November 27, 2015

R5 damage repair!!

The high's and lows of droid building.....

You know when you think your in control but gravity reminds you your not!

Well that's what happens when a three wheeled unit rolls down a slope.....turns and falls over....in slow motion.

List of things that broke/broke off:

  • Shoulder horse shoe [it is a removable item]
  • One half moon crescent - popped off.
  • Shoulder hub - smashed edges.
  • Dome bearing [lazy suzan type]
  • Split Outer Feet shells [both]
I was in shock, fearing the worst, but once righted, and given the once over, R5 was back in action. Luckily he had turned and his fall was broken [no pun intended] by bush's. The foot shells damage was caused by the weight/force on them as he tipped over. Obviously they're not designed to take ANY weight on them as such.

I had to disconnect the dome motor as thankfully R5's dome locking nuts kept his head on, but the force of the fall, twisted and pulled apart the domes bearing race, there were bearings everywhere lol. I managed to press the two pieces a bit closer together, but they had separated and short of some proper tools, this wasn't going to happen.

So if you notice R5's dome doesn't look like it's on right in the MCM Birmingham photos, now you know.

So this week has been spent repairing the shells, with glass fibre and wood filler.
The black tape was very strong in holding the panels together.

The legs showed paint had cracked so sanded and fixed these. The horseshoe took most of the damage, but again, this was fixable with wood filler, sanding and painting. A new bearing race was ordered and refitted as well as a new set of shoulder hubs from DJDesign.


These just need spraying and for refitting back into R5.

November 26, 2015

MCM Comic Con - Birmingham Nov 2015 - [PART 2]

......The Builders club has a great bunch of guys [girls inc] and is great to actually meet up again to chat, joke and enjoy the day!

Personally I get a real buzz out of giving something to the public by sharing R5. I built him for me as a build challenge, for my kids too, but when you go to event's with him & join the others it really brings Star Wars off the cinema or TV screen, and brings it to life, not just for the grown up kids but for the little kids too.




Ian's R2D2 had his first event out with his full 'weathered' paints on, WOW!!!
He [R2 not Ian] looked fantastic!!!
......not that there's anything wrong looking with Ian mind..... lol

R2D2

R2D2

Sandtrooper, UK Garrison

I didn't get much chance to take many pics of the UK Garrison, but managed to grab this one whilst I was manning our table, well it be rude not too!
The UK Garrison

November 24, 2015

MCM Comic Con - Birmingham Nov 2015 - [PART 1]

The UK R2 Builders turned up in Force and were a great hit with the public.

After a very long walk from car park E, which turned out to be VERY eventful, we (myself, Colin & Simon) arrived with trip one of our Droids. Colin then went back for his second droid.....yes, he brought two of his now three completed Astromech's, R2-Q2 & R4-M9 [both from the Tantive IV scene in ANH.

We lined up the Droids, whilst we get things sorted.
The backdrops were courtesy of The UK Garrison. 
R5-D4, R2-Q2, R4-M9


Honestly, you turn your back for to minutes and people start getting delusions of.....oh....wait, lol. Early attendees started coming through the doors and the photo's started being taken.

Then R2 roll's up and it's like ooooh, look at me :D lol
R2D2, Astromech Droids, UK Builders Club

R2D2, Astromech Droids, UK Builders Club
The day just got busier as the day went on! I've not seen so many people & Cosplayers!
Our little group entertained the crowds.
R2D2, Astromech Droids, UK Builders Club

R2D2, Astromech Droids, UK Builders Club


R2D2, Astromech Droids, UK Builders Club
Ready for My close-up

R2D2, Astromech Droids, UK Builders Club

R2D2, Astromech Droids, UK Builders Club

Oh and did anyone spot the HP film star?? ;)

More pictures to post up in PART 2.......

November 16, 2015

*** Comic Con - Birmingham ***

R5D4 will be joining a full range of UK R2 Builders Club's Astromech Droids
at this months MCM Comic Con in Birmingham.
We'll be joining members of the UK Garrison & Real Icon's.
We will only be there on Saturday 21st November, due to prior commitments, so make sure you come check out the 'Droids your looking for' lol.


Click on the link for details from the Comic Con website.

R5D4's twitter account, so don't forget to @ him lol and also R5's Facebook page.

November 11, 2015

November 10, 2015

*** Sci-Fi Bromley ***

Another event that UK R2 club members will be attending is.....




Click this link to check out the website for details of guest' and what's on.


November 09, 2015

Centre Foot - wheel upgrade......2.2

I fitted the wheel caster base back onto the internal foot platform, minus, the previously fitted wood MDF spacer pad, it's not needed now with the larger wheel; as I want it to sit at roughly the same height as before.

On test turning the wheel caster base, there were three points of contact with the foot shell's base ring frame. So out came the dremel and sanding drum to remove the extra wood to give clearance.

Then it was re-assembling the internal wheel frame to the centre leg (x2 bolts) one being the main ankle bolt, the other the locking ankle bolt. Next were the two side shell panels with half moons.
R5D4 astromech droidR5D4 astromech droid

Lastly, re-fitting the centre leg back up into R5's base.

R5 is sooooo much easier to move around now! He is so much more free moving. Not had a chance to test drive yet, but driving and slow motion turning control should be a lot easier due to less 'friction' & the better wheel scooter bearings.
R5D4 astromech droid

November 04, 2015

Centre Foot - wheel upgrade.....2.1

30.10.15
Whilst the centre leg was off and dismantled, I got my work friend [when he had two mins spare] to turn me a bush for the ankle lock bolt. I then drilled out the hole to size and clamping it and the centre leg in a vice, forced the bush into the hole.
R5D4
Locking bolt bush to be fitted, next to said bolt

Got home to find post man had delivered bolts & locking washers the aluminium strip, so measured up and cut to length. I filed a rad to one edge to look good lol, but also so I would remember which outside faces I needed to drill.

02.11.15 - 04.11.15
In work first thing and got to measuring up and drilling holes. In order to fit the new brackets, the hole position needed is just a fraction off where the original hole was, hence new brackets. So had to cut off the wheel location hole to give clearance for the new bolt hole/bracket. Drilled and tapped M6 threads into the aluminium brackets and clearance holes in the wheel caster sides.
New centre wheel

Now to re-assemble it and centre leg.