Review: LEGO Harry Potter 75957 The Knight Bus

Today we take a quick look at the LEGO Harry Potter set 75957 The Knight Bus (403 pieces - 39.99 €), a box based on the four minutes of the film Harry Potter and the Prisonnier d'Azkaban during which we saw Harry take the Magicobus (Knight Bus).

This is not the first time that LEGO offers a reproduction of the bus, the vehicle has already been available in two boxes in the past: 4755 Knight Bus (243 pieces - 2004) and 4866 The Knight Bus (257 pieces - 2011). I think we will all agree at least on one point, the 2019 version is the most successful of the three aesthetically, it also uses more parts.

We start with a reproach: the purple coins (Medium Lilac) are not all the same shade and I think that this always embarrassing lack of uniformity deserves to be underlined because I am not the type to self-persuade myself that it looks "vintage" ...

Regarding the assembly of the Magicobus, nothing very complicated: we build from the bottom to the top, we align the many windows, we put the upper floor, we stick some stickers and voila. The large integrated side door provides access to the interior of the vehicle which is logically very narrow. For those who still believe in Santa Claus: there is no direction, the bus drives straight ahead.

Difficult to criticize the realization, it is much better than the previous versions and apart from the upper stage with the somewhat hazardous curves, it is rather well done. It spoils in fact copiously at the front and at the back of the top floor of the bus with on one side an empty space left under the purple arches and on the other a separate module to build and clip which struggles a little to convince to form the angle of the front of the bus.

As this is a reduced model of the Magicobus, everything is obviously more symbolic than truly representative. So you get a bed instead of five or six and LEGO has even provided a very simple slide so that the bed moves when the bus is moving. Not enough to cry genius, but the wink is there.

The chandelier that hangs from the ceiling of the bus is here well interpreted and swings on its axis to do as in the film. The standard LEGO steering wheel held by Ernie Danlmur (Ernie Prang) would have benefited from being replaced by a model with a larger diameter, but we will do with it.

The cover of the Daily Prophet delivered in this box (see photo below) is unfortunately not the one seen on the screen when Stan Rocade (Stan Shunpike) announces to Harry that Sirius Black has escaped. We must be satisfied with the one already delivered in the sets 75953 Hogwarts Whomping Willow et 75955 Hogwarts Express. The scene in my opinion deserved a special piece.

On the minifig side, we can regret that the Harry Potter minifigure is a bit sloppy. The outfit of the figurine has indeed not much to do with that of the character in the scene concerned, except perhaps for the blue t-shirt.

The white stripes on the jacket sleeves are missing and the leg color is incorrect. In addition, Harry Potter is delivered in this set with its trunk which is here replaced by a classic chest whose shape is not really suitable.

The minifigure of Ernie Danlmur (Ernie Prang), the driver of the Magicobus, is rather approximate. We can discuss the interest of the piece which serves here as a hairstyle / bald head, the character not being totally bald but just fairly bald.

Small technical detail, the sleeves of the shirt are well planned to be the same color as the visible part of said shirt on the torso of the character. Unfortunately, LEGO spoils the party with too dull pad printing and the shirt effect no longer works. Again, don't be fooled by the official visuals which feature a perfectly dressed Ernie Danlmur ...

Stan Rocade (Stan Shunpike) is the most successful of the three characters delivered here. Her outfit is consistent with that of the film and the character's face is cohesive. The detailed pad printing of the torso even incorporates the ticket machine worn by the character.

Here, too, LEGO doesn't do miracles when it comes to printing a light color on a dark background. On official retouched visuals, the shirt is white. In real life, she turns gray.

The symbol on the character's cap is also missing and the red band is a bit empty on the minifig. It's a detail for some, but with this type of set, I think it's all in the details.

The joker's shrunken head on the front of the Magicobus (see above) is very correct with a facial expression faithful to the one seen in the film and even some dreadlocks stamped on the piece.

History to make pass a little better the pill of 40 € requested by LEGO for this box and to add an additional playful possibility, a granny with her walker would have been welcome ...

In short, this set is pretty decent but when you're doing fan service, you might as well do it down to the smallest detail. Fans of the Harry Potter universe will not have waited for my opinion to buy this set anyway and many will be content with this new version of the purple bus which refers to a very popular scene.

Too bad for the somewhat hazardous finish of the top floor of the bus and for the few approximations at the level of the minifigs, but seen from afar on a shelf, it's fine.

THE SET 75957 THE KNIGHT BUS 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 10, 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.