Event - Feel The Force Day 2019 - unable to attend

For the first time since I started attending this great event, I'll not be able to go this year.
It's on the Saturday 5th October 2019.

Check out their website here.

Feel The Force Day 6 - Peterborough 2018 **Event Report**

Saturday 6th October


As usual R5 was already loaded up ready for an early start, driving up to Peterborough, for the 6th Feel the Force Day.

Arrived after a long drive up in the rain, thankfully access wasn't a distance to worry about with R5 out in the rain. I REALLY do need to get one of Lee's protective covers [update soon]. There were loads of costume/cosplay groups attending and on entering the main hall, I found Adam with his R2-D2 & also there was his Wall-E robot.

If you've not heard of this event (here in the UK) then check out their Website page, Facebook page, You Tube channel, Twitter & Instagram accounts for what they do and what it's all about.

Door's opened at 11am and everyone was glad to get in from the drizzel outside. There were lots of guests, there were stage performances from childrens dance and drama clubs.

R5 & R2 .....and Wall-E got lots of attention and except for Wall-E's head, are both able to take hugs and hands without worrying about possible damage.

I did manage to get some photos, posted already on my Instagram feed & Facebook page.

These are of course Star Wars related, but that was because these people wanted pictures with R5 lol. There were all kinds of costumes from all films & TV shows, young and old.

The event finished up at 6pm, but I had to leave earlier. Today was another great day for Feel the Force and heard so many positive comments about it from people walking around. Good luck for future events.

Upcoming Events - Autumn 2018

Not being able to attend many event's over the summer months, it's good to know that I've got a few booked in over the next few months.

There are a few that are on over two/three days, but due to family commitments, I'll only be able to attend these for one day, Saturday.

October is:

Feel The Force Day

To be confirmed, but hopefully R5 will be there on Saturday 6th, Peterbourgh. Other members to be confirmed, but this is such a great event that there's usually a few astromechs in attendance. It's not just Star Wars, its ALL across the Cosplay spectrum, with lots of great things going on. So check out the website for more info.

click logo for link

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Bristol Optimus Comic Con

Which is on for two days. Myself & Paul will be attending again with R5 & R2-D2 on the Saturday 20th only.

click logo for link

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Then the following weekend is:

MCM London Comic Con,

R5 will be there on the Saturday 27th only.

click logo for link

Joining other members of The UK R2D2 Builders Club!

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November:

MCM Birmingham Comic Con,

R5 will be there on the Saturday 24th only

click logo for link

Joining other members of The UK R2D2 Builders Club!

Then in December, a few weeks before Christmas, this year

there's the annual UK R2D2 Builders Club meetup.
Hopefully lots of photos to post up.

And then I've a very special event,

that I will post up about, after attending.

Feel The Force Day 5 - Peterborough 2017 **Event Report - Part 2**

There were stage shows on throughout the day, plus radio Peterborough were reporting live from the event.

As with most event's, we don't get time to take many pictures, but I did manage some of our mini area, including members of Joker Squad.

Agent Peggy Carter (Joker Squad) with R5

If I've told him once, I've told him a thousand times not to talk to strange droids.....

members of Joker Squad

R2-PHT & R5-D4

There were lots of people, some even dressing up for the event. The other side rooms had sense areas for touch and smell, as well as craft making area, Jedi training as well as lots more. The weather was great outside for people to look over the cars etc.

Standing up all day tho takes it's toll, and by 5pm myself and Glynn (R2-PHT) called time. Both having extremely long journeys home. Adam with his R2 & Wall-e, stayed till the end.

Another great time had by attending and people displaying/cosplaying alike. Check out their website link, for links to their Facebook page etc.

Feel The Force Day 5 - Peterborough 2017 **Event Report - Part 1**

Another fun packed day for all who attended.

I had loaded R5 up the night before as I wanted to be away early Saturday morning.

Quietly, up at 6am, out the door my 6:30am and on the long journey up to Peterborough.

Arrived around 10am and met up with Glynn & R2-PHT, Adam & his wife arrived not long after with his R2-D2 & Wall-e droid.

We were over in the 'Star Wars' corner along with Joker Squad.

There were crowds of people outside being entertained by costumed attendees & also the array of cars from films. American style police cars, classic & new, 'Bumblebee',

lowrider pickup truck as well as Mark's Podpad studio 95 Spider Batman inspired vehicle.

The doors opened at 11am, and the main area soon filled up.

....been a busy week plus weekend gone I had a special event to attend.

Feel The Force Day 5 - Peterborough 2017
Event Report - Part 2.......coming soon.

New Dome..... &... Feel the Force Day 5

So much for CAD 😄lol, if you don't have the tools to actually carry out the work in the 'real world' 😄 lol. So I used the plans I'd drawn up as a guide.....well, it worked for the last two domes. I have height dimensions etc to work to so it will all fit together 😊

But so far, it's coming together just fine. Just wish I had more spare time at the mo tho.

This pic was posted up on my Instagram feed, which is all Star Wars related stuff as well, no fillers lol.

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Feel the Force Day 5

click for link

is this coming Saturday 30th September.

So, check my Instagram, for pics on the day.

Full report next week........

Feel The Force Day 5 - Peterborough 2017

Just reminding you all about this event at the end of this month (here in the UK).

Feel the Force Day, is not just Star Wars, but covers film and theater and loads in between.
There will be costume groups from all over the UK, stalls, activities, sensory areas, famous guests as well as 'film' cars etc. Ive been able to attend the last few years and even as someone attending with a prop, I've had a great time, chatting to people, explaining things about R5. People who maybe visually impaired are able to touch items to better get an understanding of the objects being discribed to them etc, without the usually comments associated with some props..... 'sorry, you can't touch'.

Am looking forward to being part of and helping make this event another great day for attending visitors. R5 will be joining a few other UK R2D2 Builders Club members...........

Pictures from past event days.....

Ill also be trying to post pics on James R5D4 Instagram page if free for two minutes lol, but all pics will be posted up later in my event report and on R5's Facebook page.

'R5-D4 - Events page 2017'

I didn't think I would have many events to attend this year,

but I do have two more penciled in.

These have been added to my new

R5-D4 - Events page 2017

page tab at the top of my Blog page.

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Click on the logo's below to take you to these sites for news and more info.

Feel the Force Day - Peterborough

September 2017

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Leamington Spa Wars

December 2017

Both events will be attended by the UK R2D2 Builders Club

Feel The Force Day - Peterborough 2016 **Event Report**

Another early start to the day, and another long journey from Bristol to Peterborough, but all in a good cause!

Feel the Force Day website link

On arriving, there was a crowd of people queuing up and also having photo's taken with a host of attending costumers. Stormtroopers, the Movie group prop cars, Batman to name some. Mark was there, I got to briefly chat to him, with his Steampunk 'Tumbler' (inspired from Batman).

There were so many people at the entrance, we joined other costumers using a side entrance to get R5 inside. Big thanks to Emma for helping.

This is what Feel the Force is about.
This young man spent about 10 minutes, touching R5, listening to him beep.

R2 leads the way

This is the crowd as we entered the main arena. I had to stand and wait for about 10mins as R5 was getting so much attention.

Adam & his R2D2 made their way though to where his set up was, but the main stage.

Princess Leia meets R2

Lara wasn't to impressed with Hacker T Dog's antics lol

But he did want his picture with R5......good doggy lol

Hacket T Dog website link to CBBC

R5 & R2 do play nicely with each other.......sometimes lol

Wookie's

More love for R5....

awkward moment.....move along.....move along.......phew!

Pikachu! And not a 'Go' in sight! lol

Adam take's WALL-E out for a spin

There was a lifesize toy box from The Force Awakens, this was a great hit with everyone!

And of course R5 had to have his picture taken......tho this took about 10mins as everytime I was about to get him out his box, somebody elase wanted to take his picture lol.

R5-D4 toy boxed

It was another long, but great day! I had to leave about 5 as traveling back home and evening plans. Big thanks to Emma for her help, spotting etc.

Check out the website via the link at top, look forward to seeing you next year.

Feel The Force Day - Peterborough 2016

October 1st see's Feel the Force Day return

Feel the Force Day website

What is Feel the Force Day?

Feel the Force Day events are film and TV conventions with a difference. We design our events around disabled people and make them as accessible as possible. We understand access does not just mean a disabled loo and a ramp, it’s about attitude, contact and all the subtle things that make things easier.

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Loads of costuming groups will be attending & I'm able again to attend this year with R5.

Check out their website for loads more about what's happen.

R5's list of repairs, not just a Bad Motivator!

R5 is pretty dependable, I know that everything is reliable, won't break and will run/work every time.

He still get's a regular once over, nut's checked, battery's charged, wire connections checked etc every few weeks, even though he doesn't get out much lol. And of course, he gets all this done pre an event.

So I was a bit lost when:

• The dome rotation would 'catch' on something now and then??
• The smoke system wouldn't produce any smoke, tho the pump was working??
• Sound 3 (sad sound) stopped working, but the other sounds were OK??

So once home, I started to look into the above issues.

The first one was one of the three dome mounting bolts, had unscrewed and dropped down, so catching on the rotation rings mounting screws. Phew! A drop of thread lock and this was sorted.

As for the sound issue.....?

It worked once on testing, but then failed to repeat, So this will require me taking out the whole sound board to be able to test with my PC. And due to limited time due to family and attending next event in a weeks time, I didn't want to take it all out to then not be able to fix, to then have to re-fit it again. Just a waste of time!

And finally, the smoke.....or lack of it lol.

The pump's fixing (sticky pad) had come loose, handy, so I disconnected the power, and removed the system. On testing it, the pump was OK, just no smoke. On removing the tube from the e-cig, I found that the positive contact wire had come loose from it's solder point. Therefore, no connection = no smoke.

Lucky for me tho I had a new unit already made up (made last year). I wanted to make an easy to work on unit, for removing etc. So I mounted the pump & e-cig onto a new mini board and screwed this to the inside frame. This way there will be less strain on the e-cig contacts, due to bending when filling it up each time.

New smoke system unit

New smoke system unit installed

 All fixed and ready for his next trip out,

Feel the Force Day, Peterborough, October 1st 2016

'R0' dome build - 1.4 'Neck Skin' fitting

Tuesday 20th April
Missed measured the outer skin width, so needed to trim it down by 3mm. As I don't have a dremel cutting wheel, it was out with the metal cutting saw blade (used for cutting metal, but the teeth are small enough not to tear the wood).

 Bout 25mins later, I'd finished.

Next, was positioning the neck strip so the join would be at the back. I measured up from the bottom edge 10mm and then evenly spaced out the panel pins. I put a few more into the end of the strips where they joined.

As you can see from the last picture, the strip end still doesn't want to curve to the frame just yet.

Event - Feel The Force Day - 2015 **The Day in pictures**

Click pic for FTFD home page

......'What an amazing event!!'

For those who may not of heard of 'Feel the Force',

Welcome to Feel the Force Day. Truly unconventional conventions. Feel the Force Days are film and TV conventions designed for disabled people. We found over many years that film and TV conventions are just not able to enable full access to the subject they promote.

.......website quote

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click logo for upto date info from their FaceBook page

** Over 4500 visitors **

R5 was loaded up Friday for an early start Saturday morning. Up at 6am, out the door by 7am for the drive up to Peterborough. From Bristol it's just over 2 hours 40mins drive [with no stops lol].

On arriving, I was greeted by a Delorean, Lightning McQueen, an LAPD squad car, a Mr Stay Puff Marshmallow man & more.

Click pic for conference centre

I managed to park close to tarmac, as the car parking area was stones. Assembled R5 in what has to of been the quickest time EVER lol, thanks to the new sled. Batteries in and hooked up, dome on & locked down, R5's Battery boxes on, powered up, rear hatch on.....10 mins tops!

We rolled up and through the entrance area and into the main room, where I found Adam Strawson with his R2 Unit & Wall-E droid.

Wall-E:......just keep moving, they may not see me...

Other costume groups were already set up and entertaining the early arrivals. Door's 'opened' at 11am. The droids had their fare share of new friends and were interacting with them all, with their sounds and utility arms :).

This was the pic I tweeted...

The great thing about this event is that people CAN touch the props! To be able to help someone by describing parts of R5 and where they originally came from, what happens to him in the film etc. One young girl in a motorised wheelchair was playing chase with R5 :) Other people just wanted to touch and feel, which was good as with R5 being made from wood, his skin textured had imperfections in :)

There was so much to see, touch, hear and sense [smell section] that everyone could take part. Feel the Force Day's twitter account was very much alive over the weekend with positive feedback.

Was a really good day, with lots to see and do for guests, there were also stage shows, Jedi fight scene and more. So check out their website for updates, pictures and videos on their You Tube channel for more of the day.