legofreak777
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legofreak777's Stats
- Review Count79
- Helpfulness Votes1,359
- First ReviewOctober 24, 2009
- Last ReviewJuly 2, 2011
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4
Hagrid’s Hut
Hagrid’s Hut
Overall:
4
/
5
Good Value Set
Posted:November 21, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
" This set represents good value, especially if you're into the minifigs since this is the only HP set that comes with all 3 of our main characters.
Like most of the HP sets, the build is quite straightforward and simple - you more or less build it in 2 halves - however the final product is a little small and it's very cramped on the inside if you try to fit all the characters (Hagrid included) inside.
This is actually a very detailed set and has been well thought out. On the outside, there's a couple of mushrooms and halloween pumpkins - both with printed details (yay!) that add some nice color to the set. On the inside, there's a cauldron located next to the fireplace, (which lights up and looks very realistic), a table, chest off to one side and a few items (fish, chicken leg, axe) hanging from the roof (attached by a clip). No chairs or bed, but there wouldn't really be sufficient space inside for them anyway.
Of course, there's still a few stickers that need to be placed - mainly to add the brick details onto the walls of the house - but I'm glad to say that there's quite a few printed parts as well - such as the eyes and back of Aragog (the large spider). I'm glad Lego decided to do it this way, because to try and stick that on accurately would have been a nightmare. It's interesting how Lego decided to use katana swords for Aragogs legs - I'm tempted to remove them and to use them in my ninja collection!!
Overall, perhaps the best value for money set in the HP series - and probably the one to get if you're more into the minifigures rather than the actual set(s) themselves.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Burrow
The Burrow
Overall:
4
/
5
Smaller that it looks, but still great!
Posted:November 12, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
5
/
5
Value for Money:
4
/
5
" As the title suggests, the Burrow, once fully built is actually smaller than you would expect. I guess this could perhaps be due to the fact that it's quite high, yet it's width is quite narrow.
As several people have already reported, the build is initially a little flimsy. The green plate that represents the front lawn and the gray plate that the dining area is built on don't attach very well to the main base plate initially, and quite a lot of building is done before these areas are reinforced with other bricks later on. Once built however, the over structure is reasonably stable.
There's great detail with this set - especially when you look at the interior. The kitchen for starters, comes with a sink in the corner, a cooking stove and some drawers on which 4 plates are stacked. Then there's the dining area represented by 2 benches next to the dining table.
The second floor consists of bunk beds and a chest, inside which are socks (printed on plates) and a couple of galleons. The top floor, which I think is meant to be Ron's bedroom, consists of a solitary bed, and is decorated with the Quidditch sticker.
This really is a great set and well worth the money. I admit, it's unusual that Ron hasn't been included in this set, but you do get a great selection of characters - Harry, Ginny, Molly and Arthur as well as Belatrix and Grayback. Can't really complain too much there.
One thing I will complain about however are the stickers. I hate these things. Always have, probably always will. But if they're necessary, then please Lego, at least give us those that have a colored background rather than the transparent ones (which seem to be in nearly every HP set). The clear background ones are near impossible to place without seeing air bubbles underneath when light shines on them. And it looks terrible. At least we never had that problem with the colored background stickers. Better still would be if we went back to printed pieces, but I guess that would mean the cost goes up as well.
Overall, a must have for any Potter fan. Even better if you have the Hogwart's Express, as you can then place the Ford Anglia next to the house (see Chamber of Secrets), plus the addition of Ron!
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
LEGO Toy Story: Pizza Planet Truck(5658)
Hang on...The Pizza Planet truck delivers lots of fun!
Overall:
4
/
5
Great for kids - and very durable!
Posted:November 6, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Easy
" OK, let's cut straight to the point. This isn't exactly a challenging set, I mean, it's for kids 5 and under. The build is very simple, but what impressed me the most was the durability of the pieces.
I bought this set for my cousin in law's 2 yr old boy. It kept him entertained for the whole afternoon. And of course, being a 2 yr old, he didn't exactly treat the pieces with care. And by that I mean, they went flying around the room for most of the day. I was sure that the car at least, was going to crack.
At the end of the day, I examined the pieces. Not one crack or dent. I was impressed. I also learned something else that day. I am probably one of the greatest complainers when it comes to the cost of Lego toys. Let's face it, compared to a lot of other toys on the market, it's not cheap. But I also know that just about any other toy on that day would have either cracked, broken or smashed. The lesson - Lego is a very good quality toy, that's why it costs more but you know what? At the end of the day, it's worth it.
Keep up the exceptional quality Lego - and if means I have to pay more, then so be it.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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2of 2found this review helpful.
Quidditch Match
Quidditch Match
Overall:
4
/
5
Not accurate, but good playset
Posted:November 6, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
5
/
5
Value for Money:
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
" This is quite an enjoyable set to play with and is a great addition if you already have Hogwart's castle. Having said that, it's hardly accurate; only 3 hoops (should have 6), 2 players per team (should have 7) and only 1 spectactor stand. Having said that, if Lego were to full a proper Quidditch match set, then we'd be looking at a much larger set and a significantly greater cost as well.
The overall build is very simple; the only problem I have is the way the hoops are done - it uses Lego piece 4597913 which is a flexible, slender plastic "pole", the same used in the Imperial Flagship set. You can bend it into a full circle, but it has a little too much rigidity/resistance in it so to form a perfect circle with it is near impossible. In addition, because of it's tendency to straighten, this piece sometime detaches on it's own. Other than that though, the rest of the build gets the thumbs up!
Some significant pros with this set;
The minifigs - Marcus Flint, Oliver Wood and Madam Hooch.
Helmets are included, but strangely, only 2 when there are 4 player!
The Quidditch Cup and stand!
The minifigs - Marcus Flint, Oliver Wood and Madam Hooch.
Helmets are included, but strangely, only 2 when there are 4 player!
The Quidditch Cup and stand!
Would have perhaps liked to have seen Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff colors instead of Slytherin...... perhaps next time???
Overall, a definite must for any Harry Potter fan!
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
1of 2found this review helpful.
Hogwarts™ Castle
Hogwarts™ Castle
Overall:
5
/
5
Lego, you've done it again!
Posted:October 1, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
5
/
5
Value for Money:
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
" I have to say that the Lego corporation is sending me broke. Year after year, they keep releasing sets that no matter what the price, you just have to have. This, is one of them. I'd have to say that the price is not too bad - being a licensed theme, I did expect it to be on par with the Clone Turbo Tank in terms of cost (which it is in the U.S.) but over here in Australia, I was pleasantly surprised at how affordable it was in comparison.
First, let's start with the minifigs. You get 10 of them (excluding Mrs. Norris) which includes what I believe to be the first ever Filch and Prof. Flitwich. The only noticeable absentee that I would have expected to be in this set is Ron - however, having said that, you get a near full complement of Senior Hogwart's staff members with McGonangall, Snape and Dumbledore all present in addition to Flitwick. The addition of Voldemort and a couple of Dementors aren't necessary, but they do add significantly to both the playability and value of the set. Very good choice of characters overall for this set.
Secondly, the castle itself. It's broken down into 4 sections, which we will look at one by one.
The main section of the castle is the Great Hall. Magnificent! You get two house tables, (presumably for Slytherin and Gryffindor since the hall is decorated with their banners), a lectern for Dumbledore to address the students, and a staff chair on either side, one for Snape, and the other for McGonagall (Flitwick's got the short legs so he can't sit). The tables are well decorated with various food items - a whole chicken, a very well designed cake and several goblets. Yes, if you're picky, you can say that it's not an accurate representation of the Great Hall as seen in the movies - but remember, this is a play set, not a UCS set and so, with that in mind, this well and truly gets the thumbs up!
The next section is Gryffindor tower. The interior is quite basic - 3 levels, each with not much space so details here are slightly lacking but good nonetheless. The top floor is the Gryffindor common room - 2 chairs, with a table, next to a fireplace in which is the face of Sirious Black (see movie 4 Goblet of fire) This is a sticker by the way.
Second floor contains a suit of armour - nothing special here. Bottom floor I think is meant to be the dungeon where the Slytherin common room is located. Similar to the Gryffindor common room in that it contains 2 chairs and a table - with green and black being the primary colors.
Second floor contains a suit of armour - nothing special here. Bottom floor I think is meant to be the dungeon where the Slytherin common room is located. Similar to the Gryffindor common room in that it contains 2 chairs and a table - with green and black being the primary colors.
Third section is, I think, the Astronomy tower. The has 2 floors - the lower one contains the Vanishing cabinet (see movie 6) - a little plain here. The upper level is, I think, the restricted section of the library. I love the way the shelf opens up to reveal hidden books behind!
Last but not least, Dumbledore's office. The stairs that lead up to it can fold away, so as to give the impression of a hidden staircase. The office itself is very well detailed - on top, you have th sorting hat and Gryffindor's sword, a study desk, a couple of cabinets and a few various potion bottles scattered around the room.
All in all, I love this set. The only downside I would say is that I would have like to have seen Lego introduce both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff colours and characters into the set - perhaps as we had the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms, the Great hall could have been decorated in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff colours instead. After all, Hogwarts has 4 houses, not 2.
Something for Lego to consider in future perhaps? Meanwhile, I'm off to enjoy what is definitely the best Hogwart's castle that has ever been produced.......
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
5of 5found this review helpful.
LEGO Star Wars: General Grievous' Starfighter(8095)
Lead the next attack against the Republic with General Grievous!
Overall:
4
/
5
Much better than it's predecesor...
Posted:September 25, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
4
/
5
" This version of Grievous' starfighter is soooo much better than the previous version.
Firstly - the General himself is like, 10 times better. He actually looks like General Grievous in this set. The only down side is that he can only hold 2 lightsaber's in the vertical position - the other 2 can only be held in the horizontal position which makes the overall appearance look a little strange. This set is also a good opportunity to pick up a Mon Calamari minifig in Nadhar Vebb without having to buy the Home One set which is significantly more.
The starfighter itself has a very nice, yet simple build. Very realistic in it's appearance and design. The landing gear mechanism at the back does tend to get a little loose if played with too much though. However, there's some very nice addition's, such as the flick fire missiles which appear out of a side compartment, as well as a larger missile that's located on the underside of the fighter.
One big problem with this set is that the cockpit is very small - incredibly small actually. You can't fit Grievous in there unless you remove 2 of the arms first, and even then, it's a tight fit. I think the design is such that it relies on the tight fit to hold the cockpit cover in place when Grievous is in it. The cockpit cover itself slides forward to open - and I think that it's a new piece that's been designed specifically for this set.
Overall, pretty good - probably better value than the Slave 1 - but that's just my opinion =)
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6found this review helpful.
Slave I™
Slave I™
Overall:
4
/
5
Flimsy cockpit, and my stickers peel off....
Posted:September 25, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
5
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
" Firstly, I have to say that I've been waiting for this set to be re released for a while as I missed out on the 2006 edition. When I finally bought it, I was a little disappointed, but that may have something to do with my expectations being perhaps a little unrealistic.
It's a nice set - a good and enjoyable build but I do have some design issues with it. Firstly, for such a large ship, it doesn't have much space in terms of storage or even to place a 2nd minifig in. The commando gear barely fits into the 2 provided compartments and there's no where to keep Boba's gun. In addition, the cockpit space isn't enclosed - it's continuous space with the missile system which lies below it, which in turn is open towards the back. This part of the ship is probably the biggest let down - I felt that Lego could have done a lot more in the design of the cockpit - at least provide a seat and a decent control panel. The existing one just isn't good enough, especially for a set of this price. And also, the missile system should really be separate from the cockpit - in an enclosed space of it's own.
Secondly, while the cockpit can rotate so that Boba is upright irrespective of whether the Slave 1 is horizontal or vertical, there's no mechanism to fix the cockpit into position. This can be a little frustrating as the wings that's also attached to it tend to constantly move whilst playing with this set.
Thirdly, the cockpit cover tends to fall off too easily - it's not secured very well. This set also comes with the traditional stickers for extra details - unfortunately for me, my stickers came squashed in the box, so the corners of them don't stick down. As a result, they have a tendency to peel off =(
On the upside, the exterior is a very accurate representation of the original Slave 1 as seen in the films, and the color scheme is also better than in previous years. The build isn't anything too complicated, although the price is a little off putting.
You also get Bossk with this set, although I'm not sure what to do with him - as previously mentioned, there's no space for him in the Slave 1.
All in all, not bad - definitely don't regret this buy, but also wouldn't say that it was my best buy for this year.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
LEGO Kingdoms: Prison Carriage Rescue(7949)
Pursue the Prison Carriage and rescue the King's soldier!
Overall:
3
/
5
Disaapointing design
Posted:September 24, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
" As the title suggest, I'm a little disappointed with this set. I think my main complaint centers around the prison cage - it's way too small, doesn't have a roof (I guess it can't or else you can't fit the prisoner in) and if you've bought this set, you'll know that there's no grill or barrier between the prison cage and the driver (dragon knight) - so all the prisoner has to do is reach over and well...... end of story for the driver.
Also, this set comes with a Lion knight - which is supposed to rescue the prisoner - on foot mind you. OK, yes, the horse is pulling a carriage. But seriously, even then, the Lion knight is not going to catch up on foot. An additional horse for the knight would have been good. As well as this another sword for the prisoner perhaps, and possibly another shield would have been welcome additions.
I'm undecided on whether or not this is a worthwhile buy - I guess it is - with a few modifications, it would be quite a good set.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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Airport
Airport
Overall:
4
/
5
Simple and small, yet, has it's own charm....
Posted:September 24, 2010
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
" This is the first Lego airport that I bought so in terms of comparison to those of yesteryear, well, I'm in no position to do so. What I will have to say though is this - for an airport, the interior seems rather small. The main building is divided into four sections - as you enter the revolving door, you have departures to the left, and arrivals to the right.
The departures on the left consists of a ticketing booth - note here that the sticker saying tickets is best stuck onto the 2x1 brick rather than the curved brick here as it otherwise tends to peel off - and an X-ray machine. This leads to an open doorway, which I guess then leads onto the tarmac as you board the plane.
Above this area is an eatery/cafe which you can buy things. On the other side of the airport above the arrivals hall is where you can find a table and chairs for your Lego minifigs to enjoy their purchases.
The arrivals hall is very plain - there's a vending machine, behind which is a lot of empty space that is not utilised. This is a bit disappointing and Lego could have done a lot more with this part of the building. In addition, the arrivals hall has a chute through which passengers can pick up their luggage as well as another open doorway, presumably from which they enter the building after disembarking the plane.
The airport also comes with a control tower - this is nice, but my only gripe is that it is quite small inside and can only accommodate 1 person. The baggage cart has also been well designed, and attaches onto the steps to which the minifigs board the plane.
The plane itself is quite straightforward and very much like the planes in years gone by. There's nothing really special here; except to say that the addition of what appears to be inbuilt tables makes a nice change.
My main problem with this set seems to be an old one and I feel like a broken record saying this but - Lego need to give us more minifigs in sets like these. There's only one airport staff (apart from the baggage cart driver - who is also expected to be the signaller for planes) - so if he's manning the ticket booth, there's no one in the control tower and vice versa. Plus, who takes care of the cafe upstairs? A second airport person would have been a nice addition, as well as perhaps another ground staff person to help with the baggage and also signal for the planes to take off and land.
Overall, not a bad set - I got it at 33% off so am quite happy with my buy - but wouldn't have looked twice at this set if I had to pay full price. I'd recommend it on sale if you're a city fan - but if you have limited funds, I probably say give it a miss and save up for the Grand Emporium instead =)
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
LEGO Accessory Packs - LEGO Minifigures Vol. 2
Discover 1 of 16 individual minifigures in each sealed mystery bag! Each LEGO minifigure is inspired by movies, sports, history or everyday life. Your mystery minifigure might be one of the following: Life Guard, Karate Master, Explorer, Disco Dude, Witch, Weight Lifter, Vampire, Traffic Cop, Surfer, Spartan Warrior, Skier, Ringmaster, Pop Star, Pharaoh, Mime or Mariachi. Each minifigures includes special accessories, display plate and collector's leaflet. Your mystery minifigure might be: Life Guard, Karate Master, Explorer, Disco Dude, Witch, Weight Lifter, Vampire, Traffic Cop, Surfer, Spartan Warrior, Skier, Ringmaster, Pop Star, Pharaoh, Mime or Mariachi. A must-have for all LEGO minifigure collectors! These minifigures cannot be found in any LEGO set! PLEASE NOTE: Only 1 of 16 individual minifigures in each "mystery" bag. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for specific minifigures - and some minifigures may be more difficult to find than others. You may receive 2 or more of the same minifigures - trade with your friends to collect them all! A maximum of 16 minifigures may be ordered per address, per household.
Overall:
4
/
5
why can't they just tell us.....
Posted:September 17, 2010
Play Experience:
3
/
5
Value for Money:
2
/
5
" I spent 40 minutes trying to identify what was in each packet via the bar codes before buying to ensure I got a full set of 16. I mean, seriously, what can't Lego indicate what's in each packet? What does it benefit any one to "not know what they're getting?". And at the end of the day, it doesn't sound like too many of us are thrilled about the duplicates (unless it was the Spartan).
I have to say that there's some really interesting minifigs in this series, but overall, Series 1 was probably stronger. Having said that, the Spartan is superb, the skier is very nicely done and the Pharaoh really is unique.
Would I recommend this product? Of course! But on the proviso that you can get yourself to a toy shop and pick your own.....
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2found this review helpful.