So I've never purchased a TIE Fighter because they are always so expensive, but it was really bothering me that I never had one so I decided to start looking for a bargain and I finally found this one for just under $50 which seemed acceptable as the newer ones keep getting more and more expensive and I'm not really interested in the triangular Sith version out now. While it seems a little too simple for the price I paid, the completed model more than makes up for the price.

Parts

So the parts are probably the least exciting thing about this set. Yes, you get some large plates with studs only around the edges, a ton of angle plates, and those gray beam things whatever you call them. But there also aren't any stickers in this set which is truly awesome and the printed parts look great.

Minifigures

So you probably aren't buying this set for the minifigures, but the 4 minifigures you get in this set are quite good. I do like that they are all with the empire as it wouldn't make sense to have a single rebel take on a TIE Fighter (this of course is pre-Rise of Skywalker). I also like that none of them are stormtroopers, because let's face it, you probably already have 100 stormtroopers. So first up you get the TIE pilot who is clearly the most crucial minifigure in this set. He does look great and I do like that he has a black head with a printed face. Next up is an Imperial Officer, and while he may be generic, he looks good and is a very welcome addition to my minifigure collection. Then comes a Death Star trooper which I suppose informs you about where this TIE Fighter happens to be based. These guys aren't too common so also a nice addition. Finally you get a black astromech droid who I believe is unique to this set and certainly wouldn't be out of place on any ship in the imperial navy or the Death Star. So even though you probably won't buy this set for the minifigures, you will be happy you have them.

The Build

The build is broken out into 3 bags. Bag 1 is the cockpit and minifigures, while 2 and 3 are identical and each build a wing.

Bag 1 is a fairly standard build, nothing revolutionary, but fun. It is pretty much just standard stacking with a tiny bit of very basic technic where the wings will attach. While it is symmetrical, it is still a fun build.

Bags 2 and 3 I did together. So you are building 2 identical wings that are symmetrical on both the x and y axis, so this going to be repetitive and you really can't blame Lego for that, it's how these fighters are designed. Luckily these come together very fast so it isn't a tedious process. Of course that speed is due to how incredibly flimsy these wings are. I would say about half the surface area is a single plate thick, and except along the horizontal axis and in the center, everywhere else is only 2 plates thick. As you assemble this thing it feels incredibly fragile. When you combine the two halfs they are connected by a single stud at the top and the bottom, but surprisingly it is enough. Eventually you will reinforce these connections, but not with much. That said, it is enough and I really do appreciate how flimsy they are yet how strong they are, it's kind of like the real thing.

The only difficult part of the entire build is at the very end, and not because it is tricky, but it is just difficult to snap the bricks together. This is when you add the large 4x4 brick with the inverted roof tiles protruding from the top and it is attaching to 9 different bricks all at once. I kind of think that Lego should have made the instructions in reverse and started with this brick rather then end with it, although I do realize you would then have an axel sticking out the bottom throughout the entire build of each wing.

The Model

The completed model looks great. Yes the inside of the wings are lackluster, but the outside of them looks great and draws your eyes attention away from the far wings inside. Yes, the cockpit isn't perfectly round, but given how impossible that is to do with Lego, I think they did a fantastic job. While I believe that only the top of the cockpit should open, I. This model the top opens along with the front windshield which is attached to it. This is definitely a good thing as it would have been impossible to fit a minifigure inside if only the top opened. However, it might have been nice if the windshield attached to the bottom and opened down out of necessity of needing to fit your fingers into it.

Playability

So you really only get one play feature, a pair of flick fire missiles on the bottom. Obviously this is all you could really expect from a TIE Fighter, however they are red and a TIE Fighter should fire green. Then again. the red looks good and I think green would have looked out of place.

More importantly is how well you can fly this thing, and the answer is perfectly. This is far and away the easiest Star Wars Lego ship to hold. It is amazingly sturdy given how flimsy the wings are. It also is fairly easy to remove the wings when it gets shot down by a rebel fighter. It's simple to land as its wings create a large flat surface. All around, this thing was designed to be played with.

The only issue as far as playability goes is how large this is in comparison to a X-wing or Y-wing and especially the Millenium Falcon. But I suppose that is really a problem with the other ships being too small, there is a reason why you want this set and not a microfighter.

Overall

I absolutely love this set and do appreciate that it is in the traditional color scheme of the original trilogy. Yes, the set has a few drawbacks, but overall it's a wonderful set. It is also very big so you will feel like you are getting a lot for your money and would look great on display for the times you aren't playing with it. While I typically want to have an exciting build, this is a set that makes up for a fairly boring build in every other way possible. I highly recommend this set if you love Star Wars. After all, this arguably the most recognizable ship in the galaxy!

It is a little flimsy in the middle and it makes you scared that the wings are gonna fall off, but its very swooshable. It gets a little repetitive when you build the wings but its not that bad. The minifigures are good and this is a great set to get if you have the X-Wing as well so tha you can make them dogfight. I would highly recommend this set to those who like Star Wars.

Shortly: Great set for display!

Cons:

- build isn't very absorbing (might even be considered a bit of a boring one due to repetitive nature of the wings)

- set has over 400pices but it's doesn't feel like that

- because of the above price for me seems a bit high

Pros:

- Looks amazing!

- good playability

- really nice collection of minifigures (although I think the TIE Fighter pilot it the best and the only needed - astromech droid looks very nice too and the other two guys are ok)

- solid build - I was afraid it will wooble but doesn't and is well done

- some fairily interesting pieces in good amount (can't really build much interesting stuff just form this set but definitely improves your building possibilities when combined with other.

Summary:

Totally recommend for display purposes - don't think any other Star Wars model has the charisma.

the build experience however disappointed me a little I got this along with the A-wing set (75003) - and overall rate this set below in terms of build experience, bricks, pricing, minifigs and so on - so If you want just one to get back into lego (as I did) go for the a-wing. that said, again - TIE Figher when build and displayed looks amazing perhaps even more expensive then actually is.

I cannot compare the new TIE with the older versions, so for me this one is the only real TIE. You don't have to be a scientist to see how design and technology have improved over the years at Lego. Only when you start building the ship's wings, you begin to realize how building techniques have changed and how clever and intriguing some of the solutions are (the edges of the wings or the struts for example).

I enjoy the design immensely and the ship is a real looker. The grey and black colour palette works perfectly in the SW environment and even though some fans might think this or that could be smoother or slicker, I find it appropriate for the Lego universe. And I believe you can sacrifice a bit of design for the sake of sturdiness, which is definitely the case here. So nothing falls apart and you can swoosh the ship around as much as you wish to.

The minifigs are great and plentiful for such a small set and any collector will appreciate them no doubt. The only problem I had with one of my sets was a bad printing of the astromech droid's head. Luckily Lego will send you a spare head if you complain as I did. Also a control panel similar to panels in any other SW craft would be nice, a red grill is really just a grill.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the build seems a bit repetitive but if you build the wings at the same time, it's much less frustrating. And yes, no stickers!

To sum up, I love my TIEs - from the moment I finished building the first one I knew I would buy more to have a real fleet. Now all I need is a new Darth Vader's TIE to have a real formation ready for a battle! I also managed to buy my ships for about 30 Euros each, so if you can make a bargain, just go for it. It's definitely worth it.