December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013

I'd like to wish everyone a very
Happy New Year!
thanks for following my blog this last year and I hope it's been of help.
Happy building to all!

December 16, 2013

Front Vents 2.3 - Lower Centre Vent

Ive not been able to do much work at home, and it has been REALLY frustrating going out to the garage to get things and just having to glance at R5, say 'sorry buddy' and walk out again!

Today I'd had enough, the stars had aligned........somewhere, and i got 5mins (45mins) in the garage and thought I'd make a start on cutting out the lower centre vent opening. Well, I couldnt just cut out the hole, I had to go all out and make sure it would fit lol.

Used the dremel with drill attachment first, then gradually used it fitted with sanding drum to get final shape.

Next is to create a fixing bracket.

December 12, 2013

New Project....? - A Clear Dome R3-T6

Since borrowing Ian's R3 Clear Dome, at Corsham earlier this year.
I thought how cool it would be to own one so R5 could be converted, slightly into R3-T6.
This droid was seen very briefly in 'A New Hope' on the Death Star.

R3-T6 Astromech Droid

R3-T6 Astromech Droid

The main differences between R5-D4 & R3-T6
are the Large Data Port & Centre Vent surround being red, not blue.
And his panels on his rear. These can be red vinyl stickers.
R3-T6 Astromech Droid
Oh and their Domes, of course.

Here's my R5 at Corsham earlier this year with Ian's Clear Dome.
R5-D4, R3-T6 Droids

So watch this space....... :-)

Rear Dome Rod - fitted

Just a small update, as forgot......oooops.
Rear Dome Rod fitted.
R5-D4 rear dome rod fitted

December 05, 2013

Rear Dome Rod - fitting

R5's rear Dome Rod was one of the first pieces I made, machined up.
Because of it's length and available scrap material also available time
as it was machined up on my lunchtime. I made it in two pieces.

This came in handy as now when trying to fit it into R5's recessed Dome boxes, it's a little snug. So a little bit of machining later and it will fit alot better.

Space inside R5's Dome is limited, a bit more than I had anticipated. My original idea was to bolt the Rod in place, top and bottom. See pic below.
R5-D4, dome.
Threaded the bottom and screwed a stud into it. Left piece, this will slot into the lower hole.
The top piece was going to be located with the M6 hex socket bolt.

But on installing the recessed box, I knew that the lower screw was not going to be available due to the framework inside. This wasn't to much to worry about as the lower piece of the rod has a location pin. Now for the top securing of it......?

The two piece Rod, allowed me to fit a washer and a soft spring inside to allow the top pieces location pin, to locate and hold the Rod in place.
R5-D4, dome.

Motivator Base Plate - UPGRADE


Used the first plate as a guide, I marked onto a new piece of scrap aluminium,
the same mounting hole positions and drilled through.
These are the two holes furthest apart [top & bottom in pictures]

I then marked the new position for the motivator securing bolt to go through [middle hole],
which is off-centre now to the securing bolt holes, and drilled.
This will allow the Motivator's position to fit better in the Pie Hole opening.
R5-D4, r5-d4, r5d4, R5D4, bad motivator
Motivator Base Plate, 1st attempt on left, UPGRADE version on right.
(which still needs a hole for wires to fit through)

December 02, 2013

R5-D4's Head 4.5 - Pie panels grooved

Tried to use Stanley knife to score out the grooves, then my 'grooving tool',
but this was not going well and would of taken forever!! Lol.

So tried my Dremel with metal milling cutter fitted. (this is not the right cutter, but was all I had, that was flat bottomed and roughly the right width). It worked a treat.
Depth was set using the Dremel router attachment.

An hour later, carefully cutting free hand, seven pie sections finished.

R5-D4 Dome pie panels

R5-D4 Dome pie panels

They just need a little work, but am really happy with how them.