Between varying models, varying exposures and varying color timing of the film, TIE Fighters don’t have a single identifiable shade across the entire trilogy.  Fans constantly debate what the true TIE Fighter color is and the answers range from white to dark blue gray.  The truth is that the color of the models changed between the movies.  The TIE Fighters originally had a blue color scheme for Episode IV, but that didn’t photograph well against the blue screen, so they were changed to gray.  For the subsequent films, the models returned to a “muted blue”.  To me, that translates to the aforementioned blue gray. 

Hasbro has weighed in on this debate by supporting all candidates.  I don’t think that any two TIE Fighter releases have used the same color scheme.  This particular TIE interceptor release returns to a light gray color scheme.  Aside from the changes to the color of the plastic and slightly different paint applications, I’m not sure if there is any difference between this release and its immediate predecessor, the Toys R Us exclusive Legacy Collection TIE Interceptor.

While I can’t argue that a black on gray scheme doesn’t look sharp, and honestly feels more in tune with the Imperial color palette,  I prefer a more movie accurate appearance.  For that reason, I immediately like the Legacy Collection release better (packaging aside).  Of course the stand out for this and the Legacy Collection release is the retooled fuselage.  The one piece hatch looks and works better.  The redesign and redecorated cockpit is brilliant.  The removable ejector seat makes positioning a pilot dramatically easier.  It can even be accomplished by fat fingered middle aged men.  The decoration inside the cockpit makes this “toy” feel closer to a high end replica.

Unfortunately the ejector panels allow us to drop the quotation fingers around the word toy with respect to this TIE Interceptor.  This play feature, which is a hold over from 1978, means your ship will eventually get droopy wing syndrome.  For the Interceptor to take a step closer to “definitive”, it needs further retooling to have the wings attack more positively to the fuselage.  Because of this issue and my preference for the Legacy Collection issue, I have to give this release a C grade.  7 out of 10.

7/10 Bantha Skulls