Review: 40695 Borgin and Burkes: Floo Network
Posted by CapnRex101,Harry's attempted floo network journey from the Burrow to Diagon Alley memorably goes wrong when the young wizard instead emerges at the creepy Borgin and Burkes antique shop. 40695 Borgin and Burkes: Floo Network seems like the perfect addition to 76437 The Burrow - Collectors' Edition, on that basis.
This set even includes a functional fireplace that matches the Burrow, alongside a selection of magical artefacts and Lucius Malfoy, hoping to sell some of his own ilicit items!
Summary
40695 Borgin and Burkes: Floo Network, 190 pieces.
Borgin and Burkes is a great gift-with-purchase, especially to accompany the Burrow
- Satisfying fireplace function
- Effective colour scheme
- Lots of accurate details
- Lucius' legs should be printed
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
Harry Potter would probably be the obvious choice for a minifigure in this set, but he appears plenty elsewhere. Lucius Malfoy is a nice alternative because he visits Borgin and Burkes in the book and a deleted scene from Chamber of Secrets, hastily offloading some dark artefacts. Also, the character is only otherwise available in 75978 Diagon Alley at the moment.
This minifigure is very similar to the version from 75978 Diagon Alley, featuring the same torso, which is decorated with Lucius' usual finery. The blonde hair element looks excellent too, as always, but this minifigure lacks printed legs, unfortunately. The generic head is also rather underwhelming, lacking an alternative angry or sneering expression, which would suit Malfoy.
Lucius carries his cane and a box of magical artefacts, recreating the container shown in the deleted scene. The sticker on the lid provides some detail, although the whole box should be black, ideally. Black and green 1x1 round tiles can be found inside, representing the items sold to Borgin during the film.
The Completed Model
Borgin and Burkes last appeared in 10217 Diagon Alley in 2011, so it would be interesting to see a modern rendition of the shop. This model captures only a section of the interior, focusing on the fireplace where Harry arrives. Nevertheless, its dark colours mirror the onscreen location and there are plenty of details to examine.
Various items are on display, including silver goblets, a stone bust, a green jewel and several skulls. Doubtless imbued with dark magic, these accessories match their setting and I like the stickered cobweb on the display case. Furthermore, this section of the model is only connected to the fireplace with Technic pins, so they can be separated, if you wish.
The fireplace is intended to match that in 76437 The Burrow - Collectors' Edition, using worm gears to lift a platform inside, so a minifigure can disappear into or emerge from the top of the fireplace structure. The grey surround looks reasonable and even though this fireplace is much smaller in the film, it needed to be bigger to accommodate the character vanishing function.
Turning a knob on top raises the platform and this Technic piece is cleverly disguised beside a couple of chimney pots. The stickered signs look splendid as well, bringing the total number of stickers to four. Perhaps most important, however, is the dark bluish grey claw representing the Hand of Glory, which grabs Harry's hand in the movie. I am glad this is included, albeit beyond Harry's reach on the mantelpiece.
Although it is clearly not intended to be displayed, the back is finished quite nicely. The black tiles behind the fireplace look nice and I like the sand green highlights on the sides, including occasional 1x2 masonry bricks. Additionally, another pearl silver cup can be found around the back, which is fine, although something unique would be better, as if deliberately hidden.
Overall
40695 Borgin and Burkes: Floo Network is a fun counterpart to 76437 The Burrow - Collectors' Edition, so you can recreate both ends of Harry's floo powder journey! There is huge potential for a larger model of this mysterious shop, but this version includes the essential features and the fireplace function is superb, especially for a gift-with-purchase.
Maybe there was an opportunity for some more movie-specific accessories and Lucius Malfoy should have printed legs, as he does in 75978 Diagon Alley, but these are minor flaws. This set will be available with Harry Potter purchases of over £120, $130 or €130 from the start of September and that threshold feels very fair to me, considering the size of the model.
96 likes
30 comments on this article
Out of curiosity you mention he should have printed legs... printed with what? In the films he wears a black suit/outfits with plain black trousers. What would be printed to be screen accurate?
@VaultDweller_197 said:
"Out of curiosity you mention he should have printed legs... printed with what? In the films he wears a black suit/outfits with plain black trousers. What would be printed to be screen accurate? "
In 75978 Diagon Alley, Lucius had the Hux/Snape "black coattails" leg piece. There's no reason that same piece couldn't have been included here.
Great review! I personally don't find this set very appealing in concept or design, but it definitely has some nice qualities to it. That said, it should be noted that the most recent LEGO appearance of Borgin and Burkes was in 10217 Diagon Alley from 2011, not in 4720 as stated in the article.
I understand this is a gift with purchase with a limited budget, but it's too bad we can get Lucius Malfoy with the movie-accurate version of his walking stick/wand from 76439.
The Hand of Glory on a pedestal would've been cool.
@jhuntin1 said:
"I understand this is a gift with purchase with a limited budget, but it's too bad we can get Lucius Malfoy with the movie-accurate version of his walking stick/wand from 76439."
That would have required the set come with all of the special wands, as they come in a "parts bag", similar to the Marvel power blasts or the clone visor/headsets
Another set that should have been just ordinary retails set...
@DJ_Hamford said:
"Great review! I personally don't find this set very appealing in concept or design, but it definitely has some nice qualities to it. That said, it should be noted that the most recent LEGO appearance of Borgin and Burkes was in 10217 Diagon Alley from 2011, not in 4720 as stated in the article."
Thank you; I tend to forget about those 2010 and 2011 sets, despite owning a few of them!
I know it's a GWP but this is really unappealing. What are you gonna do with it? If this was a GWP for a Borgin and Burkes set I would understand. But just having this grey block sitting on your shelf without context?
I like all the skulls.
The set looks decent for a GWP and HP is my favorite theme...but money is tight and I need to ask myself if I really need this?
But I like the new feature of the Floo network instead of just tipping back like in the old Burrow from way back when.
The cobweb sticker is actually a good use for a sticker for once...
Looks pretty good as a £120 threshold GWP. Looks excellent as 1 of 3 GWPs coming with 76437 on Sunday!
Really must get around to reading/watching Harry Potter!
I had planned on getting this with the Durmstrang ship, but the discounts now available for thile ship are worth way more than this (IMHO) mediocre GWP.
I like it, but can’t not see the car windscreen lol
No, Floo network, not loo network!
I don't find the Lucius Malfoy minifig appealing at all. It's mainly the head that is the problem. I'm sure Lego are capable of creating a head that conveys the very specific expressions of Jason Isaacs in the movies. He has such a look of disdain and superiority. I suppose the hair and torso are fine, but the generic head throws everything else off.
This really just makes me wish there was a Knockturn Alley / Borgin and Burkes set that this just connected into the back of. It'd expand that hypothetical playset scale store's interior in a way that was interesting.
But I don't believe there are any Knockturn sets rumoured as of now.
Is this torso print unique? The color of the fur looks more brown in these photos. And a shade of red in the photos for Diagonal Alley.
Great review of a good set with an interesting function! Can you please do 76291 The Avengers Assemble: Age of Ultron next?
I'll build this once and then immediately dismantle for parts to add into my slitherin common room in the Hogwarts castle.
Would prefer more GWP be Hogwarts centered. Staircase has been the best HP GWP by a far margin. Need more like that. This set doesn't really do much for me.
Not just printed legs but anything but that reused, hideous face. Malfoys should have tan hair not bright light yellow---no-brainer next to the source material. The figure from the early 2010s looked much better.
But the set is nice! Not worth buying the overpriced new Burrow for, but I like it.
Is there any way to get the figure out of the chimney once it is fully raised?
@LEGOlas____ said:
"Is there any way to get the figure out of the chimney once it is fully raised?"
Floo powder? ;)
I kept wanting to read "chimney pots" in this and 76437's review as "chamber pots." As @Maxbricks14 said, It's Floo network, not loo network! Also, that skull-in-an-orb leads to questions. Does Borgin and Burkes buy from or sell to Ogel?
The floo network function in 4720 remains the best one. It's neatly integrated, and Harry emerges from the fireplace exactly like in the film.
It's ok. The goblets and the Hand of God should be interchanged so that it's within Harry's reach. It's a simple fix, but one the designer should have made.
I also agree that the smallness of the set and plainness of the fig leave me underwhelmed.
Reminds me of the stand-alone floo fireplace for 4720 - and not in a good way.
I often buy multiples of the HP GWP. I think one of these will be plenty.
@Ridgeheart said:
" @GirlWoman said:
"I know it's a GWP but this is really unappealing. What are you gonna do with it? If this was a GWP for a Borgin and Burkes set I would understand. But just having this grey block sitting on your shelf without context?"
You can play with it. Or you could display it along the other grey blocks on your shelf, if you're into grey blocks on shelves. You could dismantle it, and make something new. You could build a shop around it. You could set it on fire, or freeze it, or throw it down a cliff. You could sell it, or dip it in chocolate. You could grind it into grains and sprinkle it on a cake, or perhaps, over some newly-weds. You could use it as a makeshift soccer-ball. You could hurl it at a bicyclist. You could try to play it as an instrument. You could wear it on a chain, around your neck, starting a whole new trend.
You can do whatever you like with it, since it was a gift with your purchase."
What if I pour myself a nice glass of red wine, put on some smooth Barry White, take all the pieces, dump them on the floor, get out my leather outfit, and... [the remainder of this repetitively salacious comment has been banned by Brickset]
Harry: Diagonally. [Harry vanishes] Molly Weasley: What did he say dear? Arthur Weasley: Diagonally. Molly Weasley: I thought he did.
One of my favourite scenes from the film. If I was buying The Burrow set, I'd be pleased to get this with it. Alas, I am not.
@StyleCounselor said:
[[ @Ridgeheart said:
[[ @GirlWoman said:
[[I know it's a GWP but this is really unappealing. What are you gonna do with it? If this was a GWP for a Borgin and Burkes set I would understand. But just having this grey block sitting on your shelf without context?]]
You can play with it. Or you could display it along the other grey blocks on your shelf, if you're into grey blocks on shelves. You could dismantle it, and make something new. You could build a shop around it. You could set it on fire, or freeze it, or throw it down a cliff. You could sell it, or dip it in chocolate. You could grind it into grains and sprinkle it on a cake, or perhaps, over some newly-weds. You could use it as a makeshift soccer-ball. You could hurl it at a bicyclist. You could try to play it as an instrument. You could wear it on a chain, around your neck, starting a whole new trend.
You can do whatever you like with it, since it was a gift with your purchase.]]
What if I pour myself a nice glass of red wine, put on some smooth Barry White, take all the pieces, dump them on the floor, get out my leather outfit, and... [the remainder of this repetitively salacious comment has been banned by Brickset]]]
Not to kink shame but I would go for some Courvoisier and Marvin Gaye instead.
@MandalorianCandidate said:
[[ @StyleCounselor said:
[[ @Ridgeheart said:
[[ @GirlWoman said:
[[I know it's a GWP but this is really unappealing. What are you gonna do with it? If this was a GWP for a Borgin and Burkes set I would understand. But just having this grey block sitting on your shelf without context?]]
You can play with it. Or you could display it along the other grey blocks on your shelf, if you're into grey blocks on shelves. You could dismantle it, and make something new. You could build a shop around it. You could set it on fire, or freeze it, or throw it down a cliff. You could sell it, or dip it in chocolate. You could grind it into grains and sprinkle it on a cake, or perhaps, over some newly-weds. You could use it as a makeshift soccer-ball. You could hurl it at a bicyclist. You could try to play it as an instrument. You could wear it on a chain, around your neck, starting a whole new trend.
You can do whatever you like with it, since it was a gift with your purchase.]]
What if I pour myself a nice glass of red wine, put on some smooth Barry White, take all the pieces, dump them on the floor, get out my leather outfit, and... [the remainder of this repetitively salacious comment has been banned by Brickset]]]
Not to kink shame but I would go for some Courvoisier and Marvin Gaye instead.
]]
Lego for Adults! >_<