What an event!!!
After eventually arriving 8pm!!! We unloaded and set everything up ready for the morning. Oliver then took us back to the hotel we were all staying in. After checking in, we joined Nik, Sam and Brian Herring, in the bar area for a well deserved drink and a quick chat. Brian handed out his new patch.
The sticker next to the pass, is one of two that Doug handed out lol.
Friday morning and the Sun was out and even with rail disruption, it didn’t stop the excited chat walking to the next available station.
The REAL Sam Prentice, Nik H & Mike B about to enter on our first day (Below pic)
I decided to sit R5 out this time, there was another R5 out roaming and so I focused most of my time helping out with the stand, being a spotter, answering questions & photographer etc.
S.T.E.A.M.
I helped out for two sessions upstairs in the STEAM room.
This was great as being able to interact and assist the kids (some adults too lol) in binary (chain code) bead bracelet making was fun.
There were other great activities going on, coding, Sabacc game, mini lightsaber building (out of coloured straws, flying/climbing droid just to name a few. It was great fun. Droids made an appearance as well, BB8 & Chopper.
Disney interviews:
First thing Friday morning, before opening, Kristin Baver & Anthony Carboni, where interviewing Rich G about the builders stand & the droids. YouTube link here. They were blown away by R2-XL, so much so that Anthony got into him.
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| Also viewing the stand early was Rob Bredow (centre pic) |
Panels:
I didn’t attend any of the panels, not my thing, but missed out on going to the droid builders ones, but sacrifices needed to be made to maintain order on the stand 😂👍🏽
The stand:
The stand was packed with droids of all types, astromech’s, protocol droids, animatronic pit droid’s playing Sabacc, Choppers, BB-8’s, mouse droids (also in Lego), K-2S0, my WED-15 droid (more on this topic later) a massive Probe droid (Empire Strikes Back) fully mobile, R2-KT and also a pink/white Pit droid to assist her. B1 battle droids.
The entrance guests were met by Oliver’s Star Tours pilot droid, which interacted with the waiting crowd.
Next we had Endor and 3P0 (Golden Rod’s) chair from the Ewok tree top village.
King for a day……well….5mins 😂👍🏽
Along the main wall was a recreated Galaxy Edge droid building station, with interactive display panels and even a operative interactive droid. An amazing build with digital display screens etc.
Around the corner was the fantastic Falcon seating which was again, very popular!
The last section of the inner display’s was the one that has been mine and Mike’s secret build project……
Jabba’s gate entrance.
(Me & Mike photo)
Very proud of what we had achieved , mostly Mike as he built everything!! The public were impressed (as they were with all the displays).
The sound system wasn’t loud enough for the event 🙄 which was a shame, but the LED’s lasted and the hot glue helped keep the eye lid open lol.
Around the front we had mini droids, 39.1%, the REAL Sam Prentice had set up his 3D printers and was actually printing components for his next build.
The front area was also where the Imperial Probe Droid waited.
Ewan ‘Obi-Wan-Kenobi’ Mcgrregor
Samantha Alleyne: 1st Female Stormtrooper also Rebel Pilot
I first met Sam when she was working on Solo a Star Wars story. She was one of the stunt Stormtroopers. These are the ones who actually act via direction from the Director/AD’s. I’ve been lucky enough to have then been able to attend other functions and events that she has also been at. I then got to meet her again at Celebration Europe 2016. She's a great laugh to be around, and I do feel proud to of witnessed her journey to where she is today.
Dee Tails
So I'm in the back room, when I get a shout that someone's after me, to my surprise it's Dee!!! We've been social media bud's since last seeing each other in person, way back on Solo & then The Last Jedi. Dee has played many parts in the Star Wars universe some as multiple characters in the same films, check out his Wikipedia page
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| Good to see ya again Dee! |
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| An honour for you to shout me out Dee, thanks. |
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| Started out with me just taking a few pictures for Dee, but he get's into character so flipped over to video lol. He later edited it and added music. |
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| Quay Tolsite - The Pyke administrator on Kessel |
Brian Thompson (Smugglers Room YouTube)
Simon Kassianides: Axe Woves from The Mandalorian
Whilst waiting for Paul to return (Ewan) I babysat his R2. Simon was sat opposite and asked if he could take a photo with R2, of course. I then asked if it would be OK to also have a picture with him, he was kind enough to oblige. He complimented R2 and on saying that it wasn't mine I produced my R5 trading card for him. When he saw it, he recalled seeing it in a Taxi (Uber) it was on the dash of the one I had given a few days before 😂
Whilst waiting I was trying to get internet connection 😂 when I realised someone was walking past, not being rude I looked up to see Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) walking past and he politely smiled at me 🤩.
TC-14 & C-3P0 (Sarah & Chris)
These guys were awesome! I was happy to be their helpers and their spotters whilst out and about.
As a small memento of this event, I had soured a Lego TC & 3-P0 figures, designed and printed off a backing card and ordered some bubble packaging (unfortunately this part didn’t arrive in time to take). I did still present them as a reminder of the event.
I'll post up the bubble packs to Chris, as it's a few months before I'll see him, on a new project.
Here are more pictures from the four days….
The que on day 4, required us to add additional barriers so it could loop back on itself!!
TC-14 & her master
Security was tight
I was Ian’s spotter and visited the main stage area sets.
Paul and his friends stopped by the stand.
TC-14 wondered far from the droid builders stand & met a fellow silver unit (VW van).
Yes, stupid grin!
But thanks to Jamie having access, he was able to grab one of the only items I wanted.
Mini Princess, with Lola and Isn Yates’ R2-JY.
The reaction R2 has on most people lol.
Laughing about the odds of who would get stopped by security today.
Group photo
Neil being shown Paul’s R2 periscope in operation.
Some of the swag swapped and donated.
Awesome Chris in his
green screen BB8 outfit 😂👍🏽
Matt, Dee & Me
Tc-14 was passing so had to grab a picture together.
Amazing AT-ST display
The second AT-ST at the Shield generator bunker, with Ians R2-JY
The art work.
Day 4 and 5pm came around quick & so it was time to disassemble the stand, and load up the droids.
We eventually left at 8pm, we had to stop to drop off a container, grab some food and petrol, before heading home to Bristol. I dropped Mike off at his, then home myself, arriving at 2am. Glad I had booked the Tuesday off work, as I needed it to unload my things, before dropping off Mike’s and returning the van by 12 midday.
I have uploaded some short videos to my YouTube channel & photos to my Facebook page, getting back into it a little. There’s still some things I haven’t got round to posting up. But next is the gate build project work carried out by Mike and me.
>>>>> <<<<<
Had another great time with all the droid builders old faces and new, really good to catch up, plenty of photos to remember, experiences, first timers, droid MOT’s, photo opportunities with the droids/public etc.
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