R2 progress and updates

[MattMunson]

Hey gang. Did some really fun stuff on R2 yesterday, and thought I would share it here.

And then bask in all of the praise... WOOHOOOOO..

here's a link to my blog update from yesterday

http://www.mattmunson.com/r2/jan_16/index.html


And there was some more action on the 15th, but nothing spectac.

Thanks for looking.

 

[OldKen]

lookin good MM. im jealous.

i doubt ill ever be able to even get a kit like that. let alone assemble it and it work. :lol

you really are flying through this thing, most take years and YEARS.

:thumbsup :thumbsup

 

[streetjudge79]

That's coming along great.

 

[womo68]

yes...he is flying through this....a little too fast if you ask me...it took me over 3 years to finish mine....

something smells fishy to me :lol :lol :lol


good job Matt,
womo

 

[wamser_e]

I agree womo. This guy is makin' us look bad. Might need to go have a talk with him.

Nice work Matt.

Ed

 

[MattMunson]

hah. you guys are hilarious... I'm happy to be moving along so swimmingly. I just want to get the guy done so I can actually have it.

The interesting thing is that the process of building him is actually REALLY fun. I can see why someone would build more than one. However, my plan is to just finish him, and then get to some other projects. Oh, and take him for walks and stuff


Today has been a TOTALLY great, but frustrating day. I'm pimpin' my droid. I'm actually lowering him. I had a chance to take some measurements off a legit R2, and realized that my drive system was making R2 ride a bit high. So I thought today I would tackle making him a bit lower. What I didn't realize is that today would be a lesson in "oh, that did NOT occur to me". So many little things that I didn't think of when I started pulling the drive system apart and making cuts into it. After about five hours of solid work, I just finished up ONE foot. Well, i figure I did all the learning on that one, so the second one should go pretty quickly. I'll have pics and stuff of this operation up on the blog by tonight.

 

[wamser_e]

Building an R2 is definitely a learning experience.

 

[MattMunson]

Well, today ends sort of on a down note. I spent about five hours on one foot, and finally got it all properly adjusted. Learning curve is right. but once it was done, I figured the second one would come together really quickly.


And it did. I got all the holes drilled, all the slots milled, and holes bored in under an hour. I reassembled the second foot... only to realize that one of my critical measurements was mixed up. I had a ton of cuts that were .5", and ONE that was .375". I did the .375" one at .5 instead. So it's all screwed up but oh well. I've already thought up a way to fix it, I just dont' have the energy for it tonight. too wiped out.

I'll have pics up later, if anyone wants to check out the days fun.

 

[MonCal]

Nice.. I'm anxious to get my R2 finished as well

Will you make an alternate droid so you can switch from time to time with a different dome / decals etc?

 

[lambotour]

Way to go M. Keep the updates coming. :thumbsup

 

[MattMunson]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MonCal @ Jan 18 2007, 04:26 PM) [snapback]1399650[/snapback]</div>

Nice.. I'm anxious to get my R2 finished as well

Will you make an alternate droid so you can switch from time to time with a different dome / decals etc?
[/b]

No way. That would be like cheating on a girlfriend.... But for me, there's only one astromech droid, and his name is R2...

I've updated the blog with my work from today. Sort of a sob story, but I'm sure it will all work out in the end. It's just a bummer to leave the shop for the night with an assembly unfinished.


Thanks again for all the kind words guys.

 

[Darth Kahnt]

That blog is great Munson. What a fabulous resource you have compiled. A benefit to all aspiring R2 builders out there.

 

[MattMunson]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Kahnt @ Jan 18 2007, 11:06 PM) [snapback]1399742[/snapback]</div>

That blog is great Munson. What a fabulous resource you have compiled. A benefit to all aspiring R2 builders out there.
[/b]

Now that's just too darn kind... I was considering taking the blog the route of some of the great tutorial sites out there, but I just don't have the energy for it. Some dudes put together stellar pages showing exacly HOW to do something. I'm just sort of documenting my own fumbling. I'm in no way an authority, and the latest entry on the feet mods certainly shows that..

But hey, if it inspires someone to build their own droid, or take a shot at it, then it's all good. And besides, my new special lady friend gets a kick out of reading it, so that's got to be worth something