Imperial TIE Fighters from "Star Wars" (1977)

Scale: 1:51
Initial Release: 1997
Medium: Styrene
Kit Rarity: 3

About the Design

The Imperial TIE (Twin Ion Engine) Fighter was the Galactic Empire's equivalent of the WWII-era PT "Mosquito" boat; it was fast, cheap and expendable. Of all of Lucasfilm's Imperial designs, this one absolutely reveled in its rigid geometry -- it's all spheres, cones, and hexagons.  Its sharp lines and Black Knight-style wing/shields were the perfect symbol for Lucas' interstellar fascists.

About the Kit

Although these plucky little fighters appeared in all three films in the first "Star Wars" trilogy, they were ignored by the Powers-That-Be at MPC -- later absorbed by AMT/Ertl -- until the mid-1990's.  Until then, the only way to have a TIE fighter on your display shelf was to scratch-build one yourself or find a rare "aftermarket" conversion, such as the 1990 Microtek release that featured two resin "wings" and cockpit guns designed to fit MPC's "TIE Interceptor" fuselage.

And then, in 1997, AMT/Ertl finally came out with this dual-TIE kit.  The detail was very nice, the fit terrific, and the mock Death Star base made for a handsome display. 

This model is an original issue.