Harry Potter Advent Calendar - Day 4

I like that wreath. The gold hollow dot plate adds a nice touch.

This build confused me so much until I saw this post. Am I an idiot for not twigging these pieces add onto the fireplace?

(To be clear I sort of realised the letters were for the fireplace but I had no idea what the wreath was and didn’t think to clip the broom or shovel on)

If you're going to rate this, it should really be as just what you get today, rather then a combined build. And as just what you get today, its a 2.0 at best.

Take the Marvel calender and the energy blasts bits on day 2. They only got a 2.0, but if you combined them with other models you get much more interesting scenes and play features.

Splitting a build over two days has its cons and pros.
Usually I don't mind them doing this if it gives us a nice end result
(like the architect statue and pedestal in 75964
and the two sides of the ice sculpture table in 75981 );

this one is a bit 'meh' to me...

I clipped the wreath above the fireplace onto the sliding panel, so it's centered, higher, and acts as a lifting handle to the panel. Also, I flipped the panel, so the mail lays/lies flush with the smooth side so they don't get stuck when lifting the panel.

I noticed a future 3-day build which is slightly frustrating and diminishes the daily excitement... and a bummer we already know the 24th build.

Clever idea when combined.

I never picked up Privet Drive (just the figures for cheap!). So I may need to MOC my own version of the house utilizing this function.

@captaincassianandor:
It’s not the first multi-day build they’ve done, but usually it’s more obvious (or a weapons rack). However, if you flip the box around to the back, they show two pictures of the fireplace with the accessories attached. In a weird twist, the game board image shows the wreath on the left, while the play feature demo image shows it switched to the right. Shovel and broom are consistent in terms of placement. And anytime you see a green 2x2 round plate or throwable life preserver with something red on it at this time of year, it’s always a wreath. It’s a bit ironic because in real life you’ll see them in several other color schemes, but this is the only one that reads “Christmasy” at minifig scale.

I like these embellishments, the more printed letters the better when replicating Privet Drive scenes as far as I'm concerned.

Nice little wreath too.

Where is my owl to drop the letters down the chimney?

Hedwig is going to be the only owl in this, isn't she?

@gatorbug6:
I do peek at the contents when all the calendars are revealed earlier in the year, but I tend not to study them so intently that I recall them all this late in the year. Looking back at the first two years, 2019 came with a standing Hedwig on Day 24, and 2020 had no owls at all. I don’t see any owls on the box, so even Hedwig isn’t assured. Frankly, I’d be surprised if they ever include a mail owl in any HPAC unless they figure out a good way to have it in a flying pose with a letter grasped in its claws. Speaking of which, I think I have an idea that would work for a MOC, but not for a set.

@PurpleDave
@gatorbug6
Set 30420 includes a flying version of Hedwig with a build to allow her to carry items in here 'claws' using a round 1x1 with open stud and 1L bar with clip combined and attached to the anti-stud under the figure, so the clip can carry brooms, wands, and tiles like the printed letters.

Hopefully TLG didn't miss the opportunity to include her flying version in this calendar with the parts to allow that carry function.

@darkstonegrey :
I'm guessing @PurpleDave is aware of that way of "helping" an owl pick up a letter, but I think he meant you can't make the owl stand upright with that assembly; not easily at least or without some other adjustments...

Also: I wouldn't count on a flying owl here; I believe the first time we met Hedwig in the movie, she was in a cage.

@darkstonegrey:
As @YanVanLan surmised, I am familiar with that solution (BTW, something similar can be achieved with a seagull by shoving the stem of a minifig hand into the hole under its feet). I’ve actually bought that set just to get the flying Hedwig to go with my MOC of Hagrid’s flying motorcycle. But, as expected, I don’t think that’s enough. This would require hand-posing, which they are unlikely to do. An easy solution to mounting this assembly, using only small parts, might prompt them to not only make the flying owl mold in other colors (currently it’s exclusive to the Hedwig print and a gold version), but to also include a flying mail owl in a future HPAC. They’ve done flying stuff before. 75097 Day 1 (Jabba’s Sail Barge) could have omitted the clear parts and simply parked on the ground like most other vehicles, especially since 75097 Day 2 (Sarlaac) already comes with a mount to set it on. But 75097 Day 20 (Probe Droid) is a different story. They’ve never done a Probe Droid that didn’t have a clear stand to support it (I can’t explain the TIE Interceptor’s grey stand for 75146 Day 3). 75213 Day 6 (Cloud City) is another great example. I think flying owls would be treated the same way.

@PurpleDave
Ah an actual stand solution for a flying owl, I see. I was thinking more so for hand-held play value considering the additional parts would not stay attached if wanting to land the owl by simply removing the stud and clip together to set aside for later use.

@darkstonegrey:
But not just a stand for a flying owl. That’s easy. This would need to be a stand for a flying owl that’s carrying a letter in its talons. So basically every attachment point would be used up except for the edges and back of the tile.

@PurpleDave :
I guess one could just use a transparant part 42445, stick the owl to the end of it and the letter to the stud just below it; add some additional parts to make it stand up in a stable way (or just have it connect to a previous build)?
No talons then of course, but the 1L bar with clip for it isn't ideal either.

Might work, just not sure if the 12L bar element fits in the AC 'cubicals'...