Screen accurate R5 eyes - found part by OpenR2

Over on the R2 Discord chat, OpenR2 member raised the question about R5’s eye sensor not being like the ‘club spec standard’ design but actually being conical.

As with lots of items used in the original trilogy, unusual looking things from everyday items were used in different ways. OpenR2 showed a high resolution image of R5’s eye and the shape/shadows showed it to be conical and not the stepped look us club members have been using all these years. As stated above, a lot of the droid greeblies & even Boba Fett's costume and jet pack, in fact came off  vinyl record decks, specifically a Transcriptor Hydraulic Reference Turntable .

He posted up the high res pictures and the turntable, similar to the one below.

Items also (possibly) used that match is the vinyl sweep brush which resembles R5’s antenna.

I have always found the search for these found items to be of great interest, so this was something that I had to follow up on. Online searches revealed the record deck's history and more [see Transcriptor link above].

So using the 3D CAD model I had already drawn up years ago, I started on modifying a version to match that of the image supplied by OpenR2.

Creating a 3D Knurl:

I also had to find out how to draw up a knurled effect. Previous jobs have only required the superimposed image of a knurl, but I needed the actual knurl for 3D printing. I found a quick tutorial on YouTube which helped put me in the right direction as to which creative option to use, 'coil'. Once one groove was created, I then copied in 'circular' to multiply around the diameter. Next was to create a new 'work plane', and offset it half the distance of the knurled with. I then mirrored the original 'circular' grouping and this created the opposite grooves to create the knurled effect.

The above image was version (attempt) 'd' or 'e' lol.
Eventually settled on version 'F'

Prusa account: Link openr2-r5-d4-original-eyes

Throwback to 2013:

Wow…..10 years ago I had finished machining up two of the three eye pieces that would have the spy holes lens units fitted.

Here’s the link: R5-D4’s Eyes - update

Back to 2023 and here are the new more realistic eye pieces.

And here they are being painted.

Next up was to cut out some opaque plastic that I had salvaged from a flat screen monitor. This was placed in the recess after the rear part of the original eye piece was fitted through from the front. Then I pushed in a cabochon into each one.

These were then re-fitted back into the dome, and secured in place. I then hot glued the original LED’s back behind them.

Really happy with the new look.

Check these out at #celebrationeurope2023 next week 😎👍🏽

Remembering Jeremy Bulloch

 May the 4th

…is always a special day for Star Wars and this year will be the first since covid restrictions, that people will be able to celebrate it out in the open, so to speak.

There are events planned at stores etc across the UK, so keep your eyes open when out and about.

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On a more somber note, the fourth, will also be the auction of Jeremy Bulloch’s estate:

Jeremy played amongst other characters over his acting career, Boba Fett! The original, first seen in The Empire Strikes Back.

The proceeds from this auction of many items, will benefit Parkinson’s UK, the disease Jeremy had been suffering with before his passing.

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I met Jeremy a few times since first meeting him back in 2010, when my Son was a big Boba Fett fan. He was attending CorshamSciFi. He was really chatty with him and myself. He was only the second person I had met, Dave Prowess being the first and later Richard LeParmentier.

My last meeting with him was to show him R5 that i had made since our first meet. He kindly accepted having his photo taken.

For full bio of Jeremys life and career, click the link to Wikipedia.

BBC news link to completed event:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-61325723?fbclid=IwAR3HPJSZiCEaM4zQy1zmRiIm_5jx_EyDWn_SsOSOYGYwdMrSjscFV5PM2B8

When you post a meme up on Twitter

The other day i had a light bulb 💡 moment 😄 when someone asked me about Christmas and that I was actually thinking about after it and the new

Book of Boba Fett.

And I then heard Drake mention on the radio….. I put the two together and came up with this ….. 😄

Added a few #hashtags and booom!

More likes than anything I’ve posted before lol 😄😄😄😄😄

Jeremy & Dave - December 2020 RIP

 December 17th 2020, we lost another original member of the Star Wars films. Jeremy Bulloch.

I met both Jeremy & Dave Prowess over the years attending events with R5. Dave Prowess was the first or the two I met at a shop signing/opening ’MOSS’ , back in 2008. Being a fellow Bristolian, it was a must to go and see him. I then saw him whilst attending events at Corsham Sci-Fi.

Jeremy I also first met at a Corsham event in 2010. My young Son was very excited to be able to meet him although i think he may of been expecting to see him in his Mandalorian armour. He wasn’t disappointed tho as someone was there on the day wearing some. Jeremy was very warm and generous with his time when chatting. I met him again a few years later at Collectormania 22, after completing R5 & he was gracious enough to have his picture taken with him.

I feel privileged to have been able to of met them both & that I have signed photos to add to the memories.