Find out about some of the fun little touches that are incorporated in the enormous new LEGO Harry Potter 76405 Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition set.
Racing through King’s Cross Station in London to get to Platform 9 3/4 on time, the Hogwarts Express awaits to take every witch and wizard to the magical school. It is a gleaming red stalwart that features throughout the Wizarding World franchise as both means of transportation and as the location for quite a few spell-casting showdowns.
Now, the LEGO designers love their trains and the Hogwarts Express is no stranger to the brick, having already had six iterations, including the famously motorised 10132 Hogwarts Express. However, blowing all of these away faster than pixie dust is the just announced 76405 Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition. Blocks, the LEGO magazine for fans, is taking the invisibility cloak off some Easter eggs…
Anything from the trolley?
While the friendly Trolley Witch from The Philosopher’s Stone isn’t a new minifigure, having made her debut in 75955, this bigger version of the train finally gives her a proper sweets trolley. In the previous version it was pretty bland, but now there’s Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, undoubtedly some chocolate frogs, and it appears sticker detailing for other colourful confectionary.
Who’s driving this thing?
Speaking of train staff, this new model finally fixes something. In the movies the Hogwarts Express clearly has typical workers, from the aforementioned Trolley Witch to porters for all those huge trunks of spell books. However, LEGO sets of the train have never included someone to drive it. The new driver minifigure looks pretty simple in a dark red uniform, but the hat and printed gold detailing are nice touches.
To get Blocks, the LEGO magazine for fans, every month – at a discount and earlier than the shops – order a 12-month or 24-month subscription. Direct debit payment options are available too; to find out more get in touch via subs@silverbackpublishing.rocks.
Avoiding Slytherin
In a touching scene from the finale of The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, a young Albus Potter fears what may happen if he ends up in Slytherin. It’s the first time this next generation of witches and wizards has appeared as minifigures, with James Potter even sporting a messy new hair piece.
Tickets Please
Accompanying the set appears to be a new printed full-size tile of a Hogwarts Express ticket. It’s remarkably accurate to the one Harry has in the film, right down to the crest in the centre. The only thing that’s really changed is the font of the lettering to make it easier to read.
Lumos
76405 is the first iteration to come with a lit interior, having not one but a whopping three light bricks for the main carriages. It’s not only great for display, but perfect for recreating the dementor’s attack which creepily cut the lights in the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Travelling clothes
Professor Remus Lupin has had quite a few minifigure iterations, but this new one has to be the best so far. He’s finally got printed legs (after only 18 years of being a minifigure) that accurately show his rather beaten up travelling coat, complete with tattered printing.
Wrackspurts to the rescue
When Harry tries to spy on Draco Malfoy in The Half-Blood Prince, things get a little tense between the two rivals. Harry’s new minifigure captures this moment with a new crooked spectacles print just waiting for Luna Lovegood to come to the rescue with her wacky wrackspurt glasses.
That’s all we noticed from the official images, but there are going to be plenty more references to find when 76405 Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition hits shelves on August 31. Be sure to tag Blocks when you’re building, because we’d love to see what else is hidden inside.