Droid Builders UK - MCM Comic-Con Birmingham NEC

 

Check out the Event Report now posted up on the Droid Builders UK website.

Click on the link above or follow the link below:

www.droidbuilders.uk/2022/11/16/mcm-birmingham

#droidbuildersuk @droidbuildersuk

Upcoming Event: Birmingham NEC

 

This upcoming event will be held over 3 days, Friday/Saturday/Sunday. The Droids will be in attendance over the weekend, with the majority being on display on the Saturday.

Not just R2-D2’s, but alternative versions of R2 astromech’s, as well as other droids from the Star Wars universe.

Meet the builders and chat. Ask them questions about the droids, the build process, 3D printed & printing, and you too can join this community of like minded people, in building your own astromech droid.

Event details can be found via this link:

https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/birmingham/en-us/home.html

Myself and R5 aren’t able to attend 😢😢😢

Event: Birmingham MCM Comic Con November 2019

The club attended again both days at Birmingham's NEC, with the usual great turnout of droids. I wasn’t able to attend this time unfortunately, due to family priorities.

Check out the social media’s for some of these hashtags: #ukr2d2buildersclub #r2builders #mcm2019
As well as the clubs Facebook page for pictures of the droids from the event.

There's also be a video on Comic Con News' You Tube channel, featuring the club....here.

R2 Builders Talk @ MCM Birmingham 2018

Click on the photo for link or here, to watch the video taken

by Wayne at last years MCM Birmingham Comic Con.

Oliver & Craig talk about the Club and the different droids you can build,

from aluminium to 3D printed.

Birmingham MCM Comic Con - Saturday 23rd March 2019 - Event Report

(2.4.19)
Early to rise for this one, 6am. Arrived and after the usual gaining an 'unloading ticket pass', unloaded & found the display stand that we would be joining with the other groups.

After the pre-event meeting, where all the groups under the 501st banner, went through the list of things to happen etc throughout the weekend, we returned to the stand to finish setting everything up ready for the event to open.

Lots of work in progress, from 3D printed to wood build and more.

Rebels pilots with her the Princess herself

Public view of the droids

Pre parade photo's. The parade (on the Saturday) started by the groups getting into order and then proceding outside to then re-enter further up the convention centre. We decided that it would be easier for us to drive up on the inside and join the parade as they re-entered the Hall.

These photo's were taken as we waited to join the parade.

 Getting ready to join the parade when they re-entre the Hall.

Us & Amanda, after the parade, about to join the lineup for the group photos.

And here we are in the photo lineup with everyone.

I don't have a picture of us IN the lineup though lol

The rest of the afternoon, was much like the rest of the day, public photos, chatting about the droids and about the group & about our chosen charity, that all the groups associated with the 501st, had kindly supported with collecting for over the weekend.

This charity was for Menigitis Now.

 click above image to link to the charity website and to Joanna's story

Fanthatracks interviewed Ian about the charity and about Joanna.

click here to watch the interview over on their You Tube channel.

photo credit to George

Thanks to Disney Lucasfilms, these prints, created by Paul Wiz Johnson, where produced for the club members who's droids appeared in the film 'Rogue One'.

These are available to Club members

& are now signed by the operators of the droids from the film.

Also recieving the interview treatment was Lee,
with this mini DeAgostini  droid, that is being raffeled for the charity.

Click the link below to the Justgiving if you would like to enter,
as all entrey's go towards Meningitis Now, thank you.

Justgiving.com/R2-D2

And here's the interview made by Fanthatracks, via You Tube channel.
Click this link to view: Win R2-D2 built by droid builder Lee Towersey

As the day started to draw to a close, I wanted to get a good picture of R5 with his R4 dome on. So swapped them over and here he is.

Another great, fun day spent with everyone. Interacting with the public is great and makes the traveling worth it. I was only able to attend the one day, for the others there was a meal & a groups party on the evening & then day two to look forward too.

But when the event closed its doors, it was time for me to pack up and load the car up.
This now leads me onto my Dome Bag idea, so check that out here.

My next event was a local one, South Bristol's Comic Con,
check out my event report & photos here.

My next event will be over in Cardiff @ Techniquest,
on Saturday May the 4th!
for event details click here.

Birmingham MCM Comic Con - Saturday 23rd March 2019

My first event of the year & it's a big one lol.

This months event is being hosted in hall's 10, 11 & 12,

with us (UK R2D2 Builders Club) joining the UK Garrison in hall 12.

Event map.

Link to more info at Brimingham's NEC

We have 14 club members in attendance over the weekend,

to be able to answer your droid quiestions.

(though myself & R5 are only able to attend Saturday)

There should be about 10 dorids,

though this may vary on if some bring more than one lol

Group picture of last Novembers MCM event.
UK R2D2 Builders Club

Birmingham MCM Comic Con - March 2019

MCM BIRMINGHAM COMIC CON - MARCH 23rd-24th 2019

The Club will be attending this event over the whole weekend,

with droids attending either both or one or the other day,

Saturday or Sunday, in my and R5's case,

we'll be there on the Saturday only

Last Novembers group photo

Follow the club by clicking on these links

 Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

'Droid Builders Talk' from MCM Birmingham 2018

25th November 2018

Here are two video's featuring the Club filmed at Birmingham's NEC.

The first is of the presentation given on budget droid building, hosted by Oliver & Craig.

An interesting talk about build materials, 3D printing, which Craig's droid is made from.

The second is of the builders stand.

Credit and thanks go to Wayne Alan.

New Club Mug - UK R2D2 Builders event 2018

Whilst at MCM Birmingham I picked up a club mug.

These were available firstly to attending club members

at this years first weekend meet-up event

& then available to anyone after if there were surplus.

Thankfully there were a few left.

MCM Birmingham - November 24th (Saturday) 2018

Saturday morning I was awake before my alarm went off at 5:30am lol.

Car was already loaded and once Paul arrived in his van with his wife & R2, we headed up in convoy to the NEC Birmingham (UK). No snow this time. On arriving and navigating the unloading/pass/procedure, we joined others who had also arrived prior to us, to set up the droids on our display area.

This was one of our biggest attended events with 15 droids, plus 2 work in progress ones and two extra domes on display (one being R4).

This time round the event was held in different halls, we were in hall 19 of three (17 & 18).

We had so many droids, some had to roll over to a clear area and have their pictures taken.

Here's a link to my You Tube account
with a short video montarge.

And some of the day's pictures.

No parade was able to take place on the Saturday, but a full line up with the UK Garrison & friends was arranged for photograph purposes.

This picture was taken by fellow club member George.

The event was busy, tho not so crowded that you couldn't move.....

Here's a droids-eye-view of a mini procession we did around a section of stands and back to ours. This drew quiet a crowed, surprising to hear people say that they hadn't seen us (the stand) as they were taking photos.

The first time at an MCM event that R5 actually found

and had time not once but three times

to have his picture taken with the MCM Logo sign lol.

Later R5 with Chis' s R2-D2 (work in progress)

& some Ewoks from the UK Garrison 501st.

Come the end of the first day, we grouped all the droids together for a group photo of them.

Most of the day was spent chatting to the public about the droids, building them and the club. Before I knew it it was 5 o'clock. The group photos were set up to be taken and then it was almost 6pm. Time to pack away, for those who were heading home, lke myself, loading up and back on the road back home.

Another great time with the group members, some I've not seen in a few years now. Others this was their first time at an event. The other builders had a second day to look forward too.... and they had another great time. Checkout the UK R2D2 Builders Club on Facebook.

• My next event is this coming Sunday, this one is a first for me and Paul (with his R2D2), more next week on how this one went.
• Next club event is December the 15th, this is our Christmas builders meet up.

MCM Birmingham - November 24th (weekend) 2018

MCM Comic Con @ Birmingham

It's one of the clubs biggest attended events,

with 15 club members & droids signed up for the weekend.

Really looking forward to this!

There wil be plenty of different Astromech droids to see,

plus one or two non astromechs,

chat to the builders and ask us questions,

as well as optertunities to have photos.

Myself & R5 will only be attending Saturday.

Upcoming Events - Autumn 2018

Not being able to attend many event's over the summer months, it's good to know that I've got a few booked in over the next few months.

There are a few that are on over two/three days, but due to family commitments, I'll only be able to attend these for one day, Saturday.

October is:

Feel The Force Day

To be confirmed, but hopefully R5 will be there on Saturday 6th, Peterbourgh. Other members to be confirmed, but this is such a great event that there's usually a few astromechs in attendance. It's not just Star Wars, its ALL across the Cosplay spectrum, with lots of great things going on. So check out the website for more info.

click logo for link

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bristol Optimus Comic Con

Which is on for two days. Myself & Paul will be attending again with R5 & R2-D2 on the Saturday 20th only.

click logo for link

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then the following weekend is:

MCM London Comic Con,

R5 will be there on the Saturday 27th only.

click logo for link

Joining other members of The UK R2D2 Builders Club!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November:

MCM Birmingham Comic Con,

R5 will be there on the Saturday 24th only

click logo for link

Joining other members of The UK R2D2 Builders Club!

Then in December, a few weeks before Christmas, this year

there's the annual UK R2D2 Builders Club meetup.
Hopefully lots of photos to post up.

And then I've a very special event,

that I will post up about, after attending.

Fantha Tracks @ MCM Birmingham Comic con - March 18th 2018

Sunday afternoon, after the parade,

we bumped into Matt & Martin from Fantha Tracks.

Always good catching up with the guys as they are very informative

and up on what's in the news of Star Wars.

Here's a link to Sunday's You Tube video they posted up yesterday.

Check out their website for all their other social media links.

MCM Birmingham Comic Con - Event Report 2018

Sunday March 18th 2018
Day 2 of event

Up 5am, out the door 6am. R5 was already loaded up Saturday night.

Now.....I don't have a problem with driving in snow.....

.....but cars on ungritted roads do lol

~~~

It was a longer than usual drive up from Bristol to Birmingham, due to the weather conditions on the roads. And after driving to three different car park points I eventually got my unloading pass and where I had to go to unload R5 lol.

Today's group of droids.

One R2 is missing.......Darren!?!?! lol

The R2 members were now on day 2 at the stand, which were were sharing with the Rebel Legion, 501st & Jedi News stand. Our corner wasn't very big, but this was due to the layout. We had one 'work in progress' R2 that belonged to Chris, who was on the 'Steampunk' stand with his R2 Steampunk droid.

The day was good, chatting to the public and catching up with friends who were attending either in or out of costumes. There was a large gathering of public and it actually seemed to get more busy as the day went on. Perhaps due to people braving the weather as the snow was abating perhaps.

Emma took these great pics of the stand area & I'll be able to post up more once George uploads his photos.

 Emma with her droids

 Our small display area, with R5's vintage controller,

trading cards and leaflets

Lee's R2 & Colin's work in progress droid

The afternoon came around quick, and it was time 2pm, for the parade, which is led by the 501st, joined by The Rebel Legion & a few other costume groups. So we headed from Hall 4 of the NEC, around and down the ramp to the Hall 1. Unfortunately Ian's droid was unable to attend, so it was just three of us.

There was a group photo, before they 501st and others, lined up in order for the parade.

We would be bringing up the rear.

Emma took this picture of us.

The parade went across into Hall 2, which had a camera exhibition going on, lol, so PLENTY of photo's were being taken on our tour lol. We drove the droids as seen in the above picture, at some points having to drive single file. Myself and Lee have had experience with driving our droids together and as it's part of the Clubs 'driving' process, we knew how and when to slow down etc without bumping into each other. Darren led the way.

A friend of Darren's was there and caught a nice picture of the three of us, looking serious lol, the concentration on our faces lol.

There are a few pictures & videos on Instagram that's I found. More hopefully to come with some searching lol.

The parade winded it's way through Hall 2....eventually, leaving the crowds and camera flashes, and headed back up the ramp. Around the upper concourse, back to Hall 4. There were more people taking photos, and calling out R2's name as we finally made it back to Hall 4. Once back inside, we broke ranks and headed back to our stand, as the costumer's went for a rest and de-lid, break.

Whilst we were away, Ian was holding the stand and getting lots of photos taken with the public.

This is Ian's R2

The day ended at 5pm but before we started packing up the droids and display stands we had one last group photo.

I only have the picture of the droids....

.................I'll post up photo with the droids and us when I get them.

Outside was starting to go cold again, but at least the roads were clear. After a pit-stop on the way home for food.....I'd forgotten to eat during the day lol, I was home & unloaded by 8pm.

Another great day entertaining the public and bringing a little bit of Star Wars to life.

Checkout

www.astromech.info

for how to join up

if your interested in building your own droid.