Designed as a true alternate build, this MOC uses only parts from the donor LEGO set or sets, including the spare pieces included in the box. All PDF instruction sales are final and non refundable.

The model is 15.0 cm wide, 15.6 cm long, 11.3 cm tall Or 5.9 inches wide, 6.1 inches long, 4.4 inches tall

At the time of writing, LEGO 75421 Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter is the cheapest LEGO Star Wars set that includes a SMART Brick, making it a good donor set if you want to try out the SMART Play system.

The original set captures Darth Vader’s iconic TIE Advanced x1 from A New Hope, but I felt the exterior could be improved. The gaps around the black Technic beams and the exposed SMART Brick made the model look a little unfinished, so I set out to clean up the design without losing any of the interactive features.

For this alternate history build, I imagined what Vader’s next generation starfighter might look like. The TIE Advanced x2 keeps the familiar shape of his personal fighter but replaces the original wings with TIE Interceptor style solar arrays, giving it a sharper and more aggressive profile. I also removed the black Technic beams around the hyperdrive module to close up the gaps and plated over the SMART Brick for a cleaner finish.

To make room for the upgraded starfighter, I also scaled down the Rebel base and fuel station side builds, reusing some of their pieces for the TIE Advanced x2.

Despite these changes, all the SMART Play functionality is retained, including the interactive lights and sounds. You can still press down on the red lever to activate the play function, and the solid central core makes the fighter comfortable to hold around the hyperdrive module when swooshing it through space.

One thing to keep in mind when handling the model is that the tips of the solar arrays are connected by a single stud, so a little care is needed there.

The idea was to make Vader’s fighter look better on display while keeping it sturdy and fun to play with. After all, even the Dark Lord of the Sith needs a starfighter that can handle a dogfight!

This is my take on how Darth Vader’s personal starfighter could have evolved in an alternate Star Wars history. I hope you enjoy building it as much as I enjoyed designing it!