I usually stick to lists that I'm comfortable running and that are a bit more forgiving of my obligatory mistakes but after much deliberating I've purchased myself a Phantom and decided I want to use it at my FLGS's upcoming Spring Tournament in July(!)

So far I've come up with:

Soontir Fel:

Push The Limit

Autothrusters

Royal Guard TIE

Targeting Computer

Echo:

Veteran instincts

Fire Control System

Advanced Cloaking Device

Rebel Captive

Academy TIE x 2

Got the 2 Academy pilots in as blockers to hopefully get in and mess up my opponents movement while Soontir and Echo generally whizz about and make a nuisance of themselves.

The questions I have for you lovely people are whether I should stick with Rebel Captive on Echo or swap it out for Recon Specialist and if I should swap the 2 Academy Pilots for one of the named TIE Pilots like Dark Curse?

Any thoughts folks?

its a solid build but like you said in the OP it doesnt forgive mistakes. Practice with echo and the reb captive (my preference). his pilot ability can cause headaches...for you and your opponent...if yuor not familiar with it

My preference on Echo is recon specialist. Rebel Captive is more helpful on something with lots of health, so that enemies take potentially more stress over time. With only 4 health on Echo, it doesn't really protect him, because even though you are giving stress to 1 enemy, you are also taking damage (and if its from higher pilot skill, you've only got 2 green dice to stop it). It works better against lower Pilot Skill, but echo's movement (plus BR if you need it) makes lower PS have a harder time getting you in arc anyway. YMMV though.

Rec specialist might be better for echo, having that focus on both ends hoes a long way. The only named tie id consider if you wanted to drop the two would be mauler with VI, that way he can shoot other rebel captives before echo or Soontir. If you're comfortable with a shuttle Yorr might be worth a try as well.

Thanks for the replies folks. Rec Spec seems to be the prevailing opinion so I'll be swapping them around.

Never flown the space cow before but I might try and give it a shot If I can line up a few friendly games before the tournament.

Instead of those two academies you can run an OGP w/ Vader. Its a pretty nasty build as they kind of have to deal with the Doom Shuttle. If they don't, Vader can wreck stuff. Meanwhile Echo and Fel can do some work.

The Shuttle takes time to get the hang of it, but once you do you can fly anything. I like to stick my shuttle in the corner angled toward the center. That gives you a pretty good approach to the battle most of the time. The key with the Doom Shuttle is not having to turn the **** thing around. You want it to die.