Collection Rating 7 out of 10
Pros: the red colour of the leaves of the trees is good looking; I appreciated the choice of using (for the eyes of the spiders and for the mushrooms) the glowing white pieces and also the webs are nice. Also the female elf minifig is unique to this set.
Cons: the two trees (especially the small one) are quite poorly built. |
79001 Escape From Mirkwood Spiders (2012)
Web Pond Trees and Mushrooms
It was already mentioned about the web pond and about the giant spider that lives there. What was not mentioned is that the portion of the forest that surrounds the pond is evil too. Trees are no longer brown with green leaves but black with bloody red leaves. Spiders are almost everywhere: not as big as the giant one in the pond but huge indeed. They white eyes can be seen in the dark and it quite probable that an elf or a dwarf travelling there will finish imprisoned on a tree in one of their webs. Last but not least you have to pay attention also to some particular type of mushroom that is easy to find there: these mushroom are not only poisonous to eat, but if you go too close and inspire their fumes you will sleep for hours (being eaten by spiders then) or even go crazy. Characters Leo: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the quickest of the dwarves. Characterized by a blonde hair, he is a master in using the double short sword. Sagittarius: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the most precise of the dwarves. Characterized by black long hair, he is a master in using the arc. |
Collection Rating 8.5 out of 10
Pros: the tree is wonderfully built, with the combination of dark and light green leaves and the brown of the log. The wargs also are well decorated and could be a “must have” piece unique for this set. There are also lot of transparent pieces (all the flames)
Cons: the rock piece of the set is quite poorly built. |
79002 Attack Of The Wargs (2012)
The flame tree
In the forest where Calipher lives, there is also a tree much bigger than all the others. This is not a normal tree and it is magic indeed. When summoned by the wizard, red and blue flames appear between the leaves and can burn any possible attacker. It is told that this ancient tree can move itself and has the power to show past, present and future things even though in a mysterious way. Well hidden within the log there is also a magic golden gem which is used by the wizard to recharge the power of its magic staff. In order to protect the tree and the gem, two ferocious Wargs (talking wolves) live on a rock nearby and attack any possible intruder (especially orcs or necromancers). Characters Lorien: is the king of the dwarves. He masters a double weapon: a short sward and an axe at the same time and he is characterized by his blue royal dress and long dark hair. He is also the father of prince Loth. Virgo: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the most agile of the dwarves. Characterized by a black and white beard, he is a master in using the spear. |
Collection Rating 10 out of 10
Pros: this set is stunning with his green aspect. Every detail is accurate from the circular front door to the various windows with flowers. The garden is also beautiful but the best part is the interior: there are unique details like the fireplace or the desk with the book and the pen. It’s a must having set.
Cons: maybe it could have been included also the back part of the building in order to have a 360 degrees view. |
79003 An Unespected Gathering (2012)
Calipher’s Place
As mentioned before Calipher lives in the woods in the forest located within the peninsula behind the Great Mountains (a very difficult place to reach indeed). Well hidden within this forest and practically build under the terrain of a small hill there is his house. The first thing you can notice about this house (if you are lucky enough to be invited or to find it by chance) is the green colour: everything from the walls to the roof is green and in harmony with the trees of the forest. In the outside part there is the garden with beautiful flowers as well as carrots and other vegetable, all of which are followed with care by the wizard’s servants. There is a big green circular door and small circular windows all around the house. In addition there is also a stunning glass circular door made with a magic glass that helps in keeping the house warm in winter and cold in summer. Coming to the interior the details are even more accurate, starting from the decoration of the floor, to the fireplace and to all the shelves, including the book library where all the spell books are kept. In the very centre of the house there is a huge wooden table where all the guest can eat nice meals (all home cooked and natural). Speaking of guests, the most frequent ones are the member of the Royal Council of the Dwarves: the kingdom of the dwarves is disappeared long time ago but the king and the 12 members of his council (called by the names of the Zodiac signs) are still travelling all around the North in order to regain their lands (taken by the Orcs) and regaining their honour. They are friends with the wizard and therefore you can see them quite often dining with him. Characters Libra: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the oldest and the wisest. Characterized by a white long bear, he is a master in using the short sword. Aries: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the lord of the land. Characterized by a brown woollen hat, he is a master in using the pick (uncommon weapon). Taurus: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the chef of the dwarves and hates war. Characterized by a red beard and by a huge belly, he is a master in cooking. Capricorn: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the most aggressive and less social of the dwarves. Characterized by a brown beard, he is a master in using the iron club. |
Collection Rating 6 out of 10
Pros: the rock cave is quite well detailed and also the general impression of the boat is good.
Cons: it is a small set and not so interesting to build. It could have been added at least one minifig unique to this set. |
79000 The Riddles For The Ring (2012)
Smiger’s small boat
We already talked about Smiger and his story. We can add now the fact that he lives in a small rock cave just near the Web Pond. The cave is very little and cold but allows him to be hidden and as you remember is scared of being in contact with other living creatures. His primary activity is fishing in the pond and, in order to do this, he built a small wooden boat with which he can go all around the pond. Characters n/a |
Collection Rating 7 out of 10
Pros: the barrels are nice and also the two elves weapons are well detailed such as all the small accessorizes. Good choice of colours.
Cons: the prison is quite poorly built. |
79004 Barrell's Escape (2012)
The Goblin King Canteen
The Orc Forge we described it is only a part of the land that once was the dwarves kingdom and now is under the rule of the Goblin King. You have to know that the Goblin King is a real estimator of wines and therefore another very famous place is his canteen built underneath the ground near the pond. This canteen was built with extreme attention in order to take care of the wines and when someone have access to it through the long rock stairs, can see immediately many huge barrels of the best and most precious wines of the North. There are also small barrels and small tables to taste them. This place is continuously guarded also because in a small part of the canteen there is the prison of the palace (a big cage with iron bars) and also the armoury. Since the orcs and the goblins does not understand anything about wine care, the King made two some elves prisoners and obliged them to run the canteen. In addition to the elves at the moment also two dwarves of the council are imprisoned there. Characters Gemini: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the wizard of the dwarves. Characterized by a white double side beard, he is a master in using the magic staff. Cancer: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the angriest and most ferocious of the dwarves. Characterized by a red long bear and hair, he is a master in using the long and short axe at the same time. |
Collection Rating 7 out 10 Pros: six minifigs plus the king which is unique. Coming to the battle set the throne of the king is well detailed and also the wooden playable bridges are nice.
Cons: it is the biggest set of the Hobbit collection but especially compared to the Helm’s Deep it appears quite poorly built. It is not a building but not even a complete battle set. |
79010 The Goblin King Battle (2012) The Goblin King Palace
Luxurious is not the adjective you have to use in order to describe this palace. It is built on the very rocks near the forge and appears more like an additional section of the forge rather than a palace. The main part is the big wooden throne of the King from which you can see the overall throne room. There are small catapults to defend it and also trapdoor to protect the wooden bridges that give access to the throne. There are torches to make light as well as skulls and bones of dead enemies everywhere. The Kind does not care about order and so also weapons are abandoned in barrels here and there; in a corner there is a small fireplace to cook food as well as a capstan to bring weapons from the forge to the palace. Directly under the throne there is a small protected cage in which all the treasures are kept. Characters Scorpio: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the real weapon master of the dwarves. Characterized by grey short hair, he is a master in using the long sword and the blackjack at the same time. Aquarius: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the youngest of the dwarves. Characterized by a short brown hair like a monk and by pink robes, he is a master in using the short axe. Pisces: is the one of the members of the Royal Council of the dwarves. He is the shyest of the dwarves. Characterized by a red long bear and hair arranged like a shell, he is a master in using the long sword and an iron club at the same time. The Goblin King: it looks more like a troll than a Goblin and was chosen by the Spirit of the Air to rule the Goblin, the Orcs and the Uruk-Hai because of his evil and ferocious temperament. He loves wine and being served in everything: that’s why he almost never leave his palace and lets General Tobiga rule the army and the forge. He has a crown on his head and fights using an iron club decorated with skulls and bones. Since he is very lazy, he has also a personal counsellor who rules the day by day activities in the palace and speaks on his behalf. |