Imperial TIE Bomber

from "Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Scale: 1:35
Initial Release: 2004
Medium: Resin
Kit Rarity: 4

About the Design

Featured only briefly in the first "Star Wars" sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back," the TIE Bomber was a short-range tactical bomber based on the TIE Advanced spaceframe. (In fact, the designers at George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic used the solar panels from the AMT/Ertl "Darth Vader TIE Fighter" kit to build the filming miniature.)  The starboard cylinder contains the pilot while the port cylinder contains the explosive charges, which are delivered to their target via a ventral bomb chute.

About the Kit

This 1:35 scale all-resin model was built by "garage kit" manufacturer JMJ Models in 2004. The kit was extremely accurate, the components based on the same "kit bashed" plastic models ILM had originally used to construct the filming miniature.  The only drawbacks: No clear plastic for the octagonal cockpit area, no box art...and no instructions!

This model was built from an original issue.