R5-D4 bad motivator

[BadMotivator]

I agree and originally was throwing that possibility out the window because of it. With that said, this may fall into being a common part shared between several OEMs of the time as bulbs even then were fairly standard (and not produced by the OEMs). I wish the bay listing specifically said which vehicles these specific variants came out of, but even after messaging the seller, he wasn’t sure.

I do plan on drawing it up in CAD similar to how Roy (from WannaWanga) has done on several lightsaber research threads to hopefully get some more definitive measurements/proportions to hopefully lead us in the right direction.

Please keep us in the loop. Very interested in this. I also responded to your private message.

 

[GreyGuard38]

I’m invested in this one now haha

I have found something going back off of the original post by BadMotivator. Not a clue on which manufacturer as it wasn’t specified, but I just found these:

View attachment 1786694
The main thing I’m not seeing in any of the sink caps is the number of teeth (appears to be 12 as BadMotivator originally stated, and I’m now seeing with the negative photo posted) and the thickness of the edge/lip being too thin in comparison to the bulb sockets.


Also, the pulley is a great idea and totally agree it could make sense for a mechanism to pop it up along with that spring.

The shape reminded me of something but I couldn’t put my finger on it until I turned on my stereo (I collect/restore old stereo/HiFi gear) that the thing I was thinking of was a variable air capacitor! Used in the tuner section of a stereo to dial in different stations.

Here’s a generic picture of one:
View attachment 1786695

These are in most (if not all) stereos before things went digital, though I’d assume it’d specifically be from an old car stereo (assuming the main section is indeed an old car bulb socket) given its small size.

Obviously nothing definitive yet, just an idea.

This would make a terrific part for something... somewhere! What can we add this to?

 

[Halliwax]

Hm. Seems surprising. I mean, US-built cars aren’t commonly seen in the UK, and certainly not in the 1970s when that prop was built…

Ford produced many cars over seas starting in the 60s. I would imagine the euro escorts, would have the same plugs

 

[Halliwax]

Just googled real quick, don’t have much free time. But looks like the British ford cortina rocks the same sockets..

 

[Media Man]

So last night I was cleaning up my workspace from my last build when I noticed something.

Taking a quick look at the prop, I noticed the white spring/coiled wire actually looks to be threaded through the thin metal plate in several spots.

View attachment 1787036

I also originally was leaning towards it being a coiled wire rather than a spring due to how mangled and uneven it looked (and if you’ve ever tried to stretch/permanently bend a spring, you know that it sorta changes in diameter proportionately each “ring”). Until I saw one of these on my desk:

View attachment 1787035

Nearly all eraser shields have a long thin cutout for erasing thin areas in technical drawings. Also, the spacing from the edge appears to always be roughly the same, same goes for the rounded corners. The other shaped holes would also coincidentally allow the spring to be tugged “out of true,” making it appear mangled and in areas where there isn’t a hole, it’s simply not threaded through the metal. Again, just an idea but given the fact that the original R2 builders for the film made a plethora of technical drawings/drafts, I feel this is a decent possibility. I’d like to try my hand at drafting this up in CAD against the screen grabs to check dimensions and if holes happen to line up as well.

I was going to mention seeing a sort of plate behind the socket as well! Seems like a spring coiled around an eraser shield could be good but maybe it could be like how a pen cap has the tab to slide onto papers and such? So the sping is between a tap and plate?

 

[Media Man]

To me the bad motivator seems to be made of 5 or 6 parts. My eyes see a back plate which the main socket attaches to and is used on the sping loaded mechanism.

 

[Halliwax]

Definitely a classic pile on greeblie job

 

[BadMotivator]

To me the bad motivator seems to be made of 5 or 6 parts. My eyes see a back plate which the main socket attaches to and is used on the sping loaded mechanism. View attachment 1787400

I agree with you. Now sourcing these parts and we have a complete motivator (the hard part)!

 

[SCREAMINYELLOW]

Fellas, I think we’ve got a match. As a matter of fact, I’m even seeing some more details matching up.

I’ll try to do a side by side outlining what I’m seeing as well as some photos with a ruler/micrometer soon, but today is my SO’s birthday so it may not be today.

 

[BadMotivator]

Fellas, I think we’ve got a match. As a matter of fact, I’m even seeing some more details matching up.

View attachment 1789427

I’ll try to do a side by side outlining what I’m seeing as well as some photos with a ruler/micrometer soon, but today is my SO’s birthday so it may not be today.

Awesome!!! Looks like a match to me too. Great job! Tell your SO happy birthday from all of us!

 

[Halliwax]

Fellas, I think we’ve got a match. As a matter of fact, I’m even seeing some more details matching up.

View attachment 1789427

I’ll try to do a side by side outlining what I’m seeing as well as some photos with a ruler/micrometer soon, but today is my SO’s birthday so it may not be today.

Sure looks good to
Me!!

 

[OpenR2]

Is there any way it could be the bayonet socket from the vickers viscount reading lamp? They would have had boxes of those on set.

 

[BadMotivator]

Is there any way it could be the bayonet socket from the vickers viscount reading lamp? They would have had boxes of those on set.

Could be. Can the center part be removed? It’s not on the motivator. Also, is there a side view photo we can compare to the movie scene?

 

[OpenR2]

I am traveling but I can take a couple of photos when I get home on Thursday.

 

[BadMotivator]

I am traveling but I can take a couple of photos when I get home on Thursday.

Thanks!

 

[Halliwax]

I am traveling but I can take a couple of photos when I get home on Thursday.

Oh we would all appreciate that!

 

[SCREAMINYELLOW]

OpenR2 would you happen to know what particular brands/manufacturers of electronics components were typically used in the R2 units on set (similar to how when those in the US search “vintage electronic components” we typically find a ton from Archer/RadioShack)?

I know that’s an incredibly vague question to ask, but wasn’t sure if by chance there is a trend or anything to help narrow down the 3 pieces I’m almost certain are variable capacitor fins.

 

[OpenR2]

OpenR2 would you happen to know what particular brands/manufacturers of electronics components were typically used in the R2 units on set (similar to how when those in the US search “vintage electronic components” we typically find a ton from Archer/RadioShack)?

I know that’s an incredibly vague question to ask, but wasn’t sure if by chance there is a trend or anything to help narrow down the 3 pieces I’m almost certain are variable capacitor fins.

Lucas Electronics
Futaba
Magnet Schultz
Kinetrol

 

[SCREAMINYELLOW]

Lucas Electronics
Futaba
Magnet Schultz
Kinetrol

Perfect, thank you!

 

[Halliwax]

….hate Lucas electronics