Celebration Europe 2023 - Jabba's Gate Door Build - Part 1

It's been a week since the start of Celebration Europe 2023.

For those interested, I had been keeping a Blog of the build process, this will be in four [4] parts.

Started back in July, 2nd 2022

The planning behind the scenes started back at the beginning of June 2022, after it was announced that London would be the venue  for next year (2023).

With it being the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi (1983/2023), set ideas were being thought out. There’s a lot of options for a backdrop setting, but one that would also lend itself to the new Star Wars era, (The Mandalorian/Book of Boba Fett), was Jabba the Hutts iconic front gate entrance.

• So chatting with Mike Berry and the fellow SW builders, a plan started coming together.
• We would need a ‘gate droid’ lol, thankfully, plans were sourced for TT-8L/Y7 gatekeeper droid.
• Build material choice.
• Transportable/storable.

So using AutoCAD Inventor (work), I made a start on drawing up a reasonable to-scale corner section of the gate door, with a partial corner of the wall edge.

Version 1:

Above picture is the first draft. The idea was to have it in sections for storage/transportation/ease of assembly.

Assembly idea was to be able to clip the pieces together, so no power tools would be required when at an event.

Version 2: has more details, and is slightly longer and taller.

The illusion is to give depth, without the actual thickness. My initial plan was to use 18mm thick wood for the lower section of the door, with a frame and structural support behind for the upper, thinner material of the build.

At July’s 2022 Bristol event, Oliver & Giles attended and myself, Nik & Mike all had a good chat about set sizes, materials etc. I then had a rethink about materials (weight), for transportation/storage.

July 11th 2022

Designing and making plans for how best to build & assemble are now being finalised, so that material costs can be calculated.

Created an exploded view showing each panel, battening required, support etc.

Then after a chat with Mike who suggested getting the holes cnc machined out, I started to transfer the plans onto the size board we were going to use, to best utilities material and save waste.

July 20th 2022

After working on the 'Wall' section and how best to construct this, the 'Door' needed some re-working on it as well. AutoCAD is good but it's not the easiest to work with when your trying to 'build' as you go lol. Especially when your building multiple panels in one single component, when really you should be doing it in multiple drawings and then combining them into one assembly drawing.

Transfer plans onto boards:

After I had re-redone the dimensions etc it was time to transfer onto the boards. This then allows pieces to be positioned to utilise material and save wastage.

Mike was going to speak to his contact about cutting (CNC) the sheet’s & getting a price. I said that we could do the circles etc ourselves if cost was an issue.

The wall section would have wood structure and then supports for the foam panels to be carved into ‘stone’.

Due to availability, holidays etc, we wouldn’t be able to start production till September…..

…..our start date got pushed back a little further…..December.

December

Friday 2nd: The 3D printing of TT-8L/Y7 gatekeeper droid, has begun. The files used were almost complete, but I believe they were for a static model, so I had to modify some of the features to be able to make it articulated. I also combined some of the models to save time and gluing. The upper eye lid was the first to be printed, over night. See below:

Monday 5th: the lower eye lid parts were set to print overnight.

I found the beads that go inside the eye lens part itself. The lens was a little harder to source at a reasonable cost, looked at a lot of different options, no rush at the time so will report on this later.

UPDATE: December 14th: found a reasonably priced dome, ordered 👍🏽

The rest of the overnight printing consisted of the inner iris pieces, front and back as well as the new inner panel for the LED’s.

I drilled and added location pins to secure the iris in place, in above photo.

And here, test fitting all together.

Side view with eyelids open.

Side view with eyelids closed 

Front view with eyelids closed

Front view with eyelids open

Iris assembly

Monday 12th:
Ordered crystal beads, about 450, from a wholesaler online, Bead Park, hopefully this will be enough lol.

Found a dome at a reasonable price (£12) with free postage 😎👍🏽.

Saturday 24th:

Beads package arrived. Had to do a test to see if the bag would be enough lol.

Yes, I think that will do nicely 😎👍🏽

January 2023

The clear dome arrived on the 7th so I marked it up and started cutting it up.

It had to be cut down three times to be able to fit inside the iris printed part. And I didn’t want to mess it up.

I then HAD to test fit it all together.

I then fitted a piece of PVC tubing to check.

The whole thing has some weight to it and it’s not even half built yet!!

Not been able to print anymore parts as am waiting on delivery of more filament.

January 20th

Mike made a start on cutting circles in the wood. I went down to his work on the Saturday to give him a hand. It was cold inside and out lol, as we were working outside, but we got the ‘door’ panels cut.

Mike’s next job is sorting the recessed parts of the door’s circles.

3D Printed Coin Display Stand x3

As I've mentioned before, having things tucked away in boxes, means that you forget what you actually have.

I had to get another one of my pin badges to put in the new display stand, and whilst in the box containing it, I found the UK R2-D2 Builders Club coin from Celebration Europe 2016!

So I measured it up and modified the stand, link to previous Blog post, to a three coin version. I'll share the file on my Thingiverse page soon.

side view, showing lean angle

Throwback Thursday: Celebration Europe 2016

What can I say!!

I had attended events before and was really excited to be joining builders from not just the UK, but also from Europe and further still. Some I’d only chatted with online in forums.

But I was not expecting the overwhelming feeling of excitement that hit me a few days before the event had even opened lol.

Arriving, unloading R5 and my gear, walking into the massive Star Wars arena was awesome!!

Builders Club swag merch.

But I'll leave you the following links to go through to get the full picture:

Celebration Europe 2016 - part 1

Celebration Europe 2016 - part 2

Celebration Europe 2016 - part 3

Celebration Europe 2016 - part 4

Celebration Europe 2016 - part 5

.......Celebration Europe 2016 - part 6.......lol, no there is no part 6, think 5 was enough.

Just one of my highlights.....being stood two feet away from Andi, who was casually sat on the Star Wars stage....me trying to be casual and giving her a 'hi' smile.....whilst trying not to Fanboy out over her 😍 hahahaha 💗💗💗

MCM London - Sunday 27th May - UK R2D2 Builders Club

Day two for early starts and a long drive up to London. The last time I was here was 2016, for Celebration Europe! That was THE best event I have ever been too!

Checkout my past posts on the event reports start here

Easy drive up and around the M25, which brings you right round to the Excel turn-off. Think I actually passed the hotel I previously stayed in back in 2016. Once cleared with security I parked up and unloaded R5 with the help of fellow R2D2 builder Sam Prentice. We set up next to the 501st. We were joined by Paul Stidston (spotter) & Simon Battell with his R2 Boba Fett painted droid.

The early bird doors opened and it wasn’t long before people found us lol.

There was lots to see but thankfully the event wasn’t as packed as Saturday. Paul mentioned this as the crowds and the temperature inside the event the previous day were overwhelming!

We went for a drive around the event,

R5 off on his travels...........

Afternoon myself & Paul went to get a cuppa, 20mins later and umpteen photos later lol, we arrived, got drinks and found a corner table to sit down. (Having being stood up nearly all day, as per usual). People wanted photos of R5, so I drove him away from as a short distance. Still in visual and vocal range lol. This was a good laugh as people would stop, chat, take photos with him & R5 would follow people etc and people would be trying to look around to see who was operating him.

R5's transmitter started beeping, so we headed back.....eventually, through the photos lol.

Got back and Brain Herring & Derek Arnold popped over, to catch up with Lee (who unfortunately could be there the weekend). We had a group chat and laugh about recent events lol & they were both kind enough to have a group photo with us and the droids.

There was plenty more crowed entertaining. Including R5 & R2 squabbling over Liz lol... R5 wasn't happy about R2 getting her attention.

Come five o'clock, the crowds started to thin out. So we started to pack up and made our way through the leaving crowds back to our cars. For me it was then a long drive back to Bristol. It was a good day and as always lots of fun.

FLASHBACK - A year ago today Star Wars Celebration 2016

A year ago today I had arrived at the Excel Centre in London and was unloading R5 along with the other guys and girls of the R2 Builders club. Once what we could help with was done, myself Ian & Matt, newly acquainted, went off for a pre-opening walk to check out the event.

Whilst exploring we were amazed to see THE Steve Sansweet!

I waited till he had finished chatting to others and asked if I could have my picture taken with him. It was early, but he graciously agreed.

Myself & Mr Steve Sansweet

I was star struck lol, and didn't even think to give him one of my freshly printed Trading Cards.

** LEGO Land Star Wars weekend event **

Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May

Lego lands annual Star Wars weekend.

Members of the UK R2 Builders joined 'Joker Squad', 'Sentinel Squad', 'UK Rebel Legion' & the 'Mandolorian Mercs uk' to celebrate May the 4th be with you.

Due to the early start on the mornings setting up, we were accommodated in one of the two conference rooms in the hotels. Due to the distance, myself & Emma, traveled up the night before. Emma had saved me a spot to set up my camp bed :).

Because of the nature of this event, there are no pictures of the droids
with children or adults!

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Saturday 29th
The Droids were split up into two groups, our group were at the far end by Heart Lake City. We drove around to a side gate entrance and unloaded. Our spotters, kept watch whilst we moved the cars back to a close by parking area.

Jason's R2D2 unloaded, set up & ready to go

Me installing R5's dome with Chris looking on.

The surface is very large cobble stones, it's also layed out to flow water into drains to stop areas flooding. This means that there wasn't anywhere to really drive the Droids around. So we found a spot to 'park' them and let the crowds come to them lol.

R5 with Sam's R2-Q5 & a guest BB8

This BB8 was a child who wanted to re-wear his costume (before it got to small). Last time was at Celebration Europe 2016 in London.

 R5 wasn't happy with all the Jawa attention!

................Brought back 'Bad Motivator' memories lol

Jason's R2 wanted to meet 'His maker' lol.

And attracted some unwanted Imperial attention!

The Rebels & Imperials received lots of attention from the visitors, lots of group photos which can be found on their respective websites/blogs/twitter etc.

The park wasn't to busy which I was surprised about, the possible reason for this was
that (here in the UK) Easter Bank Holiday weekend had only just happend the previous week or so, so kids etc would of been on half term. This was though a good thing, as it meant we got to have a breather between photo opportunities,
to give the static droids the once over,
and in Sam's case, to give his dome a quick polish lol

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At 12:30pm our group stored the droids in a side room for us to be able to head off and find lunch, which had been supplied by LegoLand.

Then at 1pm, it was back to load up the droids in Lee Towersey's awesome R2 Van, and head to our afternoon staging area, which would be at the top/entrance to the park.

Me & Paul

Three droids, and four 'adults' lol, loaded up into the back of the R2 van,
the faces tell you how much jokes we had :D

My R5, Sam's R2-Q5 & Jason's R2-D2

Whilst setting up the droids and giving them the once over before re-entering the park from a side gate. We bumped into Chewie, having a five minute breather.

R2-D2, Chewie & R5-X2

Nearing the end of the day the Sun made a guest appearance which meant we had to retreat into the shade for Chewie's sake lol

Droids lineup

This pic shows the ques for photographs with the visiting guest. We had got to do some limited driving around, but once we were parked up, that was it. Chewie's handler organised an orderly que so everyone was able to get their photo chance.

This pic you have have see on my Instagram profile.

Jason, Sam, myself & Oliver

We finished up about 6pm and loaded the droids back into Lee's van. He then dropped us off back at the car parks for us to unload and then load up our cars. Some tho were staying for the Sunday, and stored their droids in a secure location.

I headed back with Emma & Lee to have a sit down, rest, chat and eat some pizza.
Before I finished packing up and started on my journey home.

Another event under R5's belt and a sense of achievement in helping out with the other groups in raising £15K