2-3-2 manual legs

This has been something that has bugged me for a while now. Transporting R5 in his 3 leg mode is not easy.

First was the new leg transport board.

This worked and R5 etc could be loaded up into my small car. But the legs then took up a lot of space (height wise) so making packing the dome(s) etc in, a tight squeeze.

I have been envious of droids that could be pivoted from 3 leg mode into 2 leg since i first made R5. If i had known then what i know now lol.

So after last weekend’s Builders meet, I decided it was time to upgrade……again.

I wasn’t able to use opposite bolt locations (4 off) due to my top plate bracket. So had to go with the four consecutive bolt holes.

This is fine as i can use the remaining hole as a locking one. The washers and wing nuts are temporary whilst the other side was worked on.

I’ve got some larger washers and nylock nuts coming.

Next will be designing a new transport sledge.

Under Shoulder Detail

Decided that the under shoulder sockets for the Stabilisers, definatly needed covering up! Wasn't going to attempt to filler/smooth them out any more. So am going with the 'silver' look version.

I made a carboard template of the socket and transfered the outline onto some thin metal plate. I then bent them to fit and will glue them into place with araldite once painting has been completed.

Had to do a bit of filling round the edges of the shoulder plates for them to be a push fit into their recesses.

Socket plate

Socket plate in place

Just a mock-up of stabiliser fitted.

All will then be glued in place once leg is finally sprayed up with clear.

Shoulder Stabiliser - continued [No2 complete]

Machined up two more of the straight knurled piece for R5's stabilisers.
Next, drilled holes for it in both the stabiliser legs and fitted it in.

Shoulder Hubs came today.....

I know I said I would be making everything on R5, that I possibly could. But I've been tempted by these for months now via regualer notifications off ebay lol.
So decided to buy a set.

They came today. They are REALY good!!

www.donjarrs-place.com

He sells other R-unit parts and other prop components.
Oh yeah, he is based here in the UK too!

Leg Bolts update.....

Yesterday my M10 T-nuts arrived in the post :). Also another parcel that couldn't be delivered.
Cut to length the remaining five studs needed for Leg No1. Then marking their positions out ready for drilling will be next.

The slots in the end are for using a screwdriver.

Had a look at straightening the lines (sides) of the Leg. Defo needs it and also wood filler to smooth everything out!

Shoulder Disc Spacers with silver tape :-(

When I first posted up about my Shoulder Spacer Disc build, I didn't get round to actually posting this Post up, dated May 2011.

........Applied silver insulation tape on the leg spacer disc, as had some in the garage. This method has been used to great effect. But not so on my un-smoothed wood, as like mine! Decided to take it off as it looked poo! You could see the wood 'imperfections' So pealed it off & applied wood filler to smooth it out. I then sanded, primed and will spray up silver.

This post was missed out previously.

R5's Center Leg, Shoulder Disc & Body Skirt

After a two week holiday with the family, it was time to catch up on R5.

Concentrated on sanding, fillering, sanding some more and a bit more filling........ you get the picture. Bought some grey primer. I prefer this to white as it shows up imperfections more easier to see. Also bought some more of Tesco's own wood filler. The centre leg is looking good now.

Whilst the leg was drying etc I did some touching up on the skirt section of R5. Applied filler & sanded, then sprayed with grey primer . Then re-filler imperfections. Tried to re-strain from making it look to good as R5 is supposed to be well used! lol. Time spent about an 1hr total.

Skirt with grey primer.

I then did a bit more work on the second Shoulder Disc, more filling and sanding:

skirt and leg

Assembly part 2

Yesterday in work I cut out 3 disc's to be used for the shoulder discs (for 1 side), I then bolted them together and turned the dia to size. Also because the jigsaw & me made a right mess of cutting lol.

I also cut out the top ring plate.

Then at home, I centred and drilled the discs to the side panel. And drilled through the bolt clearance holes.

I then started to fit the angle suports, for the top plate & ring to fix onto.

I had to make the t-nuts counter sunk into the side panel to clear the shoulder discs. Plus clearance holes in bak face of the shoulder disc to clear any extra length of thread [can be seen in first pic].

Will be able to do some more this evening. Work in the sunshine, makes a change :-D

Won't be able to do much Saturday as am taking the kids and wife to Corsham, for the Sci-Fi Family Fun Day. Hopefully back to it on Sunday.