An Old Work Horse Comes Back Out of Retirement

2015 is here, and with it comes the new toy lines. This year is special for one toy in particular, The LEGO TIE Fighter.

The last time we saw the backbone of the Imperial Navy's Fighter Fleet in all it's LEGO splendor was the 2012 edition. At the time, this version came with a front opening cockpit canopy (which looked a bit bulbous but cool none the less) and dual flick missiles. What I personally loved about it was the fact that it came with 4 figures. A R5-J2 Astromech Droid, a TIE Fighter Pilot, a Death Star Trooper and an Imperial Officer.

The ship measured over 9" (23cm) tall and 6" (17cm) wide. The set contained 413 pieces and retailed for $54.99 US at the time of release, with prices now exceeding the $150 mark for still sealed sets sold online.

With "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" marking the big screen return of what is arguably the most successful Sci-Fi franchise to date, the TIE Fighter marks an equally impressive return to 2015 looking bigger and badder than ever.

I give you, (drum roll please).........

The Ultimate Collector Series LEGO Star Wars TIE Fighter!

This bad boy will debut in stores and online begining in May. It comes in at double the size of it's predecessor, with measurements at a whopping 18" (46.9cm) tall & 12" (30.48cm) long and wide. The piece count comes in at 1,685, well over 4 times that of the previous version. That number includes the pieces needed for building the display stand, where you can swivel the ship around. It also includes an exclusive TIE Fighter Pilot mini figure and an information plaque that attaches to the display.

This is the latest addition to the LEGO line which saw the recent release of new detailed versions of Boba Fett's Slave 1 and Luke Skywalker's Red 5 X-Wing.

This new incarnation has some incredible detail, including a more movie accurate cockpit canopy and a top opening access hatch, both with printed patterns. You'll also notice there are A LOT more small pieces that add to the look and feel of the ship. This is where many of those 1,685 pieces come into play.

Looking closer at the panels, you'll see how the intricacies are evident here as well. Large pieces coupled with smaller pieces make it more work to put together, but the end result is a sleeker looking finish on the outside. The support structures on the wings are also more refined for a smoother look than on the 2012 version. 

Just like Slave 1 and Red 5, the TIE Fighter will come with a $199 US retail price tag.

Look for this beauty at your favorite toy retailers, but something tells me they're going to sell out really fast.  Check here first!