General Harry Potter Discussion

nolatron

Pitfall69 said:

I think due to the lack of responses in this thread after Hogwarts was officially revealed; is it safe to say that many people are unimpressed or were wishing for something else?

For me I think it's the microscale figures and the physical size (don't have anyplace to display something that wide. Bookshelf is only 12" deep). 

It looks great and I'd love to buy it, but I'm mainly not sure if there's enough playability there for my kids with the microscale figures at that price point.    I'll probably buy all the other mini-fig sets instead as they'll get more playability out of those.

theLEGOman

If your in the UK, then you can buy Harry Potter sets on the Argos EBAY store for immediate collection at some branches of Argos.

snowhitie

I'm so excited, should have a couple of the sets being delivered to me tomorrow and at (a littlbe bit) less than retail so all's good. Been saving up for so long for Harry Potter so it's nice to be able to finally spend that earmarked money!

I really didn't want to like the microscale Hogwarts but I'm afraid I do. Still, I'm trying to convince myself I do not need it. Will definilty not be a day one purchase like the other ones cause that one wasn't included in the foreseen budget :)

Still first being able to build that thing, display it for a while and then demolish it to use the pieces to make an even bigger minifig Hogwarts, would be very cool...

Pitfall69

milamber said:

JRL said:

Can anyone help, does the Hogwarts Great Hall set fit nicely in to an IKEA Detolf partition? 

I don't have the Hall, but I've just checked the measurements against my Detolf and it will fit fine

Must...Resist...

Pitfall69

I am disappointed that the castle isn't minifigure scale, but I am still holding out hope that there are more parts to the castle to fit togther. A minifigure sized set didn't have to include a ton of minifigures; The Disney Castle didn't. The current UCS MF is $800 USD; the Disney Castle is $350 USD. I don't see how they couldn't make an impressive sized and detailed Hogwarts Castle for $800. 

Fauch

because it would have 12000 pieces and people who bought the MF would feel double cheated after the black card thing.

SumoLego

Pitfall69 said:

milamber said:

I don't have the Hall, but I've just checked the measurements against my Detolf and it will fit fine

Must...Resist...

... Detolf envy?

snowhitie

Oh yes yes yes!

Now have to wait till lunch is cooked and eaten and then little master snowhitie (That just sounds strange)will be building!

milamber

snowhitie said:

Oh yes yes yes!

Now have to wait till lunch is cooked and eaten and then little master snowhitie (That just sounds strange)will be building!

I'd be interested in what you think of the two Harry Potter sets, Cathy, especially the scope for combining 2 or 3 to make one larger, more minifig scale model. Certainly looks possible, but I've not seen one in the flesh yet. My daughter would be blown away by that I reckon.

SparkyHam

Apologies if this has already been covered, but what do people think of the old Harry Potter horse compared to the new one? The old one had the school badge on, the new one doesn't

dannyrww

milamber said:

snowhitie said:

Oh yes yes yes!

Now have to wait till lunch is cooked and eaten and then little master snowhitie (That just sounds strange)will be building!

I'd be interested in what you think of the two Harry Potter sets, Cathy, especially the scope for combining 2 or 3 to make one larger, more minifig scale model. Certainly looks possible, but I've not seen one in the flesh yet. My daughter would be blown away by that I reckon.

I  think they combine nicely.

Legolis

I’ve been bad...

Astrobricks

dannyrww said:

milamber said:

snowhitie said:

Oh yes yes yes!

Now have to wait till lunch is cooked and eaten and then little master snowhitie (That just sounds strange)will be building!

I'd be interested in what you think of the two Harry Potter sets, Cathy, especially the scope for combining 2 or 3 to make one larger, more minifig scale model. Certainly looks possible, but I've not seen one in the flesh yet. My daughter would be blown away by that I reckon.

I  think they combine nicely.

Looks nice, but still underscaled wrt the minifigs.

milamber

I  think they combine nicely.

Looks nice, but still underscaled wrt the minifigs.

That's actually what I meant, didn't make myself clear. I wondered if combining a few sets would allow you build the same Hall, only more in a minifig scale. I'm not experienced enough to work out how many sets that might take. I'd guess 4 to double it in width and height?

Legolis

Done the left row of the minifigure box and Percival Graves was in a slightly different position for me. Just a heads up for those out feeling the packets. So far from back to front I’ve had...

Cedric Diggory
Luna Lovegood
Tina Goldstein
Trelawney
Dobby
Dumbledore
Flitwick
Flitwick
Mad Eye Moody
Jacob Kowalski
Jacob Kowalski
Newt
Percival Graves
Harry Potter
Hermione
Ron
Neville Longbottom
Draco Malfoy
Dean Thomas
Cho Chang

Astrobricks

^ How many people ever get the chance to feel a freshly opened box of CMFs unless they bought a whole one unopened, in which case what’s the point of feeling them?

snowhitie

Well, I really enjoyed building my Castle today. My son only built the first 2 bags of the Whomping Willow set and then just played with it all for ages (which is a good thing, there are not many building sessions that get interupted for playing like that). So, I haven't got the second part of the castle on yet.

couple of points:

There were some clever techniques (especially the roof of the tower I found well done), the stickers weren't too difficult, except the ones on the mirror of Erised, even a slight misalligment shows up really well when you put it in the frame, so Dumbledores socks one looks a tiny bit off.  So I'd advise putting the black thing in the frame and then putting the sticker on when it's in there, that's what I did for the last ones and worked much better. Luckily I'll be buying another one ;)

The figures are great except that 2 of my heads (Ron and Nearly Headless Nick) are very sticky and can't seem to move them or get them off. I really like Hagrid, but when I move his hands they squeak somehing awful, never had that before.

Oh and I'll be getting another treasure chest or somethign to put all the wands in for when the figs get played with.

Then, to answer @milamber's question about making it bigger. I am definitly getting a second one to make it bigger and I think I will be getting a second of the whomping willow too, but I am not toally sure yet. If you get three there will be a lot of elements that you can only use once (the boat, the door, the roof of the tower) so I definilty think that to finish it you might be better off buying the the necessary extra bricks from bricks and pieces. It all depends how big you want to go off course.

I want to make the hall a bit deeper and longer and the tower a bit higher and maybe a bit more rounded on one more side so you got more room (and someone can actually look into the mirror of Erised). I am toying with the idea to sort of make a bit of a mountain so I can have a basement to put the potions lab in and the baslisks cave) but for that you are just going to need other bricks than that are available in this set so no point in buying 2.

In a perfect world I'd have enoug money and space and time and energy to buy a whole load of them and make them perfect minifig scale but I think with 2 and a couple of extra bricks you can already accomplish a lot. It will depend a bit on your buy-in price too off course. I am going to be trying to buy a second one soon and start on the project so will share some pictures with you @milamber.

Legolis

Sorry I don’t understand your point. Are you asking why people feel the bags? I would have thought that was obvious. If you come across a case that has had some removed it doesn’t mean the figures you want are gone. The point I was trying to make was Graves was indeed on the left but not where others had found him. Just trying to help.

I also forgot to say I got my box from a Toy Land store who told me I was the 3rd person to buy a sealed case today. They couldn’t believe how fast they were selling. This was in Keighley as the Otley store didn’t have a manager in today who could authorise the sale. However I’ve since had a response from Otley saying they will sell boxes from Wednesday (but the figures are on the counter to buy now). They are also all out in the big Sainsbury’s stores. However all the stores only got 2 boxes and all the ones I phoned had opened the boxes already.

Shib

Astrobricks said:

^ How many people ever get the chance to feel a freshly opened box of CMFs unless they bought a whole one unopened, in which case what’s the point of feeling them?

I’ve regularly been able to check a fresh box of CMFs, but then I’m not afraid to ask in a shop
if they have them before they’ve been put out. I generally try to go out looking for CMFs the week or so before their official release.

Aleydita

So kids in your area don't stand a chance of picking up the rare figures, then? Nice.

Mattyodell

Aleydita said:

So kids in your area don't stand a chance of picking up the rare figures, then? Nice.

That’s a situation that Lego has created unfortunately. At least it’s a figure most kids will be uninterested in hopefully. 

Legolis

Whether I bought a case or stood in a shop for an hour feeling the packets I was always going to end up taking one Percival Graves off the market. I imagine that’s true of most people on this forum.

dannyrww

I found a box at Barnes and Noble.....it was heavily picked through, but I did find Graves.....from the looks of it he was in the right side of the box, but again heavily picked through, though based on what I did find not by someone who feels the bags. It is possible Graves was moved, but it looked to me he was in an untouched part of the box. I'm curious what others find, because to be honest I am surprised that there would be a standard lay out to the box.

Shib

Aleydita said:

So kids in your area don't stand a chance of picking up the rare figures, then? Nice.

1. I wasn’t talking specifically about the two most recent series, more in general.

2. Not everyone who touch IDs goes through to find just the rarest figures, I have been touch IDing figures since I started collecting CMFs back at series 5, I do it to save money by getting a set with no dupes not make money.

3. I found a second classic police office figure for myself in my area in a box that literally had 4 packs left, kids are less bothered by the rarity of a figure than AFOLs.

4. Your assuming that I’m asking for multiple boxes, which I don’t, I ask for ONE. The toy department of my local department store said they get 10 boxes per series in. I am preventing ONE other person buying it.

Pitfall69

As everyone knows; in the past I've always complained about people buying a box of CMF's or individual packs from the store, feeling them up at home (or in their car) and then returning the ones they didn't want. In this instance, I don't feel that it is wrong to stand in front of a fresh box of CMF's and feel for a desired minifigure. I have done this numerous times, although it was mostly for people in the store that wanted a specific minifigure. I do agree that TLG has created this issue by short packing Percival. This is very much like any other toy company that does the same. 

Shib

Yup, I’ve never bought a box and returned those I don’t want, I stand in store to Touch ID, and I’ve regularly helped other people (adults and kids) find figures while I’ve been finding ones for myself

Pitfall69

The shame of standing there in in front of a box of CMF's with a "maybe I need a laxative or maybe I don't " look on your face should be a rite of passage. 

Pumpkin_3CK5

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I don't mind TLG putting one chase figure per case. As someone that doesn't attend cons(not yet at least) it's kinda fun; no lottery tickets needed or long lines, and there's still the thrill that you're getting a figure that's rare, but not super rare. Just gotta track which store has which, still gotta drive around a bit and show up before everyone else does lolz 

I probably shouldn't compare con-exclusives with retail chase figures but that's just my take on it.

redarmy

Pitfall69 said:

The shame of standing there in in front of a box of CMF's with a "maybe I need a laxative or maybe I don't " look on your face should be a rite of passage. 

Mine is a "i don't need a laxative it's already too late" look when searching...

Shib

@Pumpkin_3CK5 - I’m actually with you, part of the reason I go out looking for CMFs before official release is that i enjoy the hunt and the chase figures just add to that for me.

As long as LEGO choose the right figures (those that are easier to pass up, particularly for Kids) then I’m OK with it.

The classic cop was a great choice as it was actually a pretty boring figure and I imagine most kids would have been more disappointed if that was the only one they got (assuming they were only allowed to buy one)

Graves at least had an equivalent (all be it a slightly different form) in a set, in the way of Grindelwald. Also if the theme continues we might see a set with another Graves figure - e.g a MACUSA Escape set or an Obscurus Underground Showdown set could either be made from the first Fantastic Beasts film and feature Graves.

However both figures have a decent appeal to collectors and are of more interest to older fans than younger kids so easier to rationalise missing one they like because of rarity.

Pitfall69 said:

The shame of standing there in in front of a box of CMF's with a "maybe I need a laxative or maybe I don't " look on your face should be a rite of passage. 

I have no shame over my collecting, I love the look of surprise when I correct a sales person making any comment along the lines of “your kids are gonna love this” :-P and often start conversations with people giving me confused looks when I’m fondling CMF bags.

Astrobricks

Legolis said:

Sorry I don’t understand your point. Are you asking why people feel the bags? I would have thought that was obvious. If you come across a case that has had some removed it doesn’t mean the figures you want are gone. The point I was trying to make was Graves was indeed on the left but not where others had found him. Just trying to help.

My only (and not terribly important) point was that it seemed unlikely someone would come across a case in a store that hadn’t already been pawed through and thus rearranged/shuffled compared to its pristine state. I’ve never seen a full new case in a store myself.

Legolis

People return the spares? It never occurred to me to be so cheeky. We’ve opened them all and my plan is to offer the dupes to friends with kids on Facebook. I will likely lose money but hey ho. I did make a passing comment about keeping them but I got a look off the husband so that will be a no...
I quite enjoyed feeling out series 18 and managed to find a store with a healthy stock of 17 so was able to do the same with that. I probably would have done the same with these but we’ve just got married, we’re planning a big party in the next week and are then off on our holiday/honeymoon with the kids. So we’re just super busy and this seemed like the best option to make sure we got them all. I expect this series to sell out quickly. 
Shib is right, don’t wait for release day as so many stores round here put them out early. Start asking a week before and try to look for smaller toy shops. In my experience they’re more likely to put the box out early, they don’t have the same footfall a supermarket does and they don’t rack the packets like the bigger stores do. Also try Argos, they will bring the box down for you if you ask nicely and they don’t get picked over in the same way a typical box does. Never be afraid to ask to feel the packets, the smaller stores will remember you and in some cases try and help out.

Legolis

Astrobricks said:

Legolis said:

Sorry I don’t understand your point. Are you asking why people feel the bags? I would have thought that was obvious. If you come across a case that has had some removed it doesn’t mean the figures you want are gone. The point I was trying to make was Graves was indeed on the left but not where others had found him. Just trying to help.

My only (and not terribly important) point was that it seemed unlikely someone would come across a case in a store that hadn’t already been pawed through and thus rearranged/shuffled compared to its pristine state. I’ve never seen a full new case in a store myself.

Ah I see, it hasn't been my experience personally but where you live could play a factor in it. Just be persistent from about a week before release. If the store says they don't know when they are getting them (common answer around here) just keep going back and asking. If one box is out and been well gone through, ask if they have more in the back (they probably do). Also just because a box has been picked through doesn't mean the rare figures are gone. Some people are really bad at feeling these things out, or may only be looking for the ones their kids really want (probably not the Policeman or Graves).

But I found people's advice on where to look for the Policeman really helpful. It's how I found him so quickly. He was exactly where they said. I didn't buy I box, I went feeling for him.

I was only trying to return the favour and share what I found with this figure. I hope it helps someone.

Brainslugged

So is there consensus for where Graves is normally found? I picked through what was a mostly full box yesterday but didn't identify him. I just want a full set so thought it would be best to make sure I got Percival first. I could have simply missed him though.

dannyrww

I like a good chase figure for the thrill of the hunt. With Graves, I was not set on getting him unless I stumbled on one as I searched for others. And I did. He is a hard one to find as his only identifier is 2 very normal hair pieces. He was on the right of the box, but may have been moved their.

Legolis

The jury is still out brainslugged. Like others earlier in the thread he was on the left side of the box for me, but much further forwards than suggested. Danny above found him on the right in an open box. I think we need a few more whole boxes to be opened for sure. But Danny is spot on, look for two normal hair pieces but just be sure not to confuse him with Mad Eye (who also has two hair pieces, but personally I'd look for his stick to identify him).

I finally got around to looking at the order they sat in my box and compared it with the spreadsheet posted earlier from someone else. There isn't a set order but there does seem to be a pattern! 
In each row somewhere there is (back to front) Harry - Hermione - Ron - Neville - Draco - Dean Thomas - Cho Chang. Both of my Credence Barebone figures were found before the Harry in rows 2 and 3. A few figures were also double stuffed - Flitwick, Jacob, Queenie, Newt, Tina and Voldemort were all found in 2s. Will post a spreadsheet when I get chance.

Patrik78

Still struggling to find a reliable dealer offering a full set of 22 minifigs w/o any extra.

Legolis

Oh and in row 1 where Credence would have sat in the other rows it was Graves. I've just compared this with both images posted on page 13 and both show the same thing. Graves is behind Harry in row 1.

Row 1 - Graves, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Malfoy, Dean, Cho
Row 2 - Credence, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Malfoy, Dean, Cho
Row 3 - Credence, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Malfoy, Dean, Cho

For me this pattern starts on figure 14 from the back but that isn't consistent with the other images, However it does look to me like once this pattern starts the order I have posted is correct.

Gibbo1959

Based on others mentioning some shops putting the CMFs out early, popped to our nearest WHS earlier. They had a box out which had seen some attention but found PG back left, 2 or 3 in but several bags already out on shelf. Then asked if I could check box behind counter as well. Bingo! Also 2 or 3 in back left. Apologies to the deprived kids of Northumberland. (And to top off the day, Sainsbury’s Local had several hangers worth of S18 and found a policeman on one of those!)

madforLEGO

At this point, with what pre-order sets seem to cost, Im tempted to roll the dice and see if the distribution is as such that I can find a set of Potter figures in the stores after the initial rush to get them.

Patrik78

Today I managed to order all of them for a reasonable price with the exception of Percival Graves, whom I will try to get later. 

BrickByBrick

For what it's worth, I found an almost untouched, definitely unfelt (2 were missing) at Barnes and Noble and Graves was in approx the same spot as the policeman, 3rd from back left for me. 

Bumblepants

I was going to ignore these but I just now noticed the nougat colored owl that comes with Cho. I need to add that to my owl collection for sure.

Legolis

My word, I think I'm going to need to keep the rest as spares. It's been 24 hours and so far the girls have managed to lose half the wands down the back of the telly and Credence has done some sort of magic trick and completely vanished! Trying my best not to go totally Lord Business on them...

Casper_vd_Korf

^you could dat Credence has been obscured!

snowhitie

@Legolis yup, those wands are very very tricky! I'm gettting a sort of wand-cupboard set up for them :)

Legolis

Casper_vd_Korf said:

^you could dat Credence has been obscured!

Lol, very good. :D 

snowhitie said:

@Legolis yup, those wands are very very tricky! I'm gettting a sort of wand-cupboard set up for them :)

Yep, I've already put them in a box with a tray and tried "lets keep them in here when we're not using them". However we've found if they're holding the wands forward and doing some pretty awesome magic it's easy to knock them out of their little Lego hands. The result is they go shooting across the room at high speed! I can see why you get two with each figure. ;) 

kbw

I’ve seen an Ollivander figure popping up on instagram recently. Anybody know if that’s legit? 

gmonkey76

^There's a TRU Bricktober 4 pack with a figure iin black with a broom and wand. Don't know if or how it will get released now, but is that the one you're looking at?

Jern92

gmonkey76 said:

^There's a TRU Bricktober 4 pack with a figure iin black with a broom and wand. Don't know if or how it will get released now, but is that the one you're looking at?

Isn't the Bricktober pack meant to contain Hooch, Slughorn, Umbridge, and Snape?