This is an interesting ship, no doubt.
It shares the same basic geometry of the TIE/ph Phantom – three wings, what looks like three engine/reactor modules on the surfaces between them, and an elongated cockpit.
The weapons layout is different. The classic Phantom has five light cannons – two under the ‘chin’ and one in each wing. Instead, this model seems to concentrate all of its firepower into the two chin guns. Look at the bulk of the weapon housings! There’s a lot going on under the hood. These are definitely at least Heavy Lasers, possibly encroaching on LTL territory.
The cockpit module is clearly based on the Scimitar Assault Bomber – it has the long viewports on the top and side, and looks like the entire thing can detach from the main fuselage – making it one big escape pod! This hints at a greater value of the pilot’s life than is typical for the Empire.
Looking at how thin the wing modules are, it doesn’t look to be heavily armoured. It likely relies either on speed or shields for survival. Given its size, I’d wager on the latter. After all, the classic TIE/ph did have shield generators.
I can’t see any signs of ordnance tubes on it, so it seems the chin guns are the sole armament. As Fractal is fond of saying, firepower is limited by reactor output. The TIE Phantom is infamous for having a huge reactor that can power a cloaking device, but this system cannot function whilst the ship is firing. If all that power was diverted to the guns, then this might actually be a fighter capable of mounting LTL-scale cannons!
That would make it a threat to the heavy fighters and light capitals the Rebellion relies so heavily on.
To me, this has the hallmarks of a Grand Admiral Thrawn design. He was known for prioritising pilot survivability, and he did design the Scimitar Assault Bomber in Legends. Were I a gambling man, I’d say that this is an Imperial Remnant attempt to recreate the TIE Phantom, with all the lessons learned from the original model.
Overall, it is a definite improvement over the classic design, and I’d love to see more of it!
So, Fractal, how far off the mark was I?
Athenus
4 months ago
The model looks amazing it looks kind of like a tie Phantom just more Slimline
This should be marked NSFW
4 months ago
This looks like the lovechild of a TIE Phantom and a TIE Defender… I love it!
Old Ben
4 months ago
This feels like it came out of the whole TIE interceptor/TIE Defender line of ships. Very aggressive heavy hitter type. Awesome design!
So it wasn’t just me. It strikes me as a budget-version of the TIE Defender, refined and iterated to the point where it doesn’t cost an obscene amount of credits to mass-produce them.
If you’re the Empire even production run well into tens of thousands is just about scratching the surface of the fighter park. Further, it would probably take a lot of time to happen, even (or especially) if it’s low on the priority list. In comes a more direct responce to the Rebels which sacrifices a degree of overmatch but is vastly easier to tool up for, allowing it to actually materialize in units by the end of the next year, not sometime in the next decade, though long term goal would still be Defender.
Yup. These works of military art are reserved for those few, exceptional pilots that the Empire recognizes that it can’t simply replace overnight.
The lengthened chassis provides extra volume to support an enhanced power generator and a life-support system. The former is especially valuable for powering the beefy Twin Laser Cannons this TIE sports, capable of flattening the robust energy-shields that many Rebels and Smugglers use to protect their ships in only a shot or two, to say nothing of the armor beneath.
While this added volume adds extra weight, dropping the speed of this craft to just above that of a standard TIE Fighter, the tri-wing design allows for maneuverability that meets that of any TIE Interceptor.
Xavier gordillo
4 months ago
Trident?
Chris
4 months ago
Why is it that your models are 100 times better than anything that came out in the last trilogy?
I wish they’d give you credit and hire you on again!
Awesome! Keep up the great work!
This is an interesting ship, no doubt.
It shares the same basic geometry of the TIE/ph Phantom – three wings, what looks like three engine/reactor modules on the surfaces between them, and an elongated cockpit.
The weapons layout is different. The classic Phantom has five light cannons – two under the ‘chin’ and one in each wing. Instead, this model seems to concentrate all of its firepower into the two chin guns. Look at the bulk of the weapon housings! There’s a lot going on under the hood. These are definitely at least Heavy Lasers, possibly encroaching on LTL territory.
The cockpit module is clearly based on the Scimitar Assault Bomber – it has the long viewports on the top and side, and looks like the entire thing can detach from the main fuselage – making it one big escape pod! This hints at a greater value of the pilot’s life than is typical for the Empire.
Looking at how thin the wing modules are, it doesn’t look to be heavily armoured. It likely relies either on speed or shields for survival. Given its size, I’d wager on the latter. After all, the classic TIE/ph did have shield generators.
I can’t see any signs of ordnance tubes on it, so it seems the chin guns are the sole armament. As Fractal is fond of saying, firepower is limited by reactor output. The TIE Phantom is infamous for having a huge reactor that can power a cloaking device, but this system cannot function whilst the ship is firing. If all that power was diverted to the guns, then this might actually be a fighter capable of mounting LTL-scale cannons!
That would make it a threat to the heavy fighters and light capitals the Rebellion relies so heavily on.
To me, this has the hallmarks of a Grand Admiral Thrawn design. He was known for prioritising pilot survivability, and he did design the Scimitar Assault Bomber in Legends. Were I a gambling man, I’d say that this is an Imperial Remnant attempt to recreate the TIE Phantom, with all the lessons learned from the original model.
Overall, it is a definite improvement over the classic design, and I’d love to see more of it!
So, Fractal, how far off the mark was I?
The model looks amazing it looks kind of like a tie Phantom just more Slimline
This looks like the lovechild of a TIE Phantom and a TIE Defender… I love it!
This feels like it came out of the whole TIE interceptor/TIE Defender line of ships. Very aggressive heavy hitter type. Awesome design!
So it wasn’t just me. It strikes me as a budget-version of the TIE Defender, refined and iterated to the point where it doesn’t cost an obscene amount of credits to mass-produce them.
I’d twist that a little.
If you’re the Empire even production run well into tens of thousands is just about scratching the surface of the fighter park. Further, it would probably take a lot of time to happen, even (or especially) if it’s low on the priority list. In comes a more direct responce to the Rebels which sacrifices a degree of overmatch but is vastly easier to tool up for, allowing it to actually materialize in units by the end of the next year, not sometime in the next decade, though long term goal would still be Defender.
Yup. These works of military art are reserved for those few, exceptional pilots that the Empire recognizes that it can’t simply replace overnight.
The lengthened chassis provides extra volume to support an enhanced power generator and a life-support system. The former is especially valuable for powering the beefy Twin Laser Cannons this TIE sports, capable of flattening the robust energy-shields that many Rebels and Smugglers use to protect their ships in only a shot or two, to say nothing of the armor beneath.
While this added volume adds extra weight, dropping the speed of this craft to just above that of a standard TIE Fighter, the tri-wing design allows for maneuverability that meets that of any TIE Interceptor.
Trident?
Why is it that your models are 100 times better than anything that came out in the last trilogy?
I wish they’d give you credit and hire you on again!
Awesome! Keep up the great work!
Except for Rogue One and Andor, Disney Star Wars is unworthy of his work.
Would this be an interceptor or fighter?
Looks amazing! Happy New Year!
TIE-Blade or TIE-Katar (punch-dagger) comes to mind.
Isn’t this a WIP #2 because isn’t there another tri tie WIP
https://fractalsponge.net/?p=2043
TIE Talon
Tri-TIE looks fly