LEGO Harry Potter’s Durmstrang Ship has changed a lot in nearly 20 years

LEGO Harry Potter’s summer 2024 slate is an exciting one including a new Durmstrang ship that has changed significantly over the past 20 years.

From the biggest Great Hall set ever released as part of the most detailed Hogwarts Castle model to a Mandrake ideal to place alongside the LEGO Botanical Collection, it’s looking to be an interesting summer for LEGO Harry Potter enthusiasts. Arguably the highlight of the upcoming range though is the latest and most detailed depiction of the Durmstrang ship to date.

The iconic vessel has been depicted only three times before 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival and only once at minifigure scale – 4768 The Durmstrang Ship from 2005. YouTuber SwiftBricks has acquired both the 2005 and 2024 sets, comparing the builds after nearly two decades of evolving LEGO designs.

4768 The Durmstrang Ship is made up of 550 pieces with two minifigures – Igor Karkaroff and Viktor Krum – for £39.99 / $49.99. The new 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival comparatively has 1,229 pieces and is split into both the Durmstrang ship as well as the Beauxbatons carriage. The ship itself has the same two minifigures, though with updated designs.

The exterior of the ship has changed the most, though very little is the same between the 2005 and 2024 sets. The 2024 model has added the figurehead with a stickered design, which the singular element used in the 2005 build did not allow for.

More sails have been added in the new set too and those that are present in both builds have had the material changed from that of fabric to another that is described to be similar to paper. More shields are present in the 2024 set too, though they are stickered as opposed to being printed in the 2005 model.

The interiors of the ship have been expanded on in the 2024 model, though also cut back compared to the 2005 model. The retired LEGO Harry Potter model has two interior spaces, as does the 2024 set. The topmost cabin is no longer present in 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival but instead, a space beneath the deck has been decorated, though it’s not massive.

4768 The Durmstrang Ship features a dining space on the main deck and the same space is occupied by a single chair in the 2024 set, though it is a much smaller area to decorate in 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival.

The minifigures have had a dramatic change too, though this is partially thanks to one costume change. Igor Karkaroff is wearing an entirely different outfit in 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival than he is in 4768 The Durmstrang Ship and the face is notably more refined and detailed.

Viktor Krum has fewer changes as the same outfit is being worn by both minifigures, though the coat is open in 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival. Otherwise, the face has similar changes and the fur is a different colour too.

While the two sets are still comparable, 76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival is undoubtedly more detailed and accurate to the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire than 4768 The Durmstrang Ship but at the cost of interior space.

76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival launches on June 1, 2024, for £124.99 / $139.99 / €139.99 alongside many other LEGO Harry Potter sets.

LEGO Harry Potter sets confirmed and rumoured for 2024

LEGO set	Price	Pieces	Release date
76424 Flying Ford Anglia	£12.99 / $14.99 / €14.99	165	March 1, 2024
76425 Hedwig at 4 Privet Drive	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	337	March 1, 2024
76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse	£31.99 / $37.99 / €37.99	350	March 1, 2024
76427 Buckbeak	£54.99 / $59.99 / €59.99	723	June 1, 2024
76428 Hagrid’s Hut: An Unexpected Visit	£64.99 / $74.99 / €74.99	896	March 1, 2024
76430 Hogwarts Castle Owlery	£39.99 / $44.99 / €44.99	364	March 1, 2024
76431 Hogwarts Castle: Potions Class	£34.99 / $39.99 / €39.99	397	June 1, 2024
76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures	£24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99	172	March 1, 2024
76433 Mandrake	£59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99	579	June 1, 2024
76434 Aragog in the Forbidden Forest	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	195	June 1, 2024
76435 Hogwarts Castle: The Great Hall	£169.99 / $199.99 / €199.99	1,732	June 1, 2024
76438 Harry Potter Advent Calendar	£29.99 / $44.99 / €34.99	301	September 1, 2024
76439 Ollivanders & Madam Malkin’s Robes	£79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99	744	June 1, 2024
76440 Triwizard Tournament: The Arrival	£124.99 / $139.99 / €139.99	1,229	June 1, 2024

Featured image: SwiftBricks

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