A Dedicated Blog: Droid Builders South West

I created this last year, but didn't get time to finish setting it up.

This is specifically for our group to advertise us as a point of local contacts.

https://southwestdroidbuildersuk.blogspot.com/

We all specialise in different subjects, are at stages of our lives, but have become great friends due to the enjoyment of droid building.

#droidbuildersuk #SWDB25 #astromech #droids #Bristol #Mshed25

Andor - season 2 is coming | R5 astromech/X-Wing

The wait is almost over..... Andor season 2 will soon be here [April - UK].

The trailer looks great, a lot of action and from the comments I've read, all VERY positive.

Scanning the trailer, I found only one droid, apart from K2, and that was an R5 on top of an X-wing.

screen grabs from the official Disney YouTube channel

Just before Hyperspace jump.

Jumping to hyperspace.

We'll have to see what designation he is.....

#droidbuildersuk #SWDB25 #astromech #droids #Bristol #Mshed25

DROIDS @Mshed Bristol 2025

 DROID's @Mshed Bristol, are back!

Yes, all your favourite droids are back again, and a few new special attending ones as well!!

💥💥 'FREE ENTRY EVENT' 💥💥

Droids built by Droid Builders UK / UK R2-D2 Builders Club, we're a group of builders who make/build/3D print droids from TV & movies for enjoyment. From Star Wars to Dr Who. With members attending from ALL over the UK!

💥💥💥

👉 Check out this event on FaceBook's events,

please add yourself and share.

💥💥💥

We also have members from the MK Garrison - Vader and co.

Mike Berry of Vinyldesign's has been busy arranging & organising this event,

I'm just helping as his side kick/advertising/promotions guy 😄

Link to 2024's Event report over on the Droid Builders UK website.

Or over on their YouTube channel: Droid's @Mshed 2024.

We hope to see you there!

~~~~~

This is a non profit event, all money donated goes to the groups chosen charity for 2025: 'Supporting Alzheimer's Society'

If you wish to make a donation, please click this link to our JustGiving page, Thank you!

#droidbuildersuk #SWDB25 #astromech #droids #Bristol #Mshed25

3D print's Prusa latest additions

Linktree will take you to my Prusa account where you can find most of my files I've created, free to download.

Credit is appreciated, which also helps overs find these too.

These and more can be found on my Prusa page. These are all FREE to use.

Trading Card Dispenser (version 3) - TCD [2025]

New cartridge - version 3

Re visited the design of this unit and had a thought about simplifying/updating it.

A reoccurring issue I hear is with the metal springs. Either they are not the ones stated on the PDF document I created, or just simply the stiffness isn't correct.

This upgraded design does away with metal springs and instead, I have created [am impressed with myself on this one 😄😄😄] a 3D printable spring!!

3D printable spring [not print orientation shown]

I did try a coil design, lol, as I use AutoCAD for work and we use 3D versions in our valves for visual representational use, but this wasn't going to work. So I created a flat 'Z' spring. The first one I printed from the design actually worked, first time.

This then required me to modify the cartridge housing and card plate, but everything else uses the original main motor bracket etc.

This cartridge is a direct size replacement for the original one, the only downside is that it now holds fewer cards due to the 'Z' spring not compressing as much as the metal springs did.

......but I then went and designed a TALL version. This is a new TALLer cartridge housing, and a new TALLer main motor bracket unit. The below image shows the new TALLer version being printed.

Version 3b, new TALLer version being printed

The NEW version 3 Cartridge, is now uploaded to my Prusa account, click on the Prusa to be directed there.

Linktree for all my R5-D4 accounts

 Been meaning to do this for a while, so here is my link to all my trees 😂😂😂

https://linktr.ee/JamesR5D4

BlueSky social media

November 2024.....

Well, the time had come to say see-ya to Twitter.

So have joined up on Bluesky!

Click on the above picture will take you to my account page.

A lot of people/friends were already on there which is nice, so now I'm rebuilding my followers. I'll be posting up on Twitter to share my change of location, hopefully everyone follows again.

Trading Card Dispenser - Facebook group 2025

End of 2024, I created a

Trading Card Dispenser page,

but this was not what I wanted

so I created a proper group account,

for people to chat, post builds, and ask questions etc.

Link to the group page:

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1245843779967598/

There is a chat also on FB's messenger service.

YouTube link of dispenser in action

‘Trading Card Dispenser’ control box - servo switch controlled [Part 2]

Back in 2022, I posted up about the electronics

for the TCD Control Box.

This was supposed to be THE new RC switch controlled unit, see picture.

Wrong RC switch [not a momentary one]

.....rather than the previous (and very successful it was too) remote controlled version picture here below.

original remote controlled fob version

The new RC switch that I thought was the correct one, wasn't a momentary version, but an on/off one.

Momentary RC switch

So I had to get a new RC switch, from Model Radio Workshop.

The above switch then links to a (original design) micro voltage regulator (seen in next image) and an adjustable automotive timer (orange)

• The single relay controller (from model radio workshop) has been designed to allow modellers to switch one item on and off (max current 1 amp).
• The unit also allows the user to select latching or non latching mode, so in latching once switched on it stays on until you trigger it to un-latch.

These have gone up in price so had to find another (cost effective) type of adjustable timer, (The timer unit is the orange relay in below picture).

Components List for a RC Transmitter switch version:

• Momentary RC switch from/or similar link to Model Radio Workshop: MRW06 Single Relay Controller Switch
• Adjustable relay timer: example here.

Components List for a Remote control relay switch version:

• Remote control relay: example here.
• Adjustable relay timer: example here.
• Voltage regulator, 12v stepdown version: example here.

The above two versions have different 3D housings (If you'd like this), these can be found on my Prusa account page, FREE to download and print.

I have now created a Facebook page,

dedicated for the

Trading Card Dispenser.

To help and for others to share their builds and modifications etc.

Event: Stars of Time @ Weston-Super-Mare

This coming Saturday, November 30th......

Link here:

https://www.starsoftime.co.uk/weston-s-mare-winter

Just some of the droids [from our last attendance] will be joining us this Saturday.