40771 TIE Fighter with Imperial Hangar Rack is the LEGO Star Wars gift with purchase set that comes free with 75419 Death Star… is it worth buying the set first to get the bonus box?
If you are going to be buying 75419 Death Star immediately – upon its October 1 release – then you can get 40771 TIE Fighter with Imperial Hangar Rack for free.
Don’t feel bad if you won’t be buying it in the first few days that the 9,023 piece, £899.99 / $999.99 set is available though, as there are no exclusive elements in the bonus set, so you will still be able to put it together once the instructions turn up online.
Let’s face it though, many collectors want the boxed set. It’s a fun concept for those who are buying 75419 Death Star – an extra little model to add to the large dollhouse style version of the ultimate battle station.
40771 TIE Fighter with Imperial Hangar Rack includes two Stormtroopers and a TIE Fighter pilot, handy minifigures for adding to the massive set. The little cargo vehicle is simple to build and looks appropriate for something you would see on the Death Star.
Read our exclusive Death Star interview with LEGO Star Wars Design Manager César Soares in Issue 132 of the monthly LEGO magazine! To be ready for the new issue, take out a great value subscription package and get a top quality 116 page magazine every single month. It’s much more than Imperial propaganda!
The TIE Fighter itself is a fabulous little build. The basic shape is built with a classic studs-up approach, with some red interior bricks providing a nice contrast with the grey. Simple SNOT sections attach to the front and back, giving the ship a round, bubbly, cartoony feel. The two wings are built identically, with some neat part usage providing the lines on each of them.
This is literally the smallest you can build a TIE Fighter that can accommodate a minifigure. The pilot fits perfectly inside, with a smidgen of space around them.
Perhaps even more impressive is the simple hanging structure that connects to the Death Star and holds the TIE in place. It looks great, yet is very efficient in terms of parts, demonstrating that the designer of 40771 TIE Fighter with Imperial Hangar Rack has a solid knowledge of the System.
The problem lies in the aesthetic clash between this stylised TIE Fighter and the miniaturised Imperial Shuttle in 75419 Death Star. In an incredibly elegant way, the Emperor’s shuttle is simply at a scale that’s relevant for the Death Star’s hangar.
In the case of the TIE though, the wings are not remotely to scale to the central ball. That’s fine for the set, as it is a neat, chibi version of a TIE Fighter. Combined with 75419 Death Star and sitting alongside the shuttle though, it looks out of place.
Fans who like Microfighters and similarly stylised LEGO Star Wars vehicles will like this set. If you are focused on visual cohesiveness, you probably won’t want this sitting alongside your Imperial Shuttle in 75419 Death Star – but it’s fun that the add-on actually connects to the set it comes with.
If you aren’t buying the ultimate space station during its first days on release, you won’t be missing out on much by not getting this set. It’s a fun stylised TIE, but it doesn’t quite look right when connected to 75419 Death Star.
SCORE: 59
VERDICT: A fun little rendition of a TIE Fighter, but not an essential add-on for 75419 Death Star.
If you’re eager to build your own space station when 75419 Death Star releases on October 1, 2025, then buy it via our affiliate links to help support the work we do at Blocks.
Did you know about this the second the LEGO Group announced it? To get new LEGO set announcements straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter. Of course, if you really want to upgrade your LEGO hobby for the true insider experience, take out a subscription to Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine for fans.
