Bristol M-Shed Star Wars Sunday 2nd July 2023

 Back again this summer with the droids you’re looking for!

Bristol’s M-Shed ,

down on the harbour side in the centre of town,

we’ll be displaying our replica droids from Star Wars as well as other Sci-Fi films & TV shows.

We’ll also be joined by members of the Milton Keynes Garrison.

The event is free entry so don’t miss out!!

We will be collecting for our chosen club charity which is

Make a Wish

~~~~~

For visitors to Bristol,

the centre now has a Clean Air Zone.

Please use this government website to check if a charge apply's to your vehicle

Bristol Clean Air Zone vehicle checker

link: https://www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones

‘M’shed via Google Maps 

Upcoming event: Stars of Time - November 27th 2022

 

Weston-Super-Mare

this coming Sunday!

looking forward to attending again,

with fellow Droid Builder(s).

Stars of Time

Full details are on their website (click)

or

www.starsoftime.co.uk

Wedding event: 1st one

September 17th was a special day. It was mine and Mike’s first time attending a wedding celebration.

Mike with his R2-D2 & me with R5.

The event was in Clevedon, and the sunshine was out.

Our attendance wasn’t a surprise for the couple but was for their guests lol.

The ring box was attached to Mike’s R2. His utility arms don’t open, but I thought I’d still be able to attach the strap…. Managed to after a few attempts, need to incorporate a multiple choice for future attachments.

Rather than struggle with doors, steps etc, the droids were positioned at the sides of the isle at the rear.

The rings had been placed inside the box, and when invited by the registrar, R2 rolled down the isle to deliver them. After the rings were removed, he then returned to his original position and waited till the end of the ceremony.

Afterwards, the droids escorted the wedded couple and guests, outside into the sunshine for photos etc.

We stayed for an hour outside before making a move to leave.

We had a great time and so did the wedding guests.

……thanks Mike 😂, it’s a glamorous job 😂

Event Report: Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre - Falcon Fun Day

Early start, Mike picked me up at 7am, for the 2 1/2 hour drive over to Pembroke Dock's. A long drive, but chatting and catching up on recent events, made the time fly.

We arrived around 9:30am'ish. Introduction’s with members of the 501st Welsh Garrison & member’s of the heritage centre. Before we unloaded the droids from Mike’s van and wheeled them up the ramp. The outside area is cobblestone’s so we decided best to keep the droids inside lol on the carpeted floor.

The centre is not very big, but pack’s a lot inside, including a cafeteria. Outside where stalls and food as well as music DJ.

We were able to view the main attraction, the Millennium Falcon exhibit, before the event opened. A lot of images I’ve not seen before as well as video footage and a modified model version of the Millennium Falcon showing half completed, half as framework with wooden skin, as would of been in its full scale assembly.

Click on above image for a short YouTube video.

Photos from the day:

Other pictures of the day:

Mike said to someone they should ask for my autograph 😂……. As I was getting mistaken for Lee T, who was on the background video we had playing.

This was the que lol….. 

A future builder joined us on the day and tock these following images of the droids.

DJSS photography

(Find them on Facebook)

Thanks D, these are great.

There was lots to keep people busy, inside and out. The weather was amazing, warm and sunny. The people great and didn’t mind my long winded answers to their questions about the droids etc lol.

The event finished at 4pm and it didn’t take long to pack up. Another chat with everyone working, they kind of expected it to be busy, but were surprised by just how MANY people turned up!!

Another great event supported.

Thanks to everyone who attended as well as the boys from the Welsh garrison, it was HOT for them. And finally a big thanks to our hosts at the Heritage Centre.

Check out: Pembroke Docks Heritage Centre

*** UPDATE ***

We made the local news:

https://www.pembroke-today.co.uk/news/entertainment/first-falcon-fun-day-voted-a-success-561935

Event Report: Newport Comic-Con

Another great time had by us all and from the video and photo's, the general public as well.

Link to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesR5D4

The sun was out and it was going to be a hot day outside at least. Inside was well temperature maintained.

 

The droids lined up.
 

This event and others around the country, was run by Monopoly Events.

Early entry doors opened at 8:30am, hence why we had to be there early lol. The queue was massive [see video]! Our location was just off the main entrance foyer on tiled floor. The main area's have carpet and for the heavier droids this wasn't good for performance 😖

 

The display table.

 

Pauls R2 & my R5

 

Oliver brought R2KT

 

Mike’s droid no1……

 

Awesome 3D printed Buzz costume

Mr Terry Cooper arrived as MARVIN, from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

 

As per, I had been following Terry’s progress over the months of hard work, and the results speak for themselves.

MARVIN won first place in the cosplay competition!!

Checkout ‘Terry on Tuesday’ video of his day on stage with

THE John Cena.

There were three entrance time slots, and as can be seen in the video of the day, the venue was busy but not crowded. Plenty of space for people to mingle without getting in peoples way for photos etc.

We got to chat with lots of people interested in the droids, asking how they were built etc. and entertained kids big and small. Had a few run-ins with Dalek’s lol but nothing we couldn’t handle. I took a few photo's but mostly video, so check it out below link

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesR5D4

I will in future pack food lol as although there are a few cafes, come lunchtime/afternoon they had queues as long as the entrance ones and the others had sold out of food. We all had a great time though and look forward to the next one, hopefully with more droids.

Event Report: MegaCON @ NEC Birmingham

 Last Tuesday afternoon....... it started.... 😂😂😂😂😂 ..............the group chat!

With it being central (here in England) really helps as builders from all over are able to make, (mostly) the short'ish journey to attend. I say that, but Doug traveled down from Scotland….5hrs each way!!!

With this in mind:

• R5's been getting the once over, and also a few upgrades.
• Smoke system, reactivated.
• New TCD version 2.....

Friday I get a call from Mike saying he won’t be able to attend, so giving me the heads up. So it's a reload my car [Tetris] ready for the early start tomorrow morning.

Saturday morning 26th:

5am up and out the door, eventually, at about 5:30am. Drive up was 1 1/2 hr, cold, clear, bright sunny morning.

Arrived in good time 7:10am. Next was driving around the whole complex to come back to the starting point, to unload 😂.

The others had arrived the evening before and stayed at local hotel, so they were mostly set up, and able to help me unload.

Doors opened at 8:30am for the early birds entrance patrons. And there were a LOT of them. Behind our area was Joker Squad, with Endor backdrop, and then the 501st with the Tantive lV display.

Was great catching up with not just the R2 Builders, but also other club members who we’ve not seen in years (since COVID).

There were plenty of laughs….

Chris just can’t help getting in the pictures 😂.

The event was very busy, and with other rooms containing the kidtropolis arena, Tokfest for those ‘down with the kids’ 😂 and the open spaces, it still seemed busy.

The new card dispenser worked well and was a big hit ☺️👍🏽 And so was the smoke system for the bad motivator…..I just need to get the pop-up working.

Costumes from the public were great.

I had to ask this awesome Grogu for a picture with R2.

And how about this Luke…..

The 501st lead their parade accompanied by the other groups.

See video of this and the rest of the day over on my YouTube channel or click on it below.

Video.

Here are more of the day’s photos:

Waiting for the group photo with the 501st and other groups.

After everyone was back inside, the droids continued to roam the floor, accompanied by Stormtroopers and a Princess.

Pictures….

Time for a change, from R5 into……

R4-D4. First time with his new 3D printed Booster covers.

View from behind the table.

Doug’s 3D printed blue R2 dome, with my R5 dome 

Well D had been on his feet all day.

The droids all together.

The Princess with the Death Star plans.

Not a bad looking trio, with no red to spoil the view lol 😂

These two…… lol, how he managed to become three when there’s only two allowed 😂

Saturdays end of the show show, Droid lineup.

And then us lined up.

Saturday finished up at 6pm, there were still people milling around. The builders then gave me a hand with loading my stuff back into my car.

As Darren was the most senior ranking club member, he didn’t do a bad job of organising us lol 10/10.

So that was the end of my day, but for the others, they had Sunday day 2.

~~~~~

Sunday 27th:

Due to reduced droid numbers, the group opted for no display table & so the freedom to be fully roaming of the event floor.

Here’s the group with the event sign.

And here’s the seamlessly edited version including previous days droids 😂😂😂

A great time was had by all of us. We had all taken lateral flow tests prior to attending, some unfortunately had tested positive and had had to cancel attending. You guys were missed, but your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Attending these events is a really positive experience, plenty of room, smooth floors, some of it had ‘carpet’, and lots of event guests to entertain lol.

Sometimes though you just need that one photo position that is asking for trouble 😂😂😂….. case in point, I had knelt down to get a picture, and was then harassed by a droid 😂😂😂

😂😂 no person was harmed in the taking of this picture 😂😂😂.