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Creating a "Best-Of" Harry Potter Collection

mooman66mooman66 Member Posts: 122
in Collecting
I recently fell into some extra cash and would like to pick up some Harry Potter items. My kids are getting to the age when they will read the books and I would love for them to have the sets to go along with those books.
I am not interested in a complete collection of every set ever created, but I am wondering which Hogwarts, or which train, etc. to purchase. I was shocked to see so many repeated scenes, so I am at a loss.
If you were going to do a one and done, spring for it kind of purchase, what would you consider the must-haves from the theme? Maybe a Top 10? Thanks in advance.
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Comments

  • JdawgJdawg Member Posts: 83
    I am in the same boat. My daughter is really diggin the HP line. I have to dig deep.

    The best of the lot to me seem to be the 2010, 2011 sets. Unfortunately they are the most costly. Good luck.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    Yes, but might I suggest you at least pick up all the minifigures and maybe build what you think are your favorites.

    All the sets are expensive and you could probably source the parts cheaper than buying complete sets.
  • EKSamEKSam Member Posts: 349
    edited August 2013
    In my opinion
    #4842 Hogwarts Castle
    #10187 Diagon Alley
    #4840 the burrow
    #4841 the hogwarts express
    #4738 Hagrid's hut
    These will cost a pretty penny though. #4866 Knight Bus is also rather nice.
    I am biased or call it sour grapes, I do not have anything from the earlier years. :-(


    starfailure
  • mooman66mooman66 Member Posts: 122
    Thanks so far.

    I thought about going the source route @Pitfall69. Never tried to BL anything before. Is it a pain to do a set that way, or can I just enter a set number and my shopping cart is magically filled?
    I open all the sets I buy anyways, but I love having the box and instructions just in case my life goes south and I have to sell, especially on these highly collectible sets.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    My top 10

    #10217 Diagon Alley
    #4842 Hogwarts Castle
    #10132 Motorized Hogwarts Express
    #4766 Graveyard Duel
    #4738 Hagrids's Hut
    #4840 The Burrow
    #4867 Hogwarts
    #4730 The Chamber of Secrets
    #4866 The Knight Bus
    #5378 Hogwarts Castle

    Honorable Mention
    #4841 Hogwarts Express because you get the Weasleys car and you could motorize Hogwarts Express.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    EKSam said:

    In my opinion
    #4842 Hogwarts Castle
    #10187 Diagon Alley
    #4840 the burrow
    #4841 the hogwarts express
    #4738 Hagrid's hut
    These will cost a pretty penny though. #4866 Knight Bus is also rather nice.
    I am biased or call it sour grapes, I do not have anything from the earlier years. :-(


    The earlier sets were awful, but so were all the first Star Wars sets ;)

  • cardgeniuscardgenius Member Posts: 153
    /\ Not a bad list. I've been doing the same for the last year, buying all the minifigures and then the sets that I think are the best.

    Here's my Top 10:

    #4712 - Troll on the Loose
    #4730 - Chamber of Secrets
    #4739 - Hagrids Hut
    #4756 - Shrieking Shack
    #4766 - Graveyard Duel
    #4767 - Harry and the Hungarian Horntail
    #4840 - The Burrow
    #4841 - Hogwarts Express
    #4842 - Hogwarts Castle
    #10217 - Diagon Alley
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    edited August 2013
    I'd add two more sets to Pitfall's list:

    #4762 Rescue from the Merpeople
    #4767 Harry and the Hungarian Horntail
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    edited August 2013
    The reason I didn't add those 2 is because The Goblet of Fire was an awful movie!!!

    The Graveyard Duel is really the only good part of the movie. Also, the set is pretty good no matter what Harry Potter movie it came from. I used that set in my Halloween set up one year.
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    I didn't mind Goblet that much, it was decent but probably the least memorable of the bunch. But movie aside, 4767 is worth it for the minifigs and the dragon's quite nice, while 4762 looks great and has some decent minifigs, reallty love the colors on that one. Of course they are nowhere near Graveyard Duel, which is probably the only old set to rival the last wave.
    Pitfall69
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    edited August 2013
    What I like about the old sets is that they all combine with the first Hogwarts Castle to form one HUGE playset.

    I also am not looking at the sets as investment potential because the sets will be played with :)
  • BoiseStateBoiseState Member Posts: 804
    Goblet of Fire is my favorite other than the DH2. I thought the Half Blood Prince and DH1 were the weaker movies.
  • EKSamEKSam Member Posts: 349
    @Pitfall69 I agree some of the older sets were not so good but most had excellent minfigures. I wish I had some of those.:-)

    After the series went eol some of the smaller sets (recent ones) could still be found at B&N, that's where I got Freeing Dobby #4737 and the Quidditch match #4736 to complete our 2010-2011 collection.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^ "Fluffy" and the Troll were pretty nice.
  • EKSamEKSam Member Posts: 349
    ^ you didn't like Trelawney, Gilderoy, Quirrel and Umbridge?
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    Quirrrel was a nice minifigure.
  • BoiseStateBoiseState Member Posts: 804
    Quirell was the 1st double sided head produced.

    I've always liked the red sand Lockhart.
  • Steve_J_OMSteve_J_OM Member Posts: 999
    edited August 2013
    I missed out on the HP line pre-2011. While I have snagged a couple of sets from that era, I think there are enough high-quality sets from 2010/2011 to build a small collection that's representative of the major elements of the books/films. Their values have shot up, so it won't be cheap, but I would be trying to find:

    #4738: Hagrid's Hut
    #4840: The Burrow
    #4841: Hogwarts Express
    #4842: Hogwarts Castle + #4867: Hogwarts (I tend to count these as one)
    #4866: The Knight Bus
    #10217: Diagon Alley

    So there are 7 sets to track down there. If I had to round it out to Top 10, here are three others from the pre-2011 era that I've managed to pick up:

    #4706: Forbidden Corridor (worth it for Fluffy alone)
    #4752: Professor Lupin's Classroom (Glow-the-dark Boggart Snape dressed as Neville's grandmother - how can you lose?)
    #4756: Shrieking Shack (The alternative Wolf-head Lupin minifig is great).

    That is actually almost all of my own collection. The list is just missing a few of the smaller sets (#4695, #4736, #4737, #4865, and #40028) so I think you can do a decent HP collection in 10 sets. There are a few other sets I'd love to get my hands on, but I'm not losing any sleep over them. I think I have the main 'pillars' of the HP universe, and now I'm focusing on collecting the remaining minifigures I don't have.

  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    The Shrieking Shack Lupin is great but the set is horrible unfortunately. I've had it but got rid of it (for a crappy amount I might add). From the 2010/2011 sets I'm only missing Hagrid's Hut and the Forbidden Forest (well the Bus as well, but I don't want that one).
  • mooman66mooman66 Member Posts: 122
    Thanks for all of your input so far. After looking into set prices right now, I may already be into the Christmas spike. Could holding until Feb/March 2014 be a better bet for prices or are they just going to keep on rising past the Holidays?
  • Peter1975Peter1975 Member Posts: 166
    I would go for the first HP castle and the lose sets. So the first serie. All the lose sets are nice and easiley to combined into this castle.
    So I started to collect HP.....I end up with 51 sets... ;)
  • rmarkworthrmarkworth Member Posts: 88
    The 4842: Hogwarts Castle is really nice and contains many important minifigs. To complete the heroes from the books, you'll need 4738: Hagrid's Hut (for Ron and Hagrid).
  • margotmargot Member Posts: 2,308
    edited August 2013
    BoiseState said:

    Goblet of Fire is my favorite other than the DH2. I thought the Half Blood Prince and DH1 were the weaker movies.

    I agree, Goblet of Fire was really good. Voldemort is back! When Harry brings Cedric's body back and everyone realizes he's dead the tears always flow.

  • plasmodiumplasmodium Member Posts: 1,956
    If you're talking about your kids, I would recommend #4729 Dumbledore's office. It not only looks good but includes some important characters, and some very nice printed pieces/pieces in unusual colours. It's also eminently playable - lots of opening bits and trapdoors etc. It was the only biggish HP set I had in my childhood, and I think it was excellent.
  • jasorjasor Member Posts: 839
    Pitfall69 said:

    What I like about the old sets is that they all combine with the first Hogwarts Castle to form one HUGE playset.

    I also am not looking at the sets as investment potential because the sets will be played with :)

    Wow....I wish TLG would do something like that with Hoth playsets....I think I've brought that up in some other thread somewhere....
    Pitfall69sidersddkhmellymel
  • AdeelZubairAdeelZubair Member Posts: 2,710
    I would collect the sets from 2010 and 2011:

    -The magic starts at Hogwarts. Lego has made many Hogwarts Castle over 10 years but #4842 is the best representation Hogwarts Castle, with a big selection of students and teachers. A must have for any Harry Potter fan.

    -Hogwarts Express is very iconic and #4841 includes Mr Weasleys Flying Car.

    -#10217 Diagon Alley is a exclusive set so it might be a challenge to build but great for role playing and display.

    -#4840 The Burrow is the home of the Weasley Family and is never been made before as a Lego set.
  • charlatan13charlatan13 Member Posts: 118
    edited August 2013
    mooman66 said:

    Thanks for all of your input so far. After looking into set prices right now, I may already be into the Christmas spike. Could holding until Feb/March 2014 be a better bet for prices or are they just going to keep on rising past the Holidays?

    Cool topic. I check in so often on a few specific minifigures that I want and the prices just continually creep up so I imagine that sooner is better than later in terms of when to purchase the sets.

    The suggestions so far have been pretty good and I only have the 2010/11 stuff but hope to buy some of the older sets down the road. I looked at the sold prices and it looks as if the #4766 Graveyard Duel will be one of the more expensive pursuits. The only other set that I would add to the mix would be #4753 Sirius Black's escape but that is probably more of a personal choice.

    I consider the movies secondary to the books anyway and I've always thought that the combination of books & HP Lego sets to be an awesome cauldron for creativity and imagination. Best of luck in your pursuits and post back with your purchased choices if you can.
  • AsterickedAstericked Member Posts: 36
    MY girlfriend was huge into Harry Potter. So one day out of the blue, I bought her the Harry Potter polybag. It then, has now exploded into owning almost every set from the Harry Potter series.

    I must say though, the most fun set to build was Diagon Alley. Though now, that set is a bit pricey. I was lucky and got it for $87.
  • tamamahmtamamahm Member Posts: 1,987
    Eksam has the list that I would give.

  • FollowsCloselyFollowsClosely Member Posts: 1,380
    edited August 2013
    EKSam said:


    #4842 Hogwarts Castle
    #10187 Diagon Alley
    #4840 the burrow
    #4841 the hogwarts express
    #4738 Hagrid's hut

    I'll add one:
    #4736 Freeing Dobby
  • margotmargot Member Posts: 2,308
    ^I really like Freeing Dobby, the sock!
    jasor
  • Lego2012Lego2012 Member Posts: 59
    #10217 Diagon Alley has to be the best of all the sets, closely followed by #4840 The Burrow.
    For me the original castle will always be the best of the Hogwarts, #4709!
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    The reason why put Diagon Alley before Hogwarts Castle is because it is a great build and you get all 3 Main Characters and Hagrid. Also, Harry visits Diagon Alley before he goes to Hogwarts.
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    DA is one of those sets that attracts even the attention of people that don't care much for Lego or Potter. Visitors are always drawn to it when I have it on display. It's really a fantastic set blooming with little details.
  • BoiseStateBoiseState Member Posts: 804
    Meh. Just not a big fan of Diagon Alley. A 10xxx Burrow or Castle would have been much better than 3 small buildings. I think 4842 is a better set.
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    edited August 2013
    4842 is much more interesting as a build and on the inside than it is on the outside or on display. Heck, I'm a big fan of all three but if I were to choose one I'd go with DA.
  • fizicystfizicyst Member Posts: 72
    Since it is for playability, this would be my list:
    1. #4862 Hogwarts Castle (main focus of most of the action)
    2. #10217 Diagon Alley
    3. #4840 The Burrow
    4. #4738 Hagrid's Hut (it comes with Aragog!)
    5. #4841 Hogwarts Express (it can be motorized and comes with the car)
    6. #4867 Hogwarts (pairs nicely with 4842)
    7. #4756 Shrieking Shack (very playable, vanishing cabinet, Lupin w/wolf head and Sirius Black figure + grim form)
    8. #4730 Chamber of Secrets
    9 & 10 become a bit harder...it depends on whether you plan on supplementing with figures from other sets or not.
    If you are not planning on buying figures to supplement the sets, then:
    9. #4767 Hungarian Horntail (because you MUST have a Mad Eye)
    10. Either #4706 (for Fluffy) or #4753 / #4750 (for Buckbeak)
    If you plan on buying a few extra figures to round things out, then:
    9. #4766 Graveyard duel
    10. #4766 The Knight Bus
  • khmellymelkhmellymel Member Posts: 1,314
    I agree with those who said Diagon Alley, it's really a great build and has a load of the main characters (mostly Harry, Ron, Hermoine and Hagrid all in one, but it also has the Weasley twins!).

    And in general, I do agree that the latest sets (2010/2011) are the better ones, but I also like #4728, the Privet Drive set. It also has the Weasley's car.
    Pitfall69
  • mooman66mooman66 Member Posts: 122
    Thanks so much for the lists. I pick up a lot of trends in the lists. Now it's just finding the best price or trade to make this a reality! No reason to let the thread die, I'm interested in folks that have BL'd sets. How tough is it to piece them together?
  • HarryPotterLoverHarryPotterLover Member Posts: 238
    Everything! :D:D:D:D

    Depends on what your looking for. Older sets tend to look TOTALLY different piece and design wise than newer ones. Trying to get more older castle pieces (HP only became my life in 2010) I would know how hard it is to find them right condition at right price.

    Tips- Dont let it not have instructions not have you get it. Its usually cheaper and you can get it online

    To Start- if you want to start getting HP, start with the easiest to find, Forbidden FOrest or Freeing Dobby- small but relevant

    Have Patience- Its only every few months I can find sets at the cheapest for the most complete (once got full Dumbledores Office for $20!) and I know if I wait someone will sell it for its prime.

    Good luck. Post any updates of what youve found!
    margot
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    It's not worth piecing them together on BL, most of the sets mentioned have expensive minifigs and rare parts, you'd end up paying double.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    Yes, it is the opposite for, lets say, the Green Grocer. My suggestion earlier was to at least get all the minifigures and then with any spare pieces at home see if you can piece together some sets or make up your own sets.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    I have an admission. I have only seen the first 4 Harry Potter movies. I watch them with my daughter so I can stop the movie if there is something too scary. So far she has watched the first 3 about 5-6 times each. She had no interest in the Goblet of Fire. Her favorite scene so far is when Harry made his uncle's sister blow up and float away.
    FollowsClosely
  • carlqcarlq Member Posts: 792
    Depending on your daughter's age, @Pitfall69, I would agree that the last four films may not be suitable for viewing by young children. Like the books, the films get much darker as time goes on - fine if you grew up with Harry, either with the books or the films, not so much if you're a youngster watching all 8 films one after the other. Yu'll know when she's ready for the next one - but you might want to view them yourself before you let her do so, or you might risk the occasional HP nightmare!
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    I will be the one having nightmares if she wants the Lego sets in the next few years.
  • vitreolumvitreolum Member Posts: 1,406
    edited August 2013
    I was watching the likes of Suspiria at 12 and didn't turn out much of a lunatic really... :)) I'm more likely to be affected by a movie now, than I was in my youth.

    I think parents are exaggerating nowadays with ratings and controlling what their children are watching. Nothing seems to be appropriate for children anymore.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,556
    Pitfall69 said:

    I have an admission. I have only seen the first 4 Harry Potter movies.

    That is four more than me.
    Pitfall69SirKevbags
  • jasorjasor Member Posts: 839
    edited August 2013
    ^ But you've read the books? Shirley*, you haven't insulated completely....right?

    *...yes. I said shirley. everyone knows it's interchangeable with surely.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,556
    edited August 2013
    ^ Nope. I do have a the HP lego character books though, although I have never looked at them. And I have got a number of HP lego minifigs (but not sets) put away, just in case my kids are interested later on. I couldn't tell you who was who though (except Harry, Hagrid and Dobby), and I don't know what they do in the stories. Although I do know the spoiler about Dobby.
  • richoricho Member Posts: 3,830
    List of 1, Diagon Alley.
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