TIE Fighter - OTC - Vehicles

Technical Specifications:
Model: TIE Fighter
Function: Starfighter
Crew: 1 Pilot
Weapons: Laser Cannons
Affiliation: Empire

The Empire's pilots fly TIE fighters into major space battles against the heroic Rebel forces! Darth Vader also flew a TIE fighter and attacked the Rebel pilots as they tried to save the galaxy by destroying the first Death Star. The Empire defeated many Rebel pilots by taking out their X-wing fighters but could not stop Luke Skywalker before the heroic Jedi destroyed the Empire's Death Star! Feel the power of the Force!

In 2003’s Star Wars “Saga” [Phase II] lineup, Hasbro released the KB Toys exclusive Imperial Dogfight TIE Fighter vehicle. While the release of the vehicle was not heavily criticized by collectors, the vehicle seemingly didn’t go over as well with collectors as Hasbro thought it would because the vehicle sat on shelves. It took markdown after markdown to blow them out, and the exclusive’s unceremonious termination at retail came and went without much fanfare at all. It’s always nice keeping Original Trilogy vehicles in the Star Wars toy line at all times. But perhaps this particular version of the TIE Fighter isn’t the best choice of a toy to keep throwing out to the Star Wars collecting community. Now, for 2004’s The Original Trilogy Collection, Hasbro slightly repaints this 2003 Star Wars “Saga” [Phase II] Imperial Dogfight TIE Fighter and releases it in new packaging hoping that collectors might find it a little bit more interesting this time. They did. The release of the same old “stuff” in vintage Kenner-inspired packaging paid off beautifully for Hasbro, and the TIE Fighter exemplifies how older vehicles become sought after thanks to clever packaging and a fresh new take at retail.

Sadly, collectors have begged Hasbro for a revised TIE Fighter vehicle with revised large wings. We’ve asked countless times for this now, but Hasbro won’t relent and give it to us. And if they continue to make us wait for a new take on this vehicle with larger-scaled wings, do we need another rehash so soon a year out from the original release? Regardless, the style of the packaging is completely different from the 2004 release. In an open-window styled box, the TIE Fighter is presented in its three pieces, but with a dioramic scene in the background full of colorful blasts and a beautiful starfield. It’s simple to assemble the TIE Fighter once you remove it from the box. And like an earlier version of this vehicle, the TIE Fighter doesn’t come with anything new aside from a few tweaks here and there. In all honesty, the TIE Fighter looks fantastic displayed the way it does. And for those of you that may be on the fence about opening these types of collector-inspired toys, you may want to make an exception here if you need a modern release of this vehicle. Based on the same updated mold from 1995’s The Power Of The Force [Red] line, Hasbro updated the 2003 and 2004 versions of the TIE Fighter by giving it a revised paint job in addition to a new date stamp (2003).

Aside from getting a slightly new paint job, there isn’t anything more you should expect updated or different here. The wings are too small, but it’s not the end of the world as this is the only way we know our TIE Fighter vehicles are. Unlike the previous 2003 release, the 2004 The Original Trilogy Collection TIE Fighter comes without a pack-in TIE Fighter Pilot action figure. But the 2004 OTC TIE Fighter Pilot is part of the basic figure line so you can add one to the vehicle at your leisure. The Original Trilogy Collection has already exceeded Hasbro’s expectations. There is a great amount of excitement brewing for the vintage Kenner-inspired line look. There is something magical about the silver and black packaging from yesteryear, and although Hasbro revised it to black and white for the 2004 collection, it still tickles the psyche and helps us remain nostalgic for a line that transformed us in our adolescence. Hasbro is looking to complete a solid line of action figures and vehicles to give The Original Trilogy Collection the width and breadth it deserves. The TIE Fighter is a quintessential Star Wars vehicle. And whether it is to scale or not to scale, it’s a required addition for this line that pays homage to some of the greatest times of our lives.