A Wasted Opportunity: 2022 LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Collectors' Edition D2C First Look

[@samuraibricks]

The way I see it, Lego has been jacking up the number of pieces in adult-oriented sets as a way to "justify" the much higher prices. It is no longer about the economical use of pieces to achieve the desired effects, but pure extravagance as a pretense for higher quality of sets. Not a fan of that, but I can see this becoming the norm going forward.

[@GoldenNinja3000]

Yep, I agree.

[@incandescent-light8257]

Agreed about the waste of pieces used for the tracks. I'll wait several months to see how much the minifigures cost on Bricklink, but I don't feel they're absolutely necessary for my collection. Major fail leaving out epilogue Ron & Hermione. It's a really nice display piece, though. My dream D2C set would be a sequel to Diagon Alley with Gringotts, the Leaky Cauldron, and Borgin & Burkes.

[@GoldenNinja3000]

That's the D2C I've been waiting for since 2020 :(

[@gronkpatrol]

One cool thing I noticed is that Ron from the 1st movie has a new face print where they've added a dirt smudge to his "nose". Originally I thought it was a mark on the box but I think it's dirt so you can recreate the scene where Hermione says "you have dirt on your nose, just there, did you know?"

[@GoldenNinja3000]

Okay, that's what it is! Thanks for pointing it out.

[@arghjayem]

02:18 whilst the train is built on standard LEGO rail pieces, if you look at the width of the track compared to regular LEGO train sets which are 6 studs wide, this set has 7 stud wide tracks. Yes 7 stud wide track, not an even number so they have a weird build too with a lot of extra pieces. For some reason they didn’t want to go all the way to 8 studs wide nor stick to the existing 6 studs wide setup. 🤷 IMHO they should have got rid of alot of the minifigures like old Harry, Hermione and the kids as well as the random Hogwarts students. Instead they should have focused things more clearly in both the figures and the build. First get rid of platform 9 3/4, which also justifies getting rid of old Harry and Hermione and the kids. If you really wanted to include them in a set do an add on set with them in of platform 9 3/4 down the line that features a full platform build rather than half arsing like they’ve done here. Instead replace the platform build with an extra carriage. Then instead of trying to include multiple versions of the characters from various years/books/films stick to the prisoner of Azkaban which prominently features the train. As such include more random student minifigures as well as multiple dementors. Along with the dementors they should have clear stand (like in the Daily Bugle) to show them flying in and around the train. Also have alternative window pieces that can show the windows of the carriage and individual compartment windows iced and fogged over, either by sticker, print or the kind of plastic used or all of the above. With that you could make more out of the chunky base, as that part of the film takes place when the train is stopped over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. So rather than just blocky black/dark grey base it could become the top of the bridge with a load of the newer wheel arch pieces representing the arches in the bridge….

[@GoldenNinja3000]

I like the viaduct idea, but I like having minifigures from different movies. I just wish they were better.

[@arghjayem]

@@GoldenNinja3000 the lack of leg printing is crazy. As is the 9 3/4 platform sign being a sticker when they’ve already done a print for that!

[@epicshadowdemon1211]

Just some clarification its old Ginny & Harry that are in this set, old Ron & Hermione aren't.

[@logankrecic496]

They really needed a white version of the station with dumbledore , as a deathly hallows Easter egg

[@samuelpacheco8741]

Looks good but I am so pissed that we got random students instead of epilogue Ron and Hermione.

[@spongebobdisneymariofan3715]

I’m surprised by how many minifigures this set includes, but half of them are quite a letdown. I mean, it’s great to get a few minifigures based on the epilogue, but including two random unnamed students instead of the adult versions of Ron and Hermione was a wasted opportunity. I also think that this set used a bit too much structure for the track section. I don’t know if my opinion on this set will change when we get better quality photos and extra details like what happened with the Hogwarts Icons set when I was disappointed by the set when it was officially revealed to eventually loving it when I got my hands on it.

[@GoldenNinja3000]

I felt the same way about Hogwarts Icons, but I don't think I'll change my mind so significantly about this set.

[@kubixx177]

Could be a seperate 2 sets. Just train + add one more carriage with more accurate figs etc. And the 2nd set could be full wide station not as it is and more detailed tracks (its full grey just why, could use brown colour to look like Wood, prob add some green dots or smthin). I actually dont care about lego print cause its just pants. But still gonna bys it :Ddd

[@GoldenNinja3000]

I kind of agree. I don't usually advocate for D2Cs to be split into two separate sets but in this case I think it would've worked, especially if they made King's Cross compatible with both versions of the train.

[@noampitlik2332]

That' for sure. A bigger remake of existing sets is not exactly the first thing I could think of for the fans. And 500! Wtf!

[@DCLXVIDS]

the cut-off arches really look ridiculous next to a full train. maybe you can make two full arches instead with little extra pieces.

[@finn.b_official]

But this is a cut-off train too. It misses a few carriages.

[@GoldenNinja3000]

@@finn.b_official But the arches cut off way before the train does, which looks super weird.

[@finn.b_official]

@@GoldenNinja3000 Thats absolute right.

[@DCLXVIDS]

@@finn.b_official yes very true but at least its not half a carriage :D

[@finn.b_official]

@@DCLXVIDS haha, don't give them ideas :P

[@TheRealFeechLaManna]

I got Studgate from Bricklink at 400..just saying..

[@WarningBFG-isHiring]

LEGO has been greedy for a long time, but holy are they getting a lot more greedy. Jfc, I’m not a Harry Potter fan and the mini figures are such a let down. Let down is me being generous btw.

[@jamescochran8273]

Am really on the fence for this set: 1)The price is outrageous.2) The platform is incomplete and too small. Why didn't Lego complete the two outside arches. It looks stupid!!! 3) How much of the part piece count is devoted to the track build? 4) No adult Ron, Hermione and their children. 5) Sticker-ed Plaques not printed. Will need to see this in person at the Lego store, before I make a final decision to buy or not! Definitely waiting and not buying this on 31 August!

[@richlepore7781]

Looks good…but only good

[@DRUmBEaTTS]

“Accidentally” shipped, hahaha! The LEGO marketing department knows Exactly what they’re doing!

[@GoldenNinja3000]

They definitely do not. Why would they ship a $500 train to people who bought a $400 castle? They're losing money and annoying Castle fans with this mixup.

[@QueDiablos666]

The tracks in this set are wider. Like 7-8 studs wide. So there is a reason not to jave it on regular Lego system tracks. Bezter do a research… anyway it is still overpriced as hell…

[@davidschneblin8824]

Shouldn't her name be Ginny Potter?

[@kentslocum]

I definitely feel that everyone would have benefitted if LEGO released two separate Collector's Edition sets: one set would be a $300-350 train with a second carriage and no built-up track. The second set would be a $250-300 complete half (one full side with maybe four full interior arches and some exterior) of King's Cross Station. Then, completionists would have bought two of the station sets to completely cover the train, plus the train set. Train fans would have been more willing to buy the train set, and sales of the regular City train track expansion sets would have skyrocketed.

[@aeromoe]

Except in this world this train is 7 studs wide The City train track is useless for this...UNLESS your $300-350 train fits the City train track.

[@kentslocum]

@@aeromoe I wasn't sure of the train wheel width of the Collector's Edition Hogwarts Express, but I definitely feel that the current City track width is too narrow and the curves are too sharp. I'm personally fine with a wider display-only Hogwarts Express, as long as the value is there. The Built-up track just doesn't do it. Others have also pointed out that the train should be dark red, not bright red.