TIE Fighter (#9492)

I know I say it quite a bit, but I wasn't sure about this one when the first photos hit the internet. I should learn to just embrace the new models because I end up liking them anyway. This is the third generation of TIE fighter designs. 7146 was the first in 2001, and 7263 in 2005 had only minor changes. But this one is almost a complete redesign.

The set comes with the new TIE pilot, Imperial officer, Death Star trooper, and R5-J2. To Lego's credit, they are including more minifigs with the models now. Yes, it has flick-fire missiles, but I think I'm going to cover the back ends so they can't be flicked.

Here it is next to its predecessor on the left. The original 7263 was done in black and blue, which annoyed me, so I swapped out the blue for light grey. Anyhow, back to 9492. The "wings" are about 5 studs taller than 7263 and it doesn't feel fragile when you hold it. It's tall enough it won't fit on my "Imperial" shelf. I'll have to stick it on the shelf with the Rebels and see if they notice. If you look at the larger photo (just click on this one), you'll notice our pilot gets a seat now too. The Empire must be redesigning the fleet with pilot comfort in mind.

They used the helmet from the TIE Defender set, which was a nice move. It looks much better than the old helmet.

Lego also decided to give the pilot a face, which was also very generous (and about time). The new stormtroopers also get faces, but that's another review.

The canopy is round this time instead of the old style. The wings on 7263 were quite wobbly, but 9492 has (mostly) fixed this issue. There's a tiny bit of wiggle room, but they used an axle piece to help keep the wings stable.

The side view looks much nicer, and movie-accurate.

Rear view. The wings are clearly thicker than the old version. The whole design looks cleaner and more thought-out than the other one did.

Is it worth the $70 to upgrade to the new version? It was for me. If you want a cheaper alternative, you can find the fighter on Bricklink for $30-$40 without the figures. No self-respecting Imperial fleet should be without this one...