Star Wars Advent Calendar - Day 15
Posted by CapnRex101,
75340 Star Wars Advent Calendar has followed chronological order thus far, so the appearance of the mighty B-wing Starfighter from Return of the Jedi was surprising yesterday.
Something else from the Original Trilogy seems likely to emerge next...
The nimble TIE/in Interceptor is a perfect counterpart for yesterday's B-wing Starfighter, given their shared appearance at the Battle of Endor. 75146 Star Wars Advent Calendar included an impressive microscale TIE Interceptor in 2016 and this model resembles its predecessor, but is larger and takes advantage of the useful 2x4 wedge plates introduced more recently.
The shape of the solar array wings is much improved and these are reinforced with 1x2 ingots, so feel strong. However, I am disappointed that the trans-black 1x1 round tile which forms the cockpit viewport is undecorated, as the perfect printed element has appeared in two previous sets.
Overall - Despite lacking a printed cockpit, this rendition of the TIE Interceptor is exceptional.
64 likes
12 comments on this article
It's not a sand castle!
Other contrasts with the 2016 advent calendar: the dark bley and light bley wing pieces are reversed (dark bley's on the bottom in 2016), and the 2016 one lacks the 2x2 angled pieces and ingot plates that didn't quite exist by then.
Still, you could somewhat upgrade your 2016 TIE by adding the ingots and cornered 2x2s if you can find them in those colors.
What a great model! Those wedge parts have been used to a great effect!
And what timing after the TIE Bomber reveal! Let's hope we'll get a regular TIE interceptor again soon. That one has been 17 years since the last version. Let's hope it doesn't also have to wait until it gets to 20.
Oh, and this model gives me nostalgia for the very first UCS model from 2000 that appeared alongside the UCS X-Wing. :D
@Binnekamp said:
"What a great model! Those wedge parts have been used to a great effect!
And what timing after the TIE Bomber reveal! Let's hope we'll get a regular TIE interceptor again soon. That one has been 17 years since the last version. Let's hope it doesn't also have to wait until it gets to 20.
Oh, and this model gives me nostalgia for the very first UCS model from 2000 that appeared alongside the UCS X-Wing. :D"
I believe Promobricks leaked that there would be an interceptor vs mandalorian fighter(different model from previous one) set based on season 3 of Mando.
I got the Christmas R2D2 in mine for today!
While this does look better than any previous mini TIE Interceptor, I did notice yesterday that there still hasn’t been a TIE Bomber or TIE Advanced included in an Advent Calendar.
@CapnRex101:
There’s also a 2x2 radar dish with TIE cockpit print. The windscreen seems undersized on this, and the radar dish might be too big, but I’d want to compare the two before saying one is better than the other.
This one is great! Best of the Star Wars Calendar so far I'd say.
Aargh! Missing a piece!
So I got the exact same build for both the 14th and the 15th. I assume it is the resistance bomber. Not happy, the TIE looks really good...
This reminds me of the TIE Interceptor in 40407, although the fuselages are completely different. Solar panels are exactly the same, except 40407 used light gray plates to mount both top and bottom.
Looks nice and recognizable.
Great model. I do agree that it would have been top notch to get the rare viewport piece. Definitely a missed opportunity to justify the high, and ever-increasing, price.