Motor repair work - Pittman dome motor

Mike asked me if I could take a look at his dome motor as the wires had got caught and broke, right at the point of the housing. He had already taken the motor apart, it was just the brush housing that needed to come apart to gain access to the wire contacts.

I wasn’t able to look at it properly before the weekend, so took my tools with me to the Christmas event to attempt it’s repair.

It’s not pretty, but it was the best I could do. The wires are connected to ‘pressed in tabs’, so I had to use the remains of the original wire connected to them to be able to solder the broken wires back on. The short red and black wires are the original broken short parts of the wires, once connected these were trimmed off to allow the upper part of the housing to fit together.

The springs were repositioned first, behind the brush heads, and then the upper housing was reattached, whilst my middle finger held the now sprung loaded bushes, back whilst inserting the motors shaft between them……phew!

The above was learned after the third attempt at re-assembly lol.

Once reassembled, Mike tested the motor and it worked fine. Another notch added to my repair list lol.

Event Report: Droid Builders UK Christmas meet 2022

The day came (Saturday) and Mike picked me up at 7:30am, for the drive up London way.

This was the first time I hadn’t taken R5, as most people have seen him and wood isn’t what people are into these days 😢, so decided to just take up latest projects. WED-15 build and the new top secret project build 🤫🤫🤫.

YouTube video of the day

can be viewed here.

Unfortunately there were a few unable to attend due to the weather and ill health. Best wishes to them for a speedy recovery.

The usual suspects did make it, Lee, Sam, Giles lol. The eBay sales added to the raffle on the day to raise funds for our good charity cause.

Doug & Mark gave me a hand in helping to sort out a few problems with a droid. All hands to help, all minds figuring out problem solving.

We had droid racing, check out the video, droid builds, maintenance, seeing new work done since last time. We weren’t able to have an after event meal as everywhere was booked, so we had McD’s for lunch 😂👍🏽

Droid Builders UK Christmas meet 2022 coming soon!!

 

Calling all UK Droid Builder’s, (& fellow world wide builders who may be in the UK at the time) the annual Christmas builders meet is coming!

Are you Signed up on the portal???

Checkout www.droidbuilders.uk

* non UK builders who maybe visiting the UK, wishing to attend, but not on the portal, get in contact for further details about how to attend *

# Get to meet fellow builders,

# chat and ask questions,

# find out ‘how too’,

# there will be all types of droids,

# finished and work in progress,

from 3D printed, aluminium, wood and styrene and everything in between.

There are time trials around the droid course, testing your (droids) agility lol. (TBC)

Lots of laughs guaranteed. Web linked for non attendees to view on the DBUK YouTube channel (see link below)

So checkout the website link above for full event details.

And the: Droid Builders YouTube channel (click link)

South West Builders 2021 events compilation

 With 2021 done with,

the guys asked me to

compile a short video

montage of the events

we were able to

attend this year.

It was great getting out with these

guys & girls and being able to

brighten peoples days with

meeting the droids.

Here’s to more in 2022!

We already have a few dates/events penciled in, some local #Bristol,

Others a bit further away.

If your interested in building a

droid, check out:

www.astromech.net

www.astromech.info (uk)

www.droidbuilders.uk (uk)

…as well as on Facebook & YouTube.

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 😄😄😄😄😄

Event report: Christmas Club Meet 2021

 

What a day!!!

Prior to the meeting/event starting, members had carried out COVID testing 👏🏽

(some members weren’t able to attend unfortunately, because they had already tested positive 😕, though all are well).

Big thanks to you and everyone for thinking of others, hopefully you were able to watch the live streaming and be still part of the day’s events.

Myself and Mike B were up early and were first to arrive at the venue to find Sam just unlocking the doors. Our early arrival was to be able to help set things up. We didn’t have to worry though as others had traveled down and had stayed over the night before.

Not long after, Lee arrived and we all set about unloading his car and setting up the 39.1% race track. Picture below:

The 39.1% A-LT race track being assembled

Yes, Mark T is wearing PJ’s lol
(He was fully dressed underneath)

Next up was the, above picture, cool display stand, brought along by Giles’s R.

As the official 10am start time drew close, more members arrived. Paul F with his Tire 2, R2-D2.

The test track had people testing their ‘driving skills’ with the really fast 39.1% droids. The surface doesn’t help being polished lol so controlling them was NOT easy.

Video of the racing, seen in these pictures, can be viewed on my YouTube channel, see link below.

Check out my YouTube channel for my video highlights of the day.

And…..also watch the day’s events via the Droid Builder’s YouTube channel for the recorded live stream of the day.

The day was for builders, old and new and not just Astromech’s. We had pit droids, a Christmas Gonk droid as well as Mr Baddeley’s custom design builds, including his massive RC controlled, Jawa Sandcrawler!

Some of Mr B’s other attending projects.

There were some emotional moments as we remembered the untimely passing of Pedge, who we had been raising funds for. He succumbed to his illness, Motor Neurone Disease 😞

There was a 1 minute clap in remembering him and his positivity right up to the end.

This is one of the three parches that were made as part of fundraising for Pedge.

Click on the link to watch Pedge’s interview with Sam & Lee

The second moment was for Lawrence ‘Loz’. He suffered a stroke. He was in the process of building a styrene R2, but was unable to finish it. So members organised LozCon and attended a day of building and construction of Loz’s R2 body. He was in attendance to say thank you to everyone who had helped and supported him and ghat he wished he had been a member of the group sooner as he loved it.

He presented two (3D printed) medals to the two organisers as recognition and thank you.

Steve as a great looking Lobot.

Loz, taking a rest next to R2 & R2-KT, who has been mostly assembled by Olivier S.

Mini R5-D4, one of Mr Baddeley’s.

The after/evening started to wind down as those with further to travel headed home. There was money raised for charity, a few MOT’s were carried out, by Darren P. A well needed meeting of people, some we’ve not seen since the last Xmas event which was a few years back now, pre-COVID!

Laughs and memories were shared & even a few surprise guests attended, Amanda W & Stuart B, was REALLY good to see them and a nice surprise.

Someone left there mobile phone, but hadn’t gone far before realising…..am sure they appreciated the group photos left on it lol :D

Lastly for those able to, there was an evening meal at a local restaurant, before myself and Mike said our goodbyes and headed off back home to Bristol.

Another great time had by all.

Check out the video links for more content of the day. Please like thumbs up and share with those who are interested.

Thanks to everyone who attended and here’s to more events next year.

Happy Holiday’s

Merry Christmas……..

From myself and R5-D4

Droid Builders UK - The Final Leg

 

• Are you after some cool droid stickers from UK club events?
• How about a 2021 calendar featuring droids from the club?

 

[limited stock available]

Then check out the website [click above image] for all these and more!

~~~

Special attention should be taken to the raffle:

2021 Holiday Special Raffle- use the link below and ensure you leave your name so we can add you to the raffle in December. Cost is £1 / $1 / €1 per entry. Check out the prizes via the link.....

www.droidbuilders.uk/raffle 

 ..................and don't forget your Holiday Special stickers:

Christmas Card 2019 - Lee Towersey

Received this cool Christmas card from Lee. As I wasn’t able to attend the group’s Xmas event on Saturday, he kindly popped it in the post.

The card was designed by Topps artist, Marsha Parkins and features a number of droids Lee has worked with over the last few years on the films.

The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, Solo a Star Wars story to name drop just three lol.

Marsha has a few socials, Facebook etc, but checkout her gallery over on Deviant Art:

www.deviantart.com/marshaparkins/gallery

UK R2D2 Builders Christmas Event December 2018 - Event Report

Last years Xmas 2018 event was again hosted by Sam,

making all the arrangements for the venue and

assisted by early birds helping set things up.

The event was live streamed for club members on FaceBook page.

Link to some of the photos taken on the day, viewable on the

club’s Facebook page:

Fellow Bristolian Paul, offered to drive us up in his Transporter. So once loaded up, we set off on up to London way.

Early arrivals had helped set up the test track (link to video posted up by Jedi News UK), that was seen at the 1st UK R2 Builders Weekend last year.

There were quite a few droids in attendance as well as two stall's selling Star Wars related items. One of these was Amanda, with her amazing art work! Awardart (click for link).

On with the photos.....

This is the time trial test track.

Purly for fun...although yes, it did get compettative lol

If you've not clicked on the video link above. There are two sections of the course to complete. Each section has pressure pads which light up Green for a successful centre pad press or red for a fail. You then had to negotiate the course, not hitting the wrong sensor arms. The course returns back to the middle, under the clock timer,

before carrying on to the second part of the course.

The clock stops when you hit the last sensor arm.

Oooooh what has Santa brought us lol. Well, on the far table was some of Michael Baddeley 3D printed work. He also did a presentation on the cad software he uses and demonstrated his work.
If your into 3D stuff then check out his work at this link Mr Baddeley @ patreon.com .

My table full of stuff, R0-D4 dome, R4-D4 dome, R5-D4 dome and body

Ian's droid

As part of the club's insurance, we carry out MOT inspections on the droids so that they are 'safe' for event's. This covers structual, sharp edges, electrical & transmitter fail safe operation. As part of the MOT crew, a few of these were carried out on the day, including WIP's & renewals. The benefits also extend to more 'interesting' oppertunities!

Alden Ehrenreich popped in to say 'Hi' as he's an old friend don't you know.... lol.

......no it's not a cardboard cutout....it's really him!!! :D

aaaaah forgot I'd posted this picture as well :D

Just like old times......

~~~~~

There was a special presentation of a charity cheque presented to fellow club member Mr Yates for the Menengitis Now.

And finally there was the usual group photo.

Half of the attending members were heading out for a booked meal afterwards, but myself & Paul had to head off. Another great day spent with a great bunch of people!

Looking forward to the next event. Details coming soon.......

UK R2D2 Builders Christmas Event December 2018

So, this Saturday, UK builders from across the country

will be attending the annual Builders Christmas meet.

The day is open to all builders from beginners to not so beginners lol.

With Astromech's, Chopper droids, BB8's,

mouse droids, just to mention a few!

There will be talks, lots of droids for everyone to check out,

ask questions etc and generally catch up with everyone.

Am really looking forward to this!

And the Boonta Training Course lol...

checkout the video link by clicking on the picture below

Here's a pic from last years meet.

I'll post up an event report next week along with loads of pictures, I hope.

Also, checkout the Clubs Facebook page,

Twitter might get a few mentions,

Instagram for photos

For club members only, the event will again be streamed live,

via the Facebook page (TBC).