Lego Build: The Hobbit, An Unexpected Gathering (Part 5/5)

True to form of Tolkien's work and any derivative works of it there has to be a final additional post full of detail and things that wouldn't fit or would be out of place in the main body of the work. The books called them appendices as did the films but informally they are known as special features.

You can't talk about bag end without at least mentioning the famous green door.

really, Gandalf, was the graffiti absolutely necessary?

During the build I noticed that the fireplace has 'glowing' (red) coals in it. there's also a letter sitting at the side with some small jars at the other side. These small details are what really get me excited about the lego sets for movies. The sheer amount of thought and attention that goes into the design of them never fails to amaze me (such as the fire extinguishers on the quinjet that I've already spoken about in another post). It also makes me feel a lot better about the price of it because, while Lego is expensive, you really do get what you pay for.

Just look at that! it doesn't need to be there! but it is! brilliant!

Speaking of detail, the food that this set come with certainly is enough to fill any self respecting hobbit's pantry.

There's just so much!

and said self respecting hobbit wouldn't be caught dead without a pretty garden (including a spot to sit and take in the sun)

or, Valar forbid, an empty window box.

I'm sure if you're reading this post then you saw how the tangent I went off on back in the stage 3 post about the red book of westmarch. It should really be there as the events recorded within it have yet to occur. I think it's either a remnant from the design of bag end during the LOTR era or a point for people who would use the set as it's seen in the pre-title scene of An Unexpected Journey. Another oddly present object for the time frame is Sting, sitting on display when Bilbo hasn't even met the trolls yet along with a selection of maps all but one of which (the shire) shouldn't be in Bilbo's possession yet.

Lovely detail but a little out of place for a Baggins of Bag End

I think it's kinda nice that Lego isn't splitting up the sibling groups withing their sets. They'll still separate more distant relatives such as cousins but not actual brothers. I figured this out as within this set there is Bofur and Bombur but not Bifur this was a little confusing until I remembered that he was their cousin not their brother and by a similar logic Oin and Gloin should have been there also as they're first cousins to Balin and Dwalin but instead they're in the barrel escape with a couple of elven gaurds and Bilbo in his travelling outfit.

If you're interested in more lego shenanigans with a greater variety of characters and amusing situations you should check out this tumblr blog; Buildingbagend. It was actually this blog that got me interested in the Hobbit lego sets and inspired me to do this series of posts. Take a look and go through their archive if you have the time, it's really worth it.

As for this blog there is yet more lego posts in store as since I finished bag end I have actually bought two more (smaller) sets and some other lego minifigs and merch which I will be posting about soon enough.

Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Special Features