Product Description
First introduced during a crossover episode of Disney+ series Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett, following the destruction of Mando's "Razor Crest" at the hands of Moff Gideon, Mandalorian Din Djarin is looking for a new ride and finds it with the N-1. Formally a planetary defence starfighter from the planet, Naboo, Star Wars fans will recognise this as the type of ship first seen in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, as flown by the young Anakin Skywalker (later Darth Vader) with astromech R2-D2.
When we first see the N-1 on Tatooine, it's in a sorry state with faded chrome/paint and missing panels, but is soon rebuilt with much of the original faded yellow paint ground off, plus enhancements to seriously boost its top-end speed. Other modifications include the fitting of a pressurised dome over the astromech station for Grogu to travel in. Advance to the start of series 3 of Star Wars: The Mandalorian, when Grogu gets his first flight in the N-1 and encounters Purrgil, or "Space Whales" whilst flying through hyperspace. This also highlights that Grogu is able to exit his "dome" and enter the cockpit whilst in-flight, travelling on Mando's lap.
Also shown in series 3, with Mando in need of an astromech to ensure the atmosphere is safe to breathe on his home planet, Mandalore, the unwilling R5-D4 (or "Red") is recruited to temporarily take up the station behind the cockpit, as R2-D2 did before.
In the continuing use of "easter eggs" that so delight fans of the wider Star Wars universe:
*Space Whales were first seen in Star Wars animated series; Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels.
**R5 "Red" is also believed to be the same R5 droid that was "adjusted" by R2-D2 in the original Star Wars movie to ensure that R2 could be acquired by Luke Skywalker's family and so allow Luke to find Princess Leia's message to Obi-Wan Kenobi (stored inside R2), commencing the saga that continues to this day!
