Darth Saber, thanks for sharing your Bandai-fueled adventure with us! I just picked up the X-1 'Vader' TIE kit and was comparing it to images of the filming miniature and wow! ridiculous the level of scale and detailing fidelity. Or perhaps "insane" would be a better term. I found the tiny 'clamp' details that surround the aft cone which include a small rectangular detail that has (on the original) a grid of about 6x4 engraved in it is depicted - with the grid - by a less than 2mm square(ish) detail on the Bandai kit. I had to use my strongest magnification to see the grid but it is there. The *only* thing I have found lacking is the 'louver' pattern on the two black rectangles at the aft inside surface of the 'wings'. The original had an engraved pattern of horizontal lines that Bandai missed, leaving the surface smooth. However, this is easily engraved so no worries (and at least this confirms Bandai's team is human... ha!)
So, bust on, looking forward to the smooth finish.
Regards, Robert