Review: 76433 Mandrake
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has produced a pair of Disney-themed botanical sets this year, perhaps influenced by the fantastic Botanical Collection. I presume the popular Icons plants also provided inspiration for 76433 Mandrake, recreating the noisy flora from Harry Potter!
Beyond looking superb, the Mandrake includes some clever functions, as removing this peculiar plant from its pot reveals a pair of unfolding legs, while both the mouth and arms can move. This definitely has the potential to be an interesting and innovative model.
Summary
76433 Mandrake , 579 pieces.
£59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99 | 10.4p/12.1c/12.1c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Despite a high price, the Mandrake offers satisfying functions and great display value
- Accurate size and proportions
- Superb natural texture
- Clever, well-hidden functions
- Stickered leaves are disappointing
- Quite expensive
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The Completed Model
Mandrakes were introduced in The Chamber of Secrets, known for their piercing screams and use in Mandrake Restorative Draught. The model represents a young Mandrake, reflecting the plants from the film. Its height of 27cm when placed inside the pot therefore appears fairly close to life-size, or perhaps a little smaller, similar to standard Botanical Collection sets.
A number of Botanical Collection sets include brick-built pots and the Mandrake does as well. This example is pretty simple, but I like its rounded shape and dark orange was a good colour choice. Moreover, several of the elements used are new in dark orange, while the 5x5 macaroni bricks found around the lip of the pot are completely new parts in any colour.
The label on the pot uses a sticker, but the Mandrake's face is completely brick-built and looks marvellous. I love how a 1x1 heart-shaped tile is integrated as the nose and the texture is very realistic, with plenty of asymmetrical features, as one would expect of a plant. The arms poking out of the pot are effective too, again appearing natural and matching the source material.
Impressive texture continues around the back, as various dark tan curved slopes combine to create a tuber-like shape. The transition to the branches also looks fairly natural because the connection points for the reddish brown tail elements are hidden between the aforementioned curved slopes and the branches grow outwards in multiple directions.
The reddish brown flexible hoses wrapped around the branches look fantastic as well, re-using a building technique from 10281 Bonsai Tree. Additionally, the branches are adjustable, so you can change the positions of the leaves to fit varying spaces or to make them appear as organic as possible on display.
The leaves themselves are often a challenge for Botanical Collection sets, particularly in cases where the leaves are larger. Mandrakes are a prime example, but I think 6x10x2 shell elements work well here, matching their shape in the movie. However, each leaf is decorated with stickers on the shell piece and the attached 2x6 tile, which is frustrating, since these repeated elements could surely have been printed.
Furthermore, the leaves do not look great from behind, although this was only to be expected. The smaller leaves are attractive though, using dark green and bright green windscreen parts for leaves at differing stages of development. A few standard leaves are also integrated below the mature leaves, presumably representing new leaf growth.
While the leaves are easily disrupted when handling the model, they are strong enough to grip the Mandrake from above and remove it from the pot. The legs drop automatically as you raise the plant and this function works well, as the legs fold up perfectly against the Mandrake's body. Also, I like the use of dark tan seaweed elements for the tangled roots.
Mandrakes famously scream when uprooted, so the plant's downturned mouth and eyes look superb, conveying their distress outside a pot. In addition, moving a switch on the Mandrake's body causes the mouth to open and close and the arms to flail around, as shown in the images below. This function is nicely disguised, as even the few Technic parts feature muted colours.
Overall
76433 Mandrake is definitely not something I expected from the Harry Potter theme, but this is an enjoyable set, nonetheless. The model is wonderfully detailed and appears accurate to the source material, even incorporating functions to convey its screaming once removed from the included pot. Maybe this would have been a good opportunity for a sound brick, but that would raise the price.
On that subject, the price of £59.99, $69.99 or €69.99 feels a little expensive to me, especially given the inevitable comparisons with Botanical Collection sets, which mostly provide splendid value. Also, the use of stickers on the leaves is disappointing, as those elements should clearly have been printed. Even so, the Mandrake is an unexpectedly fun model.
105 likes
27 comments on this article
No sound brick? If ever there was a use for one...
I pre-ordered this one and can't wait to build it. I'm not into HP but I do like the botanicals. Thanks for the review.
@shedjed said:
"No sound brick? If ever there was a use for one..."
Considering the size of the warning on the Sorting Hat box you'd probably have to hire an attorney to accompany you to buy this set if there was one.
I've never been one to complain about stickers. I understand the necessity to include them in certain situations. But when you have 5 of the exact same print on parts that have had prints on them before; it's just a disgrace that these weren't printed.
I think that’s the first time those large wedge windscreen parts have appeared in green. Very nice.
This was a nice fun set to build. The stickers didn't bother me, they were quit easy to apply due their simple large rectangular shape. The pot is a simple but effective and can easy be used with other botanical sets.
I've got a Mandrake Root, it's some thunder in my brain.
Double bingo - price and stickers.
@peterlmorris said:
"I think that’s the first time those large wedge windscreen parts have appeared in green. Very nice. "
First time in any shade of green, so I'm happy they're not printed.
I was going to buy this until I caught sight of the roots, which completely put me off. I'm not a HP fan, but I thought it interesting until I saw all the images and changed my mind.
No sound brick and stickered leaves are a no-go
Just built this set yesterday! It's a great idea for a Botanical HP set and I do think it's built well, but a few things really hold it back. It's way too expensive at $70 considering there are no prints or a sound brick. The lack of a sound brick is honestly baffling to me since they're making such a comeback this year with the Sorting Hat and Retro Radio.
This feels like a $50 set so I really don't understand how the leaves aren't printed when the retail price is $70. At least the stickers weren't difficult to apply and they're pretty high quality. The moving parts on the build are great too.
I'm incredibly forgiving of both the need for stickers and the reality that the IP holders are the ones who say the prices on these, but it hurts at that price to have those leaf stickers. I'd rather pay $5 for printed pieces
On y va
I'll only buy this if I run into the Basilisk...
zero love for Harry Potter, but i have to admit this set is pretty neat... but it would be a lot cooler if it was LEGO Delicious in Dungeon
*Shrieks*
Stickered leaves? No sound brick? I have this awesome stuffed mandrake from B&N—half the price, looks far better, can actually be handled, and has solid sound. Objects built out of LEGO make no sense to me.
Appreciate the review.
Fun set that was unexpectedly attractive. I'll get this when dramatically discounted. HP used to offer extraordinary value, but now requires discounts as they have been wrapped into the fold of the giant Lego money grab.
Like everyone else, the repeated stickers are cheap and frustrating. The color-matching isn't great, but not completely awful.
I don't think I really need a sound brick for this one. For those who do, get a pet or kid. You won't want more annoying noise. If that's too expensive (and, trust me, it is!!), just borrow a pet or kid from one of your overwhelmed friends (trust me, they are!).
If you don't have friends with a pet or kid, it's time to put down the lego and get a life.
@gatorbug6 said:
"Objects built out of LEGO make no sense to me."
I think you may have stumbled into the wrong website!
@gatorbug6 said:
"Stickered leaves? No sound brick? I have this awesome stuffed mandrake from B&N—half the price, looks far better, can actually be handled, and has solid sound. Objects built out of LEGO make no sense to me."
Parts pack potential, though!
@StyleCounselor Do you mean a goat kid, or a human kid, SC? ;)
Didn't take long for the informative articles on why designers use stickers to be forgotten (or ignored).
@sjr60 said:
" @gatorbug6 said:
"Objects built out of LEGO make no sense to me."
I think you may have stumbled into the wrong website!
"
I thought this was National Geographic. Thanks for pointing that out!
@Modeltrainman said:
" @StyleCounselor Do you mean a goat kid, or a human kid, SC? ;)"
Either will do.
I think it's hilarious that people want that sound effect, and are even willing/demanding to pay for it.
I honestly can't imagine that perspective. But, I've (almost) successfully raised dogs, cats, and a kid. I'm now (hopefully) almost done with all three. ;)
@StyleCounselor said:
" @Modeltrainman said:
" @StyleCounselor Do you mean a goat kid, or a human kid, SC? ;)"
Either will do.
I think it's hilarious that people want that sound effect, and are even willing/demanding to pay for it.
I honestly can't imagine that perspective. But, I've (almost) successfully raised dogs, cats, and a kid. I'm now (hopefully) almost done with all three. ;)
"
While, I can certainly see where it might be a bit of a laugh if it screamed when you pulled it out of the pot [the first couple times], I really can't see using the [new] sound brick here.
Its seems to be a fairly expensive part that is capable of storing/playing multiple audio clips. Would it really be worth it for multiple nearly identical screams? Would it just play random lines from the movie when its triggered? Pull the mandrake out, "You're a wizard Harry"? Nope, can't see it here.
Those stickers tho . . . :(
@279 said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @Modeltrainman said:
" @StyleCounselor Do you mean a goat kid, or a human kid, SC? ;)"
Either will do.
I think it's hilarious that people want that sound effect, and are even willing/demanding to pay for it.
I honestly can't imagine that perspective. But, I've (almost) successfully raised dogs, cats, and a kid. I'm now (hopefully) almost done with all three. ;)
"
While, I can certainly see where it might be a bit of a laugh if it screamed when you pulled it out of the pot [the first couple times], I really can't see using the [new] sound brick here.
Its seems to be a fairly expensive part that is capable of storing/playing multiple audio clips. Would it really be worth it for multiple nearly identical screams? Would it just play random lines from the movie when its triggered? Pull the mandrake out, "You're a wizard Harry"? Nope, can't see it here.
Those stickers tho . . . :("
Yes and yes.