UK R2D2 Builders Club - Summer 2019

For the second year members from all over the UK & some from over seas,

joined up for the Builders Event of the year.

 UK R2D2 Builders Club Weekend 2019 

This event is for the builders (& families) to attend and spend (for some) the weekend, catching up, introduction to new members, looking at & talking about Astromech etc.

There were presentation talks given by fellow members of the club on programming, 3D drawing & printing as well as some special guests, some of whom you will probably of seen at conventions, and also on there You-Tube channels etc. Lee Towersey & Matt Denton to name drop just two. There was also a live link-up with some of Americas fellow R2 Builders!

It was a great opportunity to meet club members who some have only met on-line or at events attended by the club. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend, due to family holiday, so no photos, though these can be found on the public accessible Facebook club page.


New Droids: Astromech's, BB8's, a few MSE-6's (mouse droids) and just a few 'A-LT Utility Droids'.

Now, for those not in the know, these were first seen (very briefly) & used on the film 'Rogue One'. These are track driven droids unlike the wheeled Astromechs.

They were then re-purposed for use on 'Solo - a Star Wars Story' and can be seen on Dryden Vos's ship the 'First Light'.......

PA-LT4

..........as well as in the Pyke control centre on Kessel (below pictures & links).

P6B-LT2

T1M8-LT2

These 1:1 scale droids have become a little bit famous in the R2 building community and thanks to Mr Baddeley designing up a smaller scaled version, builders were able to 3D print and remote control them.....for a spot of racing lol. For more, check out the UK R2 Builders Club, via Facebook. There's also a video over on Fantha tracks, You Tube page.

Mr Baddeley also has a Facebook page for his 3D work. So check it out if your interested in seeing more of his and others work.

Birmingham MCM Comic Con - Saturday 23rd March 2019 - Event Report

(2.4.19)
Early to rise for this one, 6am. Arrived and after the usual gaining an 'unloading ticket pass', unloaded & found the display stand that we would be joining with the other groups.

After the pre-event meeting, where all the groups under the 501st banner, went through the list of things to happen etc throughout the weekend, we returned to the stand to finish setting everything up ready for the event to open.

Lots of work in progress, from 3D printed to wood build and more.

Rebels pilots with her the Princess herself

Public view of the droids

Pre parade photo's. The parade (on the Saturday) started by the groups getting into order and then proceding outside to then re-enter further up the convention centre. We decided that it would be easier for us to drive up on the inside and join the parade as they re-entered the Hall.

These photo's were taken as we waited to join the parade.

 Getting ready to join the parade when they re-entre the Hall.

Us & Amanda, after the parade, about to join the lineup for the group photos.

And here we are in the photo lineup with everyone.

I don't have a picture of us IN the lineup though lol

The rest of the afternoon, was much like the rest of the day, public photos, chatting about the droids and about the group & about our chosen charity, that all the groups associated with the 501st, had kindly supported with collecting for over the weekend.

This charity was for Menigitis Now.

 click above image to link to the charity website and to Joanna's story

Fanthatracks interviewed Ian about the charity and about Joanna.

click here to watch the interview over on their You Tube channel.

photo credit to George

Thanks to Disney Lucasfilms, these prints, created by Paul Wiz Johnson, where produced for the club members who's droids appeared in the film 'Rogue One'.

These are available to Club members

& are now signed by the operators of the droids from the film.

Also recieving the interview treatment was Lee,
with this mini DeAgostini  droid, that is being raffeled for the charity.

Click the link below to the Justgiving if you would like to enter,
as all entrey's go towards Meningitis Now, thank you.

Justgiving.com/R2-D2

And here's the interview made by Fanthatracks, via You Tube channel.
Click this link to view: Win R2-D2 built by droid builder Lee Towersey

As the day started to draw to a close, I wanted to get a good picture of R5 with his R4 dome on. So swapped them over and here he is.

Another great, fun day spent with everyone. Interacting with the public is great and makes the traveling worth it. I was only able to attend the one day, for the others there was a meal & a groups party on the evening & then day two to look forward too.

But when the event closed its doors, it was time for me to pack up and load the car up.
This now leads me onto my Dome Bag idea, so check that out here.

My next event was a local one, South Bristol's Comic Con,
check out my event report & photos here.

My next event will be over in Cardiff @ Techniquest,
on Saturday May the 4th!
for event details click here.

Fantha Tracks @ MCM Birmingham Comic con - March 18th 2018

Sunday afternoon, after the parade,

we bumped into Matt & Martin from Fantha Tracks.

Always good catching up with the guys as they are very informative

and up on what's in the news of Star Wars.

Here's a link to Sunday's You Tube video they posted up yesterday.

Check out their website for all their other social media links.