TIE Bomber (Finished!)

mikoyan99 · May 4, 2014

Having finished my model contest entry:
http://www.therpf.com/f11/mikoyan99s-2014-model-contest-entry-212016/

I thought i'd have a pop at a TIE bomber, from ESB. It's one of my favourite starfighter designs, but as there's no kit (that I know of), I'll be partially scratchbuilding the vessel. I'll be using the radiators/solar panels and windshield from the Revell TIE Advanced X1 (Vader's TIE); IIRC I read here the other day that the panels from the original MPC kit were used for some of the screen used TIE Bombers - knowing kit manufacturers, it's possible Revell used some of the old tooling, but we'll see when the kit arrives.

This is the kit i've ordered:

I'll likely be using plastic pipe for two fuselages, but I also have the option of 3d printing, or machining aluminium rod on a lathe (although that may be overkill). regardless, i'll be generating a CAD model, either 2D in autocad to get the scale correct, or a full 3d .stl for printing.
-Matt

mikoyan99 · May 6, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

aI've been doing a little homework on the kit - it turns out Revell did manufacture a variant of the original MPC kit:
Darth Vader's TIE Advanced Fighter 1/36 Plastic AMT/ERTL Model Kit - starwarsmodels.com - The Star Wars Model Kit Gallery

Also, their website lists the length of this kit as 6.5":
Revell SnapTite Star Wars® Darth Vader's TIE Fighter? Kit

The first site lists a 7" total length; i'll measure the actual length when it arrives, but it seems likely it is the same moulding (or at least updated tooling thereof). If so, that'll make this build studio scale.

Can anyone else shed any light on this?
-Matt

robn1 · May 6, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

I'm not familiar with the Revell kit, but I believe it's different tooling and slightly smaller.

Zombie_61 · May 6, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

mikoyan99 said:
aI've been doing a little homework on the kit - it turns out Revell did manufacture a variant of the original MPC kit:
Darth Vader's TIE Advanced Fighter 1/36 Plastic AMT/ERTL Model Kit - starwarsmodels.com - The Star Wars Model Kit Gallery

Also, their website lists the length of this kit as 6.5":
Revell SnapTite Star Wars® Darth Vader's TIE Fighter? Kit

The first site lists a 7" total length; i'll measure the actual length when it arrives, but it seems likely it is the same moulding (or at least updated tooling thereof). If so, that'll make this build studio scale.

Can anyone else shed any light on this?
-Matt

The MPC/AMT TIE Advanced XI model kit and Revell TIE Advanced XI model kit are not the same kit. However, both the MPC/AMT and Revell kits were produced using the same reference materials that were provided by Lucasfilm, and both companies were contractually obligated not to make any alterations, which is why both kits share some of the same detail and dimensional inaccuracies when compared to the filming model. I assume Revell's "pocket kit" 1:121 scale TIE Advanced XI is simply a scaled-down and simplified version of their "easy kit" 1:57 scale TIE Advanced XI, but I don't know for sure.

I do know Fine Molds' 1/72 scale TIE Advanced XI Prototype kit is considerably more accurate than the MPC/AMT kit and/or either of the Revell kits.

SithMaster3 · May 6, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

Matt, check out this guys stuff. His name is Del and he has a 1/72 TIE Bomber for sale on his site... among other things.

Multi-Verse Models

Good Luck,
Joe Lopez III

mikoyan99 · May 7, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

Cheers for the information guys; Zombie, that makes sense; shame it's not the same tooling though. Does anyone have the original MPC/AMT kit? Would they mind measuring the total length of one of the solar panels? With that I should be able to scale the other dimensions correctly and draw up a CAD model. Any other key dimensions/plans etc would also be appreciated; i've found a few of the threads on here, and got the fuselage diameter and main spar diameter.

My plan now is a hybrid of the orginal methods - i'll be machining two aluminium tubes to the right size, and adding the striations just aft of the cockpit. I'll then 3D print caps for both fuselages, the centre block between the two and a few of the smaller details. I'll cut the simpler bits by hand from plasticard. If all goes well, i'll consider making a (very) limited run kit; i've got some RTV spare from another project.
-Matt

blakeh1 · May 7, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

The Revell pocket kit while listed as ~1/120 scale is actually almost the same exact size as the Fine Molds X-1. So if Fine Molds is 1/72, Revell's can't be that small. The figure in it is pretty much the same size as a 1/72 figure as well. So either Fine Molds might have it wrong, or Revell has it wrong (or both)

As far as the larger easy Easy Kit version of the Tie X-1, yes it is a different tool than the MPC, although it is nearly the same size as the MPC, with a much better figure
If the MPC is 1/36, then Revell's is about 1/38 or so

mikoyan99 · May 8, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

Ok, marginally smaller then; I shall adjust the scaling appropriately. Thanks for the pics/info, that should be enough to go by.
I'm putting together an excel spreadhseet of the key dimensions; would people like me to upload it when done? I can't promise 100% screen accuracy, but it should be good for a decent desktop display model.
-Matt

thorst · May 8, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

Hi,

here are some measurements from my old AMT model:

length solar panel: 173mm
height solar panel: 118mm
length front(canopy)-back(fuselage): 144mm
distance upper/lower edges of solar panels: 133mm
distance (center) of solar panels (over outsides of surrounding frames): 184mm
diameter cockpit ball (without greebly layer): 70mm

Hope these help!
Thorsten

mikoyan99 · May 8, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

Perfect Thorst, thanks. I can get the parts to any scale now.

The revell kit just arrived - turned out to be the tiny 1/120th scale version :facepalm. I'll have another look for an MPC one...
-Matt

Edit: just given in and ordered the AMT re-run. Now studio scale! This may break the bank a little....

thorst · May 8, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

Matt, have a second look at the Revell pocket one, it's actually quite nicely detailed! Small, but it might be worth to build!

mikoyan99 · May 8, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

thorst said:
Matt, have a second look at the Revell pocket one, it's actually quite nicely detailed! Small, but it might be worth to build!

I already have one! Nice little kit; pain for me at the moment is budget, otherwise i'd keep the mistakenly ordered one and do another conversion job.
-Matt

mikoyan99 · May 8, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from Revell TIE Advanced X-1

A little update; AMT kit on the way, and 200mm of aluminium tube ordered. I've started wok on the CAD model for the 3D printed parts as well:

I'm modelling them in Gmax; i'll then transfer them to belnder, export as .stl, check again in solidworks, then print.
-Matt

Jedi Dade · May 9, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from AMT TIE Advanced X-1 (Now Studio Scale)

very COOL. in a strange way this is one of my favorites because it used a ANH DV tie kit as the base... then kit bashed the heck out of it just like one of us would do... The fact that its reasonably doable that way makes me very fond of this model... I have 3 versions of it I think 2 studio scale by different makers... all VERY close to each other which is to be expected I guess... seeing how readily available all of the major parts are

3D printing is great but you should really try get the real deal... its not that much more effort

less than drawing it in CAD I'd think

.

Jedi Dade

mikoyan99 · May 10, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from AMT TIE Advanced X-1 (Now Studio Scale)

Jedi Dade said:
very COOL. in a strange way this is one of my favorites because it used a ANH DV tie kit as the base... then kit bashed the heck out of it just like one of us would do... The fact that its reasonably doable that way makes me very fond of this model... I have 3 versions of it I think 2 studio scale by different makers... all VERY close to each other which is to be expected I guess... seeing how readily available all of the major parts are

3D printing is great but you should really try get the real deal... its not that much more effort less than drawing it in CAD I'd think .

Jedi Dade

Thanks; that's pretty much the reason this model interests me - it's exactly what i'd do if I was building these on a tight time/money budget. I like the Asymmetric shape as well; quite a nice piece of design.

What roughly do you mean by the real deal? I decided very early on i'd 3D print some of the parts, for two reasons - the first being that I hadn't used a 3D printer before, and i'd like to have a go (the one i'm using is at university; I can use it for materials/time cost); secondly it saves me having to acquire any (other) original model kits, something I haven't got the budget for. CAD wise, i've been an engineering student for 4 years, and I can draw faster in CAD these days than I can fabricate some things by hand.

I'm not limiting myself to 3D printing however - although i'll be printing some the larger components, I intend to do a lot of the small detailing with plasticard. The fuselages with both be cut from aluminium tube on a metal lathe; i'll be using a turret mill to cut the hole for the main spar as well.
-Matt

Jedi Dade · May 10, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from AMT TIE Advanced X-1 (Now Studio Scale)

VERY Cool!!! I didn't know that you had all those resources readily available. By all means - Have at it

Jedi Dade

mikoyan99 · May 10, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from AMT TIE Advanced X-1 (Now Studio Scale)

Jedi Dade said:
VERY Cool!!! I didn't know that you had all those resources readily available. By all means - Have at it

Jedi Dade

Not for much longer - hence i'm taking advantage while I can!

More progress on the CAD today; I need to cut the front from the cockpit, detail up the centre, and perhaps do a few more small parts. You can see on the box on the top the level of 3D printing detail i'm going for - basic structure is printed, but fine detail will be added by hand. If you're wondering what the colour code is about - green is to be printed, dark yellow for show, and blue for not for printing.

-Matt

mikoyan99 · May 11, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from AMT TIE Advanced X-1 (Now Studio Scale)

3D parts ready, save for the cockpit nose ( i need to wit for the kit to arrive, then it's a simple boolean to hollow it out at the right diamater)

I'll print them in the week if I get time. You can see i've only modelled the basic shapes - fine detail will still be added by hand.
I've taken most dimensions from reference photos, but some are done "by eye", such as the bomb doors.
-Matt

mikoyan99 · May 12, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from AMT TIE Advanced X-1 (Now Studio Scale)

Got the metal this morning; spent the afternoon turning the fuselage:

Wednesday morning, i'll pop back to the workshop and cut the hole for the main spar.
-Matt

joewhite · May 12, 2014

Re: TIE Bomber from AMT TIE Advanced X-1 (Now Studio Scale)

I see you have 3D print ability, but just thought I'd let you know anyway. If the tube you are using are 2", I made a starter set for the front two dish parts and the wing extensions...see link...

http://www.therpf.com/f84/tie-bomber-dish-wing-extensions-set-209239/

Joe

TIE Bomber (Finished!)

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