Event Report: Newport Comic-Con 2024

The South West Droid Building represented the Droid Builder’s UK Club on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th August, over the bridge in Newport.

Mike and Paul attended Saturday, with their droids R2-TNGO & R2-D2 (respectively) along with Emma as a helper/spotter.

Matt attended by himself with his R2 droid on the Sunday.

They had a great time and it was a busy weekend.

They managed to get some video from the day along with photos, YouTube link here.

Mike got his dome signed by non other than Moff Gideon AKA Giancarlose Esperito!

Though this wasn’t intentional lol.

Check out the YouTube video (link above) for a short video from Saturday 👍🏽

Shoulder hubs - Aluminium - Paul’s R2 No2

Paul is building a second R2 and had a semi finished pair of shoulder hubs. They were correct O/D, thickness and had four holes in, but were heavy, about 1.5kg!!

His friend wasn’t able to do more than this as his company was closing down. I offered to do my best bit of milling at my work.

First hub, was a very time consuming process. One which if I had thought about first, as I did on the second hub, I should of turned out the inner diameter to the required larger diameter, on the lathe, THEN got to work on the millers rotary table!

Above picture, show how much material had to be removed. Using a manual milling machine, means you having to do everything by hand lol.

Thankfully using the lathe sped up the process for the second hub.

Final weight of each was 1KG.

Welding machine: part 1

Welding was something my Dad did for a job and also for enjoyment, creating things. Back then he would have used a stick welder, later becoming proficient in MIG & TIG as well as larger equipment for his job.

He worked for a few companies:

• Welded Tanks (gone now, was by Templemeads train station).
• Ashton Gate.
• Fulton Boilers.

I was taught how to weld in my first year at college. But I learned a lot later from watching my Dad.

I have thought about getting a welding machine over the years, it’s definitely something that would come in handy lol. Then just before Christmas, my friend Paul said he was going to be selling the one he had been left by a friend of his, as he wasn’t likely to ever use it, what with time and learning. So after some thought, I said I would have it.

With the recent passing of my Dad, and inspection of his old garage, there’s a lot that needs clearing out……mostly metal lol. So I'm hoping to be able to make use of it.

There are a few things that require a welder, so this will definitely come in use.

Event Report: Stars of Time - Swindon 2023

Stars of Time

Date:            Saturday 24th July 2023

Location:      The Steam Museum, Swindon.

Attendees:   Myself, Paul, Jamie

Early start to arrive in plenty of time to set up. Not our first time here supporting this event, check out last years Event Report 2022.

Jamie's new R5-T8, my R5-D4 & Paul's R2-D2

Lined up ready for the day.

Event layout.

Jamie's droid's got a lot of interest.

Paul's also got a lot of attention and photo opportunities..... which resulted in a few finger prints that required R2's dome to need a clean.

Pauls' R2 got sent to the sin bin lol.

It was a HOT day, as the car temp showed on our return to load up the droids, but it was another great time out. Thanks to the Star's of Time team & Swindon Steam Museum. And thanks to everyone who came along.

click this link to my YouTube channel video of the day.

Droid Builders South West - coming this July

 

Stay tuned for more updates……

#bristol #ukr2d2builders #droidbuildersuk #r2d2 #r5d4 #badmotivator #freeevent #localevents

#southwestdroidbuilders #happydays #2023

Newport Comic-Con 6th August 2022

 

click above logo for event's website

Members will be attending on Saturday only with our droids.

We will be joined by THE.... Oliver Steeples from

'The Force Awakens'

(subject to availability)

#SOUTHWESTDROIDBUILDERS

#DROIDBUILDERSUK

Monday 8th August 2022: UPDATE

Event video of the day can now be found on

my YouTube channel

Event Report: M-shed Bristol: 3rd July 2022

What a day!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩

Thanks to everyone who came along, passed by and popped in to see the Droids and being so generous with donations towards supporting Motor Neurone Disease association charity.

More on the total raised at the end of the post.

**UPDATE: video now up on my YouTube channel **

Sunday 3rd July 2022

Early start 7:30am arrival to unload R5 & to finish helping get everything ready. Extra banner’s out, gazebo out (two spots of rain all day), but helped, as Mr Sunshine came out and stayed out. So shade for the MK Garrison’s stormtroopers, Jawa’s & Hera Syndulla 🤩👍🏽 patrolling outside.

Fellow club members started arriving but some were delayed due to traffic problems on the motorways.

The sliding main shed door was already open before 10am and passing people started to come in lol. Should of had Paul’s portable barriers across.

The ‘shed’ itself was kindly offered to us to use. The flooring is in pretty good condition for its age and use. The droids didn’t have any problems driving around.

Bristol’s harbour side/waterfront has grown over the years and is a busy but not crowded area for walks around the ‘basin’. The Mathew and the SS Great Britain being just two of the famous attractions. The area has also seen new housing and food places. Other water activities take place, so the area is very popular and the passing soon found another attraction……Droids!

R2-XL drew lots of attention and photos and donations for the charity. Mark was busy ALL day, helping kids, adults and even a dog??? into R2-XL.

PodPad Studios arrived with there three droids, Emmy, Zoe and Steampunk Astromech’s.

TRamp arrived with his two mini Astromech’s R2-KT & R2-D2, as well as his selection of prop weapons.

Giles arrived with the Bespin display, to add to the Tatooine backdrop.

Oliver brought down R2-KT.

We had Pit droids, B1 battle droid, K-2SO, and more, plus all the Astromech’s.

But Nik’s L0-LA droid, stole everyone’s attention and hearts.

I carried out five Droid MOT’s renewals, so covered for another years PLI. Oliver actioned mine for R5.

Big thanks to Helen & Sara for collecting, helping, and general fun 🤩.

We had two photographers on site, one being Mike’s brother, check out his videos he created for our YouTube link: Bristol Gallery shopping centre and also the advertising video for this event.

Link here:https://youtu.be/dVxIYIFNR8s

Event video coming soon……

Had a surprise visit by my Brother and my niece ☺️ ❤️ and of course photos 😂👍🏽

Then I had another surprise, my eldest daughter (& boyfriend 😎👍🏽) turning up ☺️. He’d heard about R5, but hadn’t actually got to see him properly in person at an event. Photos again of course ☺️👍🏽.

Lots more familiar faces all wanting to say hi……to R5 😂👍🏽

The weather warmed up a lot come the afternoon and even more people took an interest in what was going on.

Matt from Fantatracks dropped by 😎

Matt & Oliver.

Other members who made the journey from up and down the country, Amanda, Marine, Emma, Chris, Matt, Nik, Jamie, Oliver, Giles, Nik, Steve plus a few more lol

All bringing something to add to a great day! These people and others MAKE this club what it is and what it’s capable of achieving. I’m very proud to know them.

Right, enough of the emotional stuff….. more photos….

Group Droid’s photo

And group photo of Droids and their builders.

Final notes:

Sunday was two top guy’s birthday’s, Lee T & Glynn’s. Wishing them Happy Birthdays, unfortunately they weren’t able to attend.

There was only one fan who turned up for the LEE.T club 😂

 

*****

Mike counted up the collection and the grand total was GBP £723.75

*****

Event's 2022 .......... These are the Droids your looking for!

**********************

EVENTS 2022

************************

The UK R2-D2 Builders club’s event

calendar is filling up with some events

already taken place this year!

These are up and down the country from

local charity events to big name ones.

Most are likely to have more than one

Astromech in attendance.

The South West builders contingent

will be attending not just events here

in the South West, but also:

Birmingham, NEC

Milton Keynes, Marshall arena

Scarborough

Bolton arena, Horwich

Liverpool

Weston-Supa-Mare

Swindon, Steam museum

Wales, Newport

With other club members attending other events

covering the whole of the UK, Ireland, Scotland & Wales!

Sunday 6th March

Paul F & his R2-D2, attended our first ‘local’ event,

right here in Bristol @ the Bristol City football stadium,

for UKCGF (UK Comic & Gaming Festival).

He said that the que was long

and he’d run out of trading cards by 1pm!!

I'll post up an event report at a future date.....

😎😎😎2022 is looking good for events! 😎😎😎

** 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

Lee Towersey - YouTube

 So if you don’t know who Lee Towersey is, get on over to his YouTube channel and check out what’s involved in attending a Tier 2 event.

I’ve mentioned before that here in the UK our droids have to pass an MOT inspection process to be allowed to attend events representing the club and this then includes PLI in case of accidents. All droids that pass are classed as Tier 1, but, if you’re droid meets the requirements, you can apply for a Tier 2 status. This isn’t for everyone as T2 can be a daunting prospect, as this video shows, but to see your work on TV for example, has got to be worth it.

My R5 was cleared for Tier 2 from his induction into the club. I wasn’t aware of it till Colin informed me lol. So keep your eyes open as you never know, you may spot him ;-)

check out Lee’s YouTube channel (& also his website) for more.

#leetowersey #droidbuildersuk #astromech #youtube

Throw Back Thursday - Restart

With COVID-19 and everyone in lock-down's around the world, events where we would normally catch up with, not only fellow builders, but friends from cosplay groups as well.

So to help, hopefully, relieve the boredom, I'll post up links to past posts made around the appropriate dates.

The First would actually have been March and one of our first of the year:

Bristol Comic Con & Gaming Festival 2019

There's loads more to read etc on my Blog to keep you occupied.

STAY SAFE!

COVID-19 isolation at home - 3D design work

My work allows me to work from home, unfortunately the 3D printer is in work, so not able to print anything 😢 ......well.....it is their's 😆 lol

So I have been able to work on R5 and some other mini projects requested by friends.

Adafruit sound board
Re-re-soldered the contact pins on the adafruit sound board, changed them back to right angle ones. Easier for the leads to protrude out the side, rather than straight up for connections to the relay switch, for wherever it gets mounted.

Protection case for sound board
So because of the above, the 3D model had to be modified again to match.I added recesses in the base to allow the underside of the pins to sit in so the board sits flat.

since been modified.....again.

3D models
Been working on other 3D models for myself and friends. After a comment on my Instagram about the above sound board holder, I drew up one for the longer version, which has a headphone jack socket on it.

Next up was a holder for Paul's ESC unit. I had one of these he had lent me ages ago to try out in another project. So I was able to draw up a holder for him to test print one.
Th inside area was a bit too snug, so version 2 was a slight redesign and the addition of a rear bracket, tho this wasn't needed as the fit was just right.

And Paul was kind enough to send me some pictures of the unit fitted.

Recess' to allow the holder to fit over the top but not interfere with the cables.

Another club member wanted me to design up a mini slip-ring holder, for his holoprojector's.
This is still a work in progress.....

R5's cable management
R5 runs Red & Black power cable, as must builders probably do. His main power is 24 volts.
A while back (years) I bought some Yellow cable to match up with something....oooh yes, the 24 to 12 volt regulator. It has red/black wires in and yellow/black output wires for identification.

So rather than waste it, I decided that it would actually be a good thing to use for the 12 volt side of things. They're also now tagged with labels & clear heat shrink to aid identification.

R5's sounds
Got round to organising sounds, renaming them etc all ready to transfer onto the sound board. Then remembered that I couldn't connect the USB board as the files are virtual, as I'm remote desktop'ing to my works PC......aaaaaaahhhhh 😒
And for some reason, the USB sockets on this laptop are not recognising the drive, so will have to use another laptop.