Original 1978 MPC Artoo Detoo

[Hand Solo]

I built this original '78-issue Artoo back in 1999 before I took a very long break from the hobby.

He's built to depict his appearance thru much of Episode IV.

One of the very first things I did with this is to strip the chrome from the dome and cut the dome frames to re-align the six upper panels to reflect their actual position. Then with fairly course sandpaper, I gave the dome plastic a 'grain' like stainless steel has. The dome was painted with a rattlecan chrome. Memory fails on just what I used at the time...

The body was airbrushed with Apple Barrel white after priming and all the blue panels were brushed on using Plasti-Cote GM Metallic Blue automotive touch up paint.

All weathering was done with pastel chalks ( my preferred method ) and sealed with Dullcoat. If you look carefully, you can see where the restraining bolt was removed from his front.

The power cables on the feet were replaced with guitar cable as well as many of the plastic internal detail parts under the removeable back panel.

The biggest inaccuracy I left unfixed was the bevelled neck band. If I ever rebuild this one, I'll fix that detail. I'll probably also light him.

The third leg was built, but permanently placed in the retracted position.

You might be able to see photoetched brass screen in some of the dome detail areas. That was a little extra touch I did.

Link to large image

Link to large image

Link to large image

After I built this one, I pretty much stopped building for several years. Now I'm getting back into it with a vengeance.

 

[Kuhn Global]

How much for that GIANT woofer behind R2? LOL....

That looks GREAT Bob.

 

[Hand Solo]

<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jul 2 2006, 04:37 PM) [snapback]1272713[/snapback]</div>

How much for that GIANT woofer behind R2? LOL....[/b]

Artoo is quite the party animal. With the ol' JBL Concert Stack behind him.

<div class='quotetop'></div>

That looks GREAT Bob.
[/b]

Thanks.

This one, I'll probably revisit in the future. I think I can do him up even better now.

What I wouldn't give to be able to afford to build a full scale Artoo like those guys at the R2 Builders Club do. They have some real talent.

 

[Kuhn Global]

ooOOoooooo....full scale....

It would be fnny to place a dummy of Kenny Baker in it too? LOL. That would be bizzare... still... wonder if that has been done?

 

[Hand Solo]

<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jul 2 2006, 04:45 PM) [snapback]1272721[/snapback]</div>

ooOOoooooo....full scale....

It would be fnny to place a dummy of Kenny Baker in it too? LOL. That would be bizzare... still... wonder if that has been done?
[/b]

That's almost...bizarre.


He photographs much cleaner than he really is. The lighting washes out the weathering.

Your Red Five X-wing, I bet, MUST be far more impressive in person for the same reason, Kurt.

 

[TK-326]

<div class='quotetop'>(Hand Solo @ Jul 2 2006, 06:41 PM) [snapback]1272718[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jul 2 2006, 04:37 PM) [snapback]1272713[/snapback]

How much for that GIANT woofer behind R2? LOL....[/b]

Artoo is quite the party animal. With the ol' JBL Concert Stack behind him.

<div class='quotetop'></div>

That looks GREAT Bob.
[/b]

Thanks.

This one, I'll probably revisit in the future. I think I can do him up even better now.

What I wouldn't give to be able to afford to build a full scale Artoo like those guys at the R2 Builders Club do. They have some real talent.
[/b][/quote]

I'm still working on completing my full-scale R2, but now you've got me wanting to dig out my old MPC kits and take a look at them.

 

[PHArchivist]

Nice job -- I like teh spun look you got on the dome...

 

[Hand Solo]

<div class='quotetop'>(TK-326 @ Jul 2 2006, 08:33 PM) [snapback]1272852[/snapback]</div>

I'm still working on completing my full-scale R2, but now you've got me wanting to dig out my old MPC kits and take a look at them.
[/b]

Sometimes they CAN be made to look decent. And they're still available from time to time, usually affordable.


<div class='quotetop'>(PHArchivist @ Jul 2 2006, 08:38 PM) [snapback]1272857[/snapback]</div>

Nice job -- I like teh spun look you got on the dome...
[/b]

Thanks.

The shiny chrome was one of the things I never liked about that kit. It made it look too toy-like. Overall the MPC IS a good likeness, provided some adjustments are made. I also modified the radar 'eye' to have a data slot beneath it.

326, are you building BOTH an R2 and R5 unit? Or will your R2 have a swappable R5 dome?

I checked out your blog. Nice work so far.

 

[Kuhn Global]

Swappable domes is a great idea. I never noticed that the designs were so alike.

Full sized R2's are definitely great things. Lights, sound and movement included? I recently got this R2 toy about ...ohhh... 18 to 24" tall that moves around and make sound and stuff. Bet the components could be used for a full sized.

 

[TK-326]

Yes, I am building both an R2 and an R5. R2 is mostly done, but he needs a buddy, plus I have all these resin and sintra parts left over from swapping out aluminum parts. The R2 is all metal - aluminum and steel. The R5 will be Sintra, resin, and wood. Both have aluminum skins. I'm painting the R5 red like R5-X2. The domes are still interchangeable, as everything is built to club specs (R2 Builders Club).

 

[Hand Solo]

^ Ah Hah. Thanks.

Any one of youz guyz gots an R5 with a popping/smoking motivator? You know how those R5s can be....

 

[burningman]

great looking model..I had that one as well but it got tossed way back when..I miss him

 

[Hand Solo]

<div class='quotetop'>(burningman @ Jul 3 2006, 09:48 AM) [snapback]1273215[/snapback]</div>

great looking model..I had that one as well but it got tossed way back when..I miss him
[/b]

Thanks.

This one was my second. Another good friend, who has yet to post here but is a member ( name of Moorcat ) found this for me years and years back.

My first one I painted as a Red R2 back in 1983.

 

[dropshipbob]

My brother had the companion piece/C3PO with it's dull as dirt gold paint job. I think he built it straight out of the box. Not that I can blame him, he was only 6 or 7 at the time. :lol

You've done a great job on R2. Nice to see what can be done with older kits.

 

[Hand Solo]

<div class='quotetop'></div>

You've done a great job on R2. Nice to see what can be done with older kits.[/b]

Well thanks.

If it HAD been the Threepio ( which I had and blew up repeatedly with a firecracker...I held him together in between pyrotechnic 'experiences' with modelling clay....), I'dve given up. There are far too many things wrong with that one.

The Artoo, overall, wasn't beyond some help. If I obtain another, I'll build an R3 or an R5 variant.

 

[Morla]

I am building an all aluminum R2 as well, this project has me totally addicted to constructing droids. All my spare time is now devoted to it.

 

[frightzone_4_you]

COOL ... You did a great job. I really liked your creative approach & research :thumbsup :thumbsup

 

[Hand Solo]

<div class='quotetop'>(frightzone_4_you @ Aug 6 2006, 10:29 AM) [snapback]1295006[/snapback]</div>

COOL ... You did a great job. I really liked your creative approach & research :thumbsup :thumbsup
[/b]

:thumbsup

Thanks.

 

[REL]

Awesome work.

Did you add his jet pack upgrade...er downgrade. Those would've come in handy when he fell in the swamp on Dagobah.

 

[Hand Solo]

<div class='quotetop'>(REL @ Aug 6 2006, 12:08 PM) [snapback]1295061[/snapback]</div>

Awesome work.

Did you add his jet pack upgrade...er downgrade. Those would've come in handy when he fell in the swamp on Dagobah.
[/b]

They would have, wouldn't they...

Too bad that it was probably Captain Antilles that had those packs removed...probably to retrofit something else in there during Artoo's Tantive years.