The Mandalorian: R5-D4 trading Card '88': version No1

Managed to bag this bargin on eBay, from a UK seller.

Still on the lookout for the other versions, at a reasonable price, but unfortunately the others are in the USA so postage is an extortionate amount, in relation to the card itself, so will just have to settle for this one for now.

10 Year anniversary of R5’s build completion

As we like to say, no droid build is ever REALLY completed lol. But when all the pieces are there and he’s motorised & moving (and cleared), we call that the completed build stage.

2024 marks 10 years since I finished building R5!

That same year also marked his first event:

And some other milestones.

Two pairs of decorated shoes:

A pair of wedges for everyday wear

I also made some ‘droid callers’, which buzzed when button was pressed.

All the links to these other projects, can be found in the tabs at the top of the page, as they have their own Pages.

Celebration Europe 2023 starts here: Day T -1

So last night I picked up the hire van and its big lol. Well it’s not just for me but also Mike’s droids as well as a few other things/props etc.

Thursday 6th April: T -1

Loaded up all my things into the van and then headed down into town to pick up Mike and all his droids etc.

Loading everything in, good job I’m the Tetris king 😂👍🏽. Once complete, it was time for the drive up to London.

I’ll post part 2 of T -1 (T minus 1 day) Thursday evening (hopefully lol)

Upcoming Event: Stars of Time @ Weston-Super-Mare

Stars of Time

return’s to Weston-Super-Mare!

The SOUTHWEST DROID BUILDERS

(representing Droid Builders UK),

will be attending so come along

and see R2-D2 and friends.

Why not make a weekend of it,

check out the official website,

clicking on the picture link below.

Link: https://www.visit-westonsupermare.com/

Link to more event details:

https://www.visit-westonsupermare.com/whats-on/stars-of-time-film-and-comic-con-p3119893

Throwback two years - A Cup of Tea with Sam & Lee [2020]

This notification pinged up on my phone this morning, reminding me that it's two years since I was visited by ..... no, not the ghost's of Christmas past 😆😆😆 lol....... but by Sam & Lee.

We got to talk about droid building of R5, projects, future builds, events etc and also the South West accent 😄 lol

Check out the interview link here >>>

 Lockdown DroidBuilders Show with Sam & Lee 

For the actual interview,

fast forward to the 08.00 minute mark 😄

Once you've watched, then have a look at the other YouTube videos on the channel as there are past events & tutorials, featuring not only Sam & Lee, but Oliver, Giles and others!

Interested in joining and building your own droid, then checkout

www.droidbuilders.uk

Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre - Falcon Fun Day

This coming Bank Holiday Monday 29th August (here in the UK), we’ll be attending:

Falcon Fun Day

@ Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre,

over in West Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

Website link here

The open day was attended by another R2 builder (Matt) earlier this year.

Web link here.

If you don’t know, this is where the Millennium Falcon was built for The Empire Strikes Back.

YouTube links (not my own)

This one below, is mine 😎👍🏽

https://pdht.org/whats-going-on/

A Life-form scanner for R5-D4 - Part 1

I wanted a periscope or life-form scanner for R5!

[December 2011]

December 2020 ......(nine years later)

A life-form scanner, see picture. This was next on my to do list. But I focused on getting his bad motivator working first.

Now that I’m able to 3D print my own things, I decided to return to this project with the intention of making a modular setup in R5’s dome to allow these interchangeable units.

So using the size dimensions of my pie-hole opening, I drew this up.

Lol nothing ground breaking, except it’s size. The plan is a holo tube for electrics, LED’s & a pop up/rotate set up. I went with a slightly different design to that of R2’s to make it distinguishable.

More to follow....

R5 Button Badges

Button badges.....with an old skool type safety pin

Dia 25mm

Had a few made, well.....just because.... may add them

as an option on my Etsy page.

Thingiverse - R5-D4 Astromech [Funko] ....the start

I started drawing this idea up back in January/February, but then got side tracked. I already owned the Funko Pop R5-D4, but was disappointed that they didn't release any more or even ones from the other Star Wars films. Rogue One, Solo or The Rise of Skywalker! So I decided that if you want something no one else has made, you just have to make it yourself lol.

Using my original for it's dimensions, I started to create a 3D version.

I started with a foot. This was fairly simple......not! But I got there in the end. I introduced a socket in the top, to allow the leg to push fit in and be glued securely. The handy thing about this that the feet are reversible, only requiring the hoses to be fitted and glued on.

The battery boxes are also reversible. These are just glued into place.

Next up was the legs. These have taken a bit longer to produce as the positioning of certain pieces to create the effect, had to be done in different orientations. Not easy when your CAD program is a Tech one not a creative one lol. Stop moaning and continue....

And this is what they look like when assembled.

I've just finished the leg updates and have now posted these up on my Thingiverse page. If I get round to drawing up the body and head, I will add them to my page. My first one will be an R5 dome. And then possibly an R2 & R4 domes. If you have or are creating the body or domes for these other droid types, drop a comment below or via my Thingiverse page.

It would be great to combine forces!

The legs, feet & battery boxes can be found here.

Littlebits - Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit - pt 9 (2019)

22.10.19
Lid update.....R5 now has a 'Bad Motivator':

Printed off the updated R5 lid, which now has the correct orientation 'antenna' and also the 'bad motivator'.

The antenna's front circle needed to be facing the front in relation to the pie panel opening and the bad motivator positions.

I've uploaded a short video onto my You Tube account, it can also be found on my Instagram page.

UPDATE: 12,3,2020
The files have now been uploaded to Thingiverse

YB Illustration - R5 artwork & others

Over Christmas I found these fantastic artwork on Instagram
created by YB Illustration

R5-D4

As I visited the website, I found loads more Star Wars work.......

.........and more R5's lol

These are just some of my fav's....

R5-2JE

(From The Rise of Skywalker)

---

R5-232

(From Solo - a Star Wars Story)

For more and to follow, check out Instagram for @ybillustration

'Droid Builders UK' a new central builders hub

Droid Builders UK (link)

A new central builders site for Droids has just gone live!

It's for all droid builders from Mouse to the new D-O from the new film

The Rise of Skywalker

With a lot of builders who have now become cross over builders in similar groups, the site aims to link all up together as a central point for news and info. It has links to the Facebook pages for the droid groups and also events being attended.

There is also a Twitter & Instagram account

 

@droidbuildersuk

Littlebits - Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit - pt 8 (2019)

So the extra tinkering I thought would help with the lid fitting better, radius'd edge, didn't and made the gap bigger. The idea for the lip is just to locate it centrally for gluing to the head. So I went back to alter the lip edge a bit more, I'll test print it this week.

This is the Littlebits droid in it's R2-D2 guise.

.......and below as R5-D4

Whilst I was at it, I re-positioned the antenna to face forward, it was just a little thing but it was bugging me lol. I also added a version with a 'bad motivator'.

Both 'lid' options will be available on

my Thingiverse account.

Birmingham MCM Comic Con - Saturday 23rd March 2019 - Event Report

(2.4.19)
Early to rise for this one, 6am. Arrived and after the usual gaining an 'unloading ticket pass', unloaded & found the display stand that we would be joining with the other groups.

After the pre-event meeting, where all the groups under the 501st banner, went through the list of things to happen etc throughout the weekend, we returned to the stand to finish setting everything up ready for the event to open.

Lots of work in progress, from 3D printed to wood build and more.

Rebels pilots with her the Princess herself

Public view of the droids

Pre parade photo's. The parade (on the Saturday) started by the groups getting into order and then proceding outside to then re-enter further up the convention centre. We decided that it would be easier for us to drive up on the inside and join the parade as they re-entered the Hall.

These photo's were taken as we waited to join the parade.

 Getting ready to join the parade when they re-entre the Hall.

Us & Amanda, after the parade, about to join the lineup for the group photos.

And here we are in the photo lineup with everyone.

I don't have a picture of us IN the lineup though lol

The rest of the afternoon, was much like the rest of the day, public photos, chatting about the droids and about the group & about our chosen charity, that all the groups associated with the 501st, had kindly supported with collecting for over the weekend.

This charity was for Menigitis Now.

 click above image to link to the charity website and to Joanna's story

Fanthatracks interviewed Ian about the charity and about Joanna.

click here to watch the interview over on their You Tube channel.

photo credit to George

Thanks to Disney Lucasfilms, these prints, created by Paul Wiz Johnson, where produced for the club members who's droids appeared in the film 'Rogue One'.

These are available to Club members

& are now signed by the operators of the droids from the film.

Also recieving the interview treatment was Lee,
with this mini DeAgostini  droid, that is being raffeled for the charity.

Click the link below to the Justgiving if you would like to enter,
as all entrey's go towards Meningitis Now, thank you.

Justgiving.com/R2-D2

And here's the interview made by Fanthatracks, via You Tube channel.
Click this link to view: Win R2-D2 built by droid builder Lee Towersey

As the day started to draw to a close, I wanted to get a good picture of R5 with his R4 dome on. So swapped them over and here he is.

Another great, fun day spent with everyone. Interacting with the public is great and makes the traveling worth it. I was only able to attend the one day, for the others there was a meal & a groups party on the evening & then day two to look forward too.

But when the event closed its doors, it was time for me to pack up and load the car up.
This now leads me onto my Dome Bag idea, so check that out here.

My next event was a local one, South Bristol's Comic Con,
check out my event report & photos here.

My next event will be over in Cardiff @ Techniquest,
on Saturday May the 4th!
for event details click here.