What to put in an R3 Droid Dome?

[ColeHorton]

A couple months ago, another R2 builder and I picked up an industrial vacuforming machine that we modified to make budget Astromech domes for the R2 builders club. When we started the work, I was looking to get a clear dome to make an R3 unit. Specifically, I want to be able to convert my red droid into this model seen in ANH:

Here is a picture of my droid with the clear domes we produce. I have upgraded mine to include an aluminum ring. Inside the dome will be a base plate.

Now I need to figure out what to put in the dome. This gets into a bit of a grey area for me... one where I am "making up" Star Wars. I'm not usually fan of custom mandos and other variants, so I want to do this right. I need it to feel like clasic Star Wars. Unfortunately, we don't have a ton of information on what was in the original R3 domes.

Here is a screen grab from ESB that gives a better look into the R3 dome:

Any Star Wars prop experts have any ideas? What kind of found or built items would look "right" inside the dome? Anyone have a lead on other Star Wars greeblies or 70's era parts?

 

[giric thren]

I dont know much about Droid innerds..... or that much about props in general. So from a new person to the art of prop making. What type servos and stuff do you usuall put into the head of an R2? If you dont usually have anything in the head. I would buy some motors (small electric ala erector set) and have it run inside the head without it doing anything but look like it is doing something. I have wanted to build an R-series droid for a long time. let me see if I can find something for you.

 

[xeno]

maybe something like this, and
would make it almost screen accurate

 

[Contec]

A Dwarf?......

 

[cheech9898]

I say just cannibalize old computer boards and throw some extra heat sinks & fans on it all. Just look for late 70's early 80's PC's, ie old Apple II's, Comadorre 64's, arcade/pinball games, etc since that's what they probably would have had around to canabalize.

If your going to put an on-board Micro-PC for wi-fi type control in it just do that and throw some non-functional stuff as filler in. Run extra dress-up cables from the boards to the Holo projectors & radar eye or actually put that micro-projector in the holo & a camera behind the radar eye if doing the on-board Micro-PC thing.

 

[Skaught]

I would avoid things like circuit boards and other easily recognizable items. Instead, I'd fine some old mechanical thingamajigs with chunky pieces of metal. Throw some LEDs in there and I think you're good. Maybe something that would rotate?

Scott

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

...
PC's, ie old Apple II's, Comadorre 64's, arcade/pinball games, etc since that's what they probably would have had around to canabalize.

...

A Commodore C-64 cost about 1200 US-$ in 1983 IIRC. Not old enough Good suggestion though.

I love that little R3-Droid, always liked the diversity in designs on the Protocol droids and the R-units.
Isn´t his body looking silvery or is the light playing tricks ?

Michael

 

[lonepigeon]

Looking at the yellow ESB R3 droid I would guess there are some parts from the Visible V8 model kit in there. They used V8 parts inside 3PO's back plate and FX-7. That might be part of the clear engine block with the lights inside.

However, the red ANH droid would not have any V8 parts in it since they didn't use that kit until ESB.

 

[ColeHorton]

I would avoid things like circuit boards and other easily recognizable items. Instead, I'd fine some old mechanical thingamajigs with chunky pieces of metal. Throw some LEDs in there and I think you're good. Maybe something that would rotate?

Scott

I like that idea... I guess in a perfect world I would find some 60's airplane parts or camera pieces.

Isn´t his body looking silvery or is the light playing tricks ?

I think the silverish body is a function of the scan. I tracked down the original Dicipher card and noticed a few things. The legs look black in the scan, but are clearly red on the card. The scan darkened the whole image. At some point, the image was flipped too. The radar eye and the coin strip on the front were the give away.

Looking at the yellow ESB R3 droid I would guess there are some parts from the Visible V8 model kit in there. They used V8 parts inside 3PO's back plate and FX-7. That might be part of the clear engine block with the lights inside.

However, the red ANH droid would not have any V8 parts in it since they didn't use that kit until ESB.

The Vis V8 is a great idea for ESB droids. Good call.

Were there any devices (thinking graflex, etc), greeblies, or model kits in ANH that show up on multiple props? Maybe the ANH equivalent to the Visable V8?

 

[Contec]

You could have Artoo's radar dish and the scope he uses in dagoba swamp. Or just build it like the inside of Robby the robot.

 

[ColeHorton]

Or just build it like the inside of Robby the robot.

:eek Oh no, now this thread is being watched.

:lol

Actually, that very thing has been done by another builder. I'll see if I can't dig up a picture of Max's R2... :thumbsup

 

[exoray]

I would suggest some more mechanical stuff, hit up Ebay for some vintage electronic/mechanical items...

Searches like "vintage radio parts" or will pull up all sorts of electronic/mechanical stuff that won't look so ordinary like modern computer circuits...

 

[Contec]

Has there never been a Toy R3? If it has you could get idees from it.

 

[PHArchivist]

I like the idea of replicating the tools that we've seen from Artoo's head (as mentioned) - the periscope, the extension arm he uses in first Death Star battle, etcetera.

The "life signs scanner" used to look for Luke on Hoth.

 

[womo68]

man I could have sworn that it had old vcr stuff in it...like the heads and such. Don't remember where I heard that....but it stands out in my memory.

 

[Kris]

I have some close-ups of the Star Tours R3's.

http://flickr.com/photos/51453931@N00/181381423/

Let me dig them up in full resolution

 

[BLASTER]

I love that little R3-Droid, always liked the diversity in designs on the Protocol droids and the R-units.
Michael

I always liked the Astromech diversity as well. So does the archive have stacks of these or back in the day did they just keep repainting and putting different heads on the same bodies as filming progressed.


Steven

 

[ColeHorton]

man I could have sworn that it had old vcr stuff in it...like the heads and such. Don't remember where I heard that....but it stands out in my memory.

VCRs do have lots of cool greeblies in them. Check out this picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vcr_innards.JPG

For those of you who were around back then, were VCRs affordable enough in the late 70s to be used at a prop?

 

[BLASTER]

It would have been mid-70's when filming and I don't thing they would of had a supply of junked "home use" vcr's at that time but they could of had access to something like a professional TV broadcast tape deck console thing-a-ma-bob that was junked and stripped for parts.
just a thought.

Steven

 

[nick daring]

Nick