FM WORKSHOP PRESENTS:

HOW TO CONVERT A TIE FIGHTER TO A PROTO-TYPE VERSION

FROM THE UPCOMING STAR WARS MOVIE “THE FORCE AWAKENS”!

Welcome to another FM Workshop. In this tutorial we’ll

take a standard FFG Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures “TIE
Fighter” and convert it and paint it to look like the Proto-type
one from the upcoming Star Wars movie “The Force
Awakens”. This was a great project and fairly easy to do if
you take your time with it.

CAUTION: Please note anytime you’re working with plastic

take care and work slow when cutting, filing, and drilling with
it to ensure you do not damage the model and above all else
you do not hurt yourself.

STEP #1 Cut both Wing Panels off the Wing Attachment Pylons ends by using a hobby saw or hack saw blade.
Take your time and drag the blade towards you until you get a groove for the blade then continue to cut them
off. You can also use a hobby knife to get a groove going. Go slow and take your time so you end up with a nice
smooth cut on both sides.

STEP#2 We’ll use a jewelry bead to bulk out the ends of the Wing Attachment Pylons. Use the flat side of a
hobby file and file the front and back ends of the Wing Attachment Pylons. Just file a little at a time until you can
get the beads to fit over them and that they are flush with the ends as much as possible. These seemed to just
snap on like they were made for this conversion.
STEP#3 Next I will drill the holes for the new “Laser Cannons” starting with the right one I will drill that one out
directly and will put a brass rod in it’s place. When drilling, drill up from the bottom first slightly to make a notch
for the drill bit to catch see Fig.A. Then drill normally from the front down, see Fig.B. This makes it easier for
the drill bit to catch on the round hull of the TIE Fighter. I used a Pin Vise and drill bit for this part not a Dremel.

STEP#4 In this next step I had a happy mistake creating the hole for the pin on the front. I used a heated up
needle to make the hole for where the needle was going to go. This caused the plastic to pop out a bit which
worked out great. So holding a needle with a pair of needle nose pliers heat it up and use it to make the top
hole. This may take two or three times rinse and repeat. I also drilled it out a bit too. Fig. A Heating the needle
tip. Fig. B creating the hole with the heated needle. Fig. C The finished hole with flashing that needs to be
trimmed off a bit around the outside. If you’re under 18 get your parents to assist you or simply use your drill
bits. Fig. D Sample of the pins used. Fig. E Test fitting the pin cut down to size. Also you can see the happy
mistake that the heat caused the plastic to pop out a bit forming a spot that looks like it’s made for the pin to fit
exactly there.

Continue to Step #5 …
STEP#5 Drill the final hole for the new Laser Cannon just below the pin hole I just made above it on the left side
of the hull (your right). But do not drill out the old Laser Cannon this time, leave it. Repeat the drilling process
in Step #3 for this hole too. Fig. A Drilling the final hole on the front. Fig. B You can see the pin above and the
new hole below it.

STEP#6 Next I will drill the holes for the antennas that go on the top right Wing Attachment Pylon closet to the
hull. Fig. A Drilling the holes. Fig. B See the first hole at the center next to the hull, the second one will be
behind it. Fig. C Test fitting the antennas (pins). The back antenna will be taller than the front antenna.

STEP#7 Cut all pins and brass rods down to size and glue them in place. Now we have the new Laser Cannons,
Targeting Sensors, and Antennas. One tip is test fit and test fit again while you work until you’re completely
happy with the design, height, length or whatever, as long as you’re happy with it, then glue it all in place.
Fig. A Right view of new hardware installed. Fig. B Rear view of Antennas.
STEP#8 Drill the holes at the center of the Wing Panels.

STEP#9 Glue the beads onto the inside of the Wing Panels, making sure they’re at the center. I like to use Zap-
A-Gap CA+ Glue from Pacer.

FINISHED CONVERSION: The final conversion assembled, painted, and side-by-side an original TIE Fighter
versus the new Proto-type TIE Fighter painted in the Star Wars The Force Awakens movie theme colors.
Additional pics of the final project… “May the Force Awaken within you.”

Tutorial by Stephen Petrey

July 2015

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