Prop eFX TIE Fighter

[tnaig001]

I passed twice on the Icons TIE Fighter waiting for the eFX to release theirs. I hope I did the right decision...

i know what you mean. I'm paid the deposit and have been keeping $ aside for this but man, it sure is taking long

 

[Mandible]

I passed twice on the Icons TIE Fighter waiting for the eFX to release theirs. I hope I did the right decision...

Same here

 

[jkno]

The Icons TIE Fighter is supposedly not as accurate as the eFX version (where Niessen is involved), that is another reason I went with eFX. Hope I'm right...

 

[jkno]

Some news regarding the eFX TIE Fighter at RPF or see quote below:

https://www.therpf.com/f10/efx-tie-fighter-sdcc-91735/index10.html

Well, here is an update of sorts -

The TIE prototype that was at this year's SDCC kinda landed on my kitchen table yesterday -

Here's the backstory - When eFX received the painted TIE for SDCC, they felt the paint was close - but still "off" enough to warrant telling the factory to try again. A newly painted TIE should be on display @ Celebration VI. In the meantime, just to doublecheck the paint samples against a known source, Bryan brought the SDCC prototype over to my place. (I've been slammed at work so I haven't had any time to do anything fun. Which is just another delay along the line.....)

Comparing the painted prototype with the hatch I got from Richard Edlund, yes it is off. To my eye, it needs to be bluer. This is completely subjective and dependent on lighting. (If you want to see the hatch color tests in excruciating detail, check out post 45 of this thread.)

So...... just to be sure about the paint sample (again), and to provide an accurate sample to the factory (again), we went over to the happiest place on earth (for model painters) - Ray's Auto Paints (again).

We took my tin of paint that was matched to the actual hatch and mixed up at that same time we mixed up some for eFX, had them shake it up, and dip a swatch. This is Bryan and myself literally waiting for the paint to dry so we could compare it and verify it was still good -

The good news is that the paint in my tin still matches the actual hatch and the swatches we made the first time. We siphoned off a small bottle and that is getting sent to China for them to use. We even sent a match for the darker gray as well......

TRIVIA - We checked the catalog number of the paint we matched to and discovered that it actually matches up with a piece of farm equipment. So if you have a Massey Ferguson tractor, well.....something on it is painted the same shade of gray as a TIE Fighter.

(Now I'm not saying that ILM used farm tractor paint in 1976, I'm just saying that that paint they used happens to match farm tractor paint in the swatch book.)

Anyways, below are a bunch of photos that I took of it. I am really impressed with the job Steve and eFX have done with this. It is crisp and detailed and perfect. I have a swatch of Koolshade myself, and know how hard it is to reproduce that look.

A couple of things surprised me - I guess, all the delays allowed eFX to add the markings that were discovered in some early photos -

Jason Eaton has researched the decals on a number of Studio Scale models and was able to provide files to eFX to reproduce (well, save for the yellowing decal film) -

Go here for details on that effort - https://www.therpf.com/f10/tie-spotting-first-post-updated-127749/index4.html#post1969715

The other surprise is the pilot figure. When it first appeared at SDCC in 2011, I believe there was a TIE pilot that was based on the TIE Pilot costume (Similar to what was done for the Luke pilot in their X-wing). That has been changed to more accurately represent the Harrier pilot/hybrid figure that ILM used in '76-'77 -

But when will it be ready? Good question. Bryan informs me that parts are being made now. Parts for the TIE, for the base, the lights, etc. The paint mis-match is a delay, but it is just paint - they don't have to re-tool anything or re-manufacture parts. Bryan's latest estimate is still third quarter 2012. That's a broad range, I know. But there are still a lot of moving parts that have to drop into place. I suppose the only way to pin it down is when the cases of TIE Fighters are on a freighter and has set sail. I'll try to get more info the closer they are to completion.........

Hope you enjoyed the update.

Gene

 

[shocktrooper_au]

To be honest that's probably to accurate for my liking

 

[jkno]

If the pilot is removable I'll display mine without it, since I don't need a figure inside. But I'll think about this when TIE Fighter is in hand.

 

[gagaliya]

is icons still in business or did they fold like master replicas? i think it was before my time.

 

[Mandible]

is icons still in business or did they fold like master replicas? i think it was before my time.

Out of business even before Master Replicas was formed.

A Long, Long, Long, Long time ago...

 

[jkno]

The eFX TIE Fighter will be more accurate than the Icons version anyway. Hopefully it will be released soon...

 

[Spawn_de]

Just a quick question. On page 9 is a newsletter quoted from 2010 where efx mentioned a worldwide edition size about 657. Is this still right? On their own site they are still saying that there won't be over 1000 and on most online stores the ES is declared as 1000.

 

[jkno]

Just a quick question. On page 9 is a newsletter quoted from 2010 where efx mentioned a worldwide edition size about 657. Is this still right? On their own site they are still saying that there won't be over 1000 and on most online stores the ES is declared as 1000.

I guess the stores they didn't update the total edition which seems to be indeed 657.

 

[shocktrooper_au]

So does it get a swap out Tie pilot or just the one ?

 

[jkno]

Right now I'm not sure with what kind of pilot the TIE Fighter will come with...

 

[gagaliya]

i hope it comes with removable tie pilot or none at all, the pilot for x-wing was horrible (i think gentle giant made it) on an otherwise masterpiece. Definitely need to get repainted if displaying with it.

 

[Spawn_de]

Is this the final base?

 

[jkno]

Not sure if that one is the final base, but IIRC the TIE will come with a rectangular base anyway.

 

[Drakul]

I'll never get this but it looks mighty nice!

 

[jkno]

This might be the last eFX item for me. We'll see.

 

[niennumb1]

So this has been going on 2 years now? What takes them so long?

 

[Shropt]

So this has been going on 2 years now? What takes them so long?

Perfection...