Bandai TIE Interceptor

Bandai (1/72)

Slight weathering and modulation for panels

Red glow canopy simulates interior lights

The Build

I build this straight out of the box, but with a few notes.

  1. Greenstrawberry masks on wings and canopy. The wing masks were about half a mm too small, but there wasn't much overspray.
  2. I painted the interior canopy in Tamiya Clear Red to simulate the glow of the interior lights.
  3. I painted the body in a mix of Vallejo Air 71.255 and 71.008 (both listed as RLM65).
  4. Added some modulation and highlights to certain panels and raised areas.
  5. One of the chin laser cannon hardpoints is grey (just for the heck of it).

The Bandai TIE Interceptor kit includes 2 versions of laser hardpoints for the cockpit, as well as the Sherman bogie usually seen above the rear hatch. However, the bogie isn't used in the build.

History

The Imperial TIE Fighter may be "iconic", but the TIE Interceptor is more impressive. Faster, sleeker, more agile, and sporting 4 laser cannons, the TIE Interceptor was among the Empire's finest production fighters. It could match speeds with any Rebel starfighter. Moreover, it was easy to produce, using the same hull as the standard TIE.

Like most Imperial fighters, the TIE Interceptor was without shields, life support, or hyperdrive. It relied on support ships to dock and refuel.

During the Battle of Endor, some technicians had not rerouted power to the wingtip laser cannons of some ships. Those TIE Interceptors can be seen firing their chin cannons like their TIE Fighter cousins.

"Your generic TIE grunt is just plain suicidal. And the TIE Defender jockey is bloodthirsty. But the TIE Interceptor pilot, he's suicidal and bloodthirsty. When you see a squad of those maniacs flying your way, you'd better hope your hyperdrive is operational."
Kyle Katarn

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  1. Pingback: A Tale of Two TIEs - Rebel Scale

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