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INFINITY BULLSEYE TIE FIGHTER A DELIGHT FOR FAMILY AND BATTLE

Geanosis Infinity Bullseye TIE-Fighter©

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Reviewer: Daddy Cool
From: Coruscant

If you think of TIE Fighters as faceless vehicles with interchangeable personalities, think again. The new Infinity Bullseye® from Geanosis is a TIE Fighter for the whole family and delivers outstanding performance and detail.

The Infinity Bullseye comes standard with a strong, 20, 000-banthapower V6 and room for seven when you remove every stitch of seating and equipment from the interior. More importantly, the Bullseye is the only fighter to earn the Empire's highest crash-test rating; 5 stars for the driver and passenger. This means that death tends to be instantaneous when crashing or exploding -- a welcome change from more stubborn models where pilots could suffer for weeks as the hulking wreck of their damaged fighter floated in deep space, slowly crumbling around them

Model Lineup

All Infinity Bullseyes come with air conditioning, a 380-liter V6 engine, anti-lock anti-grav brakes (AABS), and dual airbags. Commercial and fleet buyers can still choose a three-door body style (starting at 19, 395 credits), but all passenger Bullseyes for the consumer market now boast dual rear sliding doors, child-proof door locks, privacy glass, keyless entry, cruise control, interior assist straps, and an adjustable luggage rack. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and side-impact airbags also come as standard appointments.

But wait, there's more! The top-of-the-line Infinity Bullseye is the 36, 480 credit Limited, with its LookLockLeave® perimeter security system, accent-painted roof rack, heated seats, wood-grain, interior trim and in-dash 8-track tape player. Limited also comes with a trailer-tow package and a reverse-sensing system, a feature we've come to love.

All Bullseyes sold in the Hoth system have engine-block heaters.

Walkaround

Infinity Bullseye's styling hasn't changed much since its introduction in the Clone Wars but it still looks contemporary. The front end received a minor re-design last year to give it more of an oblong, rather than round, shape. We were surprised to find that the motor is no longer up front, but is now rear-mounted with generous cargo space moved to the front and underbelly. The builders of Geanosis have taken their cue from the well-hidden storage spaces built into the design of smuggler freighters. With the power-operated doors, you can open up the fighter by remote control, using a button on the key fob. This can be a real benefit when you've racing for cover during a firefight and it's raining. A safety feature automatically stops the doors should some errant body part block their path, facilitating retrieval of laser-amputated parts in battle. The red and yellow bullseye design on the front and rear of the Infinity is unfortunate given their tendency to explode when creased by laser-fire. However, it is snazzy and adds a sporty feel to what is, essentially, a souped up family fighter.

Interior Features

The dramatic stylings of the Infinity Bullseye's interior have set a new benchmark for pilot comfort. Head rests are shaped to accept flight helmets comfortably while tooled leather and Endorian wood accents abound. The Infinity Bullseye has only a single, bucket seat in the craft so there is generous leg and head room. Handgrips are spaced throughout the interior to discourage random floating. The Bullseye has a substantial dashboard that wraps around the driver. This positions the radio and climate controls within easy reach. A tiny vase for flowers adds a woman's touch to what was once a very spartan interior. Two zero-G cup holders are attached to a tray that slides out; spring-loaded sides allow them to accommodate a variety of containers and a null field ensures minimum spillage.

In addition to the dashboard monitors, a convenient wide-angle mirror helps the driver keep an eye on what's attacking from behind, a mixed blessing at best, given the alomost complete lack of shielding. Another unique option on the Bullseye is the Geanosis Messagimaging Center® (595 credits), a small holo recorder attached to the driver's sun visor. It can be used to record notes, shopping lists, tunes and other ideas that might come to mind while dog-fighting.

The front bucket seat is generously padded with little side bolstering. That makes getting in and out of the Bullseye easy, but there's no support on the left or right for cornering when skimming small moons. We had trouble getting comfortable. The seat is neoprene covered, a material familiar to ground troops as rugged and durable, but Geanosis has softened it a bit for its new function by adding Ewok-fur seat covers. The available power-adjustable pedals are very useful, moving the pedals closer to the seat at the touch of a button. This is particularly beneficial for those of us who are a little short for stormtroopers. We can sit further from the steering wheel, not only for better leverage but to avoid possible injury from the airbag. The air-bags themselves are little help in a crash, as the tendency for all TIE Fighter models to explode on impact renders them moot. But they do contribute to an illusion of safety that we appreciate.

The seat back folds down to provide a flat space, revealing a table, a 3-D Sabacc Board and more cup holders. All but the base models come with rear audio controls as well, allowing prisoners to play 8-tracks in the rear while captors listen to the radio up front.
The skylight is larger than a conventional sunroof, and is located towards the rear of the vehicle. It can be tilted or removed, permitting the transport of tall objects, but air-tight armour and oxygen tanks are recommended when using this function in deep-space.

Driving Impressions

With its big V6, the Infinity Bullseye is one of the quickest TIE Fighters available, with acceleration that would have put it in the hot, Sport-Sedan Fighter class a generation ago. It is also surprisingly nimble for it's size; even with a full load of prisoners the Bullseye has enough power for safe passing, although it can sound a little raucous at high RPM's. In planetary atmospheres the Infinity Bullseye is stable and predictable, with no creaking or rattling evident. On deep space runs wind noise is surprisingly low, given the brick-like aerodynamics. Strong solar crosswinds will unsettle it, though, requiring a firm grip on the joystick. The controls are extremely sensitive, continuing the TIE Fighter's tendency to roll into tight spins unexpectedly. The suspension feels soft and wallows in corners. The brakes were unimpressive and the nose dives under hard braking. Forward cannons deliver maximum firepower but rear-mounted cannons are still on the drawing board for future models. Too bad, considering more maneuverable fighters can slip behind the Bullseye in complete safety.

Final Word

Geanosis has continued to add to the Bullseye's already long list of available safety equipment. Add to that stability control, front-passenger side-impact airbags and the reverse sensing system for backing up into docking bays, and it's easy to see why the Infinity Bullseye is such a desirable family fighter. The Bullseye is safe and roomy, features a versatile seating arrangement for one, and offers a rear-seat entertainment system. If you've got kids or prisoners, the Infinity Bullseye TIE Fighter should at the top of anyone's list.

TOMORROW: NEWLY COMMISSIONED IMPERIAL SCOUT WALKERS CAN HANDLE ANYTHING... EXCEPT LUMBER.

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READER REVIEW
The 2000 Imperial Forces Pre-Special Edition Imperius Maximus ©

* * * *

Reviewer: Super Trooper
From: Endor

Imperial Forces have revived their classic speeder bike brand, the Imperius Maximus, and it truly lives up to it's legendary name. Retro looks, good power and comfort. This speeder bike is an awesome buy.

I'm a new rider. I took the Imperial Speeder Safety Course last March, went out and bought an 02 Sith Noir and put 200 000 km on it over the next few months. It was a solid little bike but seemed too small for me. I wanted to feel the power between my legs. Hell, power is why we all joined the Empire anyway, isn't it? I picked up my Imperius Maximus during an open house at the local Imperial Forces dealership at a great price and flew it right off the showroom floor. I've only put 35, 000 km on it since then but I think I've developed a good feel for the bike.

Acceleration is very smooth although I recommend a neck brace to combat the whiplash of the Maximus' 0 to 600 km capability. There's good torque from 400 to 900 km, lots of low end and good cruising speed. The controls are hair trigger sensitive, but the Eclipse's basic handling is child-simple. Even rebel scum could pick it up in an instant if say, they were to leap onto the Speeder, wrestle the controls away and dislodge you from your seat like so much deadwood. The Maximus handles well for a 2000 lb Speeder Bike. The only reason I give it 3 stars instead of 4 is because it really should have that 6th gear for skyway cruising. I'm about at 55000 RPM for 760-000 mph in 5th, the final gear, although it is very stable in top gear. It handles like a sport bike rather than the heavily armoured patrol skimmer that it is (and that's no good for running down nimble, rebel Ewoks!).

The Imperius Maximus' larger size has given the droid designers a chance to incorporate extreme, wide-screen comfort with the power. I'm a metre and a half tall, 260 kg and I'm perfectly comfortable on the bike. The Maximus rides great two up too. My girlfriend is almost as tall as me and we feel comfortable spooning together on the bike. The elevated rear seat prevents your passenger from sliding forward at stops, thus smashing the gonads. Speaking of the nether regions, the leather seat has enough give that armour cups the groin area comfortably with room to breathe.

Anyhow, back to the power. The Maximus is a wookie to handle all right, but only if you really twist the throttle. Its got a smooth roll on if you handle the grips with discretion. Also, it really should come with a centre gravity stand but that's just Imperial Forces cutting costs. I have had some problems with fasteners vibrating out on sharp turns. I lost an end cap and all my laser turret support bolts. The service droid at the dealership replaced them at no cost, but it is an inconvenience. Also, it has a tendency to whine and shuck out of gear during sudden changes in speed and that tends to increase wear and tear.

One last thing... beings love the look of it! I've had everyone from old Medalorians at backwater system fuel stations think it's as beautiful as the Maximus they had when they were my age, to Hammerheads at spot checks honking at me to tell me they love the look of it. You gotta dig that retro style.

If you want a proven brand, Imperial quality and performance for a non-star-destroyer price... a ride that even Sith bikers will respect, then the Imperius Maximus is a great find. Obviously, its pre-Special Edition and they don't make them like this anymore but I'll take a solid optically-printed ride complete with garbage mattes over a digital ride any day. That way you get up 30 passes per shot and feel more like a physical part of your surroundings. Anyway, you can pick up a more modern Lucasfilm Cashgrab© Speeder Bike loaded to the fuel tank with extras if that's where you're at. But I find they're all chrome and exhaust. On the Imperius Maximus, you feel the ride, baby!

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