THE South West Droid Builders MOT Day - Sunday 4th July 2021

Just a quick rundown of the days event.....

Firstly I have to give a

massive thanks to Mike Berry,

of Vinyl Designs.....

www.vinyldesigns.co.uk

...... for making all of the arrangements, printing banners etc, sorting out a large outdoor open air area, covered with

pop-up gazebos [which where needed for both the Sunshine

& the rain], free parking, PPE/sanitizers and food/drinks.....

.....phew, think that's everything.

nothing but droids.....

Mike, Mark T and co, had set up the above (picture) ready by the time I arrived around 9am. Because Bristol's harborside is now a thriving area, with lots to see and do, as well as the M-Shed Museum, there are small shops and food places, the area around the Droid tent was busy with lots of passers by, with children (and adults) eager to see R2D2 and friends.

Mike's R2-XL ride in droid

Glynn T arrived with his A-LT droid(s) all the way from UP-NORTH! A very long 4hr drive each way!!!

There were a quite a few droids in attendance, most requiring MOT's some just for advice etc. Thankfully Oliver S, was able to assist me with the MOT'ing, thanks  mate, it was much appreciated!

A big thanks to Paul F for bringing his laptop as it was needed lol.

We also welcomed a few 'Pit-Droids', some 39.1% droids a Mouse Droid and one massive, full scale, IG-11 droid (Paul S)

Pit Droid

Pit Droid 2 with Paul F's R2-D2

Pit Droids 3 & 4 towered over by IG-11

Special guest appearances from 😁

Mr Lee Towersey,

Mr Sam Prentice,

Mr Oliver Steeples,

Mr Giles Redpath .

Sam brought along his red A-LT droid and also 'went live' via his You Tube channel, for a walk around the enclosure.

In between the MOT'ing, the weather changed from hot to wet with a few light showers, and the droids that were driving around outside on the test track area, would have to make a run for the covers lol. But the sunshine came back and so did the passing public.

Mike Berry's R2 domed Clone Wars droid

Nik H's - R2-A5 droid (his fourth build)

I managed to put R5's utility arm/trade card dispenser into action for the first time. Thanks to Giles for checking that R5 had actually dispensed a card 😁

Mike's R2-XL was part of a 'feature', but I can't say more than that.....you'll have to wait and see.

As well as re-MOT testing, we now also have a few more new droids ready for events: Nik Martin [R2-D2] & Nik Harber [R2-A5] 😎

Around 3:30/4pm the rain came down harder than before and that sealed the end of the day's event. The few remaining helped pack droids away, barriers, signs and the gazebo's before saying thanks again to Mike for organising and driving off into the sunset..... rain.

Not mentioned everyone, sorry, but for those who did make it, thank you for making the journey and being able to catch up with everyone was definitely needed! Big thanks again to all! :)

Check out Sam's channel for his 'Live' video here.

#bristol #droidbuildersuk #astromechdroids

** South West Droid Builders MOT Day - UPDATE 2 **

 ** MOT Testing Day **

Droid MOT Day, news update 2:

For club members wanting to attend either

North or South events, please check out the

www.droidbuilders.uk

page for the portal link  to register.

The Bristol event is STILL,

Sunday 4th July 2021

This event is open to all R2D2 Builders Club members,

with or without Droids,

though of course the purposes is for MOT'ing them.

15-17 members attending

1 members maybe attending

10+ requested MOT's.

** South West Droid Builders MOT Day ** [UPDATE]

** MOT Testing Day **

Droid MOT Day, news update:

The Northern event date has changed to August 1st.

For club members wanting to attend either

North or South events, please check out the

www.droidbuilders.uk

page for the portal link  to register.

The Bristol event is STILL,

Sunday 4th July 2021

This event is open to all R2D2 Builders Club members,

with or without Droids,

though of course the purposes is for MOT'ing them.

Southern event:

10 members attending

2 members maybe attending

6 requested MOT's.

Northern event:

19 members attending

6 members maybe attending

5 requested MOT's

#mot #astromechdroids #ukR2D2buildersclub #droidbuildersuk #bristol #R2D2 #R5D4

** South West Droid Builders MOT Day **

 ** MOT Testing Day **

Droid MOT Day South, news update: Mike has secured an open venue  near his place of work to host this event. It was required as the numbers attending had increased. If you are up North, there is also a Northern event happening on the same day, co-incidence, but a good one as if you require an MOT, but Bristol is a little to far, you can attend this one in stead.

Bristol is the place, Sunday 4th July 2021

This event is open to all R2D2 Builders Club members, with or without Droids, though of course the purposes is for MOT'ing them.

Southern event: 9 members attending at present with 2 maybe's.

Northern event: 11 members attending at present with 5 maybe's

For club members wanting to attend either North or South,

please check out the www.droidbuilders.uk page to sign in via the portal link to register.

#mot #drivingtest #astromechdroids #droidbuildersuk #bristol #R2D2 #R5D4

** South West Droid Builders MOT Day **

** MOT Testing Day **

With event's hopefully starting back up this year, droids here in the UK, are required to pass a Droid MOT. Mike has kindly offered to arrange an area near his place of work to host this event.

Bristol is the place, Sunday 4th July 2021

The MOT's are to ensure that a droid is safe, both mechanically & electrically and that (if a new builder) is competent to safely maneuver & operate their droid around people/public.

As we have close links with Disney/Lucasfilms, ensuring that a droid doesn't make the news for the wrong reason [accident], the MOT ensures what is required of both the droid and the operator. On passing the operator is eligible for the Clubs PLI (insurance).

More updates on this event to follow. If you’re a UK Droid Builder, check out www.droidbuilders.uk for UK events portal link sign up, news, features, members profiles, links to merchandise and the YouTube channel.

Zoom - UK Droids MOT talk

With Zoom being THE group video web chatting app in this time of world isolation, club members have been using it to keep in touch with fellow builders around from around the world. I've unfortunately not been available to join in on the last week weekend group chats, the last one which recently happened was a marathon one from around the world!

Well last weekend the R2D2 Droid Builders Club UK hosted a chat about the MOT system for droids here in the UK. The chat covered the aspects of what is required to be cleared for droid and operator to attend events with the club and representing the club.

We had a bout 70/80 people join in to hear Darren, Lee, Sam, Mark, Oliver & myself talk about the reasons why we have the MOT. We had fellow members of the world wide club also in attendance to ask questions and to see if it could be something reproduced in their respective countries.

The Club has a high profile and close links with Disney/Lucas films, attending film premier's and other promotional events. Having your droid & you cleared safe to operate safely to attend events and as such, representing the Club, also means that you are then able to be included with PLI.

So if your a UK builder and want to see and hear about the process, check out the forum at www.astromech.info or on www.droidbuilders.uk or on the clubs Facebook pages, for details on Saturdays Zoom chat, I believe the recorded session will possibly be posted up.....