Mega Construx Operation Veritas Drop Pod

Technical Specifications:
Build Time: 1 minute to sort, 3 minutes to build
Set Piece Count: 56
Minifigures: ODST (Blue w/Orange and Silver details)
Weapons: Assault Rifle
Accessories: x1 Figure stand
Special Features: Pod door pops open when pod is dropped (bottom end first) onto a hard surface, folding airbrakes
Cost: $10 US (Mass Retail)

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

The packaging displays the door pod and figure quite well. On the back, you see how the drop pod door’s explosive opening happens. It’s a cool feature. Though you don’t need to slam it as hard as it may seem to show.

Once you’ve opened up the package, you will find there are two small bags of parts inside of the drop pod.

Here are all the parts, including those in the bags, sorted out, along with the building instruction manual.

The front packaging makes it seem like the drop pod is mostly built. In truth, it’s not. It’s held together by a see-through band. Once you remove that, you need to actually build the pod. It’s held together mostly by pins, as noted by the red ones on the left side of the graphic below.More pins, this time dark grey to match the pod, are added.These each hold one of the top fins (for lack of a better word) in place. Seen below, two fins have been added, while the other two are awaiting to be placed onto the pins.

The airbrake assembly is complete here and ready to be added into the pod. This is optional, if you don’t want to display it with this. Might I recommend at the least, just removing the large shaft, but still attaching the rest of the brake assembly to the pod. It really looks good that way.

In fact, here I show the airbrake from left to right: Fully extended, deployed, but the airbrakes not out yet, airbrakes on the pod, with the shaft deployed, and finally, the shaft turned upside down, with the airbrakes attached. The shaft in the right most pic is actually mostly hidden within the pod that way. It’s how I display my pods.

The included Assault Rifle has an orange deco to it.

This doesn’t follow any particular in-game deco, though may be closest to the any of the following 4 in-game skins for the AR in Halo 5.

The figure’s deco is quite nice. Most of it is from molded parts, that make up the build of the blue and silver color. It’s the helmet and much more so the torso that have paint application on it. Those really help to make the figure ‘pop’ so to speak.

And finally, our ODST has made a hard landing planet side. What enemies will they face? Whomever it is better watch out!

Summary: The set is a short build. The colors add to the look of the pod and especially the figure. It’s a build you can finish in minutes. Watch out for small pieces, specifically the pins, so you don’t lose them.

Overall Rating: I give this set 8.5 out for 10 medals.

Why did I give it a 8.5 out of 10?
• I like the action feature of the drop pod door exploding out!
• I do wish that the set included an extra weapon and a frag grenade (the latter have been in short supply as of late with sets).

Here’s my opinion on the break down of the value of this set. (In US dollars)
• Figures with one weapon and figure stand equates to $3.50.
• The Pod itself is worth $6.
TOTAL: $9.50 (before tax and in U.S. dollars) 

Given that the set costs $10 US before tax, by my estimate the value is on par with the piece count and the final build. Though I would have liked an extra weapon and a frag grenade too to get this to the $10 mark.

Do I recommend it?  If you’re a fan of ODSTs (and who isn’t really?), for sure pick this up! The action feature is cool and the paint deco on the figure make it unique from other ODSTs.

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].

If this review gives you an informed decision on whether to purchase the toy or not, please consider a small donation (50 cents) to the blog.You can donate via PayPal to [email protected]. Or just click the paypal link at the right on the main page of the site.  It’s much appreciated and helps ensure that HFFL stays registered/active on the internet. Thank You.

-Sal