Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Small but solid. (1/5)

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Small but solid. (2/5)

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Small but solid. (3/5)

Small but solid.

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Detail shots of each section. The dense detail on the one-piece molded solar panels is especially

Detail shots of each section.
The dense detail on the one-piece molded solar panels is especially impressive.

View from the bottom.
Though honestly, at a glance it's pretty hard to tell top from bottom. -.-

Pop off the cover under the cockpit section and there's even more molded detail inside.

The shape is slightly different from the top side, but it's pretty much the same deal..

Detail on the inside of the solar panels.

Like the X-Wing, the canopy section comes with two options: a clear part and a frame part.

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Left is the clear part + seals assembly, right is the frame part assembly. Unlike the X-Wing, the

Left is the clear part + seals assembly, right is the frame part assembly.
Unlike the X-Wing, the look of seals stuck onto the clear part is pretty rough here, so just going with the frame part looks way better.

Breakdown of the cockpit parts.

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - There are seals to apply on both the front and back of the cockpit interior. Of course, once it's

There are seals to apply on both the front and back of the cockpit interior.
Of course, once it's all assembled you can't see them at all..

Lord Vader seated at the controls..

A stand modeled after the Death Star surface is included as well.

Connected together with the X-Wing's stand.

Lord Vader figure.

Effect parts for the laser cannon firing scene are also included.

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Laser cannon firing scene from various angles. (1/5)

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Laser cannon firing scene from various angles. (2/5)

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 - Laser cannon firing scene from various angles. (3/5)

Laser cannon firing scene from various angles.

Together with the X-Wing released at the same time.

Straight build

As the opening act of Bandai's Star Wars series, the Tie Advanced x1 was released alongside the X-Wing. I honestly expected the TIE Fighter to come out first, but it seems like the Advanced x1 was chosen to pair up with Lord Vader's personal craft.

The biggest highlight of the Tie Advanced x1 is the impressively one-piece molded solar panels. They're made using a system insert molding technique that achieves multiple colors within a single part — the same method that's been used recently in Gunpla for one-piece frame molding. The textured black parts and gray frame come together cleanly as a single piece, and just looking at the runner is enough to make you go "wow~" — the quality is that good.

Compared to the X-Wing, it's smaller and simpler in structure, so the part count and assembly work feels like roughly half. Honestly, even building at a leisurely pace, an hour is more than enough to clean the gates and put it all together. That said, like the X-Wing it's packed with tons of detailed molding, so panel lining actually takes longer than the build itself. For this kit, since the base color is so dark, I used a black Gundam marker for panel lining instead of a lighter wash — and thanks to that, all the fine details really pop, making it a pretty satisfying process. ^^

The Tie Advanced x1 doesn't have much in the way of moving parts, but it does come with clear green effect parts for the laser cannon firing scene. As a bonus, removing the cover under the cockpit reveals some interior molding, which is a nice little touch. And with instrument panel seals to apply even inside the cockpit, it's got plenty of that intricate, detailed feel.

The cockpit canopy section, like the X-Wing, comes with two options: a clear part with seals, or a frame-only part. Unlike the X-Wing where both options looked pretty similar, this kit has a more noticeable difference between the two. The clear part with seals just doesn't look great, so I went with the frame part as well — but either way, it's a bit of a disappointing area.

The one-piece molded solar panels are an absolutely stunning feature for us regular folks, but for anyone planning to paint this kit, they're going to be a nightmare to mask. It would honestly be much easier if the parts were split up... but I'm sure the hardcore painters out there will find a way. ^^;;;

Anyway, despite having a simpler parts breakdown compared to the X-Wing, the deep color and striking solar panels give the finished model a stronger presence somehow. For Star Wars fans, this is definitely a must-have alongside the X-Wing — and personally, if I had to pick between the two, I'd recommend the Tie Advanced x1. Sure, the value for money isn't as good, but the simple build still delivers an incredibly refined and impressive result. :-)

1/72 Tie Advanced x1 | 2014. 11 | ¥2,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.