Fire Extinguisher 1.1

R2-D2 uses a Fire Extinguisher (mounted in his dome rear) in a few scenes in the

Original Star Wars films.

Builders have recreated this and repositioned it to different areas of the body :-)

I plan to also fit a mist spray unit to R5.

I started by picking up a 12v central locking unit off eBay.

Centre foot ankle securing.......at last!

I've posted before about my centre leg to foot issues. I was going to secure with a angle bracket, but I wasn't able to install as the foot shell tops broke
http://r5-d4astromechdroid.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/return-of-centre-foot.html

http://r5-d4astromechdroid.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/r5-assembledbut-centre-foot-wheel-issues.html

So last thursday was make or break day! With the foot shell off I tried to tighten the ankle bolt enough to clamp the ankle. But this didn't work.

I should of:
1. Thread tapped the opposite angle. Therefore no nut required. But then possible thread shearing due to min material on the angle brackets (??)
2. Welded the nut in place. Still a possibility.
3. Add a locking stud to prevent the nut from turning.

I'd gone for option 3 at this late stage. But due to the hole size, the nut was able to move over and still turn.

So I decided that pinning the ankle to the two metal angles, was the only option!

I marked a length, removed and cut. I then had lots of fun, trying to RE-fit it once foot shell was back on! But it's on and it held :)

*** Corsham Sci-Fi family fun day 2014 ***

Friday night, R5 was loaded into back of car and strapped into place. Along with his transport platform (just in case) toolbox (well, you never know lol) & Giles extension reel from Fleet, last year.

Then Saturday morning, Jay and myself, bags packed, set off on the not so long journey down the M4 to Bath, then on to Corsham.

On entering the schools hall, past the stalls, there......at the back of the main hall......was Mark's droids.......oh.......AND A 'Stargate!' Wow, its big!!!

I unloaded R5 from his platform with Jacob's assistance :). And set him up, along with his new display board.

And turned on his dome eye sensor LED's. Now we're in business!
The guest were already arriving, Darth Vader and the others were setting up and chatting with 'group members'. Giles & Artoojayzero were all present and correct and was going to give Marks collection of Astromech's a friendly run for their money lol.
(Marks droid collection = Emy, Zoe, CID & K9)

The event was opened by Darth Vader himself, AKA Dave Prowse.

R5 got some love from the guests (even as just a static display) and was flattered when someone actually asked if he was the REAL R5 from the film?!?! Lol, she was old enough to not spoil the illusion of it when i told her and her brother, that no, it wasn't and that I'd built it. They did seem genuinely impressed tho and went to ready up on my build via display board.......it work's! People did read the info and one or two people scanned the QR codes. Artoojayzero likes the board idea, tho with an R2 shape lol. I was asked by lots of people about the Droids, as the other builders were off playing lol, about build material, costs etc. One excited lady came over as her Brother had also built an Astromech, but wasn't a member of the Club. We chatted and have invited him to come and join the group, fingers crossed :-).

R5 lens flare, eat your heart out JJ Abrams, lol

The lovely Sarah Louise Madison.

(Dr Who - Weeping Angle)

Members of the SG1 team & Stargate.

Built by Podpad Studio

R5 was invited to attend Chippenham sci-fi, 25th October 2014.

The visitors are encouraged to come in costume and they did! There are Dr's, Predators, Batman, Terminators, Twi'lek Jedi (little girls costume was awesome!) Everyone had a great time and the day raised over £4K.

There are more photos on Facebook popping up so keep an eye out and if you see R5, let me know lol. Thanks

Display Board for R5 - 1.2

Had to do a bit more work and add side supports to stabilise the display.

I then drilled some more holes, couldn't help myself lol, and added some hammer drive screws to visualise the board as a mini R5.

I then painted the lot white.........oh yeah, once dried, I masked off cone top and sprayed some red.........and then painted silver neck details.
I got this idea from the R2 Yahoo group gif logo ;).

I then hot glued on my laminated build info for R5.
   
I then hot glued my laminated build sheet with QR codes etc onto it.

First transport is almost away...... Corsham Sci-Fi Charity Family Fun Day 2014

Just finished loading up R5 into the boot of the Zafira and the rest of him and tools. The transport platform I finished off yesterday, to move R5 over uneven surfaces etc is also packed in. My new display board packed.

My Son is coming with, though will join his friends when they arrive later. When asked if he'd like to come with me to help set up, he was very excited......but in a mature way lol.

R5 signing off now...........

Display Board for R5 - 1.1

I've seen droid designated display board in event pics on the internet. And what with Corsham only this Saturday, I thought I'd leave it to the last minute to make my own hahahaha :D

This board was going to be for R5's electrical components, but hay, saves me time ;).

As it's for R5-D4, I drew up his head in simple design and cut it out. I was just going to leave it simple, but I found some metal components that I added as R5's main eye details lol.

The support I found was just the right size, so that was drilled and screwed onto the back at an off-set to give the display an angle.

The lot will then be painted white.

Weathering 1.4 - more Body/skirt & Centre Leg/foot

Body weathering update pics..... with and without camera flash lol.

Centre Leg, Skirt & Foot Shell....

Weathering 1.3 - Body, Leg, Outer Foot and Battery Box

My attempt at weathing R5's body. Started next to the fitted rear hatch and worked my way round. The Leg got in the way so moved onto this lol. This then led down to the Battery Box. I then turned him round and carried on with the Body, working down to his skirt (no pics yet).

I got round as far as the Centre Vent's but didn't take pictures, will do for next post.

This is by no means perfect, not that it's supposed to be, just my interpretation.

Weathering 1.2 - R5-D4's Head

This morning I started on weathering R5's head, by applying Burnt Umber around the neck, side recess, eyes, top pie panel grooves and around the base of the Antenna. This is just the start. One good thing I've noticed is that the woods imperfections help when wiping off the paint as it sinks into them giving a 'pitted' surface finish.

These pics were taken right after paint was applied, so its still wet. But looked a lot better once dried. Should look even better once rubbed off a bit and ochre applied.

Weathering 1.1 Rear Hatch

After a very long day, I was exhausted, but wanted to try the Yellow Ochre on the rear hatch.
On applying it, very sparingly, it didn't seam to be visible. Blending & mixing in with the Burnt Umber. Still i carried on applying it in the places I wanted it.

Then it started to dry.......and was then a lot more noticeable lol. So using my finger, I gently rubbed it in to the Umber and the grooves and this helped to blend it all in and rub off the excess.

I didn't want to over do the weathering at the moment, but its a start and am happy so far.

R5 gets dirty - weathering 1.0

R5's paint job had included some black paint in the grooves, legs, body and feet areas. This was to give him a dirty/oily appearance. Now its time for him to get his main 'used' colours of sand and dirt.

Two of the colours I've bought, are Yellow Ochre and Burnt Umber (a dark brown). These came Wednesday via eBay.

Had to give it a go, so off came the rear hatch and dabbed on the Burnt Umber to start with.

Start of weathering

R5's transportation platform 1.2 (on hold)

Next was a handle!
R5's not the lightest Astromech out there, plus I wanted something to secure him whilst being moved...........


.........this project is going on hold. Loaded R5 onto the platform as a test and am not happy about a few things, so am having a re-think.......

R5's transportation platform 1.1

I've decided to make R5 a platform for moving him from car to event. After the difficulty I had at Fleet Air Arm Museum's car park surface last year, it would be easier if the platform took the brunt of the possible rough surfaces. It would also be easier to move/steer.

I salvaged a set of 4 wheels (x2 with swivel casters) from a discarded cabinet. The x2 swivel  wheels bushes were shot so had to bin them, but its a start.

Using a piece of 18mm thick plywood, I measured out a suitable size area for R5 to be mounted to. I cut, drilled and screwed to pieces of wood to act as stops for the outer wheel front casters. I then found some 'U' aluminium channel that the scooter wheels fit in. I cut these, drilled and screwed these down next.

I didn't get to mount the fixed casters as I have run out of M8 bolts, these will screw into M8 T-nut's that will be installed. This is a job for Tuesday.

I dont want the platform to be to high off the ground, so after seeing a similar platform, the fixed casters are going to be 'recessed' into it. Measured and marked holes out. Then got to drilling and cutting out with jigsaw. Next I bolted the casters into place.

I was going to put casters on the front....no.....rear of the platform, but after thinking about it and the fact with no brakes, R5 could do a runner, I've decided to just put a 'rest' to the back face.
That's next stage.....

Hopefully I'll have it finished by April 26th 2014, Corsham Sci-Fi Fun Day.

*** Corsham Charity Sci-Fi Day 2014 ***

R5-D4, Artoojayzero (UK  R2-D2 Builders) & friends, will be at Corsham.

Come on down and check out all things Sci-Fi!

Check out their website and FaceBook pages.
*** Latest, the council have suspended parking fee's for the day! ***
*** So FREE parking will be available ***

Under Shoulder Stabiliser

Finally got round to fixing this onto the recessed plate, that I made up. Plate has a clearance hole in it and then I've drilled and tapped a 6BA thread into the Stabiliser and screw fitted.

This unit then gets silicone applied to it's back and pushed into the recess.

Still have to machine up the last one tho.