This is LEGO set 79000 - Riddles for the Ring from the LEGO The Hobbit theme with 105 pieces, which came out in 2012.

The build is a lot of fun and there're no stickers to worry about. This set also includes 2 minifigures (Gollum and Bilbo Baggins) and a boat, which will not float. The set is simple to build. The mountain can be opened and on the inside, you can find a rock, which will reveal the ring by a mechanism, that makes the rock flip over.

Pro:

- Playability
- Minifigures
- No stickers

Contra:

- None

All in all, this set is a great set and I would HIGHLY recommend you to get this. You can find this set on eBay and BrickLink for sure. Here is the link where you can check out the full gallery I made for this set on my website: www.klokriecher.de

Videos I made of this set:

Stopmotion

Review

Speed Build

After being given a handful of Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit minifigures, I decided that maybe I should get a few sets. Unfortunately LOTR sets cost a pretty high premium these days so I decided to focus on some of the smaller, more affordable sets. This set is perhaps the cheapest and of course depicts perhaps the most important moment in the entire story, and the only scene to appear in both trilogies. I didn’t expect too much, after all it is only a 100 brick set, but wow, this set is not just like a police car that you can build from the picture on the box, it is highly detailed and intricate set.

First let’s just say that the minifigures (Bilbo and Gollum) are excellent. I’ve found that the LOTR minifigures are much more detailed than other minifigures from this time period. Much more detailed than their contemporary Star Wars minifigures, even today it is difficult to find minifigures that look this good.

So you start the build with the overly simple boat. Yes, a 4 year old could build this in 10 seconds, but don’t worry, it’s gonna get better. And actually, despite its simplicity, the boat does exactly what it needs to do. It is quite believable that this would be Gollum’s boat, and the bones do add a nice touch.

The cave however where the ring is hidden is actually very elaborate. Yes, for the most part it is just simple brick stacking, but you have to play close attention. The details are excellent and intricate, while there is nothing symmetrical about the set.

The set has one play feature, by turning a technic axel you open the cave and reveal the ring. It doesn’t work great, just barely opening the right side of the cave and not even touching the left side. While it could have been better designed with more frictionless bricks, it gives you the basic idea and the set is so small it takes minimal effort to operate the functions yourself. While this may upset me on a larger set, I can certainly forgive this set as it’s rather impressive that they could squeeze a play feature into such a small space.

Overall I couldn’t be happier with this set. You are certainly getting a lot for your money and while small, the set contains the detail and playability of a set two or three times it’s size. I highly recommend getting this set, and it makes me very excited about what the larger sets have to offer.

Lego has delivered a spot-on interpretation of what is perhaps the most famous scene from The Hobbit. Not only is this a fun little set in it's own right, but it's also a cheap way to get both Bilbo Baggins and Gollum. What's more, despite this being a small set, it packs in a surprising amount of playability.

Parts

Nothing too special here, unless you're a casle MOC-er, then the large numbers of gray slopes will come in handy for rock building and what-not. As usual, Bilbo's sword Sting and the ring are welcome minifig accessories.

Minifigures

Gollum is unique to this set, though it's a little hard to tell. This Gollum has "narrow eyes", in contrast to the "wide eyes" Gollum that comes in 9470: Shelob Attacks. I really like the Gollum minifigure––the printing on his face is perfect––except for one small detail: his arms pop off way too easily. I'll admit I'm not sure how the TLC could have done things differently . . . but having to constantly reattach the little guy's arms does get old.

The Bilbo minifigure is not unique, but he is a great little minifig, and as I mentioned above, this is definitely the cheapest way to get your hands on him (unless you buy him second-hand, I suppose). His face is double-printed with a serious/scared expression, and his torso is also printed front and back with his awesome little hobbit jacket.

The build

The build is quick, but surprisingly fun. The main structure––a pile of rocks––has a hidden compartment that flips down to reveal the Ring. I will say that despite the small number of pieces, TLC did a good job of making a natural-looking rock outcrop. Gollum's boat is a quick and easy build but it definitely enhances the playability of the entire set.

Overall opinion

In short, this set is a no-brainer: go and buy it quick! You get two amazing minifigs, and the average price-per is actually a little below the 10 cents per piece threshold. My one and only complaint is that the set didn't include a goblin. In the movie (though not in the book), both Bilbo and the goblin tumble down into Gollum's domain. Currently, the only way to get your hands on a goblin minifig is to buy the expensive 79010: The Goblin King Battle. It would have been nice to have a cheaper option, and I would have been willing to pay a little more for it.

Even though this is the smallest Hobbit set it still is one of the best with great parts ans tons of playability...

Box/Instructions

The box is made up of the more flimsy types of cardboard and, like other small sets, requires your thumb to break it open. This may be a problem to people who like the keep the boxes neat but doesn't really affect most people. On the front of the box in small letters are written the words "Boat does not float". So don't try to sail Gollum's boat in the sink or bathtub. ;-)

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Parts

Most of the parts in this set are dark grey slopes which are very nice to have more of. Gollum's boat includes some bone pieces too. Also in the cave are some hinge plates which are very useful but rare. There's also a fish piece as well a two One Rings.

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Minifigures

In this set you get two minifigs, Bilbo and Gollum. I typically start with the good guys so here we go...

Bilbo Baggins: Bilbo is dressed in his red jacket with his green vest and yellow scarf. There's a little back printing but like other hobbits it's nothing too exciting. His short legs are dark tan. His hair is the exact same piece used for Sam in the LotR sets. He also comes with Sting. His head is double sided. One side is "neutral/tired" while the other is "terrified". Bilbo was both at this point in the story. How would you feel is you were lost in a cave a long way from home with a creature you can barely see threatening to eat you?

Gollum: Gollum (if you can call him a minifigure!) is exactly like the one in Shelob Attacks except for his eyes. In the Shelob set Gollum's eyes and mouth are more open while in this set there a little more closed. In both instances you can definately see the Gollum side coming out more than Smeagol. (I'm still hoping for a Smeagol faced Gollum.)

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The build

The build is pretty fun but it confused me for a moment about which way the slopes went. ;-) (May be I was just too tired, I don't know) Gollum's boat is even more simple which mainly consists of two brown "cockpit" pieces. Putting the bones on adds a lot more detail and gives it much more of an evil look.

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The completed model

When finished you have a small sturdy piece of rock that looks fantastic. When the axle on the side is turned the rock holding The Ring turns out, opening two sides of the rock. Like I mentioned before, the bones on Gollum's boat makes it look more menacing and adds to the tension in the scene. It works well as a display plus it has great playability (especially to those who know the story). The only problem is that Bilbo doesn't have a pocket! :-)

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Summary

All in all this is a great little set. It seems like LEGO has been sneaking the prices up on these types of set but not on this one. We get great pieces and lots of playability for a good price. I would really recommend getting (or giving) this set.

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I was able to pick this set up early from my local grocery/department store. I wanted a Gollum minifig but I wasn't that impressed with the Shelob Attacks set. It is nice to be able to get him in a set that costs only $10. The set has 105 pieces and two minifigs for $9.99 in the U.S., which I think makes it a great value. I was expecting it to cost the same price as the Gandalf Arrives set but was pleasantly surprised when it cost less than that.

The front of the box.

The back of the box. It shows that Gollum can sit on top of the alcove holding the ring.

The minifigs look great. Bilbo Baggins has a double sided face. You get an extra ring as well as sword.

The little alcove has hinge plates on both sides and can open and close. Here it is closed. You can see a beam on the left. That is used to be able to show the ring.

Open

There is a beam you can turn once it is opened to show the ring.

You also get a small boat with bones on it.

Overall, I think this is an excellent set. You get a lot of dark bluish grey slopes of various sizes (including a few inverted slopes). This seems very useful is you wanted to make a cave or wall with those pieces. The minifigs are nice and it is good to get them in the least expensive set of this wave. I am not sure what more you could want in a $10 set.