TIE-Spotting. *First post updated*

Apologies for thread necromancy and double apologies if this stuff is already known.

I’m going to propose a potentially controversial opinion: only one TIE model got a full decal treatment. These are all the same model—even the “red pentagon TIE”. I don’t know about the black pentagon TIE, as I have never seen it and most of the image links in this thread, sadly, are now dead. If anyone can revive those images, please post them.

I have yet to see two decal-bearing TIE Fighters together at once in the same image. In most photos, you never see any decals at all, suggesting most models did not have them. This, however, does not indicate that only one TIE got decals. It’s also impossible to prove a negative. What I can show is that, in all the photos we have of TIEs with decals, we have evidence that they are all of the same model.

Starting with the “Chronicles TIE”, these are the best images I know of for a TIE with decals and seems to be the general reference. It has some distinctive features that allow us to identify it as an individual. Furthermore, we can show that this specific model was repainted and given ESB wings.

View attachment 1919685

First, the Panzer III door on the “chin” has been routed out to fit the cockpit canopy bezel and has a large bubble that cuts the top of the rectangular bit.

Second incomplete casting of the upper right corner of the Taiho part immediately below the Panzer III door. This takes a nick out of the top-right corner of the part. To the left of it there appears to be a bubble or dent in the trapezoidal panel this greeb sits on.

Finally, the lower part of the cockpit dash has been routed out along the bottom; you can see a very distinctive cut going through the Iowa-class radar panels.

I believe this to be the same TIE featured in the pictures below:

View attachment 1919687

These details aren't matched in other well-known TIE models, including the Vader TIE or TIE Interceptor (right top and bottom, respectively). This demonstrates that these are not features of the mould, but represent a combination of casting artefacts and tooling done after casting.

View attachment 1919688

Take a look at the "red pentagon" TIE and you'll see all of these features.

View attachment 1919689

What you'll also notice (yellow arrow), is that the red pentagon isn't a decal, but looks instead like an adhesive sticker that isn't even fully applied to the hull. So, earlier suggestions ITT that this was temporary are supported.

The only rear view we have of a decal-bearing TIE is in the image below right. It has a shaded grey panel below the rear hatch, which is matched in the below left photo. As you can see, in that image, the "chin" greeblies appear to have the above-noted details. Less clear due to photo resolution, but they seem to be there.
View attachment 1919691

I have better photos of the repainted version, but not sure if I can share those or snippets of those. What appears to have happened during construction of the Chronicles TIE was that one half of the hull may have been poorly cast or over-sanded along the seam face, resulting in poor fit between top and bottom hull halves. Instead of discarding it, the ILMers appear to have just made the two halves fit. The poor fit between top and bottom halves probably meant retooling some areas around the window opening to allow the canopy part to fit. In the better photos, you can see how the rear starboard seam cover has been notched out to accommodate a Shinano greebly next to the rear hatch.

So, there it is. I think there was just one TIE bedecked in decals. The red pentagon TIE was likely temporary. This TIE was repainted and given ESB wings.
The pentagon was applied using chart tape. just like they did in battlestar for the cylon raiders. Lessons learned on ANH. ( thats my story and I'm sticking to it)
 
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