What's up, Plastic Addicts? Today, I’m thrilled to take you on a journey to a galaxy far, far away with the AMT Studio Series 1/32 TIE Fighter, an impressive model of one of the Empire's most iconic starfighters from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
Let's get into it and bring the Empire to life, one piece at a time!
In this full-length video, I cover every detail, from unboxing to final assembly, showing you exactly how this kit builds up to a striking, screen-worthy piece.
We kick things off with a quick Star Wars history lesson on the TIE Fighter’s first appearance in Episode IV and what made these ships instantly recognizable. Moving into the overview, I go beyond just the parts and talk about the box art – and my thoughts on AMT’s decision to place the paint and decal guide on the inner box side. Spoiler: it’s not the most user-friendly setup, but we’ll work with it!
Then we dive into the build itself. While this is primarily an out-of-the-box build, I’ve added some custom lighting to bring it to life! I installed lighting in the cockpit floor to simulate the eerie glow that defines the Imperial fleet and lit the engines to give them that powerful, menacing shine. Whether you’re new to lighting or looking to add something special to your own TIE Fighter, you’ll see how these small touches add a dramatic effect.
With chapter markers added for easy navigation, we’ll go through each stage of the build:
Introduction: 0:00
Overview - The box and what's in it: 1:31
Imperial Starfighter Pilot – Assembling the TIE’s loyal pilot: 4:39
Cockpit Assembly – Detailing and fitting the command center: 5:22
Main Body – Building up the core structure for that classic TIE look: 11:35
Cockpit Lighting – Adding lights to the cockpit floor for that authentic glow: 16:52
Powered Base – Prepping a display base to power and showcase the fighter: 18:04
Solar Arrays – Attaching the signature wings, a staple of TIE design: 19:45
Ion Engine Lighting – Wiring up those rear engines to complete the effect: 23:45
Decals – Applying the final decals for authenticity: 25:08
Final Assembly - Installing the final pieces: 26:09
Alternate Base – Ideas to showcase your TIE Fighter with style: 28:11
Build Review - The good, the bad and the WTF: 29:22
Outro/Final Thoughts: 31:51
Finally, I share my thoughts on this kit overall. From the pros of the parts fit and design to some quirks you might want to know about, this review aims to help you decide if the AMT 1/32 Studio Series TIE Fighter is the right addition to your Imperial fleet.
This build has a special place for me, as it marks my first collaboration with Round 2/Autoworld Store for their user-generated content advertising campaign. They reached out to me a few months ago to produce content for this iconic kit, and I’m excited to bring it to you.
Thanks for watching, and I hope you enjoy following along as much as I enjoyed building it!
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About Jason’s Space Dock
Welcome! I’m Jason C. Marshall, a scale model artist with a passion for crafting sci-fi spaceships and iconic vehicles like Knight Rider and Airwolf. My journey started as a fascination with detailed models and has evolved into a career focused on bringing these beloved subjects to life.
Each piece is meticulously crafted with precision, blending authenticity with my creative touch. I specialize in capturing the essence of starships and vehicles from classic films, TV series, and beyond, using various techniques to ensure each model tells a unique story.
For commissions, I collaborate closely with clients to bring their vision to life. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind sci-fi spaceship or an iconic vehicle replica, feel free to DM me, and we’ll create something extraordinary together. Thanks for checking out my work—let’s embark on a creative journey in the sci-fi worlds we all love!
**Materials Used:**
The Hobby Center:
1/32 Tie Fighter: https://shorturl.at/lul1y
Vallejo Model Air Black: https://shorturl.at/A6tYJ
Vallejo Model Color Gloss Black:
Vallejo Model Air Chrome:
Vallejo Model Air USAF Medium Gray:
Vallejo Model Air USAF Light Gray:
Vallejo Model Air Dark Ghost Gray:
Vallejo Model Air Light Gray:
Vallejo Ultra Matt Clear:
Vallejo Wash FX, Black:
Tamiya Clear Red:
Tamiya Metallic Grey:
MicroSol Decal Setting Solution:
Tulip 'Slick' Black:
HDA Modelworx:
COB LED Tape: https://shorturl.at/wI3DA
0805 SMD LED: https://shorturl.at/Z799h
Double Density LED Tape (Blue): https://shorturl.at/azgtx
Lighted Base: TBA
The music tracks used in this video (Ambience & A memory lived, dreaming) were created by Evantise.
You can find more of their music at:
Spotify: https://shorturl.at/r3pXt
soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/evantisemusic
Bandcamp: https://evantise.bandcamp.com/