Had they made it a much larger, micro-scale build, I would probably be more compelled to buy it day 1."

As normal, Rivendell is intended to be presented from the front, although the interior is also very detailed. I wonder whether an arrangement akin to 10305 Lion Knights' Castle would have been possible, so the model could be folded and enclosed on every side, or opened to create a wider facade. However, the rural features of Imladris require some separation from the focal building, so this design is probably more suitable. The river underneath is primarily constructed with trans-light blue tiles, covering teal plates. This colour combination yields a vibrant blue, which certainly suits Rivendell's clear waters. The white foam looks lovely as well, bubbling with particular ferocity under the waterfalls. Plants surround the stream and include the new fern element, 34 of which are scattered throughout the set. Agree with everyone else who feels that there ought to have been more than one type of elf hair piece. There were several made for the previous LotR sets and some of those would have been perfectly suited for re-use here. On balance, I actually prefer the more streamlined look of the previous version of the “standard” elf hair piece with ears; this new one feels just a little too bulky to me.I assume that fight is from the comics? I have no recollection of that. I hope we get Gungi, but we probably won't know until next year's wave. I just hope they have a lower priced Bad Batch set I actually like." I think much the same can also be said for some of the head prints. The original Legolas face may have been somewhat stylised but it worked and the use of several generic faces in this set feels like a cop-out. I understand that the old prints were out of production and they probably shaved a little off the costs by incorporating some parts already in production but it definitely feels like a missed opportunity. Real wood oval frames were chosen for Frodo’s three faithful companions from the Shire. The clean simplicity of these frames reflects the earthy and wholesome lives of Halflings. Sam is shown in a 5x7” cherry wood frame. The art shown is a print that has been shrunk down to fit an 11x14” silver frame with a decorative profile. The original Nine were hand cut, and fit on 16x24”. Son of Gloin, this brave and loyal Dwarf is shown in a dark metal rectangular frame, as his folk were expert miners and fond of all things geometrical. 5x7” with a metal door hanging loop.

Remarkably, a unique accessory has been developed to represent Elendil's shattered blade and this weapon looks absolutely perfect. The distinctive hilt is instantly identifiable and the uneven break looks realistic too. Hopefully the reforged sword taken up by Aragorn, dubbed Andúril, will appear in any future The Lord of the Rings sets. The model looks stunning from the front and extensive detail continues around both sides. Elven buildings often forego solid walls in favour of slender columns, flooding the interiors with natural light. That distinctive architecture is immediately recognisable here and I like the archways along the ground floor in particular. The momentous Council of Elrond takes place in the courtyard outside Elrond's chambers, with an enormous tree overlooking the scene. The setting is immediately recognisable here and the use of colour is brilliant, as the gathered chairs are the only medium nougat features anywhere outside, ensuring their clear visibility. But I highly highly doubt it'll be on release day. I just don't see a set worthy of the full 500€ here.Each statue includes an identical torso and double-sided head, offering subtle variation between figures, as some feature a gentle smile and others appear more severe. These statues actually adorn the base of a ruined tower in the film, situated between the council courtyard and another tower that remains standing. Combining those towers into one was definitely a good decision for the LEGO model. Eight chairs surround the One Ring, with Elrond's more elaborate design in prime position. The seven smaller chairs are amazingly detailed though and accurately replicate those shown during the film, incorporating medium nougat sausages and ice lolly elements! Admittedly, the onscreen council is much busier, but eight seats are adequate for the essential characters to attend. You know, I can’t even remember if they show the entire tower at Minas Morgul in the film. Attention is largely focused on the city walls (which look like a sea urchin made sweet, sweet love to a fairly standard bear trap). I had to look up images of what the filming model looked like, but that tower terminates with a flared platform that looks like it has a siege tower perched on top. It sorta looks like one of the Easter Island Moai statues that has a hat. Son of Thranduil of Mirkwood, Legolas the Elf is featured in a real LOTR metal collectors frame with mallorn leaves on each corner. 4x6” Official images have demonstrated that the Council of Elrond can be displayed separately from Rivendell, presumably for anyone seeking a smaller The Lord of the Rings display. Options are always welcome and the model does look impressive alone, but I am not convinced this feature was truly necessary. Rivendell appears decidedly peculiar without its focal location, after all.