Mega Bloks UNSC Firebase

Technical Specifications:
Build Time: 35 minutes sorting; 2 hours building. Your time will vary as I take pics of the build along the way for the review.
Set Piece Count: 637
Minifigs: Drone with Green armor plates, Drone with Red armor plates, Spartan Kelly (from Blue team), Oni solider (small helmet-full mask), Hunter (Halo4 Style)
Weapons: Shotgun. Rocket Launcher, SAW, SMG, Assault Rifle, 2X Plasma Pistol
Accessories: 2X Buildable Computer consoles, 2X Power Cores
Special Features: Both cannons turn 360°, and pivot up and down. Base is modular. Sections can be moved around to connect differently
Cost: $65 (US)

And on with the pics! (Click pics to make BIGGER)

First let’s start with the box art as always. The scene depicted here is really dynamic! Lots of action going on between the characters as well as the cannons blasting at who knows what? Likely Phantoms and Banshees. The back of the box shows the turret features nicely and you get a look at some of the other current sets available.

Here are the contents. Two sets of instruction booklets, lots of bags of parts.

Everything sorted out. As you can see, the set is primarily of UNSC Green, Black and to a lesser degree grey parts.

Before I go into the build, I need to add here that pics aren’t shown in order of the build itself. My bud Zach aka @TheHaloArray was here at my home when I got this. So we both built a portion of the set. This was during the HFFL 3rd Anniversary LAN weekend. (See what you folks miss out on! LOL)

Okay, let’s get started with the build. First up is the gate structure.

The sides of the gate are NOT symmetrical. I thought they would be. It becomes clearer why they aren’t later on in the build. I like that bit of flair added at bottom right. Anytime sets include non-traditional building techniques, such as building off the side, instead of straight up, it adds detail to the set. I appreciate that Mega did that with this set here.

Okay, now from here on out until the top part of the larger side sections the build is the same, except in exact reverse. So I’m only showing you one of the side sections of the base.

The corner gets built up pretty quickly. I definitely like that the girder pieces were included. Gives the base a more industrial/sturdy feel to it.

As I said, the top parts are different. So on this corner section, we built up the smaller of the two cannons, though it sits on a girder base that is higher than the beefier cannon.

Here’s the small cannon. The base part on the bottom allows the cannon to turn 360° as well as pivot up and down a bit.
And that corner section is complete!

While Zach was busy building that section, I was building the other corner section. Then I moved on to the big cannon. This is a bulky cannon.

Here’s Zach working on his section of the build. Good friend he is. We’ve been buds now since 2008 when we started playing Halo 3 together.

Here’s the big cannon built with it’s rotating base. 

This was places on the opposite corner section of the base. As you can see, it isn’t on the girder parts like the smaller cannon is. It doesn’t need to be. It’s BEAST!

We’ll get to the finished set in a minute. For now, let’s hop on over to the figures included.

You get an ONI soldier, Green Drone, Hunter (more about him in a sec), Red Drone, and Kelly from Blue team!!!

The Red and Green drones are the same, except for the armor color. So I’m only showing the red one here. BTW, this is the only set so far that you can get the Red drone. The Green one is also available in the ODST Troop Pack that I just reviewed here.

This is the first time that we get this soldier in the color scheme of ONI. I’m VERY happy that it was made as these soldiers are prominent in parts of the missions in Halo 4.

By the way, the set includes the new form of the rocket launcher. As you can see here, a figure can hold it quite easily! I’m definitely glad that that extra forward handle was added.

Here’s Kelly from Blue Team! We have had Master Chief a few times over now. Fred came with the Booster Frame set (I reviewed that HERE) That’s an earlier version of Fred though, so we may get him again. Other than that, all we need is Linda to round out Blue team!!! 
Not shown with this figure is that it has both a female torso and hips. a FIRST! for any spartan minifigure!

The hunter in the set is awesome. It is the same as other releases of the figure, but for TWO main new components. The shoulder armor is the Halo 4 type, and I’m sure you guessed it already, that Sheild!!! Oh that shield!!! This is the first time we’ve got the new style shield with the hunter. Likely though, this won’t be the last time we see it. In fact, with there being a RED color version of the hunter in Halo 5 Guardians Warzone mode, we may even get it in that color as well!!!

Shielding it like a BAUSS!

There are a few buildable accessories with the set. These include a computer station (at left) and no, it’s not a stand up video game….; two power cores, and a translucent console.  

Here are the parts I had left over. 

Okay, now I know by now, you really was to see the finished set!

Below I show it in the three main sections. There are pegs at the base of each that connect into holes for the other sets that puts them together. As well, they also have small hinged pieces at the top edge to help connect and stabilize the build.

Here’s the set with figures in place. As you can see it’s a pretty big set as it dwarfs the hunter with ease.

Here’s a better shot without the product box in the way.

CUSTOMIZED!!!

Now, I took the liberty of making a custom closed gate for this. These pieces are NOT included with the set. However, they are ALL from one other set. That being the Covenant Drone Outbreak set. I used most of the parts that make up the tractor in the set to make the gate. It doesn’t open. It’s just one walled section. It attaches to those side panels I talked about earlier. It has pieces at the foot of it that stabilize it to keep it upright.

The set has a long build time. You can do it in one sitting, though it may be a long sitting. If you don’t have a lot of time, I suggest you split it up into two or three sections. If two, build the gate and one corner of the base. If you opt to split this into three building sessions, then do the gate, then each corner.

Summary: A good sized set, easy build and a few new minifigures make this a fantastic set!

Overall Rating: I give this set 10 out for 10 medals. This set has great value at $65.

Why did I give it a 10 out of 10?
Okay, I know some of you may be saying, but there can always be something better. Yes, that’s true. However, for what this set delivers in both structure AND figure choice, it really is top notch!

Yes, I know this isn’t the same as the Firebase that was once teased several years ago. However, I honestly think this new version is BETTER! Why? Well for one, it’s more affordable than the old set would have been. Also, since it has the ability to be connected with other Firebase sets, it’s modular. I’m ALWAYS a fan of modular sets! The figures we got in the set by far beat what we would have got in the older set.

The cost of $65 is spot on for the amount of pieces and figures included. I definitely felt like I got my monies worth out of this set!

If this set goes on sale, I hope to get at least 3 more of it! I want to build up a small FORTRESS! Mu ha ha ha! er um….

Do I recommend it?  Most Definitely! This set has long been awaited on. While it changed dramatically from what it once was years ago, that’s not a bad thing. I feel we got a much better Firebase this time around and it’s a little over just 1/3 of the price the former one was going to be!!

If you have any questions about this set that I didn’t cover in the review, please do not hesitate to ask me. Either reply below or e-mail me at [email protected]

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of the review. If you get this set yourself, please let me know your thoughts on it too!

If this review gives you an informed decision on whether to purchase the set or not, please consider a small donation (50 cents) maybe. It’s much appreciated and helps ensure that HFFL stays active on the internet. Thank You.

-Sal