Coming to the end of this Blog….

[15/3/2024] I have been documenting my R5-D4 build since 2011!!

As the title above states, after 15 years,

I feel it's time to call it a day!

I started writing this 'coming to the end' post back in 2024..... it's now August 2026!!!

This Blog started to show the progress of building my all wood R5-D4. Builders were/are encouraged to document their builds over on the Astromech forum, to help new builders understand building practices for their own droid.

You can read up on my builder profile on the DBUK page.

The Blog grew to include additional projects:

• Wood built R0-D4 & R4-D4 dome’s
• Designing and building R5's 'Bad Motivator' system.
• Wood built a GOUD-4 messenger droid from Solo.
• Designed and made my own Dome storage/carry bag.
• Developing and printing lots of 3D items (see link below).
• Trading cards featuring R5-D4 and his other aliases.
• Events attended over the years, all over the country, check out my YouTube video channel.
• Jabba’s gate build with Mike and 3D printing and building TT-8L Y7 droid, for Celebration Europe 2023
• My Treadwell WED-15-77.

Check the page links at top of Blog

I’ve also documented my 3D Printing progress from novice to advanced. Little 3D projects and not so little ones lol. As well as wood and metal working too.

• 3D files available free via Prusa, originally uploaded to Thingiverse and a few others, all are now transferred onto the Prusa one.
• Even had an Etsy shop for some of my creations, this was closed at the end of March 2024.
• I designed and had a patch run of my own design for R5.
• I had stickers too, design based on the patch as well as special stickers for events.

James' R5-D4 designed and produced, patch

I’ve had the privilege to be a member of and represented the UK R2-D2 Builders Club , in a few very high profile public events. 'Force Friday', Legoland Windsor etc.

The Club has also expanded into the Droid Builders UK club, encompassing ALL types of droids, and not just Star Wars.

~~~~~~~~~~<=====>~~~~~~~~~

Some people will of seen, but probably not of been aware of R5 as he was in disguise lol, in three ‘celluloid outings’. See the IMDB link below 😉.

These have led to R5 being immortalised as a toy, three times, as well as my name appearing in the credits of two of the three film productions. IMDB link. And a blurred image of myself and R5-232 in Rob Bredow's making of Solo a Star Wars Story, locations book.😁

His last appearance I was able to name R5 after my three children’s first name initials. Something I will cherish forever 🥰 R5-2JE.

R5-2JE astromech

R5 and just been seen in the above picture

~~~~~~~~~~<=====>~~~~~~~~~

My latest build was a Treadwell WED-15-77 droid. This has been in progress for a few years now and is almost finally completed. This also includes making one storage box for the head, and one for the mast.

~~~~~~~~~~<=====>~~~~~~~~~

.....But family life has changed and my free time is limited. So WED-15 was my last build. Also, I feel that as build techniques have evolved, my Blog has become less relevant, less views etc, due to how people make stuff.

~~~~~~~~~~<=====>~~~~~~~~~

I hope this Blog etc has been of use to you and has been interesting to read and watch.

Please leave a comment below or via my socials.

Facebook R5-D4 page

Twitter (X) R5-D4

YouTube R5-D4

Prusa

IMDB

Droid Builders UK

The Droids your looking for:

Wookipedia R5-SK1

Wookipedia R5-232

Wookipedia R5-2JE

👇👇👇👇👇

Thank you.....

....to all who have followed, commented, liked, shared, this has meant a lot to me that my work, thoughts etc have been seen.

It's been a journey.

#starwars #r5d4 #rogueone #anewhope #treadwelldroid #bristol #mshed #youtube #facebook #tradingcarddispenser #3dprinting #soloastarwarsstory

More 3D Star Wars stuff

Made some design changes to the panel I drew up and printed for my GOUD-4 mouse droid.

Changed the grill panel to a bank of buttons for this first one.

Then for the second panel I swapped the holoprojector for a square panel that a meshed grill can be installed as an intercom.

Working on making the buttons functional.

These will be uploaded to my Prusa account page after some minor updates.

GOUD-4 project update 2022

January 2022

So, back in January, I created a page dedicated to the GOUD-4 messenger Droid, link at top of page.

Updates carried forward from last year:

Printed off a new sound board bracket (same one I designed for R5’s).

GOUD-4 - project ‘page’

I created GOUD-4’s own Blog site as a way of it being a more easier way to find and follow the build. But it didn’t seem to take much interest with people….??

So I decided to revert the build back to this main Blog, everything I do, in one place, and have created his own page (links are at the top or in mobile, drop down options).

So for 2022, ALL builds, build updates, projects etc will be posted up on this one Blog. Here’s the link to the History Build project for GOUD-4.

Transmitters - Volantex Exmitter's

 

A few years back I needed a new transmitter...urgently!

It didn't need to be an all singing and dancing unit, as R5 doesn't dance 😄, it just had to have enough channels and not break the bank [cost a lot]. Some quick internet searching led me to this slim looking unit. Yes, I said slim. Why most transmitters HAVE to be so bulky is beyond me, but after using the Hitec Optic 6 this unit felt light and easier to hold & handle.

So I popped down into town to one of the only remaining model shops, and asked to buy the Ex7. The guy turned around and saw on the shelf that the only one he had was an Ex6 [though online, it had said a 7 was in stock]. I said OK as I needed it, but on the assistant reaching up to the box, he noticed that Volantex double mark their boxes with Ex6 & Ex7 on the reverse, and this box had the Ex7 box ticked.

GOUD-4's Ex6 Transmitter

I eventually found out what was causing the remote signal issue.

When I had bought the transmitter, I needed to open it up to switch over (via internal switch) from left to right spring loaded stick movement control. On opening up the casing I found that the antenna wire had been crushed by a screw and was broken.

Broken antenna wire, was crushed by screw

The seller sent me a new transmitter….. minus another receiver (unfortunately), but whilst waiting, I had attempted to fix the broken antenna by swapping it for another. It worked, but at the time I didn’t fully test it, extended use. Hence why the signal issues didn’t come apparent. So I had to swap over to use the new transmitter……and all’s working fine now. Tho I think the problem may lye with the battery pack…??

R5-D4’s Ex7 Transmitter

Whilst packing up at the end of R5’s last event @thegalleries , the dome motor started acting up?? It wouldn’t respond to the transmitter so i had to just shut it down. Over the next few days/weeks I tried to troubleshoot the problem by swapping over wires, using other channels to see if it would control the dome motors speed controller, which was possible. I even swapped out the stick assembly unit for another, but no success. I used a multimeter to also check contacts, these gave good readings. So I assumed that the fault was with the receiver, so ordered a new one. I was disappointed once installed that it wasn’t the problem at all.

So with no resolution, looks like I need to buy a new transmitter.

3D printing: SD card Sound board holder

 So i needed brackets/holders for the components for GOUD-4’s sound system.

Some i found on Thingiverse:

• The amp bracket
• The voltage regulator bracket

….the others I had already drawn up, like the mini voltage regulator. Next up tho was a bracket for the SD Sound board card reader. This is the now discontinued Sparkfun model that’s continued unbranded, to be produced and sold on eBay.

It took about four attempts and designing the bracket to both enclose, support and be a good secure fit for the board. I made a cut out in the rear to help with pin identification. There’s a lip on one end that the board clips under to ensure it doesn’t come out.

GOUD-4 project update

 So after the event at The Galleries, Bristol. There were a few things I wanted to sort out with G4.

These I’ll be covering on this Blog and the Mouse Droid forum, as GOUD-4’s Blog doesn’t seem to attract much interest/traffic. I’ll be transferring all of the build details over onto this Blog as a new ‘page’.

• Sound system set up.
• Panel activation….
• 3D new parts.

3D printing:

I needed a new bracket/holder for the new ESC (electronic speed controller). So I measured it up and drew up a suitable holder, which also incorporated the on/off switch.

Also drawn up a speaker bracket, just need to print it.

Sparkfun sound card bracket:

I drew up this bracket to hold the SD card reader sound card.

I already had a bracket holder for the voltage regulator.

Transmitter/receiver:

I eventually found out what was causing the remote signal issue.

See Transmitters - Volantex Exmitter's post for details.

Sound system:

I had started this a while back, but was pressed for time to complete. Now it’s time to finish what I started. Been waiting on a relay switch that can be activated via the transmitter, similar to how R5’s sound system is triggered. I’ve soldered up the connectors, I next need to fit all the components onto a board and find a spot to install it.

Top Panel opening:

I also have the top opening panel to sort out. The bracket is printed and the servo is fitted into it. Its then just a case of connecting it up to the receiver.

GOUD-4 : Blog link is now live

 

My build Blog is now up and has its first post. Interested in following my progress, see the update below. click this link for my build: www.goud4mousedroid.blogspot.com

UPDATE:

I’ve now added this full build to this Blog.

It can be found at the top, in the ‘pages’ section or by clicking on this link:

https://r5-d4astromechdroid.blogspot.com/p/goud-4-messenger-droid-solo-asws.html?m=1

Mouse Droid for 2021.......GOUD-4 version [Solo]

This project has been sat on my shelf since 2019!

Decided that this needs doing. But rather than it get lost like some of my other projects, I’ve decided to create its own Blog.

Update coming soon with link :)

Another project.....?

A friend from work gave me this a few years back, (thanks Steve), but didn’t have time to work on it. I still don’t have much free time lol, but just enough to make a start on it so that by the time it’s cleaned up I'll have decided what I'm going to build.

I did find a stone wedged between the gear and the belt, which explained why the teeth are a mess and the belt ultimatly broke.

Good news is that I have now tracked down the information needed to repaire the broken parts and move this projecct forward.