Dome progress report! Ready for clear coat!

[MattMunson]

Though there's a high degree of risk involved in constantly waving R2 progress pics in the face of this forum, I'm particularly pleased with the progress I made today on my dome, and wanted to show it off.

Long story short, here's where it is at the end of today:

I'm going for the ANH Tantive IV finish on the dome, and I think I got it pretty darn close, sans dings and boogers, of course. The dome has really been one giant headache after another for me, so I'm really pleased as punch to see it all coming together like this in the final phases. (the blue tape is just masking tape, there to prevent clear coat from getting on areas that will require glue)

My plan is to seal that wonderful finish up with a clearcoat tomorrow. Then I can pack all the electronics into it!! WOOHOOO!!!

 

[wamser_e]

Nice work Munson! Coming along nicely. I almost have mine running around. Working on the battery boxes and foot drives at the moment. Here is a progress pic for ya.

 

[Darth Brass]

Looking great Matt!

 

[MattMunson]

lookin' good, whammy. Keep it up!!

 

[HouseAtreides]

Nice!

What is the finish? I guess I aam wondering why clear coat it if it is aluminum?
I would understand if you really polished it up or something. Maybe it is more polished then it looks in the picture?
What was the big pain about it?
Great blog on the build-up!

 

[8 perf]

Being in the process of building my own R2 as well (going on 3+years now), I too would like to know the pains of doing the dome. I am still debating how best to do the cutting of all the panels into the aluminum. Making holes is easy, keeping them all straight and square is really scaring the **** out of me. $$ piece of metal to be screwing up on the first shot.