R5-D4's maintenance time - centre foot wheel

With events coming soon, that I hope R5 will be attending, its maintenance time.

His centre wheel has again worn down and will need replacing, but am also looking at better wheels, my old scooter wheel arrangement (again) as well as other tried and tested ideas from other builders to see if they are suitable for his build/weight.

Heres his damaged centre wheel:

R5's transport sledge 'upgrade work' pt3

The two 'fixed, in-line' wheels, where good, but made pushing in directions a bit difficult at times.

So wanted to replace with two more swivel casters. I also wanted to reduce some of its weight and clean up the lines a bit. So the two protruding sections (holed wheel slots) where marked and sawn off.

I then marked and drilled two holes for the threaded swivel casters. I used t-nuts this time rather than trying to fit normal nuts, like on the two the other end.

Not much lighter, but is a bit and is easier to move when R5's not loaded up on him. Defo easier to move around.

R5-D4's metallic 'machine turn' neck tape

UK builders have struggled to find this and from reading up, most have had to import it from the USA, at addition cost.

R5-D4's silver 'machine turn' tape

A fellow member asked me for info on my tape and where to get it from.
After explaining my luck a few years ago, I decided to look for the elusive 'machine turn' material!

USA builders can find the supplier....... Tape Planet [click for link]

And this place has it in sheet form over here in the UK.

Update, fellow club member was VERY happy with this!

Rogue One - Celebration Europe 2016 - Disney XD

After tracking down the Disney XD presenter Maro Sandoval, lol :D,

I finally found the TV advert that briefly features my R5.

Screen time is about 0.5 seconds lol,

you can find him at 1:58 seconds into the You Tube clip.

*** Birthday Rogue One Poster Gift ***

Wednesday was my birthday, and as usual, I had the day off work. The early morning started with a opening cards & gifts from my family and also a special surprise gift from fellow UK R2 Builders member, Emma, a designed Rogue One character poster. My eyes were drawn straight away to an R5 unit below Jyn's face (restraining bolt included as well). This was not on the original, as I had previously looked at the piece of work, but had been added in at Emma's request :O. Thanks Em.

This is the edited version, to see the real version, checkout Okse's website and Instagram links below. Obviously the Original print version will be R5'less lol.

Check out his website The Art of Okse

Also on Insatgram.

Jessika 'Testor' Pava - Flight suit 2.1

2017 and after Xmas/New Year am feeling positive about things.

With a free afternoon on Sunday, I got out my daughters flight suit and accessories and got to working on it again. I started by remeasuring her in the suit, yep, still fits lol. I then measured marked and cut off the excess sleeve & leg material. These bits I can reuse as pockets etc on the suit.

I left enough for hemming the edges and also the arms will need elasticated cuff material. There's also plenty of space and length to last her a few years growth lol.

I then led it all out for a mock-up picture.

There were a few bit's I'd misplaced for the straps, but for now, this is work so far.

Centre Leg - securing bracket upgrade

The centre leg securing bracket needed upgrading.

Original pieces were two aluminium angles that clamped either side of the leg tongue, but there was still a bit of play, so the centre leg would wobble slightly.

I drew up the centre leg to see how best to re-do this.

So decided on a strip of steel angle, marked up a suitable length & cut it. Next was to position holes.

I'd already ordered some M8 cap heads & T-nuts to secure everything. It was just a matter of drilling holes, opening up the original ones on the centre leg tongue & then bolting it all back together.

Five free mins at the weekend (ok, more like an hour lol) and i got down to fitting the bracket. Drilled two holes into the wood base and installed two t-nuts from below. These were recessed slightly.

recessed t-nuts

Centre leg back on

Inside view of centre leg tongue bolted

Then it was flipping R5 upright again to install his centre leg and fit the new angle bracket.

Result = no more wobble!

UK R2D2 Builders Christmas Event 2016

29.Dec.2016
I hadn't been able to attend this Christmas Event in previous years, but this year would be the first of many to come! Lol, two things more important than Christmas, were Rogue One & this builders day :D

My two youngest came along and enjoyed the day, and like myself, meeting new fellow builders & the 'Usual Suspects' builders too lol. We arrived about 2PM, driving up with fellow Bristol builder, Paul Felski, who followed.

The event also doubles as an inspection of the droids, for safety at events. Control and stability of these is very important!

There was food layed on and a Death Star, two flavoured cake, thanks Emma!

The last time there were this many astromech's in one place, I'd say, would of been Celebration.

My daughter, was NOT operating R2's dome lol, but a toy BB-8

  

Just some of the droids.

Then we had the group photo....

Another great day, that flew by. Looking forward to attending events in 2017

Jessika 'Testor' Pava - helmet - 2.0

Helmet gets the chop!
25.11.2016

I really wasn't happy with the size. I know, I know this should of been sorted at the start, but I had hope things would work out.....

So after some thought, I marked out some cut lines and then used a saw blade and my Dremel cutter, to cut off the cheek/ear sections.

As my daughter was tucked up in bed asleep, I had to wait till the next evening to measure her head and test fit the separate pieces on her. I just hope this plan works and can salvage what I've made so far!

So the next evening, I dug out some foam and with some help from her brother, we managed to better fit the helmet cheek sections to the size of her head. I then measured the remaining gaps, height & width's to be able to cut & eventually, fibre-glass all the parts back together like a jigsaw.

Well, here's the start...

Measurements at the ready.

Additional cut lines for the dome section.

And then test fitting of the sides and the new cut down front dome section.

 Front view

Rear view

Feeling a lot more positive about how this 'rebuild' is going. This is ALL guess work regarding cut lines etc, tho so far so good lol.

2017 - New Year

Happy New Year

Bit late, but have been busy over the Christmas/New Year period with the family.
Didn't have any free time to work on any of my projects, but have a few posts that needed posting, due up next.

Lots of event's to hopefully look forward to this year, if not with R5, then with the rest of the UK R2 Builders Club, so will post event's as and when.