Preview: Last photos before release - AMT's 48th scale TIE Bomber.

AMT's new tooled 48th-scale TIE Bomber is almost with us. We see new images of the built-up test shot & a little about the ship in our preview...

Preview: Last photos before release – AMT's 48th scale TIE Bomber.

TIE Bomber

From AMT

Kit No: AMT1469M

1/48th scale

Plastic injection-moulded kit

Price: $52.49 USD from the Squadron website

ETA: Summer (US)

AMT website

The Subject: TIE/sa tactical bomber

The TIE/sa tactical bomber, also known as the TIE Surface Assault Bomber, TIE/sa bomber or simply the TIE bomber, is the heavy-hitter of the Imperial Navy's starfighter corps. While standard TIE fighters are built for high-speed dogfights and agility, the bomber is a dedicated delivery system for mass destruction. Its distinctive silhouette—featuring a dual-hull design and bent solar-collector wings—sets it apart from its sleeker cousins. This "double-pod" configuration allows the craft to separate its vital functions: the starboard pod houses the pilot and flight controls, while the portside pod is entirely dedicated to a massive internal ordnance bay.

A great cut-away drawing of the TIE bomber showing its features...

In combat, the TIE bomber is a "sitting duck" that relies on its heavy armament and sheer numbers rather than speed. It can carry a staggering 15 metric tonnes of variable munitions, ranging from proton torpedoes and concussion missiles to orbital mines and thermal detonators. Because it lacks a hyperdrive and energy shields, it rarely operates alone; instead, it is typically deployed from Star Destroyers under heavy fighter escort to conduct precise ground strikes or weaken the shields of massive capital ships.

TIE bombers scoured the surface of Mandalore.

One of the ship's most unique internal features is its life-support system, a luxury not found in most other TIE models. This allows pilots to survive longer-duration missions without the crushing confinement of a full pressure suit, though they often wear them anyway for emergency safety. Whether it is seen flushing out rebels from an asteroid field or levelling buildings on a planet's surface, the TIE bomber's eerie engine howl serves as a direct message of Imperial dominance and the promise of impending bombardment.

The first appearance of the TIE bomber was in The Empire Strikes Back. Below is a rendered image of the bombers in an asteriod filed a little like the film.

The kit: AMT's 48th scale Tie Bomber

Check out the upcoming 1:48 scale AMT TIE Bomber model kit's moulds – they are completely new. This isn’t a reissue or an update of an older mould. It’s a completely fresh kit, engineered from scratch to deliver the first plastic TIE Bomber kit ever produced.

These constructed & painted photos of the kit are from the Toy Fair in New York, February 2026

We have already seen the box art, but today we see the final test shot photos before this kit is sold very soon (it is on pre-order at several model shops now).

 This model features:

- Highly accurate dual-hull design, capturing the bomber pod and solar array wings in fine detail.

- Intricate surface textures inspired by the filming miniature from The Empire Strikes Back

- Refined cockpit framing and interior elements, perfect for builders who love detail

- Clean part fit and smart engineering for a smooth, frustration-free build

- Display-ready proportions, ideal for shelf presence or diorama action scenes

This new TIE Bomber kit is sure to be popular. We hope to get one to show you just after launch...

These kits are now available for $52.49 USD from the Squadron website with an ETA of summer (in the US). Check out the AMT website for more information.