Star Wars

Imperial TIE Fighter

A budget TIE Fighter that quietly outbuilds sets twice its price.

Brick Rated Score

4.3/5

Set 75300 · 2021

Pieces432

Minifigs3

Year2021

Set number75300

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The verdict

I went into this one expecting a cut corners version of the bigger TIE Fighters LEGO has done before, and instead I got the shape right where it counts, that flat black cockpit ball and those iconic hexagonal wing panels, for under forty five dollars at launch.

The build is quick, the way it clicks together with a sturdy central hinge is satisfying, and the three minifigures genuinely surprised me. This is the set for someone who wants a real, display worthy TIE Fighter without committing to a UCS budget, though if you already own the 2019 or 2015 versions this one won't replace them.

Best for: Star Wars fans who want a solid TIE Fighter on a real budget

The full review

What it is

I've built a few TIE Fighters over the years and this one caught me off guard. LEGO took the construction techniques from the older 9492 set and squeezed them into a smaller, cheaper shape, and somehow the silhouette still reads as unmistakably TIE Fighter the second you glance at it. The solar panel wings snap onto a rotating hinge that feels sturdier than I expected for a set at this price, and the cockpit ball has just enough panel detail to hold its own on a shelf.

The catch

I'll be straight with you about the tradeoffs. This is not the 2019 TIE Fighter, and if you've built that one you'll notice the interior here is sparser and the overall model is a step down in scale and heft. The wing panels also have a slightly flat, glossy look under direct light that some builders online called out as looking more toy like than the studded texture on pricier versions. None of that ruined the experience for me, but go in knowing this is the budget option, not the definitive one.

Who it's for

Get this one if you want a proper looking TIE Fighter without spending sixty or eighty dollars, or if you're chasing that exclusive NI-L8 droid and TIE Pilot for your minifigure collection. Skip it if you already own a bigger TIE Fighter and are looking for an upgrade rather than a second one.

The parts story

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

The build moves fast, which is part of the appeal. You start with the cockpit ball, work outward to the wing struts, and clip the two solar panels onto a central axle that lets the whole thing pivot and display at an angle, just like the ships look on screen. Nothing about the sequence is fiddly, and there's no massive repetitive stretch here since the piece count stays lean throughout.

The real value sits with the minifigures rather than any single new mold. NI-L8 is an Imperial protocol droid using a head piece introduced back in 2014 that closely matches the RA-7 droids from the original trilogy, and this set is its first appearance anywhere, so it's exclusive. The TIE Fighter Pilot also got a version with metallic silver helmet stripes matching specific onscreen pilots, and the Imperial Stormtrooper here has dual molded helmet detailing that wasn't in every earlier release. For a $44.99 launch price, three minifigures at that quality is unusually generous.

Fun facts

01This set combines the build techniques of the older 9492 TIE Fighter with the compact size of the 7146 version, aiming for detail without the higher price tag.
02The name NI-L8 is leetspeak for 'annihilate' and was recycled from Star Wars Expanded Universe lore for this droid's designation.
03NI-L8 marks the character's first LEGO minifigure appearance, and it has never been included in another set since.
04The set retired in December 2023 after just under three years on shelves, and its secondhand value has climbed roughly 15 to 33 percent above the original retail price since then.