1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Just about done!

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

No luck with the skin, I will leave it in for a few more days, then heat it with a heat gun near melting some day.
Busy days as school the coming weeks before easter now, but I will take a shot on painting the platform at least in the next days.

Went outside today just to find two cracked up utility arms, argh. I sanded them down and they will both be repainted.


1 ankle cylinder is finally in place.






Had to repaint a small part afterwards, glued it in the wrong place first, tore it off and some paint followed. Nothing big.


Note that the upper right corner isn't finished. Emptied the primer on the platform very easily. A spray can is like a pencil on such a large surface...





If I spray the whole platform with an airbrush and the blue painting, then paint white and gray (or black) sections on top of the blue paint, will it stick or peal off quite easily?

 

[purplybunny]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Good progress

 

[spacebob]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Great to see such progress Kevlar,
the new paint will all stick even if its on top of shiny paint if you get it right, it should say drying times on the cans .
you have to get the new paint on before the underneath layer fully cures.
If it takes two days for the base coat to fully cure paint over it after one, if it takes three days paint after two.
if you paint over shiny paint after it has fully cured it will peel off so will have to key it first.
you should get away with painting over matt paints.

Oh and make sure all the paints are compatible or you will have more trouble like the arms cracking

 

[jayutmb]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

I am experimenting with 1080 3M in place of paint for a lot of my droid and have to say the metal looks real.. Might want to give it a peep


Who is John Galt...

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

I will give the platform painting a shot on Sunday, the first day when I have time to do so. The can say touchable after 4 hours, and paintable after 8 hours, so I guess I will wait close to 8 hours, then cut the tape to size and paint. Thanks!

New paint are in place and the platforms remaining primer is drying right now.

Alright. The skin didn't bent as well as I hoped, but bent a bit though.






Alright, to all of you fellow builders out there, plan, a lot. Why? To avoid complications like this... I guess I have to cut it away, at least a part of it - i will try to do it by hand to minimize risks of damage.





This part has to be cut down, will be bit of a wrong look at the end, but I can't cut away the whole beam/plank.

 

[SofaKing01]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Looks great, my friend! Don't worry too much about those set backs. While they are frustrating, they make you a better builder! Hang in there and push through. I'm really excited to see R2 finished. You've inspired me to make my own R2 - not sure when or if I have time...

Keep up the great work!

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Well said, thanks! True and I will! Every time I see you overcome a problem or setback I look up to you. You show that a good look on a prop/replica is worth the extra effort, time after time. Would be cool if you made an R2, when you don't have your hands full with the console and the MF cockpit of course

 

[Cbhurless]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Looks great, with the paint try spraying multiple thin coats. The thicker it is on a dry layer the more likely it is to lift the dry layer.


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[spacebob]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

So close to getting the skin on, its exiting.
Dont worry about things clashing and having to do a bit of on the fly hacking or butchering of the frame, i had the exact same trouble with mine.
Just reinforce if things get a bit dicey. Are you doing more this weekend?

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Indeed thin coats are important, that's where I failed with the clear coat on the utility arms. So easy to get carried away and just spray on, but it's not smart indeed.

Hopefully the frame will stand without reinforcements, but it's only one way to know for sure - to wait and see. But if needed, of course I will. The second part of the back skin is now in the "skin-bender", and I will heat it up so it will stay at least a little curved while I wait for the paint on Sunday.
I'm going away tomorrow (or, today when I look at the clock), at Saturday so won't do anything then, but to paint the second cylinder with chrome before I leave.

I will see about the measurements for the platform's sections tomorrow, or today depending on your view.

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Failed to use the airbrush for some unknown reason so used a roller instead.
I started to cut masking tape to size and to prep the platform for paint, when suddenly, BAM! No more masking tape! No more. So much for painting after 8 hours, argh! I have no choice but to buy more and to finish it up first thing after school tomorrow. I hope that it still works fine tomorrow.


Chosen color design. Gray = chrome


Design, can look kinda messy to you, but I understand it as I drew it. That's the important part.












Forgot to bend the skin, but some parts were painted.

 

[Cbhurless]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Looks good. Just keep working, it will be worth it.


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[bubble085]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

I have loved this build, can not wait to see the little fella all finished. Good work my friend, I forsee great things from you (•__•)

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Will do, until finished of course!
I want to thank you SofaKing01 for the platform plans and for the time it took for you to make the platform even though you had a busy time back then. Even though it was just a quick sketch, it looks cool!



I have a problem atm, with two options that I can think off.. I'm leaning towards option 2 because it will take a lot of time and effort to remake the thing, and with some lunar dust it's not that noticeable when covered with a nearly 1m high droid on top.

1. Remake the platform.
Pros:
- Probably a better end product.
Cons:
- Would take multiple hours to remake it.
- Not sure if there is enough blue paint left of the right contrast. (picture at the bottom of this post)

2. Buy some artificial lunar dust and "mount/attach" it to the platform as well as the bottom at the feet. Lunar dust to get kind of a space-look.
Pros:
- Quick.
- Enough paint is no problem.
Cons:
- Possibly a worse end product?










How big a success it was to paint it the next day is open for discussion, sadly.









Not great lines, but this can be fixed with a small brush more or less. No matter how fast I take the masking tape off these lines appear, I have a feeling that the paint sneaks under the tape.. Anyways.









So much cracked paint!

 

[SofaKing01]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Hey Kev,

Digging that platform! You're project is really coming along.

The cracking paint. It would appear you have two different types of paint. That why you have the cracking. But no worries. You have an option. Instead of going back and fixing ALL the those paint lines and cracking, why not weather the platform? The paint would then appear as normal wear and tear?

Once everything dries, lightly sand the surface to take down the high points of the cracked paint. Then using watered down water-based paints (blacks and browns) just weather the platform.

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Good idea, just found out that I have some brown and black water based paint laying around, so it should work fine. I will give it a go one day, hopefully this week. Won't clear coat the platform, won't be much visible if any when it's weathered anyways.

Yes, colors look weir with flash. Plan for tomorrow is to paint a few spots with blue paint to get more smooth lines, aka getting rid of the easily visible flaws.


Not much, but clear coated.




Finally done with the second cylinder, feels so... liberating. Took a while and a few tries.

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Yesterday got busier than planned, fixed it up today.



Good enough.

 

[SofaKing01]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Looking good!

 

[Snow Builder]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Looking good!

I concur!

Also, regarding the leakage of paint under the tape: make sure you're going with very light coats. Once you have 2-3 light coats down it will help fix the tape in place and further prevent the paint from leaking under.

 

[Kevlarr]

Re: (PIC HEAVY) 1:1 R2D2 building from scratch - Platform & some part paiting in prog

Thanks, and I will keep that in mind! You guys sure do have knowledge!

I will see about that weathering tomorrow or on Friday, would be alright to have it finished by the end of the week.