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Tie Interceptor

Filename: tieintercepter.zip
Website: Avsim.com,
all the Addons
Author: James R. Basset
Type: Space Ships
Size: 845kb

File Description:
Star Wars fighter ship Tie.

Install:
Simply unzip into your Orbiter directory with the 'Use folder names' option. This add-on has the Orbiter folders built in so all the components end up in the right places. See installing add-ons.

Review:
This Star Wars add-on has been around for a long time but I put off downloaded it for close to a year. Somewhat do to a rumor that it only worked with the older versions of Orbiter, not so. Well my curiosity finally caught up with me and I installed this fine ship. Let me begin by saying "WOW".

What I expected was a nice space fighter that I would sometimes toy with. What I got was a highly detailed 3D model of the Tie Interceptor. Detailed to such an extend it doesn't really need any added textures. I'm not sure how it was done but the black grated portion of the wings reflect light as real world texture would, it can't just be a skin. The spectacular lighting effects on this model are fabulous. Even in Orbiter this model looks incredibly realistic, well as if it was plucked right off the movie screen. Therefore I listed this model as highly textured even though I not sure it has a skin to it at all.

As you would expect from a fighter class ship the Tie Interceptor is highly maneuverable. The ship flies extremely well and has no difficulties with docking to the ISS. Yet this ship has enough cruising power for direct flights to other planets. No need for Hohman transfers, besides who could hang out in a small fighter for months on end. After leaving Earth you can reach Mars within a half days time. If you feel this is not fast enough for the Tie you may want to change the config settings. You can read how I did this for the Millenium Falcon.

At first I thought the Tie had unlimited fuel because I didn't notice any being used. Later I observed that it does burn fuel but uses very little of it. Why not it's a light weight fighter after all. Maybe some of you Star Wars fans know what kind of goop this is, a little bit sure packs a punch. Speaking of fuel, there are no visual effects for the thrusters. The developer just couldn't make them look right so he left them out. You know what? I kind of like the Tie better this way.

The most frustrating thing about flying this ship is the strong urge to shoot the guns. The impotence of Orbiter is emotionally hard when sitting in the Tie cockpit. The other thing I have trouble with is landing on a surface base. I keep bouncing like a basketball. Oh well back to flight school.

Tips!

The two scenarios packaged with the Tie add-on are for the older versions of Orbiter. This views the ISS as a station and not as a vessels. In the new version of Orbiter stations most be written as vessels in order to use the docking utilities. Simple download Tie  ISS New and place in your scenario folder to upgrade.

Have anaglyph 3D glasses, see 3D page.

Related Links

Avsim.com, ( all the Addons )

 

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