LEGO 79003 An Unexpected Gathering: Set Guide

Specifications

Set number	79003
Release year	2012
Piece count	665
Minifigures	6
Theme	The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings
Subtheme	The Hobbit
Building instructions	Download the instructions on lego.com

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LEGO set 79003, An Unexpected Gathering, represents a scene tied to the beginning of Bilbo Baggins’s adventure in The Hobbit theme. Released in 2012, it belongs to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings line and contains 665 pieces.

The model is placed under The Hobbit within the broader The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings theme.

The 665 piece build provides a setting for the included minifigures and for character based play or display. The 6 minifigures are Gandalf The Grey, Wizard Hat, Balin the Dwarf, Bilbo Baggins, Bofur the Dwarf, Bombur the Dwarf and Dwalin the Dwarf. The contents focus on a narrative scene rather than a vehicle or standalone creature.

This set is suited to collectors of The Hobbit range and to builders who want a display centered on recognizable characters.

Inventory of set 79003

The inventory of set 79003 lists 665 pieces, spare parts excluded: 211 different lots (one shape in one color) for 144 part shapes. The box also contains 30 spare parts, for small elements that are easy to lose.

Colors of set 79003

Main color: reddish brown, making up 28% of the parts, followed by green (23%) and tan (13%).

Color	Parts	Share
Reddish Brown	188	28%
Green	154	23%
Tan	84	13%
Medium Nougat	44	6.6%
Black	31	4.7%
Bright Green	27	4.1%
Dark Bluish Gray	27	4.1%
Dark Tan	17	2.6%
Light Bluish Gray	16	2.4%
Dark Brown	13	2%
Other colors (18)	63	9.5%

Part types

Type	Parts	Share
Plates	127	19%
Bricks Sloped	82	12%
Tiles	68	10%
Bricks	58	8.7%
Plates Round Curved and Dishes	57	8.6%
Bricks Special	48	7.2%

Most common parts in set 79003

Part	Color	Quantity
Brick Round 1 x 1 Open Stud 3062b	Reddish Brown	25
Plate Round 1 x 1 with Solid Stud 6141	Reddish Brown	24
Tile 1 x 2 with Groove 3069b	Medium Nougat	14
Brick Special 1 x 1 with Headlight 4070	Reddish Brown	14
Plate 2 x 2 3022	Reddish Brown	13
Brick Sloped 45° 2 x 1 with Bottom Pin 3040b	Green	13
Brick Curved 2 x 3 6215	Green	13
Plate 2 x 4 3020	Green	12
Brick Special 1 x 1 with Stud on 1 Side 87087	Tan	12
Brick Sloped 30° 1 x 1 x 2/3 (Cheese Slope) 54200	Bright Green	10

117 of the 144 part shapes in this set have their own page on Setopedia, with their colors, element numbers and the other sets that use them. See all LEGO parts

Exclusive parts in set 79003

12 part shapes in set 79003 appear in no other set in the catalog, most often printed elements, stickers or molds specific to the model. If one gets lost, you will need to look for it individually, for example on BrickLink, rather than in another set. The table lists 8.

Part	Color
Hair and Hat with Flaps, Fur-lined and Dark Brown Braided Hair Print 11422pr0001	Dark Bluish Gray
Sticker Sheet for Set 79003-1 13048
Torso Shirt with Buttons, Dark Tan Stripes and Brown and Dark Orange Suspenders Print, Tan Arms, Light Nougat Hands 973c26h02pr2178	Tan
Neckwear Cape, Short, One Top Hole 13276	Olive Green
Torso Vest with Fur Collar, Straps and Buckles Print, Light Nougat Arms, Dark Bluish Gray Hands 973c02h12pr2208	Olive Green
Torso Coat with Brown Shirt and Belt with Pouch Print, Medium Nougat Arms, Light Nougat Hands 973c23h02pr2212	Medium Nougat
Plate Special Round 8 x 8 with 2 x 2 Center Studs with Woodgrain and Feanorean G Print 6177bpr0001	Green
Minifig Head Bombur the Dwarf, Cheek Lines Happy / Surprised Print 3626cpr1106	Light Nougat

Rebuilding set 79003 from another set

Share of the parts of set 79003 found in each of these similarly sized sets, counting shape, colour and quantity:

Set	Found	Parts	Release year
10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire	30%	2,017	2025
10193 Medieval Market Village	28%	1,619	2009
10236 Ewok Village	27%	1,990	2013
10182 Cafe Corner	26%	2,058	2007
910062 Alchemist's Shop	25%	2,319	2026

No similarly sized set goes above 30%: the model relies on a little-shared assortment, most of which has to be gathered piece by piece.

Size of set 79003 within its line

With 665 pieces, set 79003 ranks #8 out of 31 The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings sets in our database, which have an average of 453 parts. Among the 321 sets released in 2012, it ranks #36.

Included minifigures

Gandalf The Grey - Wizard HatQuantity : 1
Balin the DwarfQuantity : 1
Bilbo BagginsQuantity : 1
Bofur the DwarfQuantity : 1
Bombur the DwarfQuantity : 1
Dwalin the DwarfQuantity : 1

Frequently asked questions

How many pieces does LEGO set 79003 An Unexpected Gathering have?

LEGO set 79003 An Unexpected Gathering has 665 pieces. It was released in 2012 as part of the The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings theme.

What year was LEGO set 79003 released?

Set 79003 An Unexpected Gathering was released in 2012 and belongs to the The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings theme.

Which minifigures are included in set 79003?

Number of minifigures in LEGO set 79003 An Unexpected Gathering: 6. Their names and quantities are listed in the “Included minifigures” section.

Where can I find the building instructions for set 79003?

The instructions for LEGO set 79003 An Unexpected Gathering can be downloaded free as a PDF from the official lego.com website, under “Building Instructions”, by entering the number 79003.

What is the main color of LEGO set 79003?

Reddish brown, with 188 out of 665 pieces, or 28%. Next come green (23%) and tan (13%).

How many different parts does set 79003 contain?

Set 79003 has 211 different lots (one shape in one color), covering 144 part shapes. Most common part: Brick Round 1 x 1 Open Stud in reddish brown, with 25 copies.

Does LEGO set 79003 contain any exclusive parts?

Yes: 12 part shapes exist in no other set, for example: Hair and Hat with Flaps, Fur-lined and Dark Brown Braided Hair Print.

Which similarly sized set contains the most parts from set 79003?

Set 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, released in 2025: it supplies 30%, counting shapes, colors and quantities.