I managed to snag this while I was in New Zealand for 60% off! Bought it on the 17th of December from Farmers in Hamilton while on the way to Rotorua. Original price was NZ 149.99, after discount it was NZ 59.99. The conversion rate that time as NZ 1.00 = RM 2.50. So if it was NZ 149.99 it will be RM 374.95. After discount it was a "kena lottery" price of RM 150! Apparently the department store had this set on special discount compared to the other Legos, there were only 25% off. Even then the 25% is a 1 day sale which only for 17th December only.

Still got 2 more sets; Galactic Enforcer and Robo Attack which I brought back from NZ. But that will be after this review is done.  

Anyway, onto the review! I will be doing this in stages since this is quite a big set.


Set info

Set Number: 8971
Set Name: Ariel Defence Unit
Theme: Agents 2.0
Year Released : Summer 09
Number of pieces: 733 (from Brickset)


Links:

Brickset : http://brickset.com/detail/?Set=8971-1
Peeron :  http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/8971-1?withpics=yes
My photobucket : http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/paanjang16/Lego%20Agents%20Ariel%20Defence%20Unit%208971/


The box


The front of the box showing the helicopter in action. Magma commander seem confident his minions can take on the Agents. If you look at the center of the box there is a fold line, the result of folding the box to bring it home.


The back of the box showing the features and Magma commander running for his life! At the top right are the other missions the agents undertook in Agents 2.0.


The minifigures included in this set with their names; Magma Drone, Magma Commander, Agent Charge, Agent Chase and Agent Swift.



Box contents

There are 4 plastic bags numbered 1 to 4 and 4 large pieces in the box. It is a good thing they pack it this way so that it is easy for me to bring it home. Yes I did not assemble it when I was there.  



Instructions and DSS

The set comes with 2 instruction booklet and 1 sticker sheet. I added in the receipt from where I bought this set


At the back of the instructions is an advert for Agents 2.0. Apparently the big bad Robot of death is the main nemesis for Agents 2.0.


A random instruction page showing the drop mechanism.



Minifigures

There are a total of 7 minifigures in this set; 3 Magma Drones, Magma Commander, Agent Charge, Agent Chase and Agent Swift. All the Magma minifigures have a special right arm where you can attach either a cone to form a blaster or a claw. They all use the same torso, so Magma commander can have a new body if he is killed. As for the agents, they are using a standard Agents uniform with printed legs. Two of them also wear body armor with printed Agents logo.  Agent Swift's uniform has a slightly different design than Charge and Chase to show her boobs. The instructions do not show that there are differences between the male and female uniform, so dun be surprise to see Charge or Chase sporting some curves.


For some reason, Agent Charge does not have a second face compared to Swift and Chase. Magma commander's head is transparent and his torso is printed in the rear too!. The agents does not have any printing in the rear.



Accessories

Agents here just love to dual wield pistols. There are 5 pistols in this set plus 2 types of binoculars and 1 flashlight using a lightsaber hilt. Also included is the special body armor that is part of the key feature of this set.






More Coming !!

Part II of Ariel Defence Unit Review!

The Build Process

The build process starts with all the minifigures as well as the small Magma base in Bag 1.


Bag 2 builds part of the chassis for the heli.


Bag 3 further completes the chassis. Part of the rotor mechanism can be seen now.


And bag 4 completes the entire set.


The magma base

The Magma base is a small base with a gigantic radar dish to guide the drones. There is a small platform at the top right for Magma commander to direct his drones and a large screen to show threats to his base. At the center is a small door with an automated turret/camera.


A closer look at the platform where Magma commander usually spent his time. His screen is telling him that the Agent's helicopter coming to his base and counter-measures is being deployed. A small red lever is next to the screen, maybe to deploy his drones? Those bad guys have it really easy, just turn a lever and troops just come out of no-where!

Magma Commander: Darn those pesky agents! Deploy Super duper laser cannon!
Computer: Negative, Dr. Inferno "borrowed" the cannon for his Lava base in Agents 1.0 remember?
Magma Commander: Then deploy flamer!!
Computer: Negative, Dr. Inferno "borrowed" the flamer for his Giant Robot of Death remember?
Magma Commander: By the BRICK, I AM SO SCREWED!!!


The interior of the base is minimal with a recharging station for 1 of his drones. There is also a small countdown timer with 12 seconds left, but I have yet to know what is it for (before the place blows up?, power left in base?).


The large dish is turned using this small knob at the back of the base. The position isn't that good in the sense that the dish WILL hit your hand when you try to rotate it.


The door is opened using the handle on the left side. Getting the door open is easy; just get an Agent to show up at the door and swarms of drones will rush out. Not a big problem for Agent Charge here.



The base can also fold up, somewhat. Unfortunately it was not design to fully fold up as you can see below.



The Ariel Defence Unit (ADU)

The ADU is a twin rotor design helicopter that features a large passenger hold and 2 drop lines for the Agents to descend. Once completed, it is HUGE!


A side view of the ADU showing how long the tail and center portion is. The tail have an Agent's logo (sticker) as well as a tail rotor (which is actually not needed for a dual rotor helicopter).


Size comparison next to 8258. It is almost as long as the Technic flagship of the year.


A view from the rear showing the twin rotors at an inclined angle so as to not go into each other.  You can see the large engines at the rear of the aircraft.


The cockpit has place for 1 pilot and 1 co-pilot. The co-pilot's controls is a printed piece while the pilot only have a lever. On either side of the cockpit are dual cannons, flashlights and the knob to operate the drop line located behind the co-pilot. Agent Charge is expert enough to pilot the ADU without the need for a co-pilot.


The twin rotor is turned by pushing in a lever at the tail of the aircraft. The video below shows how the mechanism works (a video tells a million words)

Lego Agents Ariel Defence Unit 8971 Twin Rotor Mechanism

The interior of the ADU consists of the passenger bay at the front and a computer terminal as well as a little jet boat at the rear. In the passenger bay hangs the drop backpack which will be explained later. The interior is almost similar for either side of the ADU.



If you think an Agent can work on the computer terminal while the door is closed, thick again, as their head will most likely hit on the door mechanism.


The little jet boat sits at the rear compartment of the ADU, held into place the the red slope piece.


To deploy the jet boat, an Agent have to reverse the jet boat out from the rear into water. How Agent Charge shoots out from the rear of the ADU as depicted in the box art remains a mystery.

I like the jumping down function. Looks cool!

Hey paanjang16,

Nice work

I suggest that you create a poll for everyone of us to vote on your reviews!!!

Voted above average, I hate the big body and skinny tail.  But good playability.

If only we have more of this kind of insane discount over here. Sad to say our retailers are all kedekut (well, except the boss running this site haha). The most also 50%, and that is only for stuff which are really really old!!

Like last weekend at TRU SJ got a few pallets load of Exo-force base and 4 leg large assault bot and the old-now-outdated-airport, I think only 50% discount lol.

i will b lucky if i manage to see the number '50' around, bus so far...the most i've seen is oni 30% disc. n dat came from the lego warehouse sale for the technic series. damn!