Sith Probe Droid - Custom Modification

Walter · Nov 14, 2016

I have been thinking about modifying the Sith Probe Droid game for a while and I was finally able to get around to it. I wasn't out to make a film accurate prop, I wanted to take the base droid and turn it into something new, as if some junker long ago had found a droid, modified it with logic systems, sensor upgrades and a once new paint job. This is what I came up with.

I put together an album on Flickr for better viewing.

Dann · Nov 14, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

I'm liking that! Nice work!

Walter · Nov 14, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

So I cut out the original eyepiece, replaced it with a plexiglass base, cut out the center for future electronics. The back propulsion parts were replaced with a flash light good from a dollar store and some spare hair dryer grates. I also removed one of the globular eyes... just no real need for it.

Dann · Nov 14, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

Very cool! Can't wait to see it all finished and weathered!

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

Right before I sprayed the silver I realized that the perimeter of the new eye was really missing some detail, it looked a little boring. I hit the scrap styrene drawer and made a sensor array out of little bits and bobs of different sizes of styrene tubing and flat pieces while resisting the urge to do more than what I was doing.

I wanted a very layered approach with the paint, I knew I wanted some serious paint chipping so I put down a coat of automotive silver I picked up for R2. Following that (once the silver had cured and completely hardened) I sprayed down a layer of a two part clear coat.

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

With the paint chipping I wanted there to be more depth, so I added a layer of primer and added some more rubber cement masking.

Halliwax · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

oh man i never even thought of this!! really really cool!! you nailed it!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

Thank you!

I really wanted to have some fun with this and do something different that I had not seen before. I picked up a second one and did some damage to it and the further I got into this project the more the second project began to evolve. This started out as a filler project between working on R2, but it really took off and I am happy with the results.

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom modI have really

Here is primer grey in natural light and the next images are the satin white applied. I used the canned krylon for the paint and applied it using an automotive paint sprayer. I have picked up a few of these guns for prop applications and I am sad to say I have had the most success with the less expensive harbor freight spray gun.

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom mod

A little pop of color. I agonized over this. I wanted orange but thought it looked too much like BB8.

Dann · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom mod

You work fast! Keep 'em coming!!

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom mod

I wish I worked as fast as I have posted these images! I have been working on this little guy in between working on my R2 for the past few months (I had to take a few weeks off during the summer months here in Arizona... the heat was intense). I just now got around to collecting my thoughts, gathering images and posting the progress.

Thanks for following the build though. I appreciate it.

Dann said:
You work fast! Keep 'em coming!!

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

This is where I really found out how well the layered rubber cement technique worked out and I have to say I was really happy with the look and feel of this beat up little droid. The first thing I did which you can see in the first image was paint a wash in the sensor array of the eye to see how the details showed up. I was very happy with the look.

Sith Probe Droid Custom Modification. Star Wars by Bryan Babich, on Flickr

Sith Probe Droid Custom Modification. Star Wars by Bryan Babich, on Flickr

Sith Probe Droid Custom Modification. Star Wars by Bryan Babich, on Flickr

Sith Probe Droid Custom Modification. Star Wars by Bryan Babich, on Flickr

Walter · Nov 15, 2016

Re: Sith Probe Droid custom mod

It didn't take me long to start assembling the other parts and putting all of the electronics in their proper place and start weathering the droid. I did go a little too heavy on the first pass so I knocked it back a bit more.

The coloring in these images is off because I shot this at night with a shop light.

Also... the photos are vertical, if you look at the attachments they are vertical, but on the thread they show up horizontal... I don't get it. DM me if you know how to fix this as it is a little annoying.