Trevor here from Trevor’s Videos, nice to meet you all and have the opportunity to bring you something different and new here at The Brick Post.
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been building the LEGO Harry Potter Hogsmeade Village – Collectors’ Edition (76457) set, it’s a great set but missing one essential thing, lights! I purchased a light kit from Light My Bricks, as it’s one of those upgrades that transforms an already charming set into something genuinely magical one. But the journey to get there is an interesting one.
Installation Approach
Light My Bricks gives you two paths:
Install after the build, which means dismantling sections you’ve already lovingly assembled. Or install as you build, which is the route I chose. On paper, installing as you build sounds like the smoother option. In practice, it created a building experience that felt very different from the usual LEGO flow that I’m used to.
Build Experience – Controlled Chaos
“Chaotic” is the word that kept coming to mind. Instead of the familiar, satisfying rhythm of opening bags in numerical order, the lighting instructions jump around. You might open a bag, use only a handful of pieces, install a light, then be told to open a completely different bag for a few more parts towards your build.
The results of choosing this way to install the lights?
- A desk scattered with pieces from multiple bags
- A build sequence that feels disjointed
- A constant mental shift between building and wiring
To their credit, Light My Bricks acknowledges this in their instructions, reassuring you not to worry about leftover pieces and reminding you that they’re intentionally changing the way you build LEGO – and they’re right, the whole process has to be different when you’re integrating lights seamlessly into a build. I definitely felt this difference more because it’s not the usual way you’d approach a build.
Instruction Quality
The instructions were generally easy to follow, and I never felt lost, but they weren’t flawless. I ran into:
- Occasional missing callouts for pieces
- A few diagrams that didn’t highlight everything clearly
- Webpage glitched a couple of times for me refreshing it’s self causing me to lose my position in the build. (Downloaded PDF would be the preferred option)
None of these issues were deal-breakers, as I had the original instructions to refer to occasionally if I needed to clarify something I didn’t understand. I did however find that it interrupted the flow and required a bit more extra attention. Still, even with those hiccups, the build remained enjoyable.
The Final Result
Once everything was in place, the payoff was undeniable. The lights elevate the entire LEGO Hogsmeade Village set to a new level, warm, atmospheric, and full of life. It feels like stepping into the Wizarding World at dusk, and that’s something the standard build simply cannot replicate.
Would I Build This Way Again?
This is where my feelings are mixed.
Pros of installing as you build:
- No need to dismantle a set you’ve finished.
- Cables and lights integrate more cleanly.
Less risk of damaging delicate sections during retrofitting.
Cons:
- The chaotic, non-linear build process
- Losing the pure, designer-intended flow of a standard Lego build
- A workspace that quickly becomes cluttered
For me, nothing quite matches the joy of opening bags in order and experiencing the build exactly as the LEGO designers crafted it. Adding lights during the build is convenient, but it comes at the cost of that smooth, immersive experience you’d get from building in the usual way.
My final thoughts
The Light My Bricks kit delivers a stunning final display without question. The installation process, especially when done during the initial build, is functional but a little chaotic. If you value a clean, traditional LEGO building experience, you may prefer building the set normally first and adding lights at a later date, even if it means some disassembly. Whilst it took a little patience to install, every minute was worth it. I would happily buy the light kit again. The way it transforms a build and makes the set come alive is absolutely worth it. Now it sits on display looking absolutely stunning.
What is your reaction?
YES!
I like it
It's OK
Not Sure
No!
