Star Wars

Black Ace TIE Interceptor

A midsize TIE that actually opens like it means it.

Brick Rated Score

4.2/5

Set 75242 · 2019

Pieces396

Minifigs3

Year2019

Set number75242

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The verdict

I picked this one up expecting a fairly ordinary Resistance-era ship and ended up genuinely impressed by the cockpit mechanism.

It is not a huge set, but every piece in it is doing something, and the black and orange paint job makes it stand out on a shelf full of grey and white TIEs. If you like Star Wars Resistance or just want a solidly engineered TIE variant that will not eat your whole weekend, this is a satisfying build. If you need a huge minifig lineup or screen-iconic Original Trilogy ship, look elsewhere.

Best for: Fans of Star Wars Resistance and anyone who wants a compact, well-engineered TIE variant without a huge price tag

The full review

What it is

I did not expect much going in, honestly. Another TIE variant, another one-hour build, right? But the cockpit mechanism won me over almost immediately. The front glass folds down and the whole top hatch lifts open at the same time, so it genuinely feels like the ship is opening its mouth to let Griff Halloran climb in, helmet and all. That is the kind of small engineering touch that makes a modest set feel considered rather than churned out.

The catch

I will be straight with you about the scope here. This is not a big set. Three hundred ninety six pieces builds up fast, probably an hour or two, and if you are used to the larger UCS-adjacent TIE builds this one will feel almost snack sized in comparison. The black and orange color scheme is striking on the shelf, but it is also tied specifically to Star Wars Resistance, a show a good chunk of the fandom never watched, so the theme connection alone will not sell everyone on it.

Who it's for

Get this one if you want a well built, mechanically clever TIE variant at a fair price, or if you are collecting Resistance minifigures, since Griff Halloran and this particular Poe Dameron print are exclusive to the set. Skip it if you are chasing screen-accurate Original Trilogy ships or need a bigger centerpiece build for your money.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

The build moves quickly and rewards you early. You start with the cockpit assembly, which is where the fun actually is, the hinge and folding glass mechanism go together in a way that makes you appreciate the design before you have even finished the wings. From there the two angular wing panels snap on and the spring-loaded shooters get built into the tips, simple but satisfying to test fire once they are done.

There is nothing exotic in terms of rare or printed elements here, this is a fairly standard parts palette for a mid-size TIE, but the black and dark orange color split is less common than the usual grey Imperial fleet, which gives the set a distinct look in a collection. The real value is in the three included minifigures rather than any single brick, Griff Halloran does not appear anywhere else, and this specific printed Poe Dameron is unique to this set too, which matters if you are building out a Resistance-era lineup.

Fun facts

01The set is based on Star Wars Resistance, the animated series that aired on Disney XD starting in 2018, and Griff Halloran is a character original to that show.
02It retired around December 2020, after roughly a year and a half on shelves, and originally launched at 49.99 USD.
03Both included minifigures, Griff Halloran and this printed version of Poe Dameron, are exclusive to this set, along with a BB-8 astromech figure.
04The finished model measures about 8 cm high, 36 cm long and 21 cm wide, small enough to display without dedicating much shelf space to it.