For Bish's Star Wars group build, I decided to build the classic MPC TIE Interceptor. I don't like gray paint schemes, so I wandered off into the wilds of the interwebz to see if I could find some alternate paint schemes. Somewhere between the Cantina and Mos Eisley Spaceport, I came across a Wookiepedia entry and found this:
While not canon, it is part of the Legends universe, I give you the TIE Interceptor Mk. III Warhead. One problem, it's still gray. At first I thought it would look awesome as a First Order ship, then I saw this on Youtube and the die was cast.
The cockpit masked, ready for gray paint.
The cockpit with pilot installed. Not going to worry about him as he won't be very visible once everything is together.
View through the forward bulkhead.
Installed in the TIE ball.
The TIEball sealed up.
If you've seen pictures of the Revell First Order Special Ops TIE Fighter, the most noticeable thing about are the solar panels and that is what I wanted to try and capture. I found some prescribed .040 (1MM) thick sheet plastic that worked perfectly.
Creating the template.
The template cut out.
Transferred to sheet stock.
The new pieces cut out and glued in place. I left the tape on to prevent a glue fingerprint from marring the surface.
With the tape removed.
Decided to do some basic CAD (Cardboard Aided Design) for the rocket launchers.
I wasn't quite sure how I was going to attach the rocket launchers to wings once they were done. When I bought the sheet stock, I picked up some plastic tubing which is almost a perfect fit for the hole left by the piece that secures the wing to the TIEball, so that is what I will use. I've started construction of one rocket pod, but forgot to take pictures from the start, so I'll document the second pod as it's built. That's all for now and don't forget to tip your waitress on the way out.