similar to the Pharaoh Pyramid/Indiana Jones sets, we'd have more of a winner.

legomatt

^ *was a somewhat rushed post, containing typos & vague thoughts - not fit for detailed analysis*

Xefan

The last Hobbit sets were down to 50% in only what like, 3 months at most if even that? I think the last batch was overpriced and it doesn't look like this batch will be any different. Given that people obviously weren't buying them much at full price I guess the theory that Lego overprices knowing most will be sold at discount probably has a lot of weight. I just can't see hardly anyone paying full price for this.

Shib

The think to consider with themes like this is that there are non Lego collectors who will also be interested, those that want every piece of merchandise relating to a franchise they like - I think the strategy of high price initially is targeted a little at those, then its up to the retailers to decide if the RRP is right and adjust accordingly.

There's definitely much better justification for the high price on this for the Smaug and sand green, but I think most AFOLs don't pay retail price for much that is current.

CCC

Xefan said:

The last Hobbit sets were down to 50% in only what like, 3 months at most if even that? I think the last batch was overpriced and it doesn't look like this batch will be any different. Given that people obviously weren't buying them much at full price I guess the theory that Lego overprices knowing most will be sold at discount probably has a lot of weight. I just can't see hardly anyone paying full price for this.

I don't think it took that long. ASDA had the Dol Guldur battle set at £25 within weeks of it coming out. Whether that was a mistake or not, I don't know. But many retailers then had it at what seemed to be the standard price of about £48, not the full RRP.