R2-D2 foam build. Pictures of R2's trip to school.

Re: R2-D2 foam build.

The last one is Kenny Baker's legs! :lol Those "tubes" are so he could get his feet into the housings.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

You will find that the disks on the legs generally go to the front in Episode 4 and to the back on all the other movies though, as you've already seen, there are exceptions.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

Yes, the shoulder buttons and hydrolics are personal preference. I even think sme of the CGI artoo shots in episode III are backwards from how it is in other parts of the same movie. I personally like the buttons in the front and that's probably how I'll do mine, but it's totally your call. Maybe pic a favorite scene and match it to that.

The leg braces, I believe, are mostly seen in promotional shots. I don't recall ever seeing them in the film, and were probably added post wrap for tours to aid in stability.

Yup, the dark spots in the last photo are Kenny's feet. I think I remember seeing some kind of accordion-like rubber material there to cover his legs.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

Thanks guys I knew if I asked here someone would know.
Over on the Astromech builders site someone said that in TESB and ROTJ they standadized the Hydrolics to the front and the buttons towards the back. I quese it is personal choice.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

Here is a small updated pic.
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And my little girl has started to get the foam building buzz.
She started making her own flip-flop's.
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Re: R2-D2 foam build.

I don't know if you plan on painting him, but he looks pretty cool with the different colors of foam. Except the center leg; that pink has gotta go! :lol
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

That is really coming along nicely!
I had considered making a static R2-D2 for our 501st outings but the cost was way out of line. This gives me hope to put something together that won't break the bank!

Thanks for putting this up and keep up the good work!
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

Looking at that you should get a clear dome and make this a little display table! :D
LOL yeah no kidding. I have been using him as a table aswell.

I don't know if you plan on painting him, but he looks pretty cool with the different colors of foam. Except the center leg; that pink has gotta go! :lol
My little girls would kill me if I left it unpainted but painted the pink foot. I am planning on painting it all though. My wife works at the local school and a few months ago they were throwing some old stuff out and they had several of these 2x2 feet foam mats all different colours so my wife grabbed them for me.

That is really coming along nicely!
I had considered making a static R2-D2 for our 501st outings but the cost was way out of line. This gives me hope to put something together that won't break the bank!

Thanks for putting this up and keep up the good work!
You're welcome. Thanks for the kind words. So far total budget on this R2 has been less then $40.00 Now I did get some of the foam free but if I had to pay for it then it still only be around $50-$60.
Great build. Very inspirational!

Would something like this be within your budget for a dome:

DOME COVER CAKE ONLY ACRYLIC 300mm | Hospitality Depot

This is down in Australia, apparently, but a search for cake supply places more local to you should turn something up. 300mm is the "official" builder club specification - so it might just work!

Very interesting, I will have to do some searching, thanks for the info I appreciate it.


I just got back from the city and was able to buy two more rolls of foam and a pack of 2x2 feet thicker foam. I also found an excercise ball 18" diameter for $3.99 I might papermache over it to make the dome. We will see.
more building tomorrow.
J
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

Well..... Just had a massive failure with the paper mache. I got the ball made sure the valve was at the bottom made a holder for the ball and started to paper mache it. Last night went great. Today I added another couple of layers of paper mache, so far so good. Looked like it was going to rain so I put the dome on the porch and went inside. A little while later I went to check on it and the wind had picked up and blew the dome in to the road. totaly ruining it.. Oh well. Kinda dishearted right now. But wont be for long.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

If the paper mache does not work out, here is a domestic source for acrylic domes.

Clear Acrylic Plastic Display Domes.

They offer a ton of sizes ans heights and they are relatively affordable.

The wind is a cruel B***H. It turned my first Stormtrooper into a Sandtrooper during a freak gust while painting! The joys of living on the prairie!
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

I also noticed that on the front cover the pic of R2 has bracets attached to his feet and the skirt section.
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There are a couple of scenes in New Hope where you can see those braces. The most prominant one is the scene in the Death Star when the droids head back to the Falcon just before ObiWan is struck down.
main.php

Also the opening scenes in the Tantive:
main.php


Also anyone know what the dark sections are behind the battery boxes in this pic?.
DSCF5439.jpg

basically dryer hosing to hide Kenny Baker's legs as his feet went out the bottom of the skirt, into the battery boxes and into the feet so he could "waddle" the droid. those are seen in pretty much every 2 legged version of the droid on camera including the sequels. For later films they used some off white leather "boot" like shape to hide his legs.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

If the paper mache does not work out, here is a domestic source for acrylic domes.

Clear Acrylic Plastic Display Domes.

They offer a ton of sizes ans heights and they are relatively affordable.

The wind is a cruel B***H. It turned my first Stormtrooper into a Sandtrooper during a freak gust while painting! The joys of living on the prairie!

Thanks i will check out the link.

There are a couple of scenes in New Hope where you can see those braces. The most prominant one is the scene in the Death Star when the droids head back to the Falcon just before ObiWan is struck down.
main.php

Also the opening scenes in the Tantive:
main.php




basically dryer hosing to hide Kenny Baker's legs as his feet went out the bottom of the skirt, into the battery boxes and into the feet so he could "waddle" the droid. those are seen in pretty much every 2 legged version of the droid on camera including the sequels. For later films they used some off white leather "boot" like shape to hide his legs.

Thanks for the info, very interesting. cheers.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

Ok guys, not one to be down too long.
They say inspiration can come from above. Well this did. It also kinda came to me just like a light bulb being lit over my head. I was sitting with my kids having something to eat when I looked up and saw this.
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Once we had finished eating and cleared the table I took the light shade off.
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I heated up some foam and layed it on the dome.
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I heated seperate sections up at a time and taped them down.
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Once cooled I took the tape off.
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The dome was looking ok, but I was worried that it might slowely loose its shape, so i started to build some suports on the inside.
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Then to help keep it all in place while the glue was drying I taped it some more.
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Anyone for watermelon?.
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Once that was all dry I started work on the rest of the dome.
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It's not perfect but I might be able to smooth donw some of the edges.
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Here is the dome, the top part is just placed on top at the moment. I will glue it down tomorrow.
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This is just for now. I have just recently been pm'ed and someone has let me know that they are going to donate an 18" dome for free to help me on this project. You know who you are. I can not say who it is, as they have asked to remain nameless. The only thing they asked is that I pass on the good deed when i can. You can count on that my friend!!.
Thank you.
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

Very clever solution! Awesome that someone has donated a dome though. :) This place is full of gems! :thumbsup
 
Re: R2-D2 foam build.

You're foam-building skills never cease to amaze me; very impressive work on the dome!

Looking forward to how the whole project turns out when complete. Then again, is an R2 build ever really complete? ;)


ATM
ShackMan
 
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