Today it's the turn of the new LEGO Harry Potter Build Your Own Adventure book to undergo a quick test, just to see if the idea book and the small bundle of bricks provided are worth spending twenty euros.

The good news: There are no stickers in the bag of 101 pieces (ref. 11923) which allows you to assemble the two models offered. Please note, it is not possible to build both models at the same time, you will have to dismantle one to assemble the other. The assembly instructions provided are of the same level as those usually found in the booklets inserted in the official boxes.

The main model is also the most attractive. It is the one that reproduces the Sorting Hat ceremony (Sorting Hat), a ritual that determines the home of all new students at Hogwarts. The interactivity of the thing comes from the mobile wheel placed at the foot of the construction which can be rotated to choose the house attributed to the character in place on the display.

The second model to build with the supplied inventory makes good use of all the parts. It allows to simulate the use of the network of chimneys by Harry Potter with the possibility of making the character disappear by rotating the central support.

This set also allows you to obtain four pad printed pieces bearing the emblem of the different houses of Hogwarts. Those who invested in the (big) set 71043 Hogwarts Castle can replace the infamous stickers to stick on the display which is used to showcase the minifigs of Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw with these pretty pieces.

The Sorting Hat provided was so far only available in the set 75954 Hogwarts Great Hall, it is therefore the opportunity to also add this very successful piece to your collection at a lower cost.

The minifigure delivered with this book is not new and even less exclusive, it is that of Harry Potter already seen in the set 75954 Hogwarts Great Hall and in the polybag 30407 Harry's Journey to Hogwarts, recently offered by LEGO.

The building ideas book only contains photos of the assembled models. There are therefore no instructions to speak of in these pages and it will be necessary to call on your powers of deduction to determine some of the techniques used. Those who want to reproduce several of the models presented will have to have a varied and consequent bulk of parts.

As usual in this collection, a little story serves as a common thread to connect the different scenes between them.

Most of these models are relatively simple but original and novel. They were specially created by the official LEGO designers who are currently working on the Harry Potter range, including Marcos Bessa and Mark Stafford, and therefore respect the usual standards of the brand. Some of these creations could have easily found their audience in small boxes.

With a book presenting quality models and a set of parts that allows to assemble two rather original constructions, this box deserves in my opinion the 20 € requested by Amazon. It will be a nice gift to give to a young fan who already owns all the sets in the range.

La English version is available immediately at Amazon, the French version sold for € 28.95 is expected on October 25, 2019.

Note: The box set shown here, provided by publisher Dorling Kindersley, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the July 29, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today we are quickly interested in the LEGO Harry Potter set 75947 Hagrid's Hut Buckbeak's Rescue (496 pieces - 64.99 €), a box that allows you to reproduce a scene seen in the film Harry Potter and the Prisonnier d'Azkaban. To have fun saving the hippogriff before it falls into the hands of the executioner, we have the essentials here: A handful of characters, Rubeus Hagrid's hut, the pile of pumpkins and the pillar to which Buck is attached.

The set is quite complete and LEGO even makes the effort to offer us a well-appointed cabin with a few nods to fans who still remember the film. From the outside, the LEGO version is a simple yet believable enough reproduction of the construction seen on screen, even though it's actually only a half-hut. The roofs are a little disappointing with a few empty spaces between the different sides and a slightly light finish and the interior is as usual at LEGO very compact with some pieces of furniture that take up a lot of space, a fireplace and the essential accessories and references that appeal to fans.

There are five stickers to stick on the walls and doors of Rubeus Hagrid's hut and the two stickers that take place on the doors are too small to perfectly cover the affected rooms. LEGO has been very careful about the sizing of these two stickers with a too large cutout around the handles which spoils the "wood" effect a bit. The two stickers to stick on the walls of the cabin are doing a little better. They are in the tone of the parts to which they must be applied and the rendering is correct.

The designer left two Technic pieces exposed on the exterior walls of the cabin, I still wonder for what purpose knowing that the construction is not really intended to be connected to something else. Perhaps it was to respect the symmetry with the connection points between the two hut modules or to leave it to the fans to change the arrangement of the two "modules" of the hut.

Inside the cabin, there is a reference to the film Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone with the dragon egg (Norbert) that Hagrid keeps in his fireplace and the supplied light brick which can be activated by pressing the exterior fireplace of the construction allows to highlight the thing. The effect is very nice in the dark (see photo below) but remains anecdotal because the LEGO light bricks cannot be switched on permanently.

LEGO did not forget to provide us with Hagrid's pink umbrella, it is logically stored near the fireplace it is used to light. The copy of Daily Prophet delivered in this box is identical to the one already seen in the sets 75955 Hogwarts Express, 75953 Hogwarts Whomping Willow et 75957 The Knight Bus.

Buck (or Buckbeak) is here represented in the form of a somewhat static cast figurine. Even though the wings to clip onto the main mold are movable and the head can be oriented according to your wishes, the creature's legs are fixed. The figurine is missing in my opinion of finish while the job has been half done. The head is indeed nicely pad-printed but the body remains a slightly sad, smooth gray, with no particular reference to the creature's coat. Although this year's figure is more accomplished overall, the version of the set 4750 Draco's Encounter with Buckbeak marketed in 2004 had at least the merit of offering a little relief on the front of the body of the creature.

The pile of large pumpkins seen on the screen is here symbolized by a few orange heads and four copies of the new pumpkin, a piece also present in the trunk of Sheriff Jim Hopper's vehicle delivered in the Stranger Things set 75810 The Upside Down. The pumpkins delivered here struggle a bit to replicate the movie's pile of really large veggies, but it's still better than nothing.

To perfectly fulfill his modest mission which is to reproduce a short scene from the film Harry Potter and the Prisonnier d'Azkaban, this set could have included the scarecrow placed in the middle of the pile of pumpkins and some crows. The piece seen on the Scarecrow Head from Collectible Minifig Series 11 and Tonto's in the line of sets based on the film The Lone Ranger would have done the trick.

Tastes and colors are indisputable, some will regret that LEGO provides here only a half-hut while others will appreciate that the construction has an easily accessible interior even with big fingers of an adult fan. As far as I'm concerned, the solution offered by LEGO suits me and the cabin will look like it is placed face-on on the corner of a shelf.

On the minifig side, Albus Dumbledore is missing and the selection is therefore not fully representative of the cast at work in the scene concerned. Dumbledore is in the set 75948 Hogwarts Clocktower, you can use it to complete the scene if you invest in the Hogwarts expansion. As with the other sets in the range, it is once again very approximate in terms of the finish and the choice of outfits.

Hagrid is definitely not in the right outfit, he is not wearing his coat in the scene concerned and LEGO is lazily content to deliver us here the minifig already seen in the set 75954 Hogwarts Great Hall. It's a shame, with the set featured here only referring directly to Buck's rescue scene, Hagrid deserved to be dressed in his somewhat drab sweater and dark vest.

Regarding Harry Potter, same remark as for the other three sets in which he appears in this outfit: The white bands on the sleeves of his vest are missing and the pants are still not the right color.

Hermione Granger's minifigure is correct, we can easily recognize the outfit seen in the scene in question and the integration of the Time Turner on the character's torso is a detail that fans will love. Same observation for Ron whose minifigure is simple but consistent.

The set also allows you to obtain two additional characters that come to expand the collections of all those who swear by minifigs and who abandon the construction toy itself a little: the Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge and the Death Eater / executioner Walden Macnair.

Fudge's minifigure is generally acceptable but it lacks a black suitcase in the minister's hands and the stripes on the character's costume are absent. The shirt collar is a bit drab as it is featured as crisp white on official visuals. The head of this minifigure is not new: it is that of Ken Weathley, a character who appears in two sets of the Jurassic World range released in 2018. The legs are those of General Hux and Cédric Diggory. The alignment between the patterns of the torso and those of the hips is really very rough ...

Walden Macnair's minifigure is also more or less acceptable even if the character's face, with its very successful expression, suffers from the usual pallor of figurines whose flesh tone is pad printed on a black background. The torso benefits from a few details that are fairly faithful to the character's outfit on screen, but LEGO forgot to use two-color arms to reproduce the sleeves of the tunic.

In conclusion, the set is correct but it is sold 64.99 € by LEGO and it is in my opinion much too expensive especially if you want to tinker with a closed cabin by buying two copies of this box. I would be more indulgent on the price if the scarecrow, crows, wheelbarrow and Crockdur were provided ... As it is, it's a little minimalist in terms of the exterior environment even if the interior of the cabin is rich in furniture and other accessories. To buy in promo around 50 €.

THE SET 75947 HAGRID'S HUT BUCKBEAK'S RESCUE ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the July 23, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today we quickly tour the LEGO Batman set 76118 Mr. Freeze Batcycle Battle (200 pieces - 24.99 €), a small box that could go unnoticed in the middle of the few sets marketed on the occasion of Batman's 80th anniversary but which ultimately offers quite acceptable gameplay at a reasonable price.

The Bat-vehicle of the day is a Batcycle, or rather a kind of mini Tumbler in the Microfighters spirit which splits in two so that Batman and Robin each have their Bat-two-wheels. It is quite well done and the machine has at least the advantage of allowing two young fans to have fun without arguing over who is driving.

The box containing only 200 pieces, the finish of this Batcycle is logically very basic. The machine is illusory when assembled but the separation reveals some somewhat unsightly details that affect the finish of the two Bat-motorcycles. The few colored pieces that appear during separation and the protruding connection pins spoil the appearance of the two machines a bit.

Batman and Robin remain standing to drive, unable to sit the two characters in their respective cockpits. As you will have noticed, I always prefer to let the capes fly in the wind rather than damage them by trying to get them wedged between the minifig and the other parts of the vehicle.

Unlike other boxes, the villain of the set also has a small vehicle here so that the balance of power is balanced. Mr Freeze drives a very basic snow scooter but in the spirit of the character. This will be enough to have fun together. A little annoying detail, the two pieces supposed to be clipped on the two front skates of the snow scooter in the set I received were missing. A call to customer service and the problem will be resolved.

There are a handful of stickers to stick on for the craft to become more "Bat", but the construction can also do without. The many cannons placed on the sides of the vehicle do not really fire, we must be satisfied with the Stud Shooter placed on Batman's Batcycle to try to knock out Mr Freeze who will not be able to retaliate. Note that the Gotham Vigilante Bat-Grapple is also based on a Stud shooter.

Three minifigs are delivered in this box. That of Batman is identical in the four sets of this new wave. Always the same problem of pallor of the face, we would almost start to get used to it.

Robin's torso and head are never seen before and are available both in this box and in the set 76122 Batcave Clayface Invasion which we will talk about later. The minifigure seems to be loosely based on Damian Wayne's outfit in version Rebirth, even if the cape is not two-tone. I would have preferred to get a pair of mid-size hinged legs, like in Harry Potter, rather than those hobbit legs.

Victor fries aka Mr Freeze is also delivered in a version Rebirth with a very successful torso. The minifigure makes good use of Mysterio's helmet, too bad the part is not perfectly transparent. The Ice gun based on parts with its dorsal tank is quite convincing, it will just be necessary to orient it correctly to leave it in the hands of the minifig without unbalancing the whole.

In short, for 25 €, this small set allows you to obtain three interesting characters and three playable vehicles, two of which are assembled together. This is not always the case with boxes that are in this price bracket and I appreciate the effort here.

THE SET 76118 MR FREEZE BATCYCLE BATTLE ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the July 29, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Without transition, I give you my opinion on the LEGO Creator Expert set 10269 Harley Davidson Fat Boy (1023 pieces - 94.99 €), a box which, as indicated during the official announcement, will be available in preview for members of the VIP program from July 17, before global availability scheduled for August 1, 2019.

At first glance, this reproduction of the iconic Fat Boy model of the Harley-Davidson brand delivered here in version 2018 with the Big-Twin Milwaukee-Eight engine in version 107 (1745 cc) seems rather convincing.

The LEGO version of the motorcycle reproduces almost perfectly the massive and aggressive side of the machine with its compact frame which encompasses all the engine elements without leaving empty space. We find the massive fork at the front and the curve that slides towards the driver's seat to end with the very imposing rear fender which surmounts a huge Michelin 240 tire.

The assembly process is very pleasant. We logically start with the Big-Twin engine which will start to move when the motorcycle is moving. As often, when the model is assembled, we do not see the operation of the engine, but we know that it is there. The only interest of this sub-assembly therefore lies in the pleasure of building it and admiring its operation by manually acting on the gears. After, it will be too late.

The frame of the motorcycle is mainly made of Technic parts and during the assembly of the first parts we almost forget that this is a product from the LEGO Creator Expert range. The mix of these two LEGO universes works wonderfully here, each category of part being used wisely with the aim of offering a solid, functional and aesthetically coherent product in focus.

The sides of the tank, the exhaust lines, the timing cover and the footrests are pleasant sub-assemblies to assemble separately and then to fix on the frame, as one would do on a well-designed model.

Looking more closely, even very closely, we will inevitably find fault with the finish of this model which is intended as a high-end derivative product of a brand that knows how to maintain its legend by regularly revisiting its most emblematic models without completely distorting them.

The logos on each side of the tank are the only elements of the set to be pad printed. All the other elements are covered with stickers and for a product derived from a mythical brand, it's still a shame. Three rims are provided, two of which are coupled to integrate the large rear tire.

As you will have noticed, a few tenons remain visible on the sides of the tank. Some will appreciate this detail which helps confirm that this is above all a LEGO product. Others, like me, will regret that these (too) visible studs spoil the rendering of the model a little. The few studs visible at the front on the Ford Mustang also designed by Mike Psiaki seemed to me discreet enough not to affect the overall rendering, those left visible here are in my opinion more disturbing.

More annoying: while Harley-Davidson generally gives pride of place to chrome on its different models, LEGO is content here with a light gray which struggles to highlight the various chrome elements present on the Fat Boy. These are all these chrome which give a little lightness to this compact and massive Fat Boy model. The Lakester cast aluminum solid rims in the LEGO version are perfectly reproduced, but they also lack that little satin sheen that would give them a more graceful side.

The two exhaust lines are also a little dull and the presence of the barrels at the end of the line is detrimental to the overall aesthetic in my opinion. I am well aware that we are talking about a LEGO product here and the followers of the NPU (Nice Part Usage) will probably be more tolerant of the use of these barrels than I am. As far as I am concerned, these parts are above all barrels and they are not necessarily intended to be used as engines or body parts on modern or futuristic models.

At the level of the headlight, I find the finish a little rough with visible tenons under the transparent dome. A smooth pad-printed plate or, for lack of a better one, with a nice sticker whose details we could guess under the transparent part would have been welcome. As it is, we do not find the nice finish of the headlight present on the real model.
At the level of the saddle, the designer tried to reproduce the curves with the prominent area in the middle of the seat. The result is in my opinion a little average, even unsightly.

Even though I'm one of those people who generally prefer to have little or no stickers to stick on, I think there are a few missing to replicate the reflective elements placed on the bottom of the front fork and on the two elements that hold the guard. - rear mud. Their presence would have helped to give a more "finished" look to the model, especially in the absence of chrome parts.

The stickers used for the counter and the fuel gauge placed on the tank do the job. We would have liked pad-printed parts but we will do with these stickers whose cutting is not perfectly centered.

If the rear fender is rather faithful to the real model, the one placed at the front lacks a little inspiration. On the Fat Boy, this part really envelops the wheel following the curve of the latter very far forward, here it is far from the case and the LEGO version is more motocross accessory than anything else.

We could also discuss the technique used to reproduce the front fork with its cartridge suspensions that have become too bulky on the LEGO version and once again dressed in barrels visually a little too off topic for my taste. Even though the Fat Boy has a relatively thick fork, the LEGO version obviously does a bit too much on this point.

The handlebar is in my opinion very successful, it integrates all the elements of the real model with a well thought out assembly for the brake handles. The mirrors, which I have not correctly oriented in the photos, are covered with stickers with mirror effect.

Looking even closer, we notice that there is a blue Technic pin visible at the junction between the tank and the handlebars of the motorcycle. It's a detail, but even if some fans consider that these visible blue pins are mainly intended to remind us that we are dealing with a LEGO product, I find it a shame not to have replaced this one with a gray version, history of get a perfect finish.

On the other hand, it's hard to blame LEGO for leaving the chain visible when it is covered with a housing on the real model. The only functionality of the product being the setting in motion of the two pistons inside the cylinders of the engine, it was necessary to leave a visible indication of the presence of this mechanism.

Like the real one, the LEGO version of the motorcycle is equipped with a crutch that allows it to stay balanced when stationary. If the presentation angle seems a little too steep, LEGO provides a relatively inconspicuous buildable stand that doubles as a center stand and keeps the craft upright. Thinking about it, the designer could have gone to the end of the concept and made this support rotatable.

In summary, this set is in my opinion rather successful despite its aesthetic defects and it is placed closer to the Ford Mustang from set 10265 that ofAston Martin DB5 from set 10262 in the ranking of the most successful derivative products inspired by existing vehicles and marketed under the Creator Expert label.

The construction phase is very pleasant and the model can proudly stand on a shelf even if it will not be particularly noticed thanks to its chrome. Hopefully this nice set paves the way for other motorcycle models in the Creator Expert range. I say yes, especially to encourage LEGO to persist in this direction.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON FAT BOY SET 10269 ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the July 21, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today we are quickly interested in the LEGO Harry Potter set 75946 Hungarian Horntail Triwizard Challenge (265 pieces - 34.99 €), a small box which in theory allows us to reproduce some scenes from the first trial of the Triwizard Tournament seen in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

With 265 pieces in the box, it's obviously minimum service with a mini-tent, a somewhat rickety Pointed Magyar and four characters delivered in their tournament outfits: Harry Potter, Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory and Viktor Krum.

In terms of spikes, the LEGO version dragon does not have many and not really in the places needed to come up with a convincing minifigure. The Magyar offered here by LEGO is also more of the robotic creature with an eagle's head and bat wings than anything else. The choice of colors for the Spiked Magyar also seems questionable to me: the dragon is in my opinion more beige than dark brown in the film. In the Legends of Chima range, it goes, here in a derivative that claims to reproduce a scene from a movie, it is much less convincing.

If we try to see the bright side of things, this little dragon is pretty well articulated and can take a lot of poses. Unfortunately, a few horns and the tip of the tail regularly detach from the construction, which will quickly annoy those who try to have fun with the contents of this box.

The land on which the scene in question takes place boils down here to a mini-rock with the golden egg placed on the construction. A few sparks to brighten up the whole thing and that's it.

Although it is not specified on the box, you can clip the accessory of the racing broom used by Harry on the mini-boulder for a slightly more dynamic setting. The effect is nice on the corner of a shelf.

If you were looking for a golden egg to put it in the Prefect's Bathroom in the set 75948 Hogwarts Clocktower, so there is one in this set. I am a little disappointed by the finish of this accessory, some patterns on the shell, without necessarily trying to reproduce in detail the accessory from the film, would have helped to put it a little more in value.

The tent delivered in this box is also a very symbolic representation of the plush barnum seen on the screen. It will be difficult to reproduce the many scenes taking place inside, LEGO having filled the entire available space with a bed and some furniture. The emblems of the three competing schools are obviously stickers, which I also find very successful.

I'm not sure this garden shed-like tent is essential in this box. The few coins saved here could have been used to flesh out the rickety dragon a bit and create a much larger rocky outcrop that Harry could have hidden behind.

No joke, this set is first and foremost a box with four pretty minifigs and a few pieces around it and we therefore find the participants of the Triwizard Tournament in their competition outfits.

Overall, these four figures are quite successful. On closer inspection, as usual, the few details are missing that would make these minifigs perfect interpretations of the characters seen in the film.

LEGO obviously still does not know how to pad print elements on the entire spine of the arms, the designers therefore skipped the yellow bands present on the sleeves and hood of Harry Potter.

The name of the character appears well on the back of the minifigure, but in a much darker tone than on Cédric Diggory's minifigure. The designer will undoubtedly have wanted to coordinate the color of the name and the star, which has nothing to do there if the minifigure does not yet wear the black cape, with that of the arms.

The star on Harry's back is in fact only present on the cape worn by the character when he comes out in the arena and in the film, the word POTTER is a much brighter red than that of the sleeves of the hoodie worn by the character in the tent scenes. The torso of the minifigure is therefore here a priori a mixture of the two outfits seen on the screen.

Fleur Delacour's outfit almost matches that of the film. The design of the torso is very faithful with a magnificent emblem of the school of Beauxbatons on the back, but the jacket and the bib seems to me to be more white / gray on the screen than beige. That being said, the blue pad-printed color on the beige chest is perfectly matched with the arms and legs tinted in the mass.

Cedric Diggory is the only one here to have a "tunic" effect via General Hux's legs but he also lacks the yellow bands on the sleeves. The connection between the pattern of the torso and that of the legs is correct but there is still a little something that bothers me in the visual continuity between the two elements.

Viktor Krum is on his side almost perfect with his beautiful torso even if he still has his hair too trimmed to be convincing. In the film, the tunic he wears goes down much lower at the level of the legs but we will do with it.

With minifigs being the major draw of the set for many fans, the rough finish of some of them is still a bit of a letdown in my opinion. To attract collectors, LEGO declines many outfits seen more or less briefly in the various films of the saga but does not always do so completely.

I'm not fooled, the vast majority of minifig collectors will be content with what LEGO offers, the important thing for these collectors is to accumulate as many different versions of each character as possible.

In summary, this small set, whose role is above all to occupy an intermediate slot in a series of boxes at staggered prices to make them accessible to all budgets, will undoubtedly not pass to posterity.

It's a bit like the LEGO Star Wars range: by dint of trying to wring out every scene from each film to make it a derivative product, commercial policy requires, some scenes end up in boxes whose content is really too approximate and symbolic. to make them indispensable. In my opinion, it is advisable to wait until the price of it drops to around € 25 before investing.

THE HUNGARIAN HORNTAIL TRIWIZARD CHALLENGE SET 75946 ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Note: The set shown here, supplied by LEGO, is included as usual. To participate in the draw, all you have to do is post a comment (avoid "I participate, I try, etc ..." be a little more constructive) on this article before the July 13, 2019 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.