Re: R2D2 Build - Lots of Pics
Hi F,
Thank you again for the inspiration. I'm sure many of us are now tinkering with our own ideas! It was like my hesitation working with fiberglass - you just gotta jump in and do it.
I do have a few questions:
1) The body is a PVC sewer pipe, 12" diameter: Did you purchase at a local "Lowes" or Home Depot"?
2) The Dome is a restaurant cake lid, bought from a restaurant supply store for about $12: You wouldn't happen to remember which store? Are they online?
3) The eye pieces on the dome are composed of Windex bottle caps, and a plumbing fitting: Did you take any pics of the build process?
4) Finally, you mentioned the difficulty routing the PVC sewer pipe. Did you create the pattern and... how the heck did you route with such detail? I saw the "jig" (if that's the correct word) was it matter of going back a forth, changing the depth and bits and turning the body as you go?
Again - AMAZING! Can't wait to see our favorite lil astromech complete.
okay, so in answer to your questions, i will do my best, remember, my dad is the brains behind this operation:love
1. Body: The body of this first droid, is made of a 12" diameter PVC sewer pipe. This had to be routed using the tool you see on page one, (my father can provide details on building this, if you use this method)
It id have to be routed using the jig, and it took about 8 hours to do so. Following that, there is a ton of clean up work to get it perfect. The sewer pipe was available for my dad, and it fit the size.
Now that being said, the next one i do will be made with styrene sheets that i have purchased from Regal Plastics. I can make a wood frame, and then lay the styrene sheets out, (2 layers) and then cut the patterns found on the Yahoo builder group website. ( I think this will be much easier, and the material is easier to locate. The price for the styrene i purchased only amounted to $28.00 I can provide a link for those interested)
2. The Dome: The dome is a bit more problematic. It was a restaurant style cake lid, running $12, but as it is from a restaurant supply store, local to my dad's home in Lubbock TX, its proven a bit unreliable.
The store does not have an online presence, and they only order the domes in bulk, so we would have to order several at once before we could get them. i have been unsuccessful finding these specific domes anywhere else on line. (which seems strange, but so far it has been tough)
now, the plan is to try our hand at casting this, which would include all the detail already set for you. Obviously this does raise the cost from $12 to what ever it may be with the cost of resin and a tad bit of labor. So if you can locate a 12" cake lid dome please share. In the mean time, if casting doesn't work for the dome, maybe we can get everyone interested together, and have this local store order a bunch at once.
3. Small eye pieces: these are composed of Windex bottle tops and a sink plumbing fixture. I did find out from my father, and checking Home Depot, that the silver sink fixture has changed, and the newer model is no longer the same

cry:cry so we will be casting this piece, as it was near perfect, and now cannot find the part any longer (remember, this project has been on going for 3 1/2 years the product changes, and again

cry:cry
4. the Jig: This thing is totally custom made, and once again, my father is a MAD MAN!! I can have him share with you, the design for this bad boy. The detail is achieved ver carefully:behave and like i said above, it takes forever. But i will get details, and if i can ever get him on the sight, he can explain in more detail.
I hope this helps, and I promise we will put together serious details on the build coming soon.