R2D2 Build

[firstavenger 78]

this is very cool..i wat to do this but make it so R2 is a new tower for my desk top computer. where did you get the dome?

 

[KrangPrime]

It's going to need a bit of cleaning up. Hope excess JB weld picks up easy. These are now permanently on.

The next three, hopefully straight. Sadly, the tape marks are evident on the paint. not sure if there is an easy fix for that. I'm assuming grips would have fared no better.

The Dome Topper....Now I can hot glue it in from the bottom. Come on Radar eye ;o)... Next week all the panels will be done ...HOPEFULLY sometime soon my Com8B frame will be here as well!

 

[KrangPrime]

this is very cool..i wat to do this but make it so R2 is a new tower for my desk top computer. where did you get the dome?

Atromech forums... there just happens to be another one going on right now....so if you act now you can get one.

I'm thinking of getting a second one myself. Insane, I know

 

[KrangPrime]

Four panels left.. Gonna need some clean up

Dome Topper in place. Not bad for a first try

BAttery pack hot glued in.. it fell off with the stickers

 

[KrangPrime]

Well, I guess some went on better and flatter than others, but with a bit of cleanup, it won't look that bad for a first try. Only three more panels left, then come on radar eye

BTW, what IS an easy way to clean off excess JB Weld?

 

[KrangPrime]

Today, I HOPE to get the last three panels re-painted so they actually try to resemble good work. Right now, the paint is drying cracked and is leaving lines all around everything. Not sure how to fix that, but once I do, I'll get the last three panels done and Welded. The Weld is also a pain in the but. It leaks from the tube like crazy, and is super hard to squeeze out at the same time, so you have to be careful not to get any on the paint, and make sure that it doesn't get on the dome..... looks like I'll be chipping away some excess later.

Also for today, trip to home depot to find some material to remake the front PSI diffuser.

 

[KrangPrime]

Tommorow, my new piece of acrylic arrives, so hopefully I can get the front PSI panel glued in and done if that looks right. Once I get the remaining two panels to look good in paint, They will be secured with glue. Only thing left is to secure the radar eye, which I hope will go on sale soon.... and await the arrival of my frame.

For those who've worked on the body, is the frame less involved than the head? I'm also curious how much the internal electronics will run me. The Pit Man motor, the gear to turn the head, and the RC equipment.

 

[KrangPrime]

A new acrylic sheet, an hour later with the dremel, an almost perfect circle cut.....


Just wondering what i should do to coat it now..

 

[Mr Walker]

Great looking first attempt. You should be quite proud.

BTW, what IS an easy way to clean off excess JB Weld?

Unfortunately, AFAIK there isn't one. You can burn it off....

 

[KrangPrime]

Hmm, maybe I'll call it 'battle damage' on R2 instead ...

Today, I welded on the last of the panels. Finally less clutter with other parts coming in . I removed the front LED light so I can put in the proper chip when my new kit gets here. With the replacment chip, it doesn't always turn on when the switch does, but the others work perfectly.

Hopefully next week, my new light kit will arrive for the eventual head #2 in the near future. we'll replace the chip, re-glue in the PVC pipe for the light, and once the radar eye gets here, the head will be done!

Just got an update on the body, looks like that might start shipping in the begining of may.

 

[Pghtrooper21]

This looks Great! I saw a Fiberglass R2 unit at a hooby store and I rather go with the metal dome! Keep up the Great Job!

Andy

 

[mattkelly]

Hmm, maybe I'll call it 'battle damage' on R2 instead ...

Dude, you've got carbon scoring all over your droid!

 

[Engelnicht]

So were you on a star cruiser, or some kind of--

BZZZZZT

Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope...

 

[KrangPrime]

Dude, you've got carbon scoring all over your droid!

that works too

Found out I might be able to score a deep pocket vent set in a couple of weeks, also a pair of utility arms. If this happens, all I will need is the Coin Return and the body will be complete.

IF I'm real lucky I may even get a pair of legs as well.. From now on, no matter the cost, I will never miss out on another run again

 

[KrangPrime]

All panels now glued on. As you can tell, the holes from the front PSI's are still viewable. I tried to position it to cover up as much as possible. When I get the second head, a hole saw from the start it is to do it right. I took off the front PSI to put in the proper chip when my new light kit gets here. sometimes it starts OK, sometimes it doesn't... I'll also be taking out the rear PSI and replacing three dead LED's with it.

Some panels glued on better than others. This one's paint job is also the worst of the lot. no amount of sanding or grinding could get it to look good. When I got it to this level I finally said, 'Enough is enough, it's good enough!'

Hopefully the new light kit will get here this week, we'll get those on. Then just the radar eye is needed

 

[KrangPrime]

when the body gets here in may, the next job..

Also, anyone else have these same skins? I just took a good first look at them. I was going to take out the parts that we don't need and I can throw away, like the center vent and coin return panels. But the tabs are so tiny, you can't snip them at all or twist them off without wreckin the metal. Dremel would wreck the smooth shape..any ideas?

I'm also curious as to why we need two sets of front back skins..

 

[KrangPrime]

My LDPP gets here next week yay! So that just leaves Deep Pocket Vent and Front vents left, and every part paid will have shipped. On standby list for legs, and didn't get the payment notice for shoulder hubs, but on the list!

So it looks like the body will have almost all the parts for it and shipped by the end of May if I'm lucky, including the frame.

Then it's on to worrying about the legs...

Still looking to find out how much the body electronics will be setting me back. All I want him to do is have his head turn and be mobile RC/ed. nothing more advanced than that

later!

 

[KrangPrime]

My second light kit will get here with extra diffusers. Once i get the diffuser cut, replacement chip put in, and three dead bulbs replaced, the first light kit will be finished and droid head done, minus the radar eye.

Eventually I'll order a second head and get things done the right way toward the end of the year.

My Large Data Port got shipped! Not sure if it's the same run someone here suggested, but that should get here next week

Looks like my frame might either ship first week in may, or be ready to ship by then. So I can FINALLY start working on the body.

 

[ShackMan]

I'm also curious as to why we need two sets of front back skins..

Haven't seen this answered, so thought I'd chime in for you. It's like the dome; you cut out the panels on the outer dome, and they lay on top of the inner dome panels (assuming you don't want them to open/close). This give the multilayer effect, like raised paneling. The skins are the same way. You cut-out the outer panels, remove the unnecessary parts of the inner skins, and when you put them together, the inner part acts as a support for the outer panels.

Hope that made sense (it did in my head).


ATM
ShackMan

 

[KrangPrime]

Hope that made sense (it did in my head).


ATM
ShackMan

yep, it did I guess I just gotta start working on it to see how it all fits together and turns out. How are the skins held together on the frame? Screw?

Also, looks like my side vents arrived! YAY!