Review: LEGO Harry Potter 75979 Hedwig

Today we take a quick look at the contents of the LEGO Harry Potter set 75979 Hedwig (630 pieces - 49.99 €) with, once is not custom in this range, a product that offers something other than a building or a piece of wall accompanied by a few minifigs. The real star of the set here is Hedwig (or Hedwig), the white owl given to Harry by Rubeus Hagrid for his eleventh birthday.

The display unit on which we fix the owl to build is in itself a real success. No black support without details or frills as is often the case in the LEGO Star Wars range, here we assemble a relatively elegant base with a slightly inclined central post that will highlight the main construction of the set. The stability is there even if it is a little difficult to put Hedwig in motion without holding the base of the model, the support is obviously not weighted.

The mechanism that will be used to move the wings of the bird is integral with the central upright of the support and it knows how to be quite discreet, knowing that you can possibly remove the two side cranks if you do not intend to have fun with the integrated functionality.

LEGO could have offered us a simple exhibition product, many would have been satisfied with it. But the manufacturer has made the effort to integrate a rather original functionality into this model, even if most of us will only benefit the time to discover the process used and the result obtained. In my opinion, this is a real plus for those who expected something other than a simple model of the bird.

The setting in motion of the model is astonishing with a rather graceful evolution of the owl, thanks in particular to a decomposition of each of the wings into two sub-assemblies linked together by a few beams and pines. Technic. The beats are a little jerky if you grind too quickly but the effect obtained is in my opinion very credible when you find the right rhythm of rotation.

The head of the bird, connected to the rest of the construction by a simple pine, perhaps slightly oriented on the horizontal axis but not vertically. The two eyes on a black background are dressed in a golden pad-printed circle. The pupil is intentionally eccentric and it will therefore be necessary to install these two elements correctly to obtain a credible look.

The technical detail that is a bit difficult: The background color of the stickers to put on both Tiles of the envelope does not really match that of the parts and the Tile central which accommodates the red seal with its sticker remains blank. It's ugly. The visual effect obtained with the folding claws which are superimposed on the envelope is however very successful.

The minifig delivered in this box, young Harry in Hogwarts uniform with his house Gryffindor scarf, is currently exclusive to this set even if the character's head appears in a good half-dozen sets from the LEGO range. Harry Potter marketed since 2018.

The Hedwig figurine is for its part rather common, it is already found in three other boxes of the range marketed this year, the references 75968 4 Privet Drive, 75969 Hogwarts Astronomy Tower et 75980 Attack on the Burrow and in the polybag 30420 Harry Potter & Hedwig. The two figures are brought together on a small stand that matches the rest of the model which can be integrated into the main model or presented separately.

In short, I find this box very successful: It offers something different within a range accustomed to declining walls and furniture to the limit and LEGO was not content to sell us a simple too static model. so as not to end up forgotten in the dust after a few years of exposure.

I say yes, even at 49.99 €, for the association between a pretty model and an interesting functionality which allows to benefit in a way a little more "active" of the product.

Note: The product shown here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at 14th June 2020 next at 23pm.

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.