R5-2JE astromech: Anniversary

Today, September 5th, back in 2018, I got to work on a little project code named 'TRIXIE'.

Due to change of plans on set, I didn't get to operate R5 that day, but I did get to assist Lee Towersey, and R2, on set, stood opposite the Falcon 😍. Sam P, was eventually the operator of R5 as well as his own droids, a few days later.

Another amazing opportunity (the third one) that I am truly grateful for to of experienced. Being behind the scenes is hard work, but worth it 😊.

#R52JE is named so for three very special reasons 💓💓💓

R5 has appeared in three films (different colour schemes), this being the only time the droids designation suggested was used.

'2J' represents my two eldest children, Jessica & Jacob, and 

'E' for my youngest daughter Evie.

For those interested, R5 has the unique features of his centre leg only having one ankle cylinder, and a restraining bolt! Have a search for images and see if you can find him lol

#droidbuildersuk

#astromechdroid

#theriseofskywalker

#r5

#trixie

#droidfactory

#toy

DBUK 2020 - Charity #CALM - **total so far £7700!**

Just another plug for anyone wanting to donate to this great cause.

So far amount raised is £7700!!

Click on the above image or here for the link

Thank you for your support

Interested in droid building?? Then check out the following links:

Droid Builders UK

UK R2D2 Builders Club [UK devision]

Throw Back Thursday - Restart

With COVID-19 and everyone in lock-down's around the world, events where we would normally catch up with, not only fellow builders, but friends from cosplay groups as well.

So to help, hopefully, relieve the boredom, I'll post up links to past posts made around the appropriate dates.

The First would actually have been March and one of our first of the year:

Bristol Comic Con & Gaming Festival 2019

There's loads more to read etc on my Blog to keep you occupied.

STAY SAFE!

Droid Builders UK 2020

Coming again this year is the R2 Builders Clubs, droid event.
Renamed 'Droid Builders UK' as it is not just for R2's but all droid builders alike, as can be seen in the logo image above.

For more info click the link here.

One way to be a part of this if you can't make the event is to grab yourself a patch & pin badge, link to these can be found under Merch in the above page link.

Check out the website for lots more droids, events and news.

The Rise of Skywalker - Visual Directory

Treated myself to an early Christmas gift, ordered via Prime, it arrived Monday before Christmas.

Another great book, most interested in the droids section, specifically the Astromechs lol.

'Droid Builders UK' a new central builders hub

Droid Builders UK (link)

A new central builders site for Droids has just gone live!

It's for all droid builders from Mouse to the new D-O from the new film

The Rise of Skywalker

With a lot of builders who have now become cross over builders in similar groups, the site aims to link all up together as a central point for news and info. It has links to the Facebook pages for the droid groups and also events being attended.

There is also a Twitter & Instagram account

 

@droidbuildersuk

Force Friday 3 - The Rise of Skywalker - Droid Factory set

So last week was.......

Myself and Paul (and the droids) had planned on attending our local Disney Store, but due to a change of plans, this didn't happen.

Being a droid fan, I was excited to see the new Droid Factory 4 figure set, released (in the USA) in connection with the new film 'The Rise of Skywalker'.

A fellow club member is at Disney and sent these great pictures of the new box set. Thanks to Nik H. D-0 has already been seen, but the other three are 'new' R5-2JE, R6-LE5 & R2-SHP.

And here's the rear of the box.

The rear pictures feature the actual toy figures, rather than in the past, they have shown pictures of the actual droids.

Another group member, let me know that there's a UK Facebook group organising a list to purchase these for UK people, so I should be able to get hold of these in a few weeks.

UK R2D2 Builders Club - Summer 2019

For the second year members from all over the UK & some from over seas,

joined up for the Builders Event of the year.

 UK R2D2 Builders Club Weekend 2019 

This event is for the builders (& families) to attend and spend (for some) the weekend, catching up, introduction to new members, looking at & talking about Astromech etc.

There were presentation talks given by fellow members of the club on programming, 3D drawing & printing as well as some special guests, some of whom you will probably of seen at conventions, and also on there You-Tube channels etc. Lee Towersey & Matt Denton to name drop just two. There was also a live link-up with some of Americas fellow R2 Builders!

It was a great opportunity to meet club members who some have only met on-line or at events attended by the club. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend, due to family holiday, so no photos, though these can be found on the public accessible Facebook club page.


New Droids: Astromech's, BB8's, a few MSE-6's (mouse droids) and just a few 'A-LT Utility Droids'.

Now, for those not in the know, these were first seen (very briefly) & used on the film 'Rogue One'. These are track driven droids unlike the wheeled Astromechs.

They were then re-purposed for use on 'Solo - a Star Wars Story' and can be seen on Dryden Vos's ship the 'First Light'.......

PA-LT4

..........as well as in the Pyke control centre on Kessel (below pictures & links).

P6B-LT2

T1M8-LT2

These 1:1 scale droids have become a little bit famous in the R2 building community and thanks to Mr Baddeley designing up a smaller scaled version, builders were able to 3D print and remote control them.....for a spot of racing lol. For more, check out the UK R2 Builders Club, via Facebook. There's also a video over on Fantha tracks, You Tube page.

Mr Baddeley also has a Facebook page for his 3D work. So check it out if your interested in seeing more of his and others work.

Event Report - Bristol Comic Con & Gaming Festival - March 30th 2019

This event was a first for me & R5.

Whitchurch is in South Bristol, a place I used to know well when younger. Friends & my college where I did my apprentiship were located here, so I know the area well, though it has changed a lot over the years.

This event was being held at 'Action indoor Sports'. The building is a large former aircraft hanger from way back in the day. Later to become a sports facility.

Paul Felsk, has attended events run by the organisers before, and being from Bristol, knew the venue. But we didn’t realise the floor had been converted to Astro turf. He managed to get us a new spot with proper flooring lol, although we were now a bit out of view. Once the R2's started beeping though, the crowds soon found us.

Unfortunately due to health issues, Andrew wasn't able to attend. Mike with his R2-XL, had to be positioned a bit further along from us, but that didn't stop him from getting plenty of attention too.

Whilst unloading the car & parking, look what 'landed',

Marty wasn't around tho lol

The droids were mostly static for the day, with only a bit of moving around, due to public and the limited space.

Here Paul, Nik & Sam are getting to interact with the public.
The display stand had a few things for people to look at and of course, we had trading cards & stickers (two new ones kindly made by Mike).

Mike with his R2-XL was also entertaining the kids, big and small and was collecting loads in the bucket, for Menigitis Now.

Me with droid fans & Paul talking to Mark from podpadstudios.

He was there with his Steampunk inspired Batmobile 'tumbler'

Mark is the person who's droid first got me into building R5.....and like his.....out of wood!

The event was very busy for nearly the whole day, only quieting down about 3pm'ish.

 I didn't get a picture of R2-XL as when I went to, there were kids always around it lol

Another great day with everyone from the group. And big thanks to Sam & Nik for traveling the distance down/up to join us. Got home at a resonable time lol for once, from an event. And stuck on my new stickers supplied by Mike.

 And the Menigitis Now sticker (at bottom of the picture)

Tool box outside is filling up thick'n'fast with stickers now lol

.....no dates confirmed yet for me for R5's next event.....I've  not been able to commit just yet,

due to personal reasons.

Bristol Comic Con & Gaming Festival - March 30th 2019

......'THESE ARE THE DROIDS YOU'LL BE LOOKING FOR'......

....at tomorrow's event.

Looking forward to catching up again with fellow builders, some I've not seen in a while, others this will be the first time meeting.

All with the same goal, to build an astromech droid.

The extra plus is that we get to bring them along to events for the public to enjoy.

The UK Garrison, Joker Squade, Podpad Studio's
and loads of others will be attending.
click the link for full list.

www.mooseeventsuk.com

I've still to post up an event report for Birmingham, but have not had free time to.

Will post up both next week.

Bristol Comic Con & Gaming Festival - March 30th 2019 **UPDATE* No4*

We have another droid signed up for next month's Bristol event.....

Steve with his R2-AC3 unit

So that's SIX droids we'll be attending with!

www.mooseeventsuk.com

Bristol Comic Con & Gaming Festival - March 30th 2019 **UPDATE* No3*

.......another update......this time it’s a change of attending droid. Nik will be bringing his second droid,  R2-H16.......I forgot that some club members actually have more than one droid.

www.mooseeventsuk.com

Bristol Comic Con & Gaming Festival - March 30th 2019 **UPDATE**

**UPDATE** .....we now have an additional droid attending.........

Sam and his Blue R2 Droid

www.mooseevents.co.uk - Bristol 2019

UK R2D2 Builders Christmas Event December 2018 - Event Report

Last years Xmas 2018 event was again hosted by Sam,

making all the arrangements for the venue and

assisted by early birds helping set things up.

The event was live streamed for club members on FaceBook page.

Link to some of the photos taken on the day, viewable on the

club’s Facebook page:

Fellow Bristolian Paul, offered to drive us up in his Transporter. So once loaded up, we set off on up to London way.

Early arrivals had helped set up the test track (link to video posted up by Jedi News UK), that was seen at the 1st UK R2 Builders Weekend last year.

There were quite a few droids in attendance as well as two stall's selling Star Wars related items. One of these was Amanda, with her amazing art work! Awardart (click for link).

On with the photos.....

This is the time trial test track.

Purly for fun...although yes, it did get compettative lol

If you've not clicked on the video link above. There are two sections of the course to complete. Each section has pressure pads which light up Green for a successful centre pad press or red for a fail. You then had to negotiate the course, not hitting the wrong sensor arms. The course returns back to the middle, under the clock timer,

before carrying on to the second part of the course.

The clock stops when you hit the last sensor arm.

Oooooh what has Santa brought us lol. Well, on the far table was some of Michael Baddeley 3D printed work. He also did a presentation on the cad software he uses and demonstrated his work.
If your into 3D stuff then check out his work at this link Mr Baddeley @ patreon.com .

My table full of stuff, R0-D4 dome, R4-D4 dome, R5-D4 dome and body

Ian's droid

As part of the club's insurance, we carry out MOT inspections on the droids so that they are 'safe' for event's. This covers structual, sharp edges, electrical & transmitter fail safe operation. As part of the MOT crew, a few of these were carried out on the day, including WIP's & renewals. The benefits also extend to more 'interesting' oppertunities!

Alden Ehrenreich popped in to say 'Hi' as he's an old friend don't you know.... lol.

......no it's not a cardboard cutout....it's really him!!! :D

aaaaah forgot I'd posted this picture as well :D

Just like old times......

~~~~~

There was a special presentation of a charity cheque presented to fellow club member Mr Yates for the Menengitis Now.

And finally there was the usual group photo.

Half of the attending members were heading out for a booked meal afterwards, but myself & Paul had to head off. Another great day spent with a great bunch of people!

Looking forward to the next event. Details coming soon.......