Review: 76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank - Collectors' Edition
Posted by CapnRex101,75978 Diagon Alley was released to remarkable acclaim in 2020, providing an impressive variety of splendid shops. However, the iconic Gringotts Wizarding Bank was conspicuously absent, only building anticipation for this supplement to the original model.
The enormous 76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank - Collectors' Edition certainly seems worth waiting for! The focal building looks spectacular and combines neatly with the earlier shops, but can equally stand atop the underground network of vaults. This section seemingly maintains the standard of detail, adding some functions too.
Summary
76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank - Collectors' Edition, 4,803 pieces.
£369.99 / $429.99 / €429.99 | 7.7p/9.0c/9.0c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
The long-awaited Gringotts Wizarding Bank comes within a sticker of perfection!
- Innovative set design
- Fun and unique functions
- Extraordinary standard of detail
- Many clever references
- Superb character selection
- Seamless integration with Diagon Alley
- Unsightly gap on Gringotts sign
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Box and Contents
18+ branding is now firmly ensconced, but I would have been interested to see more traditional artwork for Gringotts Wizarding Bank, given its division between underground and the surface. Inside the box are 41 bags, numbered between one and 31, with four instruction manuals too. As usual, these and the sticker sheets are protected in a cardboard sleeve.
Three sticker sheets are provided, including fifty stickers in total. More printed elements would always be welcome and these sheets are obviously an intimidating prospect, although less so than the 109 stickers supplied with 75978 Diagon Alley. Additionally, the vast majority of these stickers are put to good use, adding smaller details and references to the structure.
Minifigures
Gringotts Wizarding Bank first appears in The Philosopher's Stone, when Harry Potter needs to withdraw funds to buy his Hogwarts supplies. This minifigure accordingly takes inspiration from that initial visit and returns from 75978 Diagon Alley, where it was included as a hidden bonus! Harry's chequered shirt looks good and the minifigure's generally unkempt appearance reflects the movie.
Rubeus Hagrid guides Harry on his shopping trip and also takes the opportunity to collect an intriguing item from the bank. The modern version of Hagrid was introduced in 2018 and there have been no changes to his standard design, which is understandable because the figure still looks marvellous, in my opinion. The unique body element includes perfectly sculpted pockets and the printed detail is lovely too.
Also, I like Hagrid's bushy hair piece, which can be removed to reveal a friendly face beneath. Harry's double-sided head is relatively new, appearing just once in 76243 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station before now. The young wizard carries a printed Galleon, many of which are found throughout the set, while Hagrid comes with his ubiquitous pink umbrella.
Harry Potter later returns to Gringotts in The Deathly Hallows, needing to recover and destroy one of Voldemort's various Horcruxes. While similar to past minifigures, this version of Harry is unique, including a new torso and double-sided head. The serious facial expression is unusual, although certainly appropriate, given the severity of the situation.
When infiltrating Gringotts, Harry hides under the invisibility cloak, which is sadly not provided here. Meanwhile, Ron disguises himself as Dragomir Despard, supposedly a Transylvanian wizard supportive of Lord Voldemort. The dark orange hair element is new in this colour and matches the onscreen character exactly, while the torso and legs are very detailed too. Also, I like Ron's nervous expression.
Hermione takes on the role of Bellatrix Lestrange, using Polyjuice Potion. Bellatrix minifigures commonly impress and this is probably my favourite yet, given the metallic silver decoration on her dress. The black hair component looks excellent and alternative hairstyles are provided for Hermione and Ron, representing wet hair after the Thief's Downfall washes away their magical disguises. Each character comes with a wand and Hermione's bottomless purse is included too, comprising a printed head and lavender flower.
Death Eater minifigures have appeared several times before and I think this edition, much like Bellatrix, is the best so far. The black hood appears fittingly sinister and I love the double-sided head, showing different metallic silver masks on each side. Both correspond with designs in the films and I hope the minifigure returns in a less expensive set for army building in future.
The printed robes look superb as well, although Griphook is even better, including decorated arms alongside an accurate torso. This recalls the Collectable Minifigure from a few years ago and the dual-moulded hair and ear component remains unchanged, still featuring lovely texture and corresponding with the character's appearance in The Deathly Hallows.
Griphook's double-sided head is anything but lovely though, including a sneering smile on one side and a hateful grimace on the other. This minifigure comes armed with the stunning Sword of Gryffindor, accurately incorporating trans-red rubies with sculpted detail on the hilt. Naturally, the Death Eater wields their wand.
Four more goblins are included, beginning with Bogrod, who guides Harry, Ron and Hermione down to the Lestrange vault. I love the dark bluish grey suit and the double-sided head is fairly detailed, although I think a vacant smile would have been more appropriate than this scowling design, in reference to his cheerful attitude when placed under the Imperius Curse.
Ricbert works as Gringotts' chief bank teller and his facial expression looks perfect, seemingly dubious about Bellatrix's identity. The black jacket and bow tie are also accurate, even though this torso was actually designed for Alfred Pennyworth in 76252 Batcave - Shadow Box. Each minifigure includes a dual-moulded hair and ear element, with white hair for this pair.
Bogrod's alternative face presumably alludes to his fate in the caves beneath Gringotts, while turning Ricbert's head around reveals a completely different design. The graphic designer has actually used the same double-sided head for a couple of goblins in this set, which some could consider disappointing, but works for lesser-known characters, in my opinion.
Two unnamed Goblins populate the bank as well, one of whom re-uses Ricbert's head. I like the unfriendly design on this character, including dark bluish grey eyebrows and matching the hair accordingly. The other goblin shares his double-sided head with the minifigure from 40598 Gringotts Vault and this element is another with two unique designs, rather than an alternative expression.
Conversely, these two workers are identically dressed. Their striped waistcoats look splendid, complete with metallic gold chains and pockets. Dual-moulded arms are a satisfying inclusion too, giving extra attention to minifigures that may otherwise have been relatively unremarkable. The inclusion of a dark orange version of the hair piece is also welcome.
Accessories are supplied with these four goblins. My favourite is the brick-built lantern inspired by The Philosopher's Stone, which includes grips underneath and on top for taller and shorter minifigures. This set also contains a pair of pearl gold keys to unlock the vaults, while Ricbert comes with another printed Galleon.
A pair of human Guards provide additional security, originating from The Deathly Hallows and wearing detailed uniforms. Their sand blue shirts and black straps seem accurate in relation to the movies, while the dark blue caps mostly reflect the onscreen characters. Ideally though, they would be adorned with silver badges.
The male guard includes an extremely generic head, often present in Super Heroes sets, while the female guard re-uses Reva's head from 75336 Inquisitor Transport Scythe. This medium brown element has only appeared once before and suits the Gringotts guard nicely, so I am pleased to encounter it again.
Unlike goblins, for whom the use of wands is harshly outlawed by the Ministry of Magic, these wizards do use conventional magic. Both minifigures are therefore equipped with black wands.
The Completed Model
Gringotts Wizarding Bank has tremendous presence on display, measuring 70cm in height, or even taller with the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon perched on top. I had my doubts about whether the combination of the dark underground and the more colourful surface would look impressive, especially given the abrupt transition between them, but I think the contrast is attractive.
The bank is constructed on a standard 32x32 baseplate, which has no connection points on the underside. The baseplate therefore rests on top of the underground base, nestled between 2x2 corner panels at each corner. These are perfectly spaced apart and the model feels completely stable, despite the comparatively slim column actually supporting Gringotts.
Of course, the above-ground buildings can be displayed separately. Gringotts looks marvellous on its own and I think the layout of these businesses on the baseplate is appealing, placing the bank at an appropriate angle, relative to its surroundings. Building outside the traditional LEGO grid sometimes affects stability, but the angled sections of Gringotts are firmly attached to those following the normal grid.
Furthermore, the adjoining building to the left of Gringotts is useful, beginning the transition to the rest of Diagon Alley. The below configuration is presented on the box and seems to be the main arrangement, with Quality Quidditch Supplies and Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes potentially attached too. This shape is much more expansive than the narrow street in the films, although the shops still look wonderful together.
The transition between Magical Menagerie and Flourish and Blotts Bookseller looks reasonable, aided by the wares presented outside both shops. Additionally, the dark tan pavement and grey cobbles match precisely, so their connection appears seamless from a distance, other than the different baseplate sizes.
Diagon Alley changes repeatedly between movies, depending on the needs of the story. The relative locations of Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Ollivanders, however, remain stationary in each film. Their relationship is therefore important and the two buildings are ideally positioned together when connected with a Technic pin, as recommended on the box.
Displaying the combined Diagon Alley in the above corner configuration needs a fairly specific space. Technic pins are accordingly included on the right of Gringotts, as well as in front of the bank. This arrangement is much more practical and still looks fantastic, but obviously sacrifices fidelity to the movies, particularly in relation to Ollivanders.
Even so, the alleyway works nicely. The entrance leads into Knockturn Alley down the side of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and roughly corresponds with the films. Moreover, I think the wall dividing one section of Diagon Alley from another reflects the labyrinthine nature of the various streets. This is only to be expected, since the roads and alleyways are several hundred years old.
The best solution to balance practicality with authenticity is to arrange everything in a line, as presented here. The layout of buildings looks good and there is plentiful space for minifigures standing outside the shops. Admittedly though, I think Magical Menagerie looks peculiar alone, with no shops alongside. Ultimately, no single configuration is faultless, but the varied options are welcome.
The building beside Gringotts is extremely narrow, but nonetheless manages to accommodate ample detail. As presented above, its height matches the structures in 75978 Diagon Alley and the side is finished properly, including recessed windows and continuing brickwork texture. The sign advertising 'fishy dinners' hangs outside Ollivanders in the films, but looks perfect here.
Another passageway runs between Magical Menagerie and Gringotts, but is incredibly narrow, so access is almost impossible. Maybe the smaller building should have been removable, thus creating room to place minifigures in the alley. Even so, the shop and its adjoining passage look realistic, despite certain functional issues for play.
An undecorated dark bluish grey cat forms a sign outside the shop, taking inspiration from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. The tiny rat on the cat's back is understandably absent, at this scale. The projecting window is accurate and a few animals are placed outside the shop, including two snakes, a frog and a printed Pygmy Puff. This piece has only appeared once before, in 76422 Diagon Alley: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
75978 Diagon Alley seized any opportunity to include a reference or subtle detail from the film series. This set maintains the trend and a sticker on the back of Magical Menagerie includes a number of newspaper clippings and posters from the Ministry of Magic. In addition, a Chocolate Frog and its associated printed trading card are hidden in the void underneath the shop.
Another sign is situated down the side of Magical Menagerie and faces towards the street, but this is rather difficult to see, so I have turned it around in the above image. The notices outside the door are even more obscured, advertising the arrival of Pygmy Puffs, but confirming that no more Nifflers are available. Of course, the actual door to the shop is equally hard to reach.
Fortunately, the minifigure-scale door is not the only entry point, as the entire rear wall can be detached. The interior is tiny and there are only a couple of items available to purchase, those being a flame yellowish orange Ashwinder egg and a pink brush. Magical Menagerie potentially warranted a larger building and more attention, but the limited room is used quite efficiently.
I like the contrast between the dark ground floor and the lighter stone above, especially since light bluish grey was relatively scarce across the shops in 75978 Diagon Alley. Also, the round turret provides an interesting shape and displays another advertisement, for the adjoining bank. The inclusion of the golden cup is fun, perhaps alluding to Helga Hufflepuff's cup in the vaults.
Another sticker is applied on the back, advertising fang brushes, like the one sold by Magical Menagerie. The scattered dark tan 1x2 profile bricks look nice, while this combination of sand green windows with the grey stone and black roof is similarly striking. Ideally, the roof would be more intricately detailed, but again, there is little space for complexity.
A section of the wall can be removed to view the interior, although unlike Magical Menagerie below, this panel is not large enough to place minifigures inside. Instead, the designers have hidden a printed newspaper and a bat in here, beside Justin Ramsden's trademark cardboard box. Assembled from a 2x2 brick and four 1x1 slopes, this appears in many of Justin's sets.
The precise layout of Diagon Alley changes between films and this set adheres closely to later instalments in the series, hence the entrance to a dark passageway is located beside the bank. The texture across this wall is excellent and continues from the neighbouring building, while the archway looks superb, topped with an attractive pediment.
While the other side of the wall is simpler, it remains completely finished and includes a couple more stickers. One recreates the Dark Mark and the other features several more posters and newspaper pages. My favourite is definitely the advertisement for the Lizard Belt, an unusual fashion accessory referenced in the Daily Prophet.
A barred door is also accessible from this side of the model, although this is primarily designed to be used from inside the bank. The transition from medium nougat bricks to tan is neat and a dark bluish grey carving is recessed into the wall. Again, the level of detail even in less notable areas of the broader set is remarkable.
The main entrance to Gringotts is famously crooked, which is recreated here. The columns do not actually serve any structural function, but they are secured at the top and bottom, so their angle is fixed. Oddly, the direction of these crooked columns is another feature that changes between the early Harry Potter movies and those released later. This model favours the latter films.
Sadly, there is a conspicuous gap in the word 'Gringotts' above the entrance, where two stickers join. This sign therefore looks awful and the gap is essentially unavoidable, even if the stickers are lined up exactly and placed as close to the edges of their respective 2x4 curved slopes as possible. Trimming the stickers would reduce the gap, but that should not be necessary.
Other than those stickers, the towering entrance portico is stunning. The three tiers of columns are faithful to the source material and the angled window on the top floor looks fantastic behind the crooked pillars. The black railings look nice as well and there is room to stand minifigures on each level, if you wish.
In addition to the main entrance, a simpler door is located on the side of the bank. The sticker on the door and the surrounding carved stone look great, but this door does not actually open because this secondary entrance only appears outside Gringotts and not inside. Nevertheless, I am pleased with this attention to detail, integrating a purely external feature.
The area above is beautifully detailed too, as a realistic drainpipe is attached to the side of the bank. A trans-light blue 1x1 round tile represents the puddle of water deposited underneath, on top of the side wall. There are a couple of exposed studs behind the drainpipe, as though pieces have been left off accidentally. In fact, there is no space for a tile on these brackets, so the tiled pattern looks unfinished.
One more advertisement decorates this section of Gringotts, promoting Pumpkin Juice. Again, the old-fashioned style of the advertisement seems completely at home within the Harry Potter universe. Oddly, a golden statuette and a red mug are found behind the wall panel and they are obviously not intended to be accessed, as some disassembly would be required.
White tiles are used to outstanding effect across the exterior, recreating the brickwork from the onscreen location very well. The bands of light bluish grey look marvellous and I love how 2x3 pentagonal tiles are integrated near the front, following the shape of the brickwork. In addition, the windows are splendid, each decorated with a sticker, one of which shows a goblin peeking from behind the curtains.
Similar to the buildings in 75978 Diagon Alley, the rear of Gringotts Wizarding Bank is open for easy access to the interior. The white floor appears suitably ornate, accented with tan and dark bluish grey bands, while the arrangement of the desks makes efficient use of space. Ideally, the interior would be closer to symmetrical, but that would complicate the design enormously.
The central desk is only connected to the base via three studs, so can be detached to reach those along the sides of the foyer. The 1x2 bricks with scroll decorating the desks look lovely and the spherical lamps are taken directly from the movies. Moreover, the desks are designed specifically for a goblin to stand behind them, taking account of these minifigures' short legs.
2x4 half-cylinder bricks constitute the marble columns inside Gringotts Wizarding Bank, several of which are beautifully printed. Only one printed design is actually included, although inverting the bricks gives the impression of more variety. The reflective stickers forming windows in here are striking, while the aforementioned barred door is accessible from the interior, recreating the secure entrance to the vaults.
The interior is lined with spectacular chandeliers in The Deathly Hallows. Only one is included here, although this example captures the desired shape and the trans-clear pieces look great. However, given the prominence of these chandeliers in the movies, I think a bigger and more detailed version could have been appealing.
Gringotts' cavernous interior leaves limited room on the upper floors. Even so, the designers have included a writing desk for a goblin and various items are also stored in here. The open rear wall provides adequate access to place minifigures inside, but a substantial section of the roof can be removed as well, which allows more natural light into the bank.
This desk is simpler than those on the ground floor, although the continued use of black pieces is effective. In addition, I like the books stacked in the corner, but most eye-catching is certainly the stickered painting on the wall, depicting an early goblin minifigure. This red-attired minifigure appeared in 4714 Gringotts Bank, more than twenty years ago.
A wall safe is located beside the portrait, decorated with another sticker. Inside is a printed 1x2 tile, representing the confidential letter written by Albus Dumbledore and delivered to Gringotts when Hagrid visits. LEGO Harry Potter designers consistently seem to find room for referential features like this one, which are appreciated.
Additional valuables are stored on a stone ledge opposite the office, including a wooden chest laden with printed Galleons and golden cups. Further gold ingots are heaped alongside, one of which has seemingly fallen to the ledge underneath. Also, another sticker decorated the window above the chest, this one displaying a bat.
Unsurprisingly, the roof continues the high standard of detail evident throughout this set. The combination of sand green and light bluish grey parts appears authentic, especially given the mixture of studded and smooth surfaces. The shattered skylight also looks amazing, although another trans-clear 3x6 windscreen would have been useful, providing an option to repair the window if you prefer.
The proportions of the sand green dome atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank are fairly accurate to the movies, although this structure would ideally be slightly wider than the portico underneath. However, few options for constructing a strong dome are available, so 4x4 quarter domes and 1x4x3 curved slopes suffice. Furthermore, the pearl gold finial looks excellent, topped with an appropriate four-pointed weather vane.
Another room is found beneath the dome, essentially dedicated entirely to Easter eggs! These are very satisfying though, beginning with a stickered 2x2 tile that shows the relative values of coins in the wizarding world. A blackboard records the four sets featuring versions of Gringotts, from 4714 Gringotts Bank onwards. I like this homage to past sets, but there is a mistake in the Roman numerals for 76417, which instead read 70417.
The blackboard on the other side is particularly fun and displays a suggested alternative mine cart design from the instructions for 4714 Gringotts Bank. The parchment on the desk similarly acknowledges older sets, illustrating the original LEGO coins, which were produced in groups of four and attached to sprues. A new coin is placed alongside for comparison.
Moving underground, I was convinced the transition between the baseplate and the structure beneath would be troublesome. However, this base is cleverly designed with four supports for the baseplate, narrowing to the central pillar and looking surprisingly realistic. I wonder whether a similar building technique could be used for Wayne Manor and the Batcave in the future.
As mentioned earlier, Gringotts looks wonderful when displayed independently or attached to 75978 Diagon Alley. The same cannot necessarily be said for this underground structure, so I understand why some would rather this had been omitted altogether, if you are planning to link Gringotts with the previous shops. On the other hand, the vaults are an integral feature of the bank and they are ingeniously designed.
The whole structure essentially comprises a pair of interlocking frames. These stand on their side and feel incredibly strong once the Technic beams are attached at either end, seemingly supporting the considerable weight of Gringotts with ease. Moreover, this construction method requires far fewer pieces than an equivalent creation with studs on top.
Minifigures cannot actually move between the surface and the caverns underground, but there is a stickered door that could represent an entrance. The light bluish grey platform between the door and the waiting mine cart is surprisingly narrow and could have been wider, although studs allow minifigures to stand securely on the platform.
The mine cart rests against a black buffer and remains in place, although it can be dislodged more easily than I would hope. Ideally, there would be a dedicated mechanism to release this vehicle, similar to stoppers found outside the vaults below. Admittedly though, that would have been difficult to achieve because it would involve angling a small section of track.
Similar to Diagon Alley above, there are differences between the mine carts as shown in The Philosopher's Stone and The Deathly Hallows. This design combines the sources and makes exemplary use of wheel inserts from Speed Champions and saucer elements, forming the two layers of wheels visible in both movies. The huge headlight, meanwhile, adheres more to the cart's later appearance.
For complete accuracy, the wheels on the mine cart should wrap around the rails. Of course, that would entail the creation of a new track system, which is neither practical nor necessary when pearl dark grey roller coaster track is available. The cart runs nicely down the track and around the vaults in the centre, where retractable Technic stoppers are positioned.
These are controlled by raising and lowering the light bluish grey paddles outside each vault, connected to a couple of Technic gears. As the name suggests, these stoppers hold the mine cart firmly in place, even when the vehicle is fully loaded with minifigures. There is easily room for two characters, although you can squeeze a third in for display, as demonstrated below.
Vault number 687 belongs to the Potter family, which comes as a shock to Harry. An identifying sticker is accordingly applied above the door and the vault's colour scheme is effective, clearly distinguishing this feature from the predominantly dark bluish grey rocks. The archway around the entrance is elegant and the sticker on the door closely resembles the onscreen door.
Opening the vault reveals heaps of coins inside. Each stack is topped with another decorated Galleon and these amply demonstrate Harry's unexpected wealth, even though the interior is very shallow. I think there may have been a means of extending the chamber into the central column, although doing so would naturally complicate the aforementioned interlocking frames.
Harry's vault is moderately deep, although nowhere near the base of the caverns, so the cart continues further. Trans-yellow lanterns are placed along the route and the rocks in the centre are intricately detailed, featuring a broad selection of slopes and other textured pieces. The few olive green accents are striking in particular.
The trans-light blue and dark azure waterfall stands out as well. Dubbed the Thief's Downfall, this security measure washes away enchantments and should douse the track, but is instead attached to the wall beside vault 713 here. I can certainly imagine a more elaborate version of the waterfall encompassing the track, although this simpler recreation suffices.
The enigmatic Philosopher's Stone is kept inside vault 713, represented by a trans-red jewel. The stone is wrapped in paper during the film and the standard sack element seems ideal for this role. Unfortunately, space inside the vault is again restricted, so there is only enough room for a tiny accessory like this gemstone.
Following the track towards the base of the caverns, the mine cart passes a stickered plaque commemorating the foundation of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, in 1474. This section of the rock face is otherwise noticeably lacking in detail compared with other areas of the structure, so the golden plaque introduces a much-needed point of interest.
Finally, the track passes through an archway and reaches the Lestrange family vault, which is correctly positioned in the deepest section of the network. I like the medium nougat brickwork supporting the track under the arch, which provides another instance of contrast between the natural stone and artificial additions to the caves.
The stickers applied on each vault door are on the same sheet as the reflective window stickers placed inside the bank, so share their shiny finish. Only the entrance to Bellatrix's vault actually shows that finish though, which does look strange. On the other hand, perhaps this hints at the importance and sinister nature of its contents.
Helga Hufflepuff's cup is found inside, transformed into a Horcrux by Lord Voldemort. A sticker depicts some other valuables in the corner, but the cup is suitably prominent and connected to the back wall using a clip. The wall is angled forwards and actually forms part of an unexpected function, not displayed in any official images or even on the packaging.
Items in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault are affected by the Gemino Curse, which causes them to duplicate rapidly when touched. Pressing the cup thus releases a cascade of other pearl gold and pearl silver cups from a storage space in the ceiling, ingeniously recreating this scene from the film! Collecting the accessories afterwards is awkward though, with so little room to reach inside.
Cups are loaded through a diamond-shaped hole in the side of the vault, blended quite nicely with the surrounding textured rocks. Sixteen cups are supplied and this is definitely enough to create the desired doubling effect, without the loading process becoming tedious. In addition, I have not encountered any problems with cups getting stuck when this function is activated.
40598 Gringotts Vault connects to the bank via the Technic pins shown below, after removing the 2x3 tile with clips serving as a buffer. Thankfully, the black Technic pin blends into the dark rocks and can be easily detached if you prefer. A box containing pearl gold clankers is provided nearby too, which are used to ward off the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon with their ringing sound.
Before reaching the Ukrainian Ironbelly, however, we can first discover a smaller animal deep beneath Gringotts. A spider with a pink brush are hidden on the underside of the underground structure, in reference to the fang brushes advertised behind Magical Menagerie! Crystals and other things are similarly stashed in voids like this one, which are designed to be inaccessible once construction is complete.
Vaults with the highest level of security, including the Lestrange vault, are protected by a fierce Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon. A sticker recording the dragon's feeding schedule is thus placed on the wall, between a skull and a pitchfork. Furthermore, a pearl silver chain is included and does connect to matching chains on the dragon itself.
The dragon measures 35cm in length when its head and tail are fully extended, which is very large in relation to the room available. However, posing the Ukrainian Ironbelly carefully gives the desired impression of movement through the caves on display, particularly with the dragon crawling around the corner, towards Bellatrix's vault.
I think the proportions of the dragon look fantastic, closely resembling the imprisoned creature from the movie. The colour scheme of white and light bluish grey, with tan spines, is appealing as well, again corresponding with the source material. This pale colour combination represents an interesting departure from other LEGO dragons too, which often combine brighter shades.
Beyond its considerable length of 35cm, the Ironbelly's wingspan can reach almost 40cm! The fabric wings look magnificent and are able to fold, which provides multiple options for display. Also, the wings, head and tail are connected to the body with ball joints, thereby allowing an exceptional range of motion.
The head is constructed around two new elements, developed specifically for the Ukrainian Ironbelly. The narrow shape of the snout and lower jaw are accordingly faithful to the animal presented in the film, as expected. I like the spines towards the back of the head and printing introduces further detail on either side, including pale eyes, nostrils and some scars.
Despite the presence of numerous versatile joints, posing the dragon can sometimes be quite difficult. The legs are positioned far behind the Ironbelly's centre of mass, hence the wings are often required to stabilise the model. I wonder whether these could accordingly have featured a couple more joints along the leading edges of the wings, without spoiling the fabric.
However, the legs are able to move outwards, as well as back and forth, which can be helpful for stability. The tail is similarly useful when balancing this dragon and incorporates a series of tan spikes, which continue from the body. Harry, Ron and Hermione cling to these spikes when making their escape in The Deathly Hallows, but must instead grip 1x2 plates with bars on this model, visible on the dragon's back in the image above.
After escaping the underground caverns and crashing through the Gringotts foyer, the dragon stands atop the dome and prepares to fly. This memorable scene can be accurately recreated using clips hidden on the Ironbelly's feet, which connect to bars on the dome. The combination looks absolutely spectacular and this is certainly how I intend to display the bank.
This method of attaching the Ukrainian Ironbelly is ingenious, although I wish the legs could move outwards slightly further, so the feet could wrap realistically around the dome. Even so, the claws are individually articulated and these can be adjusted as though partly grasping the building, which is a reasonable compromise.
Three pearl gold Galleons complete the set, represented by printed 3x3 round tiles and included to join the large accessories in 76391 Hogwarts Icons - Collectors' Edition. Their presence feels unnecessary, but the coins look nice and I applaud the Harry Potter team for using their budget well, allowing fun additions like these coins or the ticket in 76405 Hogwarts Express - Collectors' Edition.
Overall
75978 Diagon Alley is among my favourite recent sets and I have been looking forward to the inevitable arrival of a compatible recreation of Gringotts. Waiting for three years has served to increase expectations, so I am glad to report that 76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank - Collectors' Edition is even more remarkable than I had hoped, particularly given the underground details.
Above ground, Gringotts maintains the high standard of the previous wizarding shops, despite the irritating gap in the sign on the front. The caverns below are perhaps more notable though, providing an entirely different building experience and also involving some enjoyable functions. The price of £369.99, $429.99 or €429.99 is admittedly expensive, but I think the massive scale and high quality of this model justify the purchase.
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85 comments on this article
The Death Eater and the dragon look great to me as a non-Potter fan, but I suppose they're unlikely to be easily (cheaply) available split from the set. The set overall seems like Ninjago City-level of awesome, but just not in my interest range.
That main sticker is terrible. Trimming off the inside edges and clipping off some of the gold outline from both Ts will allow you to get the stickers close enough to replicate the very close kerning of the rest of the letters, BUT:
1 - as you mention, shouldn't be necessary, and
2 - will be very difficult to do perfectly given the tiny tolerances required, and the difficulty (for me anyway) of placing stickers on the very, very edge of LEGO elements.
I'm glad, for my wallet's sake, I'm not a Potthead.
This is one of the rare occasions when a STAMP would have been preferable.
(STicker Across Multiple Parts)
Just amazing!
I don’t think “seamless integration with diagon alley” is accurate. You’re going to need to discard roughly 1/3 of this set and integrate only the above ground section of this set, or do a lot of arranging on your shelf setup to integrate all of both sets.
As usual, I read the review on Brickset and now I need to buy it.
This was a day one purchase for me. Love this set. Weird Lego did develop two new parts for the dragon’s head but refused to do the same for a new big bow part for the Gringott’s logo.
What is next for Diagon Alley?
The goblins aren’t immediately recognizable as Harry Potter goblins without the nose IMO, it’s like doing a LEGO Watto without his nose molded or printed on. But, in light of the Hogwarts Legacy controversies and even just to save on new molds, it’s probably wisest that they don’t include the nose nonetheless.
I dunno if the price is all there to me; the bank certainly towers over the pervious modulars, but at $450 for 75978, each of those 4 modulars comes out to $112.50. Looking at the bank with the dragon and that in mind, I can see maybe $200. $230 tops. Is the underground part really worth $200 then? I don't think so.
It feels extremely expensive to me, even with the price per piece. Assuming Gringotts is Modular-worthy and thus worth $230 (and even then it’s open in the back) I can’t see $200 in the cave system and dragon.
Maybe the wider alley is better,navigating Diagon alley is a nightmare at universal studios in florida
If only they left out those three printed Galleons and instead made a good pair of printed pieces for the Gringotts sign.... I mean, if other brands can make flawless prints over multiple pieces, why can't Lego? It's bad enough that they put profit over quality by using stickers in the first place, but these terrible stickers is just adding insult to injury....
Other than that, I'm not that much of a Harry Potter fan, but I do very much like this. Wonderful display piece, especially on that stand.
@ACubeInABox said:
"It feels extremely expensive to me, even with the price per piece. Assuming Gringotts is Modular-worthy and thus worth $230 (and even then it’s open in the back) I can’t see $200 in the cave system and dragon. "
Wow yeah, it seemed okay to me until you broke it down like that.
I'm gonna need to see how the bank is built, the angles are crazy
"We had a deal, Griphook!"
"The cup for the sword! I said I'd get you in. I didn't say anything about getting you out."
Fun trivia, the Les Misérables film with Hugh Jackman actually recycled the Diagon Alley set with Gringotts prominently for the streets of Paris in the barricades scene. So if a MOC builder really into film adaptations of musicals wants their Les-Mis barricades... here's your base.
Having just been to the Diagon Alley recreation at Universal Studios Orlando, I think it looks great.
A nice display option for this would be to have a shelf with the entire row of Diagon Alley buildings, including this one, and to then have a shelf underneath that where you can display the cave section directly underneath Gringott's along with some other HP sets to fill out the sides of that shelf.
Gringot ts!
Very tempting but no place for it.
Now time to rewatch to Gringott visits.
I Just have to say: excellent review. I hardly ever comment any reviews. But this deserves an appreciation. Well done, really. Thank you. I will wait for a 30% discount even if it means I never buy this.
Dang, this has to be one of the longest reviews on the site.
This theme gets an amount of love like no other - I really appreciate it. Always unique prints for every character, even the smallest variation. I wish Marvel got this much love haha
I think George, Justin, and the rest of the team knocked it out of the park. I really really like this model.
But how does it fit with 76422? I was really hoping we were going to basically get a modular Diagon Alley.
@Zink said:
"It is insane to me that even details like windows can be stickers now. Horrid."
Stickers on windows have been a thing for decades. I'm working on 6339 and it has some.
@Huw said:
"This is one of the rare occasions when a STAMP would have been preferable.
(STicker Across Multiple Parts)"
I wonder how long it will be before one of the 3rd party sticker producers offers just that (if they haven't already)!
The underground build should of been an equivalent of 'DLC' available to purchase separately for those that wanted it.
@Zink said:
"Will all comments mentioning the antisemitic undertones of this setting in the source material be deleted by staff again?"
What bothers me more is Legos double standard in values. Why is a theme created by a known bigot getting so much shelf space? Profit. But you can’t separate the art from the artist when the artist still uses her profits and fame to push harmful rhetoric.
Personal gripes aside, I’d have liked to see a shot in this review that goes through the alley, since you can create an enclosed street, and as a modular fan that sounds interesting to see.
@Emmafofemma said:
"(...)Why is a theme created by a known bigot getting so much shelf space? (...)"
LEGO hides behind a few degrees of separation, claiming they're making sets based on the films, not the books by the unpleasant author.
Your worthy words will not go down well around here, but thank you for speaking up.
(Comment deletion and\or comment-section-closed incoming!)
Once the GWP vault went out of stock I decided this one will wait for another day.
Thank you as always for the detailed review. Even if I don't intend to buy a set, I just love reading Brickset's thorough pictorial coverage of them. It's a whole fun experience in and of itself.
@mtpelepele said:
"But how does it fit with 76422? I was really hoping we were going to basically get a modular Diagon Alley. "
I'm still not entirely sure why 76422 exists, since the same building is still available in 75978.
There have not been any comments posted that require deletion, yet. Please keep it that way.
There is no need to discuss the book author's views again. Brickset is not the place.
@bananaworld said:
"(Comment deletion and\or comment-section-closed incoming!)"
I really hope not. It's getting tiresome to see the same people weaponizing the largely hands-off nature of the comment section here just to forcibly shut down the entire article. It's pretty obvious that's the entire point, too. Not only does it not win over any converts, but it damages any message they're trying to send.
@PurpleDave If pointing out fair criticism is enough to drive someone away to an idea, they were never open to the idea in the first place. Pretty sure review spaces are exactly what criticism and nuance are for. Example: This set needs less stickers
I like the design of the white building. Other than the crooked bits.
Nice review. I will wait for discount because it's what I do now.
Really excited to build this and add it to my Alley. Would've like to see the GWP added to the set in review images.
Now, they need a modern Knockturn and Leaky Cauldron. I originally made my own Cauldron by using two sets of 4193: The London Escape.
@Emmafofemma said:
" @PurpleDave If pointing out fair criticism is enough to drive someone away to an idea, they were never open to the idea in the first place. Pretty sure review spaces are exactly what criticism and nuance are for. Example: This set needs less stickers"
I've seen it happen often enough that it's clear the goal isn't to have a discussion. The goal is to end it, and quickly. It's gone beyond trying to sway people to their side. Your message can be that we need to have world peace, and you can tell it to everyone you meet, but if you start it off by punching them in the face, it only drives people away.
@Reventon said:
"I like the design of the white building. Other than the crooked bits."
If you want to un-crooked it, that's your business, but I doubt they'll ever release another minifig-scale set based on this building that doesn't have crooked features. And if they do, the remaining fans will throw an epic fit.
@PurpleDave said:
" @Reventon said:
"I like the design of the white building. Other than the crooked bits."
If you want to un-crooked it, that's your business, but I doubt they'll ever release another minifig-scale set based on this building that doesn't have crooked features. And if they do, the remaining fans will throw an epic fit."
I meant the design in general. I couldn’t care less about Harry Potter.
@Reventon:
Yeah, I figured that was the case, because if you were a fan, you’d probably prefer it with the crooked bits. Probably.
@PurpleDave how are people supposed to engage in discussion -instead of shutting down the conversation about an 18+ model- when it’s explicitly not allowed on a space dedicated to talking about these sets and their source material to begin with? If there’s no room for discussion on the website dedicated to talking about these things, how can you claim a discussion doesn’t *want* to be had by those being vocal?
@Emmafofemma:
If you haven't figured that out over the last 3.5 years, I'm not sure I'm capable of explaining it to you. I'm not sure anyone is.
@PurpleDave it’s okay that you don’t know, but let’s not frame it like no one is capable of explaining something to me. That’s rather rude and uncalled for. If you would like to explain your stance, I’m all ears. Otherwise just say you don’t know.
Interesting that the pin connectors on the right side of the building (and at least the back pin of the left side) appear to meet the Modular Building standard if I'm counting my studs right. Has anyone tried to display the Gringotts building alongside any modulars? I imagine it might look a little goofy in the middle of a street, but I think it has the potential to look quite good as an endpiece at the left end of a street.
This set wasn't originally going to be on my radar (despite looking awesome) but the ability to mix it in to my modular display may bump up its priority.
Great build but I can already hear the parts bending underneath over the time.
@CapnRex101, The 'Conclusion' photograph is absolutely stunning!
It's not THAT hard to take any discussion outside the set in question to the Brickset Forums?
With that sign, it really should be Gringot Trade & Savings Bank.
Witches + jet exhaust = pumpkin and banana juice!
The set is nice, but way too expensive for me - as many others I think they should've gone the "Jabba's Palace + Rancor Pit" route and sold the above and underground as separate sets. @CapnRex101 - I presume you won't bother to count the number of parts, but would it be possible to weigh the sections separately so we can get a loose impression of how much money went into each?
@Emmafofemma said:
" @PurpleDave it’s okay that you don’t know, but let’s not frame it like no one is capable of explaining something to me. That’s rather rude and uncalled for. If you would like to explain your stance, I’m all ears. Otherwise just say you don’t know. "
Jesus Christ! Let it go! Aren't there other forums for knee-jerk reactions??
@Emmafofemma said:
" @PurpleDave If pointing out fair criticism is enough to drive someone away to an idea, they were never open to the idea in the first place. Pretty sure review spaces are exactly what criticism and nuance are for. Example: This set needs less stickers"
OK let's see if you are open to criticism and nuance...
it should be, this set needs *fewer* stickers
@Huw said:
" There is no need to discuss the book author's views again. Brickset is not the place."
Alright, I'll bite: where *is* the place? Like it or not, her views and becoming more and more hateful by the day, and the profits from these sets (even with the middleman of WB) *are* going to her, to the point where she's boasted about her income from merch in recent years.
Is this not a valid complaint when it comes to the set (and all other HP sets), that despite best of intentions the money spent on them *is* knowingly going towards a figure of hate speech? Is this not something that causes a moment of pause, let alone a negative mark against it?
Brickset's articles and communication with TLG have been a forefront for positive change in the past, so to see the buck stop at challenging Rowling's views is a disservice to the AFOL community to say the least - both in general and as a trans woman myself, feeling the direct impact of her views being used to try and justify outlawing my existence.
Please, you've got the biggest possible platform for it, take the opportunity with both hands instead of just brushing it under the carpet.
@axeleng:
Bananas are Minions, not witches.
@Ayliffe said:
" @Huw said:
" There is no need to discuss the book author's views again. Brickset is not the place."
Alright, I'll bite: where *is* the place?"
https://forum.brickset.com/categories/off-topic
@Lamarider said:
" @Ayliffe said:
" @Huw said:
" There is no need to discuss the book author's views again. Brickset is not the place."
Alright, I'll bite: where *is* the place?"
https://forum.brickset.com/categories/off-topic
"
See, I really wish I could live in in a world where this could be considered off-topic, but the reality is you simply can't separate the topic of her views from the sets - money from this and the theme *is* going into JKR's pocket, actively being used to damage trans lives. That's the sad, honest truth of the matter.
It's a hard thing to come to terms with, for sure, and I did initially hesitate with dropping HP sets when she first started showing her hand several years ago - but as she's doubled, tripled and quadrupled down on those views since, hindsight's shown that was the best thing I could've done.
And for me, trying to separate her from the products? It's like telling a pig not to worry about where bacon comes from - at the end of the day I'm a person, and one at the receiving end of her ire at that. I don't *want* to be the party pooper, but at the same time I can't stay silent either - and the more folks speak up, the better.
@Lamarider said:
"https://forum.brickset.com/categories/off-topic"
Except... that doesn't really have the same reach, does it? Here, on an article on the front page, many more people are going to see it, and perhaps some will consider whether they really want to support someone financially who keeps expressing abhorrent views, and, in turn, financially supports some people who don't think trans people should even exist.
Why shouldn't that be discussed out in the open?
@Ayliffe said:
"(...) at the end of the day I'm a person, and one at the receiving end of her ire at that. I don't *want* to be the party pooper, but at the same time I can't stay silent either - and the more folks speak up, the better."
Round here, as so many parts of the internet, it's very "First they came...", where people can't imagine themselves in another person's shoes. They doublethink their way into convincing themselves that buying Harry Potter LEGO is ok (I even, shamefully, did it once myself) so have cloth ears for anybody who isn't in their group, but thank you for speaking up nonetheless.
@Ayliffe said:
"And for me, trying to separate her from the products? It's like telling a pig not to worry about where bacon comes from "
No, it's like demanding that *every* review of a non-vegan restaurant would mention as a con that the restaurant supports animal cruelty, regardless of the views of the reviewer.
(FWIW, I am very much not a vegan....I am a cruel person, can't deny that)
I am very much with you when it comes to my opinion of J.K. Rowling. But at the same time, I feel a review should look at the product itself as objectively as possible, and at least attempt to limit personal bias to a minimum. And one way to do that is to just stick to the product itself, and keep external factors out.
This review covers this specific Lego set. Not Lego as a company, not WB, not the movies, not the books, not the author of it all, not her favorite brand of coffee. None of that should influence if this is either a good or a bad set. A good set is a good set.
But if you have (valid!) personal reasons not to buy it, that's up to you, not the reviewer.
@EvilTwin
Hey thanks! I will definitely use “fewer” next time. Though that doesn’t negate my point, lol. Kinda funny tbh.
Edit: also, I accepted your criticism towards me^. So accept I have criticism toward this model and don’t act like grammar defeats someone’s point, not everyone’s first language is English.
@WizardOfOss
Let's follow your thought experiment: imagine a restaurant where the food is excellent, but you know that the owner of the restaurant believes non-white people should never have been allowed to sit at the front of the bus.
Do you still eat there?
Cons: purchasing this set supports a known and vocal bigot.
I like the look of this set and I'm not a Harry Potter fan. I'd love to know how this looks with other non hp modulars, the measurements of the bank alone would be good to know.
It reminds me a little of the shop/house in Little Dorrit, the one that subsides.
This reminds me of some comments I came across when the Queen died. Everyone decided they had to express an opinion of whether they liked her or not, or what monarchy represented rather than just paying respect.
The price is eyewatering though.
@dimc said:
"Cons: purchasing this set supports a known and vocal bigot. "
Give this person the vacant reviewer's job!
@bananaworld said:
" @dimc said:
"Cons: purchasing this set supports a known and vocal bigot. "
Give this person the vacant reviewer's job!"
LOL you really don't want me doing this.
Cons: Buying this set (any) supports the use of fossil fuels and climate change.
@LegoSims
I did NOT expect the hypocritical bigots of LGB Alliance to show up, but here you are. Remember: there were, AND STILL ARE, plenty of people who feel about you the way you feel about trans people. You're on another planet if you can't see the parallels.
@Huw
It's time. I'm sorry for my part in this comment section's downfall (again) but I can't be sorry for speaking up.
@LegoSims it’s LGBTQ, not LGB.
*Sigh* You know, I wish I could actually enjoy themes with such a high production value. Instead here we are because of bigotry.
@bananaworld said:
" @LegoSims
I did NOT expect the hypocritical bigots of LGB Alliance to show up, but here you are. Remember: there were, AND STILL ARE, plenty of people who feel about you the way you feel about trans people. You're on another planet if you can't see the parallels.
@Huw
It's time. I'm sorry for my part in this comment section's downfall (again) but I can't be sorry for speaking up."
I'm always surprised to see some people come open their mouths and spew awful stuff, when shutting up is entirely free.
BS is Huw's site, and he can run it how he likes, but it's important to note what supporting HP sets means. You have no idea who may be reading and not commenting.
I applaud Lego for making such unique set. It really stands out! That facade on the bank looks really cool, I will try to use this technique in my moc. Also, @huw - THANK YOU so much for the option to hide comments from selected users!
I feel like they should have done what they did with the last Jabba's Palace model and have the above ground and underground sections released as two separate models. While they do look great on display as one tall narrow piece, and I truly admire the engineering of getting such a large model stable on such a narrow column, I'm afraid that the biggest Potterheads who already have Diagon Alley are just gonna be left with a useless underground section once they've added the bank to their display. That, and the bank is a bit...small compared to the Diagon Alley buildings. I would've preferred the budget had gone into making it more of a grandiose building, inside and out.
Having said that, I was never the target audience for this, but I do really enjoy the two little references to the original 2002 Gringotts - not just the portrait of the classic goblin, but also the sand green sticker on the door of the safe. Also noteworthy is the legoification of the galleon design, using the classic 90s dragon. A really charming thing overall.
When I heard the rumours about this set, I thought it would be like 76218, a set that could work in the modular collection. So I was disappointed to see the underground bit. That and the price made me question getting it.
@thor96 said:
"(...) THANK YOU so much for the option to hide comments from selected users!"
...and THANK YOU for indicating that you wish to have your comments hidden! But, or course, you won't see this so... WIN WIN
@bananaworld said:
"
...and THANK YOU for indicating that you wish to have your comments hidden! But, or course, you won't see this so... WIN WIN
"
...and nothing of value was lost.
I too have been blocked, which is great. Someone who thinks humans don't deserve human rights is, well, they're something special.
@bananaworld said:
" @WizardOfOss
Let's follow your thought experiment: imagine a restaurant where the food is excellent, but you know that the owner of the restaurant believes non-white people should never have been allowed to sit at the front of the bus.
Do you still eat there?"
I likely wouldn't spend a dime there, but when it comes to rating the food it can only go two ways: I still go and rate the food as highly as it deserves, or I don't go and simply cannot rate (and thus not criticize) the food.
And sure, you could say I have to rate the restaurant rather than the food, but that's like reviewing TLG instead of just this specific set. And I'm probably not the only one here who likes Lego the Product, but not so much Lego the Company.
But now we're still getting into a discussion, which wasn't my intent. So I rather keep it at this, before Huw sees reason to shut down the comment section ;-)
@Zink said:
" @dimc said:
" @Zink said:
"It is insane to me that even details like windows can be stickers now. Horrid."
Stickers on windows have been a thing for decades. I'm working on 6339 and it has some. "
You definitely misunderstood. I'm not talking about stickered details on windows (which also should be unacceptable from the market leader) but the window itself IS THE STICKER. I'm talking about the ones with the green curtains."
Why so I did. Yeah, that's not good. Making a 3-wide window can't be that hard.
You could use the argument to boycott Lego entirely.
And I got death threats on fanfic.net for daring to mention one of my JA fics had been plagarised and I managed to stop Amazon from selling it.
Where do you draw the line? And at what point do you argue for tolerance and then become a hypocrite?
@mtpelepele said:
"But how does it fit with 76422? I was really hoping we were going to basically get a modular Diagon Alley. "
We do have a modular Diagon Alley, which now includes 76417, but it starts with 75978 rather than 76422.
@daniellesa said:
"When I heard the rumours about this set, I thought it would be like 76218, a set that could work in the modular collection. So I was disappointed to see the underground bit. That and the price made me question getting it."
The top half detaches from the underground bit and fits in perfectly with the modular building system, just like its predecessor(s) in 75978. The only downside to 76417 is the lack of an enclosed back, which one can achieve with the previous Diagon Alley set by lining the buildings up back-to-back, two-by-two.
That was a long read :)
Potter heads will get it, but I find 50+ stickers to be too much for the asking price, and the fact it's not compatible with the rest of the series without throwing away half of the product is a big minus. Impressive at first glance, I don't think it'll be remembered a decade from now as a notable set.
As a side meta note, I don't understand why did Brickset decided to split the small "The Insect Collection" review to 3 parts but not this one, which is two large sets combined so makes sense to split.
@Zink said:
"I don't understand why people turn a blind eye and say criticism of the author doesn't belong here. The set is based on the things she's being criticized for. Like this exact setting. LEGO has made minifigs of her weird racial stereotypes, right in this set! Why shouldn't a mention of that belong here? Why do people bend over backwards to shield her from criticism?"
MANY people are not comfortable with discomfort. Being told that enjoying a thing you have enjoyed for years, and potentially included as part of your identity (who among us hasn't done a house quiz), is a problem is going to cause some real internal conflict. So rather than reflect and consider things from other perspectives, they double down on it and defend.
Obviously, people are free to like what they like. But standing up and saying "I support this thing/person who is causing harm to group X" is not a good look. But we're all multitudes, and I'm sure we contribute to harm in plenty of other ways. Personally, I'm done with all things HP (at least in terms of buying; I do still own some from earlier, more naive times). It's a decision that I've made, to vote with my dollars, and they're better off elsewhere.
@ForestMenOfEndor said:
" @daniellesa said:
"When I heard the rumours about this set, I thought it would be like 76218, a set that could work in the modular collection. So I was disappointed to see the underground bit. That and the price made me question getting it."
The top half detaches from the underground bit and fits in perfectly with the modular building system, just like its predecessor(s) in 75978. The only downside to 76417 is the lack of an enclosed back, which one can achieve with the previous Diagon Alley set by lining the buildings up back-to-back, two-by-two."
Would it follow then to buy two and put them back to back? Or would that not work? Ignoring the bottom half.
Lego seem fond of not including a back or proper backing. It's annoying, but usually you can fix it with extra bricks.
We are of course open to people discussing their opinions of Rowling as long as they are respectful of others and relate to the set, but personal attacks and evident bigotry will not be tolerated in any way.
We will delete comments that display that and if it comes to be too much, the thread will need to be closed, which we don't want to have to do again. I hope you all understand, and stay focused on the set reviewed please.
Thanks!
The moderator on this thread is doing an incredibly horrible job. Either block the inane JK bullying on these set reviews, or stop doing them at all.
Allowing ideological bullies (with unjustified name-calling) to take over this discussion is pathetic. Allow both sides of the discussion or limit it to Lego. Let's just limit it to the damned Lego!
I don't come here to read all this uneducated uniformed, knee-jerk, rabble-rousing clap trap.
@StyleCounselor said:
"The moderator on this thread is doing an incredibly horrible job. "
Do you mean we are doing badly, or that we are having to do a horrible job?
it is not easy moderating the discussion, especially when people quote others. If I had my way I would remove every comment that was not directly related to the set or the review but it seems that would be unpopular and we'd get criticised for doing so.
As we have said before, we appreciate that JKRs views are an important issue, but it does get rather tiresome when they are raised on every HP article.
@Huw said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"The moderator on this thread is doing an incredibly horrible job. "
Do you mean we are doing badly, or that we are having to do a horrible job?
it is not easy moderating the discussion, especially when people quote others. If I had my way I would remove every comment that was not directly related to the set or the review but it seems that would be unpopular and we'd get criticised for doing so.
As we have said before, we appreciate that JKRs views are an important issue, but it does get rather tiresome when they are raised on every HP article.
"
Fair point. Both.
It's not fair that I have to be bullied because I enjoy your site and reviews. It's not fair that I have to be bullied for liking Lego HP.
I'm an ally AND a supporter of women's rights. But, these issues shouldn't have to be debated every SINGLE time there is an HP mention.
Wipe out the politics. This is a Lego fan site, not a gender studies classroom.
Just a reminder that silence sides with the oppressor.
@nparker
Very well said. Thank you for adding some much needed logic to the conversation. These people claiming trans people or Allies speaking up are the problem directly ignore that we wouldn’t have to speak up if rhetoric like the author uses wasn’t constantly inciting violence against us. Heck, they are going after my medications in my country, something I need to survive. It’s scary, and silence is exactly what led to gender studies buildings being the sites of book burnings back in ww2 Germany. Which is a war that this book series tries to reflect. The layers of this issue are complex, but having these discussions are important.
I genuinely thank the brickset staff for their patience and willingness to allow open discourse (free of personal attacks..ahem people).
"We here at Brickset believe that Rowling holds abhorrent views on trans people. Lego Harry Potter sets do pay royalties to her. Our reviews of Harry Potter sets will not take this into account; however, your purchasing decisions may change depending on your own personal feelings around this. Any discussion of her views in the review comments will be deleted. The [BS forum link] is the appropriate place for these discussions."
There's a disclaimer for you. Makes moderating easier (at least about trans issues; the depiction of goblins is topical to this set) since you've laid out rules about what is allowed and where.
@Huw said:
"As we have said before, we appreciate that JKRs views are an important issue, but it does get rather tiresome when they are raised on every HP article."
Oh trust me, if there's anyone tired of hearing about JKR and her views it's us trans folk - I'd love to never hear about em again frankly!
But the fact of the matter is, we were never given a choice in the matter - we're forced to hear her hate-fuelled views parroted by the press and politicians completely unchallenged day-in day-out, whilst in turn more and more places across the globe legislate against our mere *existence*.
If JKR's comments extended to a single case a few years back she'd apologised for, or her views were having little-to-no effect on real-life laws, I'd say fair nuff in not needing it raised every single time - but she simply keeps going, and our rights/healthcare keep on dwindling, so we're forced to speak out.
I wish this wasn't the world I had to live in. I wish I could simply live my life without me and my friends being constantly debated over, used as a political football. But here we are.
@Emmafofemma said:
" @nparker
Very well said. Thank you for adding some much needed logic to the conversation. These people claiming trans people or Allies speaking up are the problem directly ignore that we wouldn’t have to speak up if rhetoric like the author uses wasn’t constantly inciting violence against us. Heck, they are going after my medications in my country, something I need to survive. It’s scary, and silence is exactly what led to gender studies buildings being the sites of book burnings back in ww2 Germany. Which is a war that this book series tries to reflect. The layers of this issue are complex, but having these discussions are important.
I genuinely thank the brickset staff for their patience and willingness to allow open discourse (free of personal attacks..ahem people). "
But, they aren't allowing any discourse, just inane parroting.
Anything that deviates (even just the tiniest bit) from the accepted paradigm is deleted.