The LEGO Harry Potter modular style sets have been very popular since they were first introduced. Not only are they great for playing with but their modular nature lets you mix and match to create many unique combinations that fit very well on shallow display shelves. But with so many sets stacked on top of each other, Hogwarts students had a hard time moving between the floors. Well no longer. With the introduction of LEGO Harry Potter 40577: Hogwarts Grand Staircase gift with purchase, collectors, and fans will be able to give their Minifigs access to the second or even third floors in their scenes with a bit of creative stacking. Hogwarts Grand Staircase comes with 223 pieces and will be available from July 15th – July 31st with a qualifying purchase of $130 / €130 / £130 threshold, on Harry Potter.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Unboxing the parts, instructions, and sticker sheets
The front of the vertical tab-sealed box features the finished model as well as the Harry Potter and Wizarding World branding elements. The lower right corner includes a composite image of Harry, Ron, and Hermione along with magical swirls from Harry’s wand. In the lower-left corner is an inset image of the Hermione Minifig that is included in the set.
On the back of the box, the model is shown again, this time demonstrating the play feature of the rotating staircase, as well as an image of the swap-able panels for the arches, one of which is the famous “fat lady” who guards the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.
Inside the box are three numbered bags, 2 loose plates, an instruction booklet in the new style with white bars across the top and bottom with faint line drawings of LEGO elements that matches the new paper packaging that LEGO has announced (the bags were all still clear plastic.
There was also a loose sticker sheet for the portraits which was pretty banged up and had to spend the night pressed into a heavy book to flatten it out.
The build
The build is pretty uneventful, starting out with two arches and some bricks. One thing of interest is the two sets of technic bricks and pins that allow the finished model to attach to a combination of the previously released modular sets on either side, preferably to one with two levels.
As the build progresses, we get some sideways-facing stud bricks where separate portraits will be placed later, and a few portrait stickers placed on large panel bricks. We also get a floor tiled in dark gray stones and a turntable base which will provide the primary play function of the rotating staircase.
Once we finish the second level, with more studs not on top bricks and more stickered panels, we get an interesting little detail along the tops of the two walls. This portion of the build ends with arched panels with stickers that fit into 2 of the four archways. The rest of the portrait stickers attach to 2×3 tiles and pointed tiles.
The final detail is the staircase, built on top of an octagon plate using 1×4 tiles with railing to cover up the gaps in the structural stair element. The handrails are appropriately ornate and attached via clips at the bottom. They lean against a slope at the base. With the use of a plate instead of a 4×4 round brick, the staircase spins freely on the base.
The Minifigs
The set includes one Minifig, Hermione, and she includes a pair of connected wands and a black skirt element. She has front and back printing for her torso as well as her legs which are printed on all sides with a gray band to represent her socks. Her head has two expressions, her knowing smirk, and a slightly nervous expression for when she is about to get the results from her recent exam.
The finished model
The finished model is great and full of details. The rotating staircase is a fun feature and the set can be added to any of the other Harry Potter modular sets released in the last few years. My son let me borrow a few of his for this review.
There were a few minor issues I had but these in no way detract from my overall opinion of the set. My first issue is with the turntable base, since it swings freely instead of clicking into place as it is rotating, it is easily jostled, which combined with my second issue means that any Minifig placed on the staircase is likely to take a tumble since the use of the tile with rail for the risers means that there is no way to arrach Minifigs to the steps. The second is easily fixable if you don’t mind gaps in the stairs by switching the parts with an assortment of plates and tiles. The first issue could be solved by swapping the plate for a 4×4 round brick but would require a significant change in the design.
Conclusions and recommendations
Despite a few design flaws stated earlier, I think this is a pretty neat set and would make a great addition to any Hogwarts scene. The amount of stickers means you could get a few and build your very own larger grand staircase if you were so inclined, and I know a few LEGO Harry Potter fans who might do just that. LEGO Harry Potter 40577: Hogwarts Grand Staircase comes with 223 pieces and will be available from July 15th – July 31st with a qualifying purchase of $130 / €130 / £130 On Harry Potter™
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.