Another set from the world of Harry Potter… This one is #76394-1: Fawkes, Dumbledore’s Phoenix. It is built in the same fashion as #75979-1: Hedwig from last year. Only, Hedwig wasn’t listed as “Harry’s Owl.” Maybe Fawkes is not as familiar of a character? Regardless this one was released on 18 April 2021 in the US. It contains 597 pieces and retails for $39.99 in the US. That works out to $0.067/piece which isn’t too bad.
Onto the review…
The front shows the full constructed set along with the minifigure Dumbledore and Fawkes on the bottom left. The bottom right has the three movie characters for branding. The back of the box highlights the functionality of the set. The top shows that the head turns and the dimensions of the set in inches and centimeters. Below that is a larger picture of Fawkes highlighting that you can turn a crank and the wings flap. Meanwhile, the minifigure scale Dumbledore and Fawkes can hang out underneath, feel the breeze and enjoy the shade.
The set contains four parts bags and an instruction booklet. To me, it almost felt a bit small for what it is, but at 33 pieces less than the Hedwig set, it’s about the same.
The build starts with the minifigure Dumbledore and Fawkes on a small base. Dumbledore comes with legs versus the robe he is often depicted with in other LEGO sets.
You then construct the base that Fawkes is connected to. It is a fairly simple build, but uses some SNOT techniques. I like how the 2x2 textured round bricks are positioned to look like a small pole for him to perch on. This build gives you a number of the gold colored bricks which is useful to those MOC builders out there looking to use the color. Also, similar to the Hedwig set, you get a 2x4 printed tile with “Fawkes” on it to put on the base. No stickers! YAY!
The second bag gives the Phoenix some basic structure. You build the main structure for the body of the bird, the start of the wing mechanisms, and then the attachment for the head. The build wasn’t too challenging for me as someone who builds sets regularly, but could be a challenge for kids with the Technic pieces mixed in. I thought the instructions described the process well to get me through it.
The third bag adds detailing to the left wing and some details to the right side. While I’m sure you could add to the details on your own, I think the designers came up with a good balance of detail while achieving the desired functionality. The red, orange, and darker orange/brownish color give Fawkes a good look.
The fourth bag wraps up the build. The right wing is built to mirror the left one. Then you add the tail and some additional details on the top of Fawkes. The next addition is his head. I thought this part of the build was very clever with the parts usage to achieve the design. The eyes are printed and the rest is just various pieces. Well done! The last part to mention is his feet and claws. They are a simple build, but you can almost wrap them around the pole so it looks like he is perching on the round 2x2 bricks.
Lastly, a picture with the wings up. I’m sure you can find a review video online somewhere if you want to see the full wing action.
Overall, I like the set. It has some useful pieces for MOC builders and should not disappoint Harry Potter fans with a minifigure, a small Fawkes, and then the larger build itself. The price point isn’t too bad although I’d always prefer to find it on sale. I have yet to see Hedwig on sale in the US, so I don’t expect this set to be on sale anytime soon. There may be some opportunities in the run up to Christmas time though so be on the lookout.
Happy building!
