Discussions TIE Defender Redesign

Does anyone know what game/book/movie/series is the first occurrance and so later adoption of the TIE Defender redesign?

The model I know from TIE Fighter, where it had it's origin had TIE Avenger Solar panels and a more tear shaped cockpit, whereas this redesign has TIE Interceptor Solar Panels and a more golf-ballish look to the cockpit, more like it looks like it has been stuck on rather than the previous model, which looked better.

What does canon say about the design/s?

Also, I've come across several discrepancies with how strong the shields and hull are supposed to be for the TIE Defender and TIE Avenger, which were most likely created after these two craft came onto the scene, and the evidence in-game contradicts this.

Example: TIE Avengers are said to have a shield twice as strong as an X-wing, which is wrong. If that were true, the TIE would be able to take an Advanced Missile hit without damaging the hull on impact, and it can't. Fire a second missile and regardless of whether you have 100% or double 200% shields, you will be destroyed. The shield rating is much closer to the A-wing than anything else i think.

 

I remember when this forum had a mod. Good times.

 

This topic would be more suited to the EUC or possibly Lit.

 

What was the retcon that said they were "lesser models" in?

 

The LSatSoM novel says it has awesomely powerful ray shielding - approaching capital ship levels (so it can shrug off laser fire) but has next to no particle shielding (so is vulnerable to torpedoes, flying asteroids, etc.)

The Despoilers of the Empire article:

http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/2014/01/07/the-imperial-warlords-despoilers-of-an-empire-part-3/

simply speaks of "advanced TIE Defender starfighters".

Tracking advanced TIE Defender starfighters to the Imperial warlord’s Shadow Realm on the planet Mindor, the New Republic launched its Rapid Response Task Force led by General Skywalker.