The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been offering some rather unusual LEGO® sets of late. From kinetic creatures to buildable books, the theme has also gone big with sets such as Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Icons. The latest set to join the line-up is truly something else. The Hogwarts Express has appeared in LEGO form before, but those versions pale in comparison to the Collectors Edition, arriving on August 31st. It might not be the biggest LEGO Harry Potter set in terms of piece count but in terms of scale, it’s something else. So here is my review of the stupendously huge LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition set.
Product Details
Capture the magic of the Harry Potter™ stories with a buildable, 1:32 scale replica of the most iconic vehicle in the Wizarding World. LEGO® Harry Potter Hogwarts Express™ – Collectors’ Edition (76405) is a spectacular build-and-display project for adult Harry Potter enthusiasts, which will enchant all who see it.
Authentically detailed inside and out
The engine features a detailed underside and a lever on the top that causes the train to rock with the motion of a steam train. A tender carries the engine’s supply of coal. The passenger carriage comprises 3 compartments, each depicting a classic scene: when Harry, Ron and Hermione meet in the series’ first film; when Professor Lupin saves Harry from the Dementor™ in the third film; and when Luna saves Harry from Draco’s spell in the sixth film. The model also depicts Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station, where the adult Harry and Ginny wait with their children, Lily, James and Albus, ready for Albus’s first trip aboard the amazing Hogwarts Express.
- Set Name: Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition
- Set Number: 76405
- Pieces: 5129
- RRP: £429.99/$499.99/499.99€
- Number of Bags: Bags x 45 + Additional elements
- Stickers: Sheet x 1
- Minifigures: Harry Potter
- Instructions: Booklet x 1 + LEGO Building Instructions App
- Availability: LEGO Stores & LEGO Online from August 31st
The set and its build are broken up into different sections namely the train engine, its coal store trailer, a carriage, the track and the station platform. In terms of the instructions, there are four separate booklets each focused on a different section. Even split up, these are quite hefty. The first instructions booklet also offers a brief insight into the creation of the set and a little history of the famous movie train. With a set of this size, its huge box is filled with bags of elements. There’s a total of 45 bags as well as numerous bags of wheels and other loose elements needed during various stages of the build. One thing I noticed as I built the set is some stages required multiple bags. But unlike other sets where you’ll have a couple of bags of the same number, the Hogwarts Express builds requires the use of different numbered bags for some steps. I must admit it felt a little odd to put together a minifigure with parts from different numbered bags. But I prefer this to have various bags of the same number.
The first part of the build is focused on the engine section of the Hogwarts Express. Obviously, this is the most iconic part of the train. It’s built in sections and within one of those is a simple mechanism to allow the wheels of the train to turn. This comes into play once the train is mounted on the track. Thanks to the larger scale of the set, the engine is much bigger than most LEGO trains. This means it’s highly detailed, with plenty of little flourishes adding to the impressive appearance of this part of the train.
The second part of the build is focused on the smaller carriage found behind the engine, which is known as the tender. This is used to hold a store of coal to fuel the train’s engine. Even though this is the smallest buildable part of the entire set, it’s still fairly sizable. It can be connected to the back of the engine, via a simple ball connector sitting over a Technic axle rod. This section of the build also covers the track.
The track is entirely brick-built, due to the larger scale of the train it can’t be run on standard track pieces. The strip of the track is built in two sections, which can be clipped together through a series of Technic pins and axles. Once joined together is a rather long collection of bricks. In fact, the track measures 119cm/46in long and 13cm wide, once the station is connected footprint extends even wider. So it’s not going to be the easiest thing to display. I really struggled to take photos of the whole set and even if you’re flush with space, it will take up a fairly hefty area. One part of the track features a series of four stacks of bricks, these are there to mount the engine part of the track. Once connected, not only is it secure, but it also allows the wheels to be turned freely, using the handle on top of the engine. It’s a kind of unnecessary feature but fun to have.
The biggest and most detailed part of the entire build is the carriage section. It’s almost the same length as the engine and tender combined. The reason the carriage is so big is that each of the passenger compartments features a moment related to the train from different Harry Potter films. These can be revealed by removing the side panels and roof of the carriage.
The first scene comes from The Philosopher’s Stone, this features the younger versions of Harry, Ron and Hermione as they first meet aboard the train. Harry has just bought everything on the Trolley Witch’s tuck shop cart. As well as the minifigures, the compartment also features boxes and packets of sweets related to the moment from the film.
The next compartment includes a moment from The Prisoner of Azkaban. As Harry, Ron and Hermione travel onboard the Hogwarts Express, the train grinds to a halt and the power cuts out. As a cold chill descends upon the carriage, a Dementor appears and targets Harry, before a snoozing Professor Lupin.
The next scene is inspired by the moment in Half-Blood Prince, where Harry is left hidden under the cloak of invisibility, After being put under a full body-bind curse by Draco. Harry is found by Luna thanks to the presence of Wrackspruts. This scene takes place in a slightly bigger area of the train compared to the other scenes.
Each of these scenes features a plate with a quote related to the moment from each film. Unfortunately, these are all stickers, for the cost of the set, I would expect these and many other parts which require stickers to be printed. Each scene can also be illuminated with light bricks. There are three built into the roof of the carriage that can be pressed the light up the scene.
With the carriage complete, so is the train. Each section of it can be connected and mounted onto the long strip of track. With the engine fixed to the track, the rest of the train is fairly stable but to be honest, due to the sheer size of the set, I would not recommend moving it around with everything connected.
The final buildable part of the set is a section of the famous King’s Cross station platform. The main section of the platform is elevated enough so that is aligned nicely with the rest of the train. It can also be clipped to the track, via a few Technic pins. This platform section acts as another moment from a Harry Potter film. In particular, the closing moments of the Deathly Hallows Part 2, where time jumps forward by 19 years. Here we join a grown-up Harry and Ginny seeing off their own children as they make their first journey to Hogwarts. The platform also features a UCS-style information plaque. This gives a little extra detail about the Hogwarts Express.
Amongst the loose parts, you’ll find a large 8×16 flat tile plate, this represents a ticket to board the Hogwarts Express. It has no place in this particular set, but it has been included so you can add it to the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons sets, which feature various buildable elements inspired by the Harry Potter films.
The set contains an impressive line-up of 20 minifigures. These are a mix of previously available characters and those making their first appearance in a LEGO set. They all help to tell the story of the scenes they appear in across the set’s four different moments. One thing I do like is the fact they don’t really include any ‘filler’ characters. Even those two random students could be considered unconnected to everyone else, their inclusion does mean each of the Hogwarts Houses is represented in the set. I also like that they have been incorporated into the build. Although it does mean some of them of ‘hidden’ within the carriage, I prefer them to be feared this way and not on a separate display stand as that would make the set even trickier to display.
Year 1 – The Philosopher’s Stone
Train Conductor, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley Hermione Granger and The Trolley Witch.
Year 3 – The Prisoner of Azkaban
Remus Lupin, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and a Dementor.
Year 6 – The Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood and Draco Malfoy.
Year 8 – Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hufflepuff Student, Ravenclaw Student, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Albus Severus Potter, Lilly Luna Potter and James Sirius Potter.
Review Round-up
Above all else this set is massive, big sets do offer a great build experience and that’s the case with this set. However, for most people, this set will be far too big. With the track being over a metre in length, it will be too big for most coffee tables or shelving units. That being said, if you are able to display the set, the sheer size of it does result in an amazing display piece. The various parts of the Hogwarts Express on their own would make great sets. But I can see why they have been combined to create the ultimate celebration of the iconic train. The line-up of minifigure characters is also impressive, almost all of them offer something new, especially those based on the final scene of the final movie. The question is where does the LEGO Hary Potter theme go from here? I doubt there is a moment which can translate into a future set that will offer the same impact as the Hogwarts Express.
For
+ A wonderfully detailed set
+ Great selection of characters
+ Format of the build experience is great
+ Makes an impactful display piece
+ Clever way of including aspects of different moments from different films
Against
– Very expensive set
– It’s too big
– Most people would be unable to display it
– Some features seem unnecessary
– Did I mention is massive
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This set was provided to BricksFanz by the LEGO Group for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Warner Bros. Discovery. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
