James' R5-D4

August 18, 2026

Coming to the end of this Blog….

[15/3/2024] I have been documenting my R5-D4 build since 2011!!

As the title above states, after 15 years,

I feel it's time to call it a day!

I started writing this 'coming to the end' post back in 2024..... it's now August 2026!!!

This Blog started to show the progress of building my all wood R5-D4. Builders were/are encouraged to document their builds over on the Astromech forum, to help new builders understand building practices for their own droid.

You can read up on my builder profile on the DBUK page.

The Blog grew to include additional projects:

Wood built R0-D4 & R4-D4 dome’s
Designing and building R5's 'Bad Motivator' system.
Wood built a GOUD-4 messenger droid from Solo.
Designed and made my own Dome storage/carry bag.
Developing and printing lots of 3D items (see link below).
Trading cards featuring R5-D4 and his other aliases.
Events attended over the years, all over the country, check out my YouTube video channel.
Jabba’s gate build with Mike and 3D printing and building TT-8L Y7 droid, for Celebration Europe 2023
My Treadwell WED-15-77.

Check the page links at top of Blog

I’ve also documented my 3D Printing progress from novice to advanced. Little 3D projects and not so little ones lol. As well as wood and metal working too.

3D files available free via Prusa, originally uploaded to Thingiverse and a few others, all are now transferred onto the Prusa one.
Even had an Etsy shop for some of my creations, this was closed at the end of March 2024.
I designed and had a patch run of my own design for R5.
I had stickers too, design based on the patch as well as special stickers for events.

James' R5-D4 designed and produced, patch

I’ve had the privilege to be a member of and represented the UK R2-D2 Builders Club , in a few very high profile public events. 'Force Friday', Legoland Windsor etc.

The Club has also expanded into the Droid Builders UK club, encompassing ALL types of droids, and not just Star Wars.

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Some people will of seen, but probably not of been aware of R5 as he was in disguise lol, in three ‘celluloid outings’. See the IMDB link below 😉.

These have led to R5 being immortalised as a toy, three times, as well as my name appearing in the credits of two of the three film productions. IMDB link. And a blurred image of myself and R5-232 in Rob Bredow's making of Solo a Star Wars Story, locations book.😁

His last appearance I was able to name R5 after my three children’s first name initials. Something I will cherish forever 🥰 R5-2JE.

R5-2JE astromech

R5 and just been seen in the above picture

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My latest build was a Treadwell WED-15-77 droid. This has been in progress for a few years now and is almost finally completed. This also includes making one storage box for the head, and one for the mast.

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.....But family life has changed and my free time is limited. So WED-15 was my last build. Also, I feel that as build techniques have evolved, my Blog has become less relevant, less views etc, due to how people make stuff.

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I hope this Blog etc has been of use to you and has been interesting to read and watch.

Please leave a comment below or via my socials.

Twitter (X) R5-D4

The Droids your looking for:

Wookipedia R5-SK1

Wookipedia R5-232

Wookipedia R5-2JE

👇👇👇👇👇

Thank you.....

....to all who have followed, commented, liked, shared, this has meant a lot to me that my work, thoughts etc have been seen.

It's been a journey.

#starwars #r5d4 #rogueone #anewhope #treadwelldroid #bristol #mshed #youtube #facebook #tradingcarddispenser #3dprinting #soloastarwarsstory

August 11, 2026

R5’s Bad Motivator 2025 (Part 2)...... unfinished in 2026

13th September 2025

The other fix I need to do is R5’s bad motivator system. I found a servo switch that I had bought for this , but thought that the RC transmitter route would work...... it didn't. Well, not using two transmitters at the same time.

......August 2026......

Didn't get round to sorting this, maybe one day.

August 10, 2026

MOT Inspector - Induction Training [2017]

28th September 2017

Sunday I was host to Ian H & Sam P, my self,

ran by Colin B & joined by Lee T.

The guys travelled down to mine for the afternoons

training session on how to inspect Droids for the UK Club.

UK R2D2 Builders Club,

is the only club that has an 'MOT approval' process,
ensuring that the Droids & their operators,
are safe for events attended.

You may ask, why do you need this??

.....Han Solo: Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy!

Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star or bounce

too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?

Well, it's nothing like dusting crops lol. But the point is, that yes, anyone can build an Astromech, but once you take it out in public (and your a member of the UK Builders Club) and are a representative of it and even more so, of Disney/Lucas films. "We wouldn't want a Droid 'breaking down' or 'bits falling off' or worse still, a run-away-droid as this wouldn't look good to the general public" ....quote.

So the UK Club set up an MOT process a few years ago, similar to what cars here in the UK have, providing the droids & their operators with reassurance that their Droids are to a safe standard, which is required to have for our PLI insurance cover.

2026..... This is still carried out and the list of MOT inspectors has grown over the years.

[sorry, text is now visible]

July 24, 2026

Event Report: Droids @ Mshed 2026

Another great event, but...........

The first being that I wasn't able to attend and help out Mike and the others as I have done since the beginning,

but also that [unless things change re: 'the powers that be']

this year was the last one to be held at the Mshed.

The event is a free open to all, showcasing the droids that have been hand built / 3D printed etc. as seen in film and TV shows, along with stalls, lucky-dip, and attended by fellow groups who just want to share in the experience.

These include the Dalek crew, MK Garrison and others.

This year was even attended by, a close friend of mine who I've known now for many many year lol,

Samantha Alleyne [first female stormtrooper] from:

the new Star Wars films trilogy

the anthology films Rogue One & Solo a Star Wars Story

& also the TV series Andor (filmed here in the UK).

Other attendees include......

Nathan Pegler & Brian Wheeler

These guys had a great time and were also popular with the public.

The stalls outside were also very popular and these along with the MK Garrison, in full costume, helped catch the passing public who didn't know about the event.

Here are some photos from the day:

Here are just some of the amazing droids.

Visitors to the event were asked about their thoughts of the day and what they liked most about it.

The response was 100% positive.

(Thanks to everyone)

This years chosen charity was the

Great Weston Air Ambulance

Check out the amazing work they do here.

Total amount raised.....👏👏👏👏👏👏

Mike is looking for a new venue..... so fingers crossed for 2027!

#starwars #drwho #mkgarrison #droids #astromech #bb8 #bristol #mshed #charity #southwestairambulance #droidbuildersuk

July 17, 2026

The Mandalorian - R5D4 Holoprojector - 1.8 - UPDATE 2026

image of R5-D4's head and his holoprojector
protruding from one of his pie panels

I picked up a visual directory book for the Mandalorian the other day, and obviously, searched up in it for pics of R5. They had a full page spread which included a much clearer quality of his Holoprojector, seen in season 2. [I've not watched the film yet, so I don't know if it appears in it.]

I was happy to see that most of my original idea of how it looked was close to the original design. But having the front view gave me a more detailed vison of the lens housing with it's ridges.

From this I was able to redo my original design, back in 2020.

click link here for Blog post:

The Mandalorian - R5D4 Holoprojector - 1.0

So I have now created a version 2, this one has an independent arm which can be pivoted so the head can move down for easy storage/deployment from R5's dome.

There is a hole up through the arm which allows LED cabling for illuminating the green holoprojector lens.

The lens housing was design around the size for an actual cabochon!

I’ve included two ‘lens’ versions, one for printing out of a translucent filament or a solid one for non illumination, just painted.

Holoprojector in it's folded state
for easier operation from dome pie opening

The holoprojector is printed in parts.

2 arm halves
2 body halves
1 front ring
1 lens (solid for painting)
1 thin (for clear filament printing)

Or of course you could use a real cabochon.

I have been away and didn't get time to upload the files before hand. This is now all in place and you can find the files here on my Prusa account [FREE].

June 30, 2026

Only a week to go till DROIDS @MSHED 2026

Just a week more to wait till the Droids and co return to the Mshed, which is next door to the actual Museum.

There have been more than a few hiccups and hurdles to overcome for this years event to happen.

You would not believe the red tape involved in putting on a FREE event, where EVERYBODY wins.

The public get a great event to added to being by the waterfront and all the amazing sights to see.
The Mshed gets free publicity from us advertising (at Mike’s own expense) the event!
Local business also benefit from your attendance, ice-cream van, food placed etc.
And we…..well, you help us to raise funds for the South West Air Ambulance Service.

So please come on down, if your new to Bristol, check the location map, and help support your local/national droids raise funds for a great cause.

#droidbuildersuk #bristol #mshedmuseum #droids #mkgarrison #drwho #k9 #nathanpegler #samanthaalleyne #swaa

June 16, 2026

FunkoPOP droids by me

For a bit of fun, I assembled all my creations in a line-up 😁

FunkoPOP Droids

These are drawn up my hand [no 3D scanning] and have more detail than the original POP's. They also were drawn up for the versions never produced, (left to right) LE5, PHT, Treadwell and Toolbox.

R5-D4 and R4-D4 (both versions of mine) have the restraining bolts fitted and my screen accurate centre leg [single cylinder].

R5-PHT (second from left) has his unique dome with the extra holoprojector. This droid was seen in Solo a Star Wars Story.

All are in three leg mode which wasn't a 'thing' until Celebration 2023 came along with the R2-D2/R5-D4 twin pack.

All of these are 1:1 POP scale lol and all but Toolbox, have base holes to fit onto the original stands, if required.

Check them all out on my Prusa page, in there FunkoPOP collection folder, free.

....not included in the line-up is R2-D2 with the sail barge drinks try attachment.

......ooops and soome of the droids in Carbonite [like Han Solo] 😀😀😀

June 15, 2026

3D Printed Upload - Control panel with working dials & buttons

Here's another control panel, which has options to have push button activation and also two rotary dials with stops.

The main centre area has the option of being separate so different panels can be printed and fixed in place. The first one is a 'planetary display screen'. This is a modified version of my other planetary panel [longer], which can be back lit.