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

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.

Throw back Thursday - 1

Just posted this up on Instagram, so thought I'd share.

Throw back to my first event attended with R5's.

He was still a work in progress and didn't even have a dome lol.

Dome was brought along and borrowed for R5 by my new fried Ian,

with his R4-1J droid.

The end R6 droid was Mark's from PodPadStudios.

Above grab from 'james_r5d4' account

Shout out to Jedi News!

Corsham Sci-Fi 2016.....????

One event, local to me, that I look forward to attending, is Corsham's Sci-Fi day in April.
This event & the group, raise lots of money for local charities.

But it looks like this year the event will be taking a break.

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I first attended the event back in 2010 with my family and it was a big hit with them all!
Plenty to see and do, even the non-sci-fi wife was 'happy' lol.

2013 was R5's first time at the event, headless and motionless lol.
Tho Ian, brought and lent me his R3 clear dome.

2014 was R5's second year attending and this year he was fully assembled.
Another great event.

2015 was R5's third time an this time he was fully operational!

I look forward to the event returning soon.

Corsham Sci-Fi 2015 - event report & photos

Had another great time at this local event. This was R5's third year of attending but his very first event with all his systems operating. Feet motors, dome rotation and sound.
(His bad motivator and smoke system are extras still W.I.P. lol). 

The event was supported by lots of costume groups. Southern Troopers, Milton Keynes Garrison, exewing group, 1st Sensory legion (link) to name a few. Plus all the great guests; Dave Prowse, Mike Edmonds, Femi Taylor, Trevor Butterfield, Danny John-Jules and others....

There was plenty to entertain the kids too. A fancy dress competition with two age groups, this was not for us lol, just the public :). There were making stuff area, stalls and other displays, like the Alien heavy load lifter & Alien, also an endo terminator skeleton. And opposite, the appropriately name 'Skynet' satalite company stall lol.

R5 had lots of pictures taken by the public and group pics with Jedi & Stormtroopers alike lol

 Event opening

 All of these photo's were taken by my Son :)

Mark Enwright was there with his collection of droids and other props. Is always good catching up and getting build tips for tech looking things that are simple to make and don't cost the earth! He was also promoting his new company that he's set up turning a hobby for making props into a business. See his link at bottom of page.

R5 joined up with Mark of PodPad Studios, and his collection (only a few came today) of droids from Zoe, Izzy (Steampunk), K9 Borg, CID & his latest piece Bubo (from Clash of the Titans)


UK R2 Builders Club member, Paul, popped in too & was good to chat bout build stuff etc. Plus another builder, who’s name I've forgotten (sorry) also stopped to chat.

The main room quietened out in the afternoon, which isn't a bad thing as the droids got to roam a bit more. Loads of photos were taken and questions asked about building droids etc.

The event has even been in the local press, link here.

Day finished at four PM, and as I started to load R5 up, the rains came. The amount raised was split four ways with each charity receiving over £600 each!

Check out the groups at these links below:

Southern Troopers

MK Garrison

Exewing group

PodPad Studios

Corsham Sci-Fi 2015 - update

yesterday was another great day for the Charity Sci-Fi group. Lots of fun, lots to see and do, great guests as well. My Son did a great job of taking photos of event go'ers and guests and even managed a few selfies with them too lol. Lots of pics and more to come soon.

The amount raised was split between three charities.

R5's prep'ed ready for Corsham Sci-Fi day 2015

An early night tonight! R5 is loaded and ready for transporting to Corsham tomorrow (Saturday 25th).

The plan is to have fun, take pics and video as well as try an give Twitter updates lol, So if you'd like to see whats happening, find R5 on Twitter here @JamesR5D4 :)

*** Corsham Sci-Fi Day 2015 ***

R5-D4's first event of 2015

Motor's = check

Dome motor = check

Sounds.......sort of.... check

(thought I'd posted this, but with all the sound system work, I'd forgot!)

** Events for 2015 with R5-D4 **

Am really looking forward to attending events this year!

Some, for the first time with R5 being fully movable, feet and dome!!

Some (possibly) with sound and motivator/smoke action lol.

Charity Sci-Fi Day - Saturday May 25th - Corsham

Collectormania 23 - Saturday/Sunday 13th/14th June - Milton Keynes
[only Saturday for R5]

Feel the Force Day - Saturday October 10th - Peterbourgh [TBC]

Chippenham Sci-Fi - Saturday October 24th

All of these events have facebook & web pages, so go check them out.

Look out for R5 and say hi :)

*** Corsham Sci-Fi family fun day 2014 ***

Friday night, R5 was loaded into back of car and strapped into place. Along with his transport platform (just in case) toolbox (well, you never know lol) & Giles extension reel from Fleet, last year.

Then Saturday morning, Jay and myself, bags packed, set off on the not so long journey down the M4 to Bath, then on to Corsham.

On entering the schools hall, past the stalls, there......at the back of the main hall......was Mark's droids.......oh.......AND A 'Stargate!' Wow, its big!!!

I unloaded R5 from his platform with Jacob's assistance :). And set him up, along with his new display board.

And turned on his dome eye sensor LED's. Now we're in business!
The guest were already arriving, Darth Vader and the others were setting up and chatting with 'group members'. Giles & Artoojayzero were all present and correct and was going to give Marks collection of Astromech's a friendly run for their money lol.
(Marks droid collection = Emy, Zoe, CID & K9)

The event was opened by Darth Vader himself, AKA Dave Prowse.

R5 got some love from the guests (even as just a static display) and was flattered when someone actually asked if he was the REAL R5 from the film?!?! Lol, she was old enough to not spoil the illusion of it when i told her and her brother, that no, it wasn't and that I'd built it. They did seem genuinely impressed tho and went to ready up on my build via display board.......it work's! People did read the info and one or two people scanned the QR codes. Artoojayzero likes the board idea, tho with an R2 shape lol. I was asked by lots of people about the Droids, as the other builders were off playing lol, about build material, costs etc. One excited lady came over as her Brother had also built an Astromech, but wasn't a member of the Club. We chatted and have invited him to come and join the group, fingers crossed :-).

R5 lens flare, eat your heart out JJ Abrams, lol

The lovely Sarah Louise Madison.

(Dr Who - Weeping Angle)

Members of the SG1 team & Stargate.

Built by Podpad Studio

R5 was invited to attend Chippenham sci-fi, 25th October 2014.

The visitors are encouraged to come in costume and they did! There are Dr's, Predators, Batman, Terminators, Twi'lek Jedi (little girls costume was awesome!) Everyone had a great time and the day raised over £4K.

There are more photos on Facebook popping up so keep an eye out and if you see R5, let me know lol. Thanks

First transport is almost away...... Corsham Sci-Fi Charity Family Fun Day 2014

Just finished loading up R5 into the boot of the Zafira and the rest of him and tools. The transport platform I finished off yesterday, to move R5 over uneven surfaces etc is also packed in. My new display board packed.

My Son is coming with, though will join his friends when they arrive later. When asked if he'd like to come with me to help set up, he was very excited......but in a mature way lol.

R5 signing off now...........

Display Board for R5 - 1.1

I've seen droid designated display board in event pics on the internet. And what with Corsham only this Saturday, I thought I'd leave it to the last minute to make my own hahahaha :D

This board was going to be for R5's electrical components, but hay, saves me time ;).

As it's for R5-D4, I drew up his head in simple design and cut it out. I was just going to leave it simple, but I found some metal components that I added as R5's main eye details lol.

The support I found was just the right size, so that was drilled and screwed onto the back at an off-set to give the display an angle.

The lot will then be painted white.

R5's transportation platform 1.1

I've decided to make R5 a platform for moving him from car to event. After the difficulty I had at Fleet Air Arm Museum's car park surface last year, it would be easier if the platform took the brunt of the possible rough surfaces. It would also be easier to move/steer.

I salvaged a set of 4 wheels (x2 with swivel casters) from a discarded cabinet. The x2 swivel  wheels bushes were shot so had to bin them, but its a start.

Using a piece of 18mm thick plywood, I measured out a suitable size area for R5 to be mounted to. I cut, drilled and screwed to pieces of wood to act as stops for the outer wheel front casters. I then found some 'U' aluminium channel that the scooter wheels fit in. I cut these, drilled and screwed these down next.

I didn't get to mount the fixed casters as I have run out of M8 bolts, these will screw into M8 T-nut's that will be installed. This is a job for Tuesday.

I dont want the platform to be to high off the ground, so after seeing a similar platform, the fixed casters are going to be 'recessed' into it. Measured and marked holes out. Then got to drilling and cutting out with jigsaw. Next I bolted the casters into place.

I was going to put casters on the front....no.....rear of the platform, but after thinking about it and the fact with no brakes, R5 could do a runner, I've decided to just put a 'rest' to the back face.
That's next stage.....

Hopefully I'll have it finished by April 26th 2014, Corsham Sci-Fi Fun Day.

*** Corsham Charity Sci-Fi Day 2014 ***

R5-D4, Artoojayzero (UK  R2-D2 Builders) & friends, will be at Corsham.

Come on down and check out all things Sci-Fi!

Check out their website and FaceBook pages.
*** Latest, the council have suspended parking fee's for the day! ***
*** So FREE parking will be available ***