LEGO Hogwarts 76419 vs CIRO B776 The Magic Castle

We may consider ourselves big LEGO enthusiasts bordering on superfans here at iDisplayit, but that’s not to say we’re purists.

It’s common knowledge that LEGO can be expensive and difficult to find, resulting in a healthy market of bootLEGO, Fego imitations, and similar ‘toy models’ that just about manage to avoid copyright infringement or ripping off LEGO bricks and elements too closely. Many of these sets are what you would expect them to be – cheap rip-offs that pale in comparison to the real things. Yet many are of such a high quality that they can often pass for official LEGO at first glance.

Take the CIRO B776 Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, for example – one of our newest team members believed this Mould King clone set to be an official LEGO model when they saw it on display beside our other Harry Potter builds, and it was only a few months later that we pointed out the difference, to their surprise.

In today’s blog, we’re pitting LEGO Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 (2,660 pieces) against the CIRO/Mould King made-in-China version (6,862 pieces), both of which we currently own. These are two stunning models to display, so let’s see which one edges to victory in our very own Tri-Wizard brick-built tournament…

First Impressions – The Front of the Castle

Both models look great from any angle; however, we’ve noticed that most collectors tend to display their Hogwarts Castle sets as above, with the Black Lake to the front – so this is where we started our comparisons.

The LEGO and CIRO models are very similar when viewed from this side, as they both attempt to closely mimic the version of the famous school seen in the movie series. Both sets include aesthetically pleasing blue water elements for the lake and all the key external features of the school as seen lake-side, including the boathouse, the dramatic rockface holding the school up, the iconic viaduct bridge and supporting columns, the Great Hall, the huge Marble Staircase Tower, and the other turrets, towers and courtyards.

There is not much that sets the two models apart from this position, although LEGO Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 does include a nice detail in the form of the Durmstrang ship appearing from the surface of the lake (fans of the Harry Potter books and films will remember the craft’s epic entrance before the Tri-Wizard Tournament kicked off in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). The rocky terrain also has more definition and variance in colour than the CIRO Mould King version, shading its rival for visual quality.

Turning our attention to the castle above the lake and rocks, we would argue CIRO Magic Castle B776 triumphs thanks to its Marble Staircase Tower, which feels chunkier than the LEGO version, adequately portraying the size of this grand section of the castle.

Exterior Features – The Grounds

Once we turn our attention to the rear side of the castle, the difference between the LEGO and CIRO models becomes more apparent. As seen above, the LEGO Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 set ends rather abruptly, with only a few hints of the castle grounds in the form of the Whomping Willow and Flying Ford Anglia and Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse. By comparison, the CIRO Magic castle by Mould King extends further with some stunning forest trees, brick foliage, and hilly landscapes. The CIRO set similarly includes the Whomping Willow; however, thanks to the wider design, it also fits in Hagrid’s Hut and the pumpkin patch in the corner. The model also includes the rickety wooden bridge leading out of the castle, as seen in several of the movie adaptations.

Finally, the CIRO model also includes the Quidditch Pitch, which is probably our favourite inclusion, providing an eye-catching splash of colour with the four Hogwarts house colours draped over the towers.

Check out all the details for yourself from our copy of the set, pictured below…

Interior Features – Hidden Chambers

Where the official LEGO model lacks detailed grounds, it does attempt to make up for this by including the Chamber of Secrets and the underground puzzle rooms protecting the Philosopher’s Stone, as seen in the first and second instalments of the series.

Some pleasing details are included in these rooms, such as the giant Salazar Slytherin statue and the life-size Wizard’s chess board. Nevertheless, we would prefer the exterior details from the CIRO set if we had to choose, as these make for a more exciting, varied scene. Except from one side, the hidden chambers are also harder to see when the model is on show. By comparison, the grounds can be seen from above and to the sides, wherever the model is showcased.

The Best Brick-Built Microscale Hogwarts

This may prove controversial, but we think the off-brand CIRO Magic castle by Mould King takes the wizarding crown.

As discussed above, the CIRO set includes more intricate detail, more to look at, and more interesting and varied parts of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. While the official LEGO model remains a stylish, microscale version of the famous school, for a set that ultimately triumphs on its exterior, the CIRO imitation surpasses it. It is worth noting that there is a considerable price difference between the two sets, with a higher cost for the CIRO model to make up for the larger size and grounds.

Perhaps the LEGO design team could learn a few lessons from similar bootleg sets to ensure they stay ahead of the game…