The Last Jedi: Book and Model (Make your own TIE Silencer) by Katrina Pallant

The Last Jedi: Book and Model (Make Your Own TIE Silencer) book written by Katrina Pallant, paper engineering by Neal Manning

     I LOVE these kinds of books with these paper/foam models!! They are so much fun to build and the books add bits of interesting minutiae for the fan who wants to know everything about the ships and vehicles. Always a joy! I built this one a number of months ago and read the book a month or so ago...finally ready to review it for you guys! I've done previous reviews of Imperial Assault: Book and Model where you can build your own AT-ST, Rogue One: Book and Model where you build your own U-Wing, and Journey to the Last Jedi: Stealth Mission: Book and Model where you build Poe's Black One X-Wing. All have been a blast and you should definitely check them out for yourself!
     What a beautiful build first of all. I think the TIE Silencer is a gorgeous ship and this model definitely does it justice. I have it sitting right next to my large LEGO version of the same ship and they both hold their own. It was a bit tough to put some of the parts together but when you're dealing with foamy paper that's to be expected. The final result though was well worth the effort.

     As for the book, we get information and schematics for Kylo's TIE Silencer, First Order Special Forces TIE Fighters, and the AT-M6 Heavy Assault Walker. We also get information minus schematics for Kylo's Command Shuttle, the Millennium Falcon, the StarFortress Heavy Bombers, A-Wings, Poe's X-Wing, and Ski Speeders. In addition to the ships and vehicles we get short vignettes on the following characters: Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, Rey, Luke, Poe, Finn, BB-8, R2-D2, Rose, and Chewbacca. The First Order pages are framed in red while the Resistance pages are framed in blue.
     Some trivia:
- Phasma's blaster is a Sonn-Blas F-110 blaster rifle coated in chromium
- BB-8's built-in equipment includes an arc welder, a welding torch, a holoprojector, a tool bay, and liquid cable launchers
- Kylo's command shuttle is of the Upsilon-class
- Kylo's TIE Silencer contains experimental stealth gear
- First Order Special Forces TIEs have room for both a pilot and a gunner
- AT-M6's are nicknamed "knucklebusters"
- Poe is commander of three squadrons
- The Millennium Falcon has tractor beam projectors!!
- The manufacturer of the StarFortresses is Slayn & Korpil
- The ski speeders' manufacturer is Roche Machines and they are V-4X-D's

     So a lot of interesting information despite its brevity. But you don't buy this kit for the reference book only! You buy it for the awesome model it contains!! I highly recommend these "Book and Model" kits of all makes because they truly are an enjoyable build akin to LEGO. One suggestion I would make though is to not take all the pieces out before you start! Keep them all snug in their pop-out pages until you're ready to use them and then pop them out. Other than that, following the directions is not that difficult although you do need to pay attention. Once again, check these out!! So much fun!!