Lee Towersey - DeAgostini's R2-D2 & Meningitis Now (re-post)

Re-sharing this for a good cause!

Lee Towersey is fundraising this DeAgustini R2-D2 for Meningitis Now

This mini R2-D2 was built by Lee and 'painted & weathered' by Henrick.

Both have worked on the Star Wars movies together,
since The Force Awakens,
in the CFX Department.

Check out Lee's twitter account here.

And here's the link to the JustGiving page for
your chance to win this awesome R2-D2

All it's all for a good cause.......

Meningitis Now - Joanna (R2-JY)

This story, which is close to our club members, went up online last week. Please read and share to help support, thanks.

Click the link below for Joanna's story...

A Force for Good

To loose someone is hard enough, but to loose a child.....😢

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.......

MCM Birmingham - November 24th (Saturday) 2018

Saturday morning I was awake before my alarm went off at 5:30am lol.

Car was already loaded and once Paul arrived in his van with his wife & R2, we headed up in convoy to the NEC Birmingham (UK). No snow this time. On arriving and navigating the unloading/pass/procedure, we joined others who had also arrived prior to us, to set up the droids on our display area.

This was one of our biggest attended events with 15 droids, plus 2 work in progress ones and two extra domes on display (one being R4).

This time round the event was held in different halls, we were in hall 19 of three (17 & 18).

We had so many droids, some had to roll over to a clear area and have their pictures taken.

Here's a link to my You Tube account
with a short video montarge.

And some of the day's pictures.

No parade was able to take place on the Saturday, but a full line up with the UK Garrison & friends was arranged for photograph purposes.

This picture was taken by fellow club member George.

The event was busy, tho not so crowded that you couldn't move.....

Here's a droids-eye-view of a mini procession we did around a section of stands and back to ours. This drew quiet a crowed, surprising to hear people say that they hadn't seen us (the stand) as they were taking photos.

The first time at an MCM event that R5 actually found

and had time not once but three times

to have his picture taken with the MCM Logo sign lol.

Later R5 with Chis' s R2-D2 (work in progress)

& some Ewoks from the UK Garrison 501st.

Come the end of the first day, we grouped all the droids together for a group photo of them.

Most of the day was spent chatting to the public about the droids, building them and the club. Before I knew it it was 5 o'clock. The group photos were set up to be taken and then it was almost 6pm. Time to pack away, for those who were heading home, lke myself, loading up and back on the road back home.

Another great time with the group members, some I've not seen in a few years now. Others this was their first time at an event. The other builders had a second day to look forward too.... and they had another great time. Checkout the UK R2D2 Builders Club on Facebook.

• My next event is this coming Sunday, this one is a first for me and Paul (with his R2D2), more next week on how this one went.
• Next club event is December the 15th, this is our Christmas builders meet up.

LegoLand Windsor - Event Report 2018

Well, what a weekend!!! 😃.

It was hot, Sunday's temperature topping out at around 28 degrees C., two long days, up around 7 till finishing up around 5-6pm. But bringing Star Wars to life, to see people enjoying themselves is a great feeling.

Paul was going to follow me up to Windsor in his van with R2. After some last minute repairs to one of his holo projectors, we left about 7 and arrived just after 9:30pm. We were escorted onto the park to of load the droids, along with Ian's R2, at the Imagination Centre, which would be our base camp lol.

Early Saturday morning.

Jamie (spotter), Oliver (chatting), Ian (R2)

&

George (our resident photographer).

Once the droids were ready, it was out into the morning sunshine.

Ian, myself & Oliver's droids

The Imagination Centre is just down inside the park, so people pass to head towards the miniature Lego villages. There is also a ride with ques, so we drove the droids up to this more flatter, smoother area to entertain the crowds lol.

This was where we ran into some Rebel Pilots, tho nobody wanted R5 as there X-wing Astromech??? :D

Rebel Pilots

The morning weather was warming up fast and I was glad I'd worn my shorts & remembered sun cream! With lots of photo's being taken and the ques being entertained, we decided that we needed to break for lunch. So we stored the droids and joined the other costume group members for a chat, food & a cool down.

After lunch, we all drove the droids up to the main entrance for the afternoon. The costume groups, Joker Squad, Sentinel Squad, The Rogue Ones, Rebel Legion & Mandolorian Mercs, also attended, for mass group photos for the visitors.

Then the Droids headed out to the front of the park for some group photos. These are just some of the ones I took, George, will be sending in his better composed versions to the group soon.

Saturdays droids lineup

 Saturdays droids lineup

There are droids and then there are R5's lol

After these photos, we drove the droids back inside and they had their pics taken a few more times....

 Ian's R2D2 with Leia, Luke & Han

before we headed back to our respective base camps to store them for the night.

Once safely stored it was time for us to get back, changed and head out for a gathering of builders. Lee did a live video draw for the UK R2 Builders Club competition. This can be seen on the FaceBook page (members). But here's the picture of us all.

Ian was the lucky winner.

~~

Sunday was another hot day...hotter than Saturday!

R5 was in his same spot, joined by Darren & again by Mark. Ian transferred to the lower section of the park to join the others as some droids had to go home.

The morning was a repeat of Saturday, re entertaining the crowds and que's. Kids & adults had photos and selfies with the droids lol.

Then after lunch we headed back up to the main entrance area to link up with the costume groups for even more photos with people.

These are the Sunday images, off my Instagram account.

R5 & co finished up about 5pm'ish, the crowds of visitors, still flowing out of the park! Once back to base camp, we packed up and made our way back to our respective homes.

Another great event to help raise funds for the
Alexander Devine Children's Hospice service.

~~~

Lee (club) had also sorted out a commemorative event patch for those attending.

This will at some point be stitched onto my fleece.

We also received a commemorative Lego brick, engraved with 'Star Wars' & '2018'

This I cna add to last years red one.

~~

BIG thanks to all those people behind the scenes who helped put this event together. So often they get over looked...!
Also to our spotters, these guys help keep an eye on the droids when we try to stay not so obvious, more for not spoiling things for the younger fans.
Thanks guys :)

MCM Birmingham Comic Con - Event Report 2018

Sunday March 18th 2018
Day 2 of event

Up 5am, out the door 6am. R5 was already loaded up Saturday night.

Now.....I don't have a problem with driving in snow.....

.....but cars on ungritted roads do lol

~~~

It was a longer than usual drive up from Bristol to Birmingham, due to the weather conditions on the roads. And after driving to three different car park points I eventually got my unloading pass and where I had to go to unload R5 lol.

Today's group of droids.

One R2 is missing.......Darren!?!?! lol

The R2 members were now on day 2 at the stand, which were were sharing with the Rebel Legion, 501st & Jedi News stand. Our corner wasn't very big, but this was due to the layout. We had one 'work in progress' R2 that belonged to Chris, who was on the 'Steampunk' stand with his R2 Steampunk droid.

The day was good, chatting to the public and catching up with friends who were attending either in or out of costumes. There was a large gathering of public and it actually seemed to get more busy as the day went on. Perhaps due to people braving the weather as the snow was abating perhaps.

Emma took these great pics of the stand area & I'll be able to post up more once George uploads his photos.

 Emma with her droids

 Our small display area, with R5's vintage controller,

trading cards and leaflets

Lee's R2 & Colin's work in progress droid

The afternoon came around quick, and it was time 2pm, for the parade, which is led by the 501st, joined by The Rebel Legion & a few other costume groups. So we headed from Hall 4 of the NEC, around and down the ramp to the Hall 1. Unfortunately Ian's droid was unable to attend, so it was just three of us.

There was a group photo, before they 501st and others, lined up in order for the parade.

We would be bringing up the rear.

Emma took this picture of us.

The parade went across into Hall 2, which had a camera exhibition going on, lol, so PLENTY of photo's were being taken on our tour lol. We drove the droids as seen in the above picture, at some points having to drive single file. Myself and Lee have had experience with driving our droids together and as it's part of the Clubs 'driving' process, we knew how and when to slow down etc without bumping into each other. Darren led the way.

A friend of Darren's was there and caught a nice picture of the three of us, looking serious lol, the concentration on our faces lol.

There are a few pictures & videos on Instagram that's I found. More hopefully to come with some searching lol.

The parade winded it's way through Hall 2....eventually, leaving the crowds and camera flashes, and headed back up the ramp. Around the upper concourse, back to Hall 4. There were more people taking photos, and calling out R2's name as we finally made it back to Hall 4. Once back inside, we broke ranks and headed back to our stand, as the costumer's went for a rest and de-lid, break.

Whilst we were away, Ian was holding the stand and getting lots of photos taken with the public.

This is Ian's R2

The day ended at 5pm but before we started packing up the droids and display stands we had one last group photo.

I only have the picture of the droids....

.................I'll post up photo with the droids and us when I get them.

Outside was starting to go cold again, but at least the roads were clear. After a pit-stop on the way home for food.....I'd forgotten to eat during the day lol, I was home & unloaded by 8pm.

Another great day entertaining the public and bringing a little bit of Star Wars to life.

Checkout

www.astromech.info

for how to join up

if your interested in building your own droid.