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.

Facebook R5-D4 page

Twitter (X) R5-D4

YouTube R5-D4

Prusa

IMDB

Droid Builders UK

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

Droids at the Mshed 2024 - Event Report

WHAT A DAY!!!

This post will also be uploaded to the Droid Builders UK website, events page, so for more events attended by the Droid Builders, checkout the the link here.

It was that time of year again, the Droid Builders invaded #Bristol, for our now annual, Summer event.

This was our fourth event, our biggest attended by Builders and also by the public.

I didn’t get to take many photos myself, so photo credit to fellow builders and my Brother.

video link to my YouTube Channel here.

Saturday 6th July:

Saw Mike Berry & Chris Williams and myself arrive early to set up everything, well they were early…

……ready for the big day. I wasn’t THAT late 😂

Sunday 7th July:

Arriving early [7:15am] to organise things with Mike with Helen (& family) and myself. It was cloudy but dry. The outside advertising boards were put out at strategic locations to catch the most foot traffic. An area just to the side of the Museum, allowed easy access for unloading and parking had been kindly been made available for us.

www.PodPadStudios.com's

Mr & Mrs Maker, arrived early doors to unload T1-FNY.

26 Club members signed up, four were 'spotters' these are helpers of droids being driven. They help keep the public in check lol whilst the operator, operates.

The area inside was arranged with the intention that the droids could be lined up, but we had that many that it was basically just cram them in wherever lol.

Here are just some of the droids, big thanks to Billy for the use of these photos.

Droid lineup

Droids grouped together

We had a few props table next, Chris & Helen displayed 3D printed items.

Photo credit: Kim Atkins

Our VIP for the day, was Sarah (as TC-14, silver) & would have been Chris (as C-3P0, gold).

Of course everyone is special, but unless you have, AND wear, a Protocol Droid suit at an event, then you are a VIP!!! If you've worn any sort of armour/costume, you will be aware of how limiting it can be, wearing a Protocol Droid suit is this x100%. Apart from from having to fit yourself into one, the face [head] is an extremely tight fit with very limited vision AND it can feel very claustrophobic! Both these builders were in attendance last year at Celebration Europe 2023 as well as other Club attended events.

Event Begins:

Organising, helping to unload droids and set them up, before I knew it, it was 10am.

The public was allowed in and within minutes the whole room was packed!! It was like this for the next few hours. Then the rain came mid morning . This didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds though.

After lunch and the rain had stopped, the clouds cleared and yet again, the sun shone down on our day. The crowds increased as the droids and cosplayers from the MK Garrison were able to venture outside, which attracted more people.

There were lots of happy people, having their photos taken. Following pictures credit: Matt.

Crowds

TC-14 and Dalek getting luv from the public.

The other side of the event was Droid MOT testing. A few renewals and two new initial MOT’s.

I did R2-B00’s, built by farther and son.

And the second initial MOT, was carried out by Mr Lee Towersey. This was a club first as well.

B2-EM0

Checkout the video of B2-EM0 in action.

Congratulations to both builders on their droids passing and being added to the ever expanding community of Droids.

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Next up was the lucky dip which had some amazing prizes up for grabs & raised more than the two collection buckets put together!! There was Lego sets, posters, hats, t-shirts, key-rings and lots more. Big thanks to Clare and Mark.

The crowds didn’t abate and the sunshine just attracted more. Thanks to Helen and Sara for donation bucket duties, as well as parking organisers xx

Loads of positive comments from the public and lots of questions asked about droid building.

GRAND TOTAL RAISED ON THE DAY

£684.08

Including £100 via online donations

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Big thanks to all the builders who gave up (in some cases their whole weekend) to attend the event.

Nik, Matt, Jamie, Shaun, Mark, Clare, Emma, Andrew, Doug, Phil, Chris, Lee, John, Chris W, Paul, Sarah (TC-14), Loz, Dale, Andy, Helen, Ashleigh, Chris O, Susie, Glynn, lan.

(Don’t think I forgot anyone)

final bit: this could quite possibly be our last event held at the Mshed Museum. Due to the shed area being redeveloped by the museum for a new permanent exhibit. We won’t know for sure till later in the year, but we’ll keep you informed, on here or my YouTube channel 😎👍🏽

10 Year anniversary of R5’s build completion

As we like to say, no droid build is ever REALLY completed lol. But when all the pieces are there and he’s motorised & moving (and cleared), we call that the completed build stage.

2024 marks 10 years since I finished building R5!

That same year also marked his first event:

And some other milestones.

Two pairs of decorated shoes:

A pair of wedges for everyday wear

I also made some ‘droid callers’, which buzzed when button was pressed.

All the links to these other projects, can be found in the tabs at the top of the page, as they have their own Pages.

Welding machine: part 1

Welding was something my Dad did for a job and also for enjoyment, creating things. Back then he would have used a stick welder, later becoming proficient in MIG & TIG as well as larger equipment for his job.

He worked for a few companies:

• Welded Tanks (gone now, was by Templemeads train station).
• Ashton Gate.
• Fulton Boilers.

I was taught how to weld in my first year at college. But I learned a lot later from watching my Dad.

I have thought about getting a welding machine over the years, it’s definitely something that would come in handy lol. Then just before Christmas, my friend Paul said he was going to be selling the one he had been left by a friend of his, as he wasn’t likely to ever use it, what with time and learning. So after some thought, I said I would have it.

With the recent passing of my Dad, and inspection of his old garage, there’s a lot that needs clearing out……mostly metal lol. So I'm hoping to be able to make use of it.

There are a few things that require a welder, so this will definitely come in use.

Workbench upgraded: reorganisation of everything.

November : 

My workbench was becoming over crowded again and I needed to reorganise it. The back wall needed a larger area, so I combined two boards to increase the width. I then started adding shelves, utilising ones I already had. Using the items I had, I could space them better.

Unfortunately my garage door is an up and over, which limits how far shelves can go, due to the arc the door takes

I ordered some LEDs strip, but they aren’t bright enough to light the bench surface. But are ok just to illuminate the shelf’s. So another light source is needed. I did 3D print some brackets for the LEDs to fix too.

The bench was in transition when photo was taken lol. An unexpected project to service an Ender3 3D printer for a friend who was selling it as he’s upgrading. Swapped out the hot end for a new one, cleaned and dusted, checked belts and greased the lead screw (December 2023).

I started sorting out my boxes of screws, bolts, bits and pieces, electronics etc.

The magnifying LED light unit had to be removed from the bench, this is going to be relocated up off the bench.

The main problem with the bench was the lower shelf, in that the chair wouldn’t fit under it, which meant it stuck out and took up space. So using my angle grinder, I cut away a length of the angle before using my jigsaw to remove the wood, so it would fit under.

This makes it more comfortable to work at it. I refitted the small shelf and also added one below, this is now for the main storage (screws, bolts) boxes.

The second vice, I’m not sure about at the moment, using it to support the extra surface board is handy but also restrictive. So I’m thinking of rebuilding a soldering station in that area. The vice was simple enough to remove, so a soldering station idea is a future project.