TIE Bomber

Description

The odd one out in the TIE family

Most TIE craft follow the same recipe: a ball cockpit hung between two wing panels. The TIE Bomber breaks that pattern with a second pod alongside the cockpit, used to carry its payload. It gets its best-known moment in The Empire Strikes Back, dropping charges into the asteroid field while the Millennium Falcon hides from the Imperial fleet. That lopsided profile is instantly recognisable, even when it is shrunk down to a model that fits in the palm of your hand.

Repetition as a building aid

With only 11 distinct elements spread over 28 pieces, this is a build where the same parts turn up again and again. That suits a design with mirrored wings and two similar hulls. It also makes the instructions easy to follow for younger builders, because each stage looks much like the one before. Anyone who has built a few sets will finish it in minutes. The appeal lies less in the challenge than in seeing how few bricks it takes to capture the shape.

An all-Imperial palette

Light bluish grey, dark bluish grey, black and trans-clear are the main colours listed. That is about as Imperial as a palette gets, with no bright accents at all. For anyone who takes models apart after display, it is good news: grey and black parts blend into almost any project, from starships to city buildings. The trans-clear pieces are the ones worth setting aside, as clear elements tend to be in shorter supply in most collections.

Using this page

Below you will find every element in the set with its colour and quantity. That makes it straightforward to rebuild the bomber from loose parts or to check whether a second-hand copy is complete. If you have logged your bricks in Bricoria, What can I build? will show which sets you could put together right now. Lined up next to other small TIE models, this one adds welcome variety to an Imperial squadron on the shelf.

FAQ

Why does the TIE Bomber have two pods?

One pod holds the pilot and the other carries the bombs. That split design is what sets it apart from other TIE craft.

How many different parts are in set 912171?

The 28 pieces are made up of 11 distinct elements.

Which colours dominate the model?

The main colours are light bluish grey, dark bluish grey, black and trans-clear.