The LEGO Star Wars set that took 20 years to return is retiring

Already sold out in the US, the LEGO Star Wars TIE Bomber is about to retire – and it may be decades before another one flies onto shelves. 

When 75347 TIE Bomber launched in January 2023, it ended a gap that had lasted almost exactly 20 years. The previous LEGO TIE Bomber, 4479 TIE Bomber, debuted in 2003, leaving one of the Empire's most intriguing starfighters absent from shelves for two decades.

Unlike the X-wing, Millennium Falcon or TIE Fighter, the TIE Bomber has never been a regular fixture in the LEGO Star Wars line-up. Now, with 75347 TIE Bomber retiring after just three and a half years on shelves, history could repeat itself. 

The LEGO Group has countless Star Wars vehicles and scenes to revisit, so another TIE Bomber may not be high on the priority list. If you're outside of the US and have been thinking about adding one to your collection, now is the time. Need a little more convincing?

A 20-year wait only matters if the set delivers, and 75347 TIE Bomber certainly does. The finished model captures the iconic twin-pod design far more accurately than its 2003 predecessor, while finally ditching the blue elements that, although nostalgic, were never screen-accurate. 

It also packs in plenty of play features, including a bomb-dropping function, stud shooters and a bomb cart. Whether you're swooshing it around the living room or displaying it on a shelf, it excels at both.

The minifigure line-up is another highlight. Darth Vader may be a familiar face, but he's always a welcome inclusion, while Vice Admiral Rae Sloane remains exclusive to this set.

A TIE Bomber Pilot and Gonk Droid round out the selection, and unlike many LEGO Star Wars sets, every character feels like a natural fit alongside the ship.

One of the set's most overlooked strengths is that it's completely sticker-free. Every decorated element is printed, making for a cleaner building experience and ensuring the model will look just as good years from now without worrying about peeling decals.

If the last gap between LEGO TIE Bombers is anything to go by, missing 75347 TIE Bomber could mean waiting another couple of decades before the next one comes around. For one of the Empire's most underrated starfighters, that's not a gamble you'll want to make. 

Want to know what else is leaving shelves? Head here for a complete list of LEGO sets retiring in July, or visit our regularly updated retiring sets page for every set currently due to retire. 

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