Search the Community

Hello! This is a pretty simple build/paint. Someone over on Starship Modeler gave me the bug to build a TIE Defender. I'm a big fan of SW Squadrons, and the Defender is a playable ship in that game. The 3D model is fairly well detailed, and I bought the files from ModelWerks here. After reviewing all the parts, I was able to get things printed out pretty easily on my Elegoo Saturn, and everything fit nice and tidy on one build plate. Then I ran into a hitch. The way that this is designed, the ball is split vertically into two halves. I didn't think this would be a problem, but after printing, support removal, curing (and resulting shrinkage), the two halves didn't exactly line up. That cockpit consists of 5 pieces, and there was just too many things going on for it all to fit together well. SO! Back to the computer I went. I brought all 5 files into MeshMixer: And combined them all into one part: (MM makes the preview of the model pretty low-rez. The actual model is fine) With that, it was saved out as a new STL file and brought into ChituBox, with supports being added: This might not be the most optimal way of printing/supporting a sphere, but it printed perfectly on the first try, with just a few support marks on the back of the ball to cleanup. You can see a few layer lines in there, but I think between primer and a bit of sanding, those'll go away. It still blows me away that you can just print stuff like this. Here are some closeups of the cockpit and pilot: (and remember, this is all one part now): This will all be painted black shortly. I cleaned up the supports on the wings and the engine tri-section, and those got a layer of Tamiya fine surface primer: Here is a group shot of all the pieces together. A simple build, really. I'm going to wait for some warmer weather (maybe...) before I prime the new cockpit section and the rest of the parts. Now on to color.... I know that the close Tamiya paint for the ANH TIEs is TS-32 Haze Grey, but I think that that is a bit too blue for my liking for this build. I am going to reference the SW Squadrons image at the top of this post for paint color: more gray with a dash of blue, rather than the other way around. Anyway, that's all for now. I wasn't going to do a build thread on this one because it is such a simple build, but I thought I'd show some of the 3D stuff I did in MeshMixer in the hopes that it'll help someone else out someday. Stay tuned for more! SB

A quick build. this was finished over a week. the wet splotches you see on the solar panels are a black wash. Tried to vary the fuselage colours, but the camera doesnt really capture it well. things to improve >> Colour Variance on the solar panels, tried experimenting with splotches of black wash without luck (they were basecoated with Tamiya Rubber Black) Greater modulation on the fuselage Never rush a project comments and criticism welcome as always Cheers Shane

Good afternoon, My rendition of Bandai's First Order TIE Fighter in 1/72. On of the easiest kits I've ever built and painted. Weathering is almost non-existent as I assume that the First Order keep their TIEs in near pristine condition.

Hello there and welcome to my little build log. Last week I received this small but beauty Bandai model kit of Darth Vader’s personal TIE Advanced x1. At first, let’s have a look into the box. The boxart is as usual a stunner. I like this very classic yet elegant style of the box. The typographic mix of japanese and the serif font make it pretty interesting. Yay! This looks great, several sprues well packed. I’m pretty sure this will be fun. Sprue A1 Mainly parts for the outer hull like the cockpit and the rear wings. Sprue A2 Parts for the cockpit, canopy, and machine. Sprue B The wings in so called “multicolor molded” technique. Bandai invented it to create parts with up to four different colors in one single sprue. Also there are some transparent parts of the canopy and window. Sprue C Vader himself in .72 scale. Good details and it’s cool that Bandai provides us with a seated and a standing dark lord of the sith. Sprue SWB2 The base with a deathstar looking surface. Compared to the newer kits, this surface looks a little bit simple. Sprue SWE1 To laser beams in a neon transparent look. Coold idea if you want to simulate a TIE fighter in full action. Decals Bandai provides us with two different kinds of decals. Classis water applied ones with pretty good details and for beginner there a stickers. I like the idea to satisfy both type of modellers. Skilled ones and those who are start building their first kits. Instructions Last but not least – the instruction. They’re completely in japanes but don’t worry the illustrations are pretty exactly so no words needed at all. It seems that Bandai remarked that the kits are more and more sold in Europe and the States so newer kits are in english and japanese. All in all everything looks great to me. Very fine molded parts, a well structured instructions booklet and a pair of very nice Darth Vader figures. Just to let you know: I ordered this kit through Tokyo Model Detective. It was the first time I ordered a kit over there. Darren is a very nice guy and provides a good service but as Andy already told in his TIE Striker build log (beautifully build by the way) you get two invoices. The first is about the model kit itself and a second one for the shipping costs. I have do pay approx. 13 Euro for the kit and 16 for shipping. I didn’t expect that shipping will cost that much. But to be honest, the delivery time was super fast. It took 8 days from order to delivery. Usual I buy the kits via amazon and it takes up to three weeks but in overall it is much cheaper. So I you want to receive you kit very fast and money is not that important for you I recommend you TMD otherwise if you are more patient you better go with amazon. I’m already building this little beauty and provide you with new pictures this weekend. May the force be with you!

Kit manufacture: Bandai Scale: 1/72 Type: TIE/FO First Order Tie Fighter Extras used: None. Paints and colours used: Stynylrez Primer, Tamiya Rubber Black, German Grey, Sand Yellow, Vallejo Model Color paints for hand painting, Vallejo Metal Color Aluminium, Flory Black and Sand wash, Tamiya Matt coat. Water mixable oil paints for dry brushing. Other info: Full build is here : http://florymodels.websitetoolbox.com/post/172-bandai-first-order-tie-fighter-8329956?trail=15 Hi all! First finish of the year and January isn't even in double figures yet! Actually, I was doing this on a group build on some other forums, and missed the end of year deadline... oops! Anyway, she's done now, see what you think The kit is brilliant. Amazing. Stunning. Mind blowing. I made the original Tie fighter, which is also basically perfect, and they've actually improved this slightly. I didn't do too much to this to be honest, I tried to keep it simple. I went for Rubber Black so the black isn't too strong, and dry brushed with water mixable oils to bring the detail out a bit. The base is just neat Tamiya Sand Yellow airbrused on from quite a distance and washed, then lightly drybrushed. So here are the pics: And that's about it! Thanks for looking, Val

Kit: Bandai Tie Fighter Scale: 1/72 Paints: Tamyia xf-82 Ocean Grey, xf-54 Dark Sea Grey, xf-63 German Grey, xf-85 Rubber Black, Vallejo 71120 USAF Medium Grey, other Vallejo colours for hand painting, water based grey oil paints for weathering, Tamiya XF-86 Flat Clear finishing coat. Extras: None, not even glue! Build link: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235005473-172-bandai-tie-fighter/ So, another Bandai Tie fighter. The kit? Well, as good as any Bandai Star Wars Kit. Glue not required!! Simply undercoated with xf-82, top coat 71120, base is xf-54, the wing panel things(!!) are rubber black and dry brushed with various Tamiya greys. Quite a lot of time went into the cockpit which is now invisible!! But it's in there!! Here are the pics: And here he is chasing that pesky x-wing around! That's about it, hope you like them! There will be more... Many thanks, Val

Evening all, Maintaining my addiction to these superb Bandai kits, here's another two completions hot off the bench. The first is Darth Vader's advanced TIE from A New Hope, whilst the second is the Special Forces TIE from The Force Awakens. Both were impeccable to build as is to be expected and great fun once again. As before, the bases are custom made using a laser engraver, although I've made life easier for myself this time using straight matt black acrylic to eliminate the need for routing required of the aluminium bases I used previously. Bandai 1/72 TIE Advanced x1 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Bandai 1/72 TIE Advanced x1 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Bandai 1/72 TIE Advanced x1 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Bandai 1/72 TIE Advanced x1 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Bandai 1/72 First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Bandai 1/72 First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Bandai 1/72 First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Bandai 1/72 First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr Thanks for looking, comments welcomed Cheers, Shaun