Hey guys,
A few of you might remember that I started building an R2-D2 4 years ago and then had to sell him to pay for family medical bills when I had just got him up on his feet.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=141406
It was very sad for both my son ( 5 years old at the time) and myself, but it was a necessary evil.
Well, Fast forward to 2016 and I'm finally in a position to be giving it another try!
I had been debating about starting another one but all the work I had to repeat was a bit disheartening. My son, who is now 9 has been begging me to do it, because he wants his buddy back. How could I say no to that? Anyway, for Christmas my wife went behind my back and talked to a friend who is on the R2 Builder's club, and ordered my first R2 part for me to open as a gift. Now I HAVE to build him again!
I was happy with my progress on the 1st one but I learned a lot and would have done things much differently had I known. So this time I'm learning from all of my mistakes and he's going to be better than ever! I'm also taking some short cuts on the really frustrating parts (like wiring up the logics and PSI boards) by ordering completed pieces from other members who build them for you. That was a life saver!
For this build I'm going 100% aluminum, and am taking into consideration future upgrades as I progress so that I leave room for extras down the road.
But for now he will be RC controlled, Dome movement, lights, sounds, and his holo projector will move randomly by itself.
He started out as a pile of boxes while I started collecting parts.
Here's the beginning assembly of the dome. I bought it second hand from a fellow Builder so it was already painted and partially put together.
After receiving some remaining parts and the dome lighting kit, I was able to get him all lit up and his Holo Projector moving.
His dome is powered with a self-contained RC battery so there's no complicated slip rings or anything. Just flip a switch and he comes alive!
Next I read up on a new method of replicating that crazy metallic blue / purple color that was done originally with Dykem layout fluid.
I used that last time and it looked awesome but it was not durable and faded quickly in UV light. The solution this time was to have him powder coated! There is a really close color that when applied a certain way looks EXACTLY like the dykem but it will LAST! it's extremely durable.
Here's the sample I got back from the powder coater.
And here is the finished dome prior to weathering. I'm trying to replicate the ANH version of Artoo.
The video is in low light but here you can see how light affects the paint job just like the real deal.
And here's a quick video of him in day light.
A few of you might remember that I started building an R2-D2 4 years ago and then had to sell him to pay for family medical bills when I had just got him up on his feet.
http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=141406
It was very sad for both my son ( 5 years old at the time) and myself, but it was a necessary evil.
Well, Fast forward to 2016 and I'm finally in a position to be giving it another try!
I had been debating about starting another one but all the work I had to repeat was a bit disheartening. My son, who is now 9 has been begging me to do it, because he wants his buddy back. How could I say no to that? Anyway, for Christmas my wife went behind my back and talked to a friend who is on the R2 Builder's club, and ordered my first R2 part for me to open as a gift. Now I HAVE to build him again!
I was happy with my progress on the 1st one but I learned a lot and would have done things much differently had I known. So this time I'm learning from all of my mistakes and he's going to be better than ever! I'm also taking some short cuts on the really frustrating parts (like wiring up the logics and PSI boards) by ordering completed pieces from other members who build them for you. That was a life saver!
For this build I'm going 100% aluminum, and am taking into consideration future upgrades as I progress so that I leave room for extras down the road.
But for now he will be RC controlled, Dome movement, lights, sounds, and his holo projector will move randomly by itself.
He started out as a pile of boxes while I started collecting parts.
Here's the beginning assembly of the dome. I bought it second hand from a fellow Builder so it was already painted and partially put together.
After receiving some remaining parts and the dome lighting kit, I was able to get him all lit up and his Holo Projector moving.
Next I read up on a new method of replicating that crazy metallic blue / purple color that was done originally with Dykem layout fluid.
I used that last time and it looked awesome but it was not durable and faded quickly in UV light. The solution this time was to have him powder coated! There is a really close color that when applied a certain way looks EXACTLY like the dykem but it will LAST! it's extremely durable.
Here's the sample I got back from the powder coater.
And here is the finished dome prior to weathering. I'm trying to replicate the ANH version of Artoo.
The video is in low light but here you can see how light affects the paint job just like the real deal.
And here's a quick video of him in day light.
Attachments
-
6869BFFB-C551-4735-A69C-ED458F08D600_zpsq60mzzgl.jpg -
6869BFFB-C551-4735-A69C-ED458F08D600_zpsq60mzzgl.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157728.005788_zpsqogbkiom.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157728.005788_zpsqogbkiom.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157716.132370_zpsvpq2imph.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157716.132370_zpsvpq2imph.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1454688322.169516_zpsjzf6yivr.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1454688322.169516_zpsjzf6yivr.jpg -
6869BFFB-C551-4735-A69C-ED458F08D600_zpsq60mzzgl.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157716.132370_zpsvpq2imph.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157728.005788_zpsqogbkiom.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1454688322.169516_zpsjzf6yivr.jpg -
6869BFFB-C551-4735-A69C-ED458F08D600_zpsq60mzzgl.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1454688322.169516_zpsjzf6yivr.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157716.132370_zpsvpq2imph.jpg -
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456157728.005788_zpsqogbkiom.jpg
Last edited by a moderator:
![URL]](http://[URL]http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj179/trooper_trent/84E6D411-DD9F-447D-AD46-A9149BAB8C3F_zps3uoyjyco.jpg[/URL])
