Flashback Friday: 4-28-2010, Day 37 of building R2-TD

Brad, Steve and I finally got a moment to work with my A&A skins. It took a while to get everything ready to mount because those guys use every little piece of styrene for various parts. Each piece is taped down and came out very easy once the tape was removed. I already have some of the parts so I have extra pieces to use for reinforcement or a spare. 

We opted to staple the inter frame as its not likely to be removed. The outer frame is screwed on. We lined everything up with the top top of the frame but after doing it, I wish we should lined it up with the bottom. Anyways, heres some photos of R2 getting some skin! 

Here I remove all the tape and begin to pop out the pieces.

R2 before we begin

We test fitted to make sure everything fits.

Things are startingto look good.

We optedto staple the inter skins


I cut a back access door out of the back piece so I can access the batteries easier.

Things are looking good.

And R2 has skin... now to paint!

Flashback Friday: 3-31-10, Day 35 of building R2-TD

R2 is finally standing on his own feet! I had to sand the third leg a little to get it to fit. One it did, I was able to bolt it on. Than I put the motors on the legs. Than Brad and I inserted the omni balls to the third foot. There you go! A standing, rolling R2! I also found out the hard way R2 rolls around. I was almost in a car accident on my way home. I made a sudden stop and R2 went flying. Only thing I see wrong is one of the rocker bearing bolts is bent. Should be an easy fix. Anyways, heres the photos of the work.

The R2-D2 build has begun.

R2-TD has been fun and gets a lot of looks at events but few things gets attention more than R2-D2.  There use to be 2 R2-D2's is town, but one moved away so to fill the void at events I've decided to start building another one.  Shortly before Star Wars Celebration CVI,  The group at Midwest Robots decided to do a frame run of R2's.  Clay offered up the use of his CNC machine so I jumped at the chance to be included.  The CNC made precise cuts and was much easier to work with than when I did Td's frame by hand.  After we finished cutting and started assembling, We found in the first few there was an error in some measurements. Turnes out the plans we off in a few spots and some adjustments needed to be made. Being off just a tad in a few spots would require a little sanding  and a few simple tweaks.  Last week gathered all the parts to dry fit my frame. Last night we finished making the final adjustments and cuts.  Next week I will start gluing it all together.  Here are some photos from the build so far.

Clay trims the main frame support.

 The CNC machine continues to cut in the background. 

 Things are fitting together well

 We mark the pieces so we can find the exact center to have have a well balanced droid.

 Everything is lining up and centered nicely.

Next week we should be able to start gluing. 

Flashback Friday: 2-2-2010, Day 26 of building R2-TD

We had a good turn out for build night. LC and Dash worked on their domes, Moose worked on some skin and I worked on my motor holders. After some "trouble" with the pop rivet gun, we got everything together. Heres some shots from the night. 

Flashback Friday: 1-24-2009, Day 25 of building R2-TD

Today, Moose needed to borrow one of my saws to finish the work bench in his basement. Since I was there, I helped him finish the table and get it all together. Once we had it all done, we had to break it in and work on droids! The table is big enough we both were able to set out droids on it and work side by side and not be in each others way. We both finished adding our 3rd legs so both are standing. Than we both began wiring the legs. I also got a lesson in soldering. It was a very productive day!

The finished workbench


R2 standing on his own


A different angle showing the third leg installed


The wiring of the legs has begun


Moose gave me a lesson in soldering

Flashback Friday: 1-19-2010, Day 24 of building R2-TD

After taking some much needed time off to spend time with friends and family, we started building R2's again. It was our first night at Moose's new work shop and we got a few things done on Syrena's and my droids. On Syrena's, Brad worked on cutting the hole for the third legs and starting to fit the interior support brackets. On mine, Moose and I fit the third leg and now ready to have it mounted. We had to make a small adjustments to original hole I cut as when I mounted the interior brackets, I covered part of the hole. With a small cut, everything was better. Just a trip to the hardware store and I will be ready to finish the motor holders and have a free standing droid. Here are few shots of us working on R2-TD.

Flashback Friday: 9-30-2009, Day 22 of building R2-TD

Day 22 brought work on the center leg. Syrena and I sanded all the leg pieces and than began gluing them.






Steve continued work on routing out and cutting his frame.



Jayson worked on his skirt than cut some more on his dome.



Then we all took turns working on shoulder hubs.

Flash Back Friday: 9-23-2009 Day 20 and 21 of building R2-TD

Days 20 and 21 of R2 brought work on the center foot and work on Steve and Nate's frame's.
Here's some action from Sunday.

Steve works on routering some pieces

Nate works on cutting a few pieces.


Moose and Steve begin to assemble R2's legs.

Steve got a good start and dry fitted his frame.

Denny worked on cutting on his costume.

Day 21 was the regular Tuesday build. 


Nate begins to dry fit his frame.

Moose and Steve routers a few pieces

Brad and Jeff work on routering shoulder hubs for all the droids.