Review: 40500 Wizarding World Minifigure Accessory Set
Posted by CapnRex101,
Minifigure packs generally include lesser-known characters, although quantities of unique pieces create some limitations. 40500 Wizarding World Minifigure Accessory Set does contain intriguing characters which is great, but certain challenges remain noticeable.
Restrictions surrounding new parts have proven decisive here, compromising the designs. Furthermore, discerning any connections between them is difficult, especially since two characters are unnamed! Nevertheless, the presence of an exclusive printed tile, featuring members of Dumbledore's Army, is remarkably appealing.
Minifigures
Numerous depictions of Harry Potter have appeared throughout the range and this example takes inspiration from Order of the Phoenix, based upon his height and hairstyle. This double-sided head features cheerful and frustrated expressions while the torso originally appeared in 75978 Diagon Alley, hence its availability here is appreciated.
Despite resembling Rufus Scrimgeour in official images, the next minifigure portrays Borgin from Borgin and Burkes. This double-sided head seems appropriately sinister, returning from 75290 Mos Eisley Cantina, while the hair piece appears reasonable too. However, this formal jacket does not suit Mr Borgin, whose onscreen clothing is notably shabby. A new piece could definitely have improved this minifigure.
Borgin carries no accessories but Harry's wand is supplied, alongside the Dumbledore's Army membership list. This component looks magnificent, corresponding exactly with the movie and including authentic signatures for eight major characters! Moreover, their order actually reflects the onscreen list, albeit excluding anybody underneath Neville Longbottom.
Two unnamed characters accompany Harry and Mr Borgin. These consist primarily of existing elements and appear suited to the Wizarding World, although I am surprised that identities are not attributed to both minifigures. For example, the male character vaguely resembles Dedalus Diggle, whose prominence in the books is significantly greater than during the movies. The top hat certainly works for Diggle.
The female character seems equally mysterious, although her dark green dress component is unique. This element perfectly complements the sand green torso from 76139 1989 Batmobile and the dramatic hat appears excellent as well, shared with Professor Sinistra. The expressive double-sided head makes a welcome return from 75968 4 Privet Drive.
The Completed Model
Minifigure packs frequently contain small models to complement the characters, although this example provides no clues regarding the unknown minifigures! Nevertheless, this dark brown table looks reasonable and supports various interesting accessories, including cauldrons and one reddish brown owl. This owl design is relatively common, unfortunately.
However, two appealing printed elements are provided. The jar of Acid Pops is only otherwise available with 76388 Hogsmeade Village Visit, while the second jar, which stores metallic gold leaves, has appeared twice before. This container is ingeniously assembled, using an inverted 1x1 tile with bar to represent the narrow neck.
Overall
40500 Wizarding World Minifigure Accessory Set contains a bizarre collection of minifigures, without an apparent relationship between them! However, some uncommon pieces are used here and the generic characters look perfect for populating Wizarding World models, such as 75978 Diagon Alley. I would have preferred four identifiable minifigures though.
Of course, the most appealing aspect of this set is easily the Dumbledore's Army membership list, which demonstrates outstanding accuracy to the movie. The printed jars are also splendid. Despite these qualities, I think clarifying the precise theme of minifigure packs is significant, so the set disappoints in that regard. Even so, this may be worth purchasing for those planning to populate Harry Potter models, especially at the price of £13.49 or $14.99.
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27 comments on this article
It's not bad, but I don't really need it. A Quidditch minifigure set would have been much more useful.
This feels like it was thrown together in five minutes to fill a gap in the HP line
I really don't understand how these jars can be printed and so many great sets suffer from labels. Just look how awful the stickers on the otherwise great typewriter look.
Nine members of Dumbledore's Army; nine members of Gandalf's Fellowship of the Ring.
One can forgive Vitruvius for confusing the two fellows.
It's old Obi-Wan disguised in a wizarding suit!
I really wanted a set like this since Diagon Alley was lacking in generic characters, but this feels very cobbled-together. It's nice to see so many rare pieces in a cheap set, especially all the minifigure parts returning from D2Cs, but a Quidditch pack would have been way better. I also wish this pack had included two other shopkeepers instead of civilians to match Borgin since Diagon Alley is missing owners for three of the buildings.
I love when LEGO just throws unnamed characters made of random pieces from the theme into licensed sets. Most famously Jedi Bob in the original Republic Attack Gunship set. Though I have to admit it makes a lot less sense to do that for a minifigure pack than for a large vehicle
Faults aside, I'll still get it. I don't need EVERY character to be named, only because we always get Harry and his cohorts. Nice to see some variety, even if it is reused pieces.
Plus, the background stuff is useful for filler. This serves the purpose of what the set is doing.
@IgelCampus:
Tiny curved surfaces. I don’t know if they’ve ever called for a sticker on a minifig head.
I think Brick Fanatics covered this set and proposed that the witch is meant to be Doris Crockford.
Griffindor and Slytherin are quite commonly available on Bricklink.
Cedric Diggory in his yellow Hufflepuff team uniform is readily available in the activity book set right now via Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0794448089?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image
Ravenclaw however is still expensive.
These types of set have been around for a while but the minifig-shaped blister pack is what makes them stand out right now. TLG have released quite a few now across many different themes, and most if not all seem to have some unique parts. I think they're going to be valuable in years to come.
I still think the Top-hat Guy fairly resembles Dedalus Diggle and could have passed as him. And that Borgin minifigure looks inaccurate compared to the movie character, despite LEGO designers always claiming that they take only the movies as source material. Wonder why LEGO chose 2 generic characters instead of named side characters from Order of the Phoenix but still kept the high price for this "battle pack". Underwhelming...
I just want that Green dress and torso
Interesting to reuse the Vicki Vale torso
@SearchlightRG said:
"I think Brick Fanatics covered this set and proposed that the witch is meant to be Doris Crockford."
That suggestion originated from somebody on Twitter, seemingly because Doris Crockford appears with Dedalus Diggle during Philosopher's Stone. This is possible, although I think it unlikely because LEGO introduced a new print for the minifigure which appears inaccurate to the onscreen witch.
I think LEGO simply included two generic characters, without taking specific inspiration from anyone. After all, the Harry Potter theme identifies even the most obscure characters so why would they not do the same for Diggle and Crockford?
The torso is a good match for Doris Crockford, even if the rest is not. Just as the man could be Dedalus Diggle on account of the top hat, even if the face looks nothing like him.
@IgelCampus said:
"I really don't understand how these jars can be printed and so many great sets suffer from labels. Just look how awful the stickers on the otherwise great typewriter look.
"
If you are referring to the ABC...XYZ labels on the keys, then they are an accurate reflection of what the original typewriter keys looked like.
@lORDoFtHEbOARD: "That old wizard's just a crazy old man."
@LegoMiniNZ:
The designs on all of the keys are printed. There are a couple stickers in the set, though. On the front is a brand logo, and on the back is a serial number or model number plate, both of which are stickers.
@PurpleDave said:
" @LegoMiniNZ:
The designs on all of the keys are printed. There are a couple stickers in the set, though. On the front is a brand logo, and on the back is a serial number or model number plate, both of which are stickers."
And the back sticker has a reflective finish which mimics the serial plate from that kind of product, I think it looks great.
I'm a big Lego HP fan so I'll get this set but it really is an odd assortment of figures and accessories. Seems like a good addition to the huge Diagon Alley set. And that makes the $15 price a rather small addition to that large and wonderful set.
I would appreciate this set more if it didn't have Harry Potter in it or if HP were in different clothes. So many of him, just about one in each set. I would have put in a different student, like Malfoy or another Slytherin. I guess Lego needed to have more appeal to the average consumer.
There seems to be imperfections in the LEGO Harry Potter sets from this year that I don’t notice until a review comes out— and than I skip them upon learning of these shortcomings. The Hogwarts Moments don’t look great from the side (not that I’d really display them but the interiors don’t have as much as I thought they did, either), the Fluffy has the gray neck attachment thingies that contrast with the rest of the build, and now I realize that the Vickie Vale torso was kind of the only thing I wanted this set for (to be fair if I got this I could make an exact replica of that figure). I still believe these are genuinely solid sets, I guess I’m just getting stingier with my money and won’t spend it on anything short of unanimous approval. In any case, the torsos and jars are the main appeal of this set to me, I know they aren’t exclusive but they are available at a less expensive price here.
@Galaxy12_Import said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @LegoMiniNZ:
The designs on all of the keys are printed. There are a couple stickers in the set, though. On the front is a brand logo, and on the back is a serial number or model number plate, both of which are stickers."
And the back sticker has a reflective finish which mimics the serial plate from that kind of product, I think it looks great."
So do I; I think it looks great. And since the feature the sticker mimics is a small plate affixed to the typewriter, the sticker could be argued to be more accurate than a printed brick would be.
Still, it’s true the typewriter uses two stickers, but they hardly look awful, and the overwhelming majority of the decorated parts in the set are printed (and look great). I must admit I don’t understand IgelCampus’s complaint at all (is there another typewriter set besides the new Ideas one, perhaps one far more heavily bestickered, of which I’m unaware?).
@lordofdragonss said:
"I just want that Green dress and torso"
Same, works for some more variety for my medieval/castle.
Also, could we get a set like this with some generic Black Falcons and peasants? Throw in a few animals - like that new sheep.
I thought this article was about the Harry Potter accessory set but it seems to have become about the Typewriter.