[MOD] 75393 X-Wing & TIE Fighter

[Willsy]

Hello Eurobricks! 

I'm aware that this set has been somewhat controversial/overlooked due to its focus on the uglies feature (as well as the high price point), however upon initial reveal, I felt that both models had real potential to be accurate depictions of the source material. For instance:

• The X-Wing having the tapered nose angles, as well as using the proportions of the 2021 set with the more accurate engine intake size. It also features rear landing gear for the first time. 
• The TIE Fighter using the (in my opinion, superior) TIE Bomber cockpit window design and rounding off the back with the curved wedge pieces. 

However, there are certainly issues which made both vehicles feel somewhat 'off'. The huge gap between the wings and the fuselage on the X-Wing as a result of the transformation feature was the main issue, however I also noticed that the sloped pieces alongside the cockpit were slightly recessed compared to the cheese slopes leading to the nose. The fuselage was also a bit thin. As for the TIE, the omission of the printed dish harmed it a lot aesthetically, and the spring-loaded shooters looked a bit goofy.

I wanted to tap into this potential, and see just how I could improve on the foundations that the set already made while remaining true to the overall design ethos of the set. So I present to you, the resulting mods

X-Wing

A big change here was to the overall profile of the wings. The point of opening for the S-foils was originally too far out, causing the intakes to stay in place (which wasn't accurate). Now the intakes hinge open with the rest of the wing. The landing gear is now recessed within the bottom engines, and fold neatly towards to the back of the craft with the feet tucked behind the thrusters. Additionally, the fuselage has been modified to have a cleaner, more finished look. Of course, I had to add the age old t-shape into the intakes! I wish there is something I could do about the front gear's positioning, however due to the way the nose is designed, I'm not sure it would be possible at this scale. 

Spoiler

TIE Fighter

I believe I actually had to spend more time with the TIE despite the X-Wing alone being the original goal for this mod. I'm not the biggest TIE Fighter person, but in the end I think it turned out to be my favourite part of this mod. The brief for the TIE was simple: bring back the printed dish. This was easier said than done, however, due to how compact the cockpit bubble is and the amount of structure that had to be sacrificed for the rounded off front and back compared to other TIE sets. As such, I had to compromise and trade off the hinged cockpit. In its place is a clip to ratchet hinge connection for the front canopy, which allows it to simply slide out allowing access to the interior (which in turn has been upgraded to add more detail). The stems between the wings were also resigned entirely for a cleaner look and sturdier connection. This thing is pretty solid and can withstand a lot of swooshing! In the end, fun

Spoiler

 

Overall, I'm quite pleased with how these turned out. I think the set itself provides some pretty solid renditions of these ships along with some new design methods which iterate over older versions nicely, and I'm sure the uglies feature would be a lot of fun for kids. But on top of that, I feel there is definitely a very strong foundation for modding here, which is often half of the fun of LEGO for me! 

Edited August 19, 2024 by Willsy

[lightsaber-0]

Oh my gosh please upload instructions, i legit love the proportions of the new Tie fighter, and the mod you did makes it look 100x better