21st October 2013

And now the centre ankle had the ankle cylinders cut and the parts glued in position. Notice the signature from Mr R2-D2 himself.

21st October 2013

And now the colour can be revealed. After trying Ford Purple Velvet metallic which turned out a tadge darker than we liked, it was back to the original colour I picked up in a diy store. Craig & Rose purple pearl. The only snag was it wa...See more

21st October 2013

While the centre foot is off. I thought it would be advantageous to give it a spray in Ford Diamond White. The hole is for the allen key ankle bolt, but I do plan on having something to cover it up. More later in the build - just to keep you watching.

21st October 2013

A productive weekend in the DMW. The hole for the radar eye is cut out and filed to size. Bosh!

15th October 2013

You thought I'd given up. Well tough luck! A little more progress in the way of the radar eye being bolted on. May even paint it to add a splash of colour.

Right enough dilly dallying. Lets get this blog up to date.

28th September 2013

Wonder how much I can do before Halloween. R2-ST has the sounds.

How long!!!!!!

Jeepers!
Is it really July that I last updated this.

It doesn't seem like a lot has been done, until I look at the differences. Just where to start from.....

The dome.

In order for me to cut the rest of the panels for the outer dome took another bit of convincing. After checking and more checking it was time to grind a slot. The jigsaw then came in for a bit of use to cut them out.

Eventually, over a period of time they were all cut out and the relevant ones filed round ready for the PSI's and holo projectors.



This led to the problem of the inner dome and several questions. How to fix it in, how to get the right height etc...

The inner was cut in half horizontally. this gave me the lip for the top panels and was duly stuck in with some VHB tape.

The bottom section was a different kettle of fish.
A vertical cut was made as it was the same size as the outer. This theoretically would give me a smaller dome to fit inside. It worked.....sort of!
A temporary fit seemed to work. Then when I put the VHB tape on, it went a bit pear-shaped.  It wouldn't conform to the shape, the 42mm I needed from the outer dome didn't happen.
What did you do? I hear you ask.

Well, after a lot of evenings trying to aluminium braze it, glue it etc I came to the conclusion to use small dome head bolts to secure it in. This led to the spacing problem, which is now sorted and the few bolts I have in do look good. Eventually I decided that I would just leave it bolted etc and try and fill the outer level by brazing (not done yet)

The dome support ring was then made a bit smaller to fit in the inner dome and then it was time to take R2-ST round the bloke for a walk.
People take their dogs so why not a droid!

Just as went back up the drive, a wheel came off.  A little lift/carry back and the wheels came off a few evening later to look at the problem. The grub screws didn't appear to be in the motor axle that much. A little drilling later on both feet motors and it seemed to be better. I may see about extending the axle to the outer foot side and supporting it thus spreading the load - but lets get R2 finished first.

Due to a wedding in the family - off which R2-ST was declined entry due to not being finished not a lot was done.

Until the week before Invasion Colchester. This saw R2 put together, with some sounds and batteries charged. It was a super way to spend my birthday with Simon Battell and his R2-D2. Having a moving droid is so much better and mine got a few photos despite being unfinished.

With the birthday money, a few bits were bought of which one was an amplifier, which the very same evening it arrived was wired in and had a little dance outside on the drive.
Skye is now tasked with finding a few Halloween sounds so R2 can accompany her next month.