R4-P17

[Pidman]

*POSSIBLE SPOILER BELOW* (not that much of a one)

Ok with Astromech droids you've generally got 2 types of head haven't you. The dome-shaped head like R2-D2 and the conical head with the 3 little cups on. Now the R2 model has this dome-shaped head however the R4 and R5 models are the ones with the conical heads.

Many people have been saying how one of Star Wars's sources are wrong because you know that red Astro-droid on the Jedi starfighter? It has a dome shaped head (like R2). Well that droid's name is R4-P17. Shock shock horror horror! But it's an R4! It's not meant to have a dome 'ed.

Now the actual MOVIE confirms that this dome-headed droid is called R4-P17 but the OFFICIAL Star Wars Fact Files say R4s have the conical head model. Which one is wrong?

The answer to this mystery is below. Note this DOES contain a SPOILER strickly speaking so you can either read it or wait a month and see the movie for yourself.






Highlight to read:

R4-P17 started off as a traditional R4 unit, complete with the characteristic conical head, when she was nearly destroyed in a trash compactor mishap on Gyndine. While inspecting the Jedi customizations of the Delta-7 designs, Anakin Skywalker happened upon the wrecked little droid and rebuilt it. The new R4-P17 sported an R2-series dome and would eventually become the prototype for other integrated droid navigators aboard the Jedi Aethersprite fighters.

[Dave]

Have you read the whole script now Pidman?

I've seen a few pictures and storylines, but I want to try and wait for the film.

[Pidman]

I've read none of the script, apart from watched all 4 trailers about 3,000 times over hehehe.

[Cpt Larraq]

Who cares about a droid whose head is shaped like an R2. That would be like pointing out that the sound effects for the blasters in Episode 1 are different from Episode 4,5 and 6. This is nitpicking in the extreme.

[Dave]

If it is really resolved in the script, then George Lucas obviously thinks it is important enough.

[Analise]

Originally posted by Cpt Larraq
Who cares about a droid whose head is shaped like an R2. That would be like pointing out that the sound effects for the blasters in Episode 1 are different from Episode 4,5 and 6. This is nitpicking in the extreme.

*snerk* the blaster sounds in Ep. 1 _should_ be different from the ones in 4, 5, 6.

The blasters themselves aren't the same, so why should they make the same noise?

And besides....nitpicking to the extreme is what a lot of my star warsy friends do...then again, they costume, so they _have_ to nitpick to make _really_ authentic costumes...

and trust me, my 'rents saw these costumes and didn't believe me when I said the people _made_ them themselves....especially didn't believe me about the stormtroopers.

[Pidman]

Well there is apparently a lot more to this special droid. He come to be a heroic character like R2-D2.

[Dave]

Is this the red and silver R4 unit that Obi Wan has on his ship when he investigates Kaminoan cloners?

Only there is nothing in the film about Anakin repairing it:

R4-P17 started off as a traditional R4 unit, complete with the characteristic conical head, when she was nearly destroyed in a trash compactor mishap on Gyndine. While inspecting the Jedi customizations of the Delta-7 designs, Anakin Skywalker happened upon the wrecked little droid and rebuilt it. The new R4-P17 sported an R2-series dome and would eventually become the prototype for other integrated droid navigators aboard the Jedi Aethersprite fighters.

Where is this information from? Is it cut from the film, or from a EU novel?

[Yoda]

A faithful astromech built into Obi-Wan Kenobi's assigned Jedi starfighter, R4-P17 assisted the Jedi Knight during his mission to track down Senator Padmé Amidala's attacker. The truncated, dome-headed droid served as onboard astrogator, technician and communications specialist for Kenobi.

Star Wars Data Bank