Helm's Deep - Treat Yourself

[foxdobbs]

Having spent the better part of 3 nights building the new Helm's Deep set, I have come away with a real admiration for what LEGO put into designing this flagship LOTR set. Not since MMV (and perhaps Kindom's Joust) have I felt that LEGO really didn't try to cut corners with brick selection and technique. This truly was a magnificent build and shouldn't be missed by any castle enthusiast.

Update: Thanks to AK_Brickster for sharing an awesome build/review video.

Also, TBB posted this great video that shows the set being built, along with detailed views of the figs. It's really awesome. Definitely worth a watch.

http://youtu.be/a2a_1WsUdCQ

(Here's the full feature from TBB)

[joee]

Treat yourself day isn't until October 13. But if I'm going to buy any new set for myself this year it will be this one!

[krzyzak]

That set must be really good. Your lucky you have it. The pictures make me want it so bad. Still, I can't afford it, so I'll probably get something like the Weathertop of orc forge.

[RichardAM]

I think along with the rest of the LOTR sets, regardless of how good it is it's overpriced.

Small sets only for me i'm afraid.

[shoggoth666]

Soon as the next free shipping promo hits I'm getting it!

[Tria]

The LOTR sets are really beautiful and seem to have new building techniques and far better design..
I want to buy them all and some in multiples but only if the price goes down... Or maybe some used ones sets later in ebay...

[mencot]

I don´t know if I agree on the that the LOTR sets are beutiful but the fact that "new building techniques and far better design" is used is true and a good thing, hopefuly it will be a trend that will continue in a future Castle theme also

[Tria]

I hope so... and in fact I absolutely sure about it... why not? its modernize lego building technique and LEGO wont have to pay anyone for this..
The thing about LOTR is that there are more like dioramas, movie-scenes.. Helms Deep is not a complete castle..
I like the architecture and the features and of course the minifigs but I prefer more the completes buildings.

(Well, you can buy two or three of them and make a complete castle and you would be right...)

[SirBlake]

I agree that there's something different about it. I'm very glad I got Helm's Deep, but it is both literally and figuratively, on the other side of the room from all my classic castle sets. This is my first licensed theme, and therefore the first sets I've gotten that are beholden to specific scenes from reference material. I do have to say, it is the most interesting, unorthodox build I've ever done and is filled with cool parts.

An unexpected joy is stocking it up with castle minifigs that fit with the LOTR style. In fact, I think I'm going to hit up BrickLink soon to flesh out the ranks to man the battlements. For instance, the Kingdom's Lion scale mail archer torso is a pretty good fit with the Rohirrim, as is the neck-protector helm. I just need to get more fleshie heads and hands to do it.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e244/ ... sDeep4.jpg

[Eklund]

Would anyone mind posting a picture of King Theoden's torso without his armor on and of Gimli's without his beard?

[Medieval Guy]

http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/324375
They're not my pics, but here ya go.

[Eklund]

Thanks, Medieval Guy, that was exactly what I was asking for. I am kind of disapointed with King Theoden's torso, but Gimli's is really nice.

[Knight Man]

This is really a great set and as Mencot said I hope these great set designs get used in non-liscenced sets.
And some of those torsos are great for turning into yellows.
~KnightMan~

[eilonwy77]

I just got the LEGO catalog with the new LOTR sets, and they have a picture of all the minifigs, and I can't help but wonder: where is Eowyn? Haldir, but no Eowyn? Maybe it's just my chromosomes speaking, but I'm disappointed.

[Formendacil]

I just got the LEGO catalog with the new LOTR sets, and they have a picture of all the minifigs, and I can't help but wonder: where is Eowyn? Haldir, but no Eowyn? Maybe it's just my chromosomes speaking, but I'm disappointed.

I would guess they're saving her for the second wave of LotR sets (Minas Tirith, Ride of the Rohirrim, Death of the Witch-King, or something of that nature) where they can have ACTION-ÉOWYN!