The next wave of Harry Potter sets comes with a twist. The sets form a sub-theme of sorts called Hogwarts Moment. Each of the four sets is a different textbook from the famed school of wizardry and witchcraft. Opening each book reveals a classroom playset. While the sets only hit store shelves on January 1, 2021, True North Bricks received all four sets early compliments of the LEGO® Group. Everyday this week, I will review a new one. Consequently, today we take a pre-release look at Transfiguration Class (76382).
NOTE: The LEGO® Group provided this set for review. However, the provision of products does not guarantee a favorable review. I will use my usual rating system (click here to learn more) and provide my honest opinion.
TRANSFIGURATION CLASS (76382) SUMMARY
- NAME: Hogwarts Moment – Transfiguration Class
- SET #: 76382
- THEME: Harry Potter
- COST: $39.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 241
- MINIFIGURES: 3
- RELEASE DATE: January 1, 2021
TRANSFIGURATION CLASS QUICK REVIEW
- VALUE: 66% (While still passable, I expect more bricks and build time for this price.)
- BUILD: 70% (I want to build details in sets, this one relies too heavily on large stickers.)
- MINIFIGURES: 93% (Great number of characters for a set this size and loads of accessories.)
- ENTERTAINMENT: 85% (Might make a nice display for Harry Potter fans, and play value is great.)
- OVERALL SCORE: 79%
TRANSFIGURATION CLASS (76382) REVIEW
VALUE: 66%
Transfiguration Class costs $39.99 in Canada. Additionally, the set contains 241 bricks. Therefore, at full price each piece costs $0.166. By comparison, my average cost-per-brick is $0.14. Consequently, for a set this size, you are paying more than average for each brick. The cost is not terrible, but it is not good either. As such, I rate the value-per-brick at 71%.
This set is not a long build. I had the entire scene assembled in 33 minutes. For $40, I expect more build time. In fact, each minute of assembly cost $1.21 in this case. Comparatively, my average cost-per-minute is $0.83. Therefore, compared to other sets, Transfiguration Class offers relatively little build time for the price. Based on my usual scale, it just passes in this category with 60%. Averaging this score with the value-per-brick gives an overall value grade of 66%.
BUILD: 70%
Transfiguration Class is the first Hogwarts Moment I have built. As such, I do not have much to compare it with yet. Based on the box art, Transfiguration Class is not the most complex of these new Harry Potter sets. However, I found the build experience to be interesting. Designers made each piece with dual purpose. Firstly, everything must enhance the scene with detail and play value. Secondly, every piece must stow away inside the closed book. Despite consisting of little builds, I do not doubt designers went through many iterations to make everything fold closed nicely. I appreciate the difficulty involved in seemingly simple details. However, I find myself wishing that the pages looked more like pages when you close the book. Perhaps something more akin to the Charles Dickens Tribute set, but with the ability to open.
With that said, I have one negative comment: stickers. Transfiguration Class relies too heavily on stickers to achieve the look of a Hogwarts classroom. I wish that actual windows and brick-built arches made up the whole rear wall. This set would look better if it used more SNOT (studs-not-on-top) techniques. Stickers should not make up major details in a build. At most, they should make up scenery behind a brick-built window.
The set relies a little to heavily on stickers for detail.
When the LEGO® Group first announced these sets, there was a lot of speculation online about the books covers. I can now confirm that each book cover is one solid piece. These are interesting plates because they present great MOC potential. You can repurpose them into large doors. However, one of them features a printed Hogwarts crest. Therefore, to get two blank doors you must buy two of these sets. Additionally, you must buy two of the same set. Each Hogwarts Moment is a different color.
Transfiguration Class is a simple build. I do not doubt it took some planning to get everything to fold into a book. However, the product still looks a little plain. The set needs more brick-built detail and less reliance on stickers. Also, the covers look like a book, but the pages do not. I rate the design for Transfiguration Class at 7/10 (70%).
MINIFIGURES: 93%
This set contains three Minifigures. You get a new Professor McGonagall. The last variant of this character I received was in the Hogwarts Great Hall. In that set, she had no hair, and the same witches hat we have seen since the ‘90s. In this set, her hat appears more movie accurate and comes with hair molded on. She is a great Minifigure, and a huge improvement over past versions. It is such a shame that Ron and Hermione do not measure up.
In this set, Ron and Hermione are both stumpy kid Minifigures. That was a terrible choice for a classroom scene. The set has stools, but the students cannot sit in them. I harp on every set that comes with the stumpy, unbending legs. I really do not like them, especially since shorter moveable legs exist. Otherwise, each character has a head covering, double-sided face, and dual torso printing. McGonagall also features a lot of printing on her dress piece. Additionally, Transfiguration Class comes with a rat, a treasure chest, two chalices, two teacups, a mini-Minifig, a jewel, a frog, a book, and several wands. I rate the Minifigure design at 42/45 (93%) largely because of the plethora of accessories.
Three Minifigures in a 241-piece kit is quite good. The brick-to-fig ratio is 80-to-1. Comparatively, my average ratio is 145-to-1. Therefore, for a set this big, you get a good number of characters to play with or display. I rate the ratio score at 93%. As such, the overall Minifigure grade for Transfiguration Class is 93% as well.
ENTERTAINMENT: 85%
From an AFOL perspective, Transfiguration Class is okay. I am not as thrilled by this book concept as I thought I would be though. Perhaps that will change with the other sets. However, I am not sure if I will keep these built for long. They might make neat shelf ornaments for a time. Eventually, I will recycle them for parts though. The real highlight for Harry Potter fans is the new McGonagall, I think. I rate the AFOL score at 80%.
The book opening into a playset is an interesting concept for kids though. It makes the set slightly more transportable for play on the go. With that said, I doubt these books will remain intact if packed away in a backpack or suitcase. The more recent run of Harry Potter sets has not included classrooms though. From that perspective, I think kids will get a kick out of this set. How can you play Harry Potter without the kids ever going to their magical classes? I rate the KFOL score at 90%. Averaging this with the AFOL score gives an overall entertainment rating of 85%.
OVERALL SCORE: 79%
Transfiguration Class is a fun playset. The concept is great for kids because of its play-then-fold-away design. Additionally, you get a good number of characters for a set of this size and loads of accessories. However, as an adult collector, I think the price tag is a little high for what you get. The interior relies too heavily on stickers and not enough on building. Ultimately, I think Transfiguration Class (76382) is a satisfactory set that will appeal more to kids than adult collectors. What do you think? Feel free to reach out below or on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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