styrene

Just a quick update…

… to let you guys know that the work is progressing!

I have no pics to go with this, sorry, but here is where I’m at since last time!

I’ve fixed up the second power coupler as per the first one.

I’ve removed the aluminium tape from the second shoulder hub and started skinning it in aluminium. I need to glue the aluminum outside tomorrow and screw in place then this is finished!

I also decided to remove the skin on my right battery box and sand the uneven bits on that one down, to make it nice and smooth. This has been done, and tomorrow, this will be skinned again! Last big part in styrene! Woohoo!

I’ve also been working on fine tuning the shoulder shims some more, and looking in to mounting them more precisely, so I can switch the horseshoes around, should I want to. These are now more snug, and I’ve fixed some irregularities in their shape as well.

I’ve got a little touch up to do on some of the painted parts: a few sprays of paint on the center ankle, the center detail plates, and the inside of the left leg. After this is done, they are ready for clear coating!

The body is ready for clear coating, as is most of the painted parts!

The idea is that this weekend will see the last of the bigger construction of the droid, so I can clean up my office/work space! Once the bigger tools are away and order is restored, it will make the small work with detailing and weathering, as well as working on the new controller electronics so much easier!

I feel confident and happy that I may only need 3-4 more paint sessions, and my entire droid is finally painted and clear coated!

The idea is to get the last leg and foot primed so I can bondo and sand and fix over the weekend, and get the rest of the droid clear coated before friday!

The last few steps is really something I’m looking forward to, as it is these steps that will really give R2 his personality!

By micke|2016-12-06T00:00:59+01:00October 31st, 2012|R2-D2|Comments Off

First painting done and new acquisitions!

Hey, what do you know!

A third blog entry today! Well, I had to try out the paints I got!

I’ve got 7 cans of satin white sitting in my room, and had to venture out on the balcony to try it out a bit!

After an initial colour test on a scrap piece, I decided to paint a horseshoe!

Naturally, I made a few mistakes initially that had to be sanded and fixed, but after a few reattempts, this started to look pretty good!

I simply had to try it out with the aluminnium inside as well!

Since taking this picture, I wet sanded the last layer with some 800 grit sandpaper so it is nice and smooth. Only needs a bit of lacquer and it is finished!

What’s your suggestion, by the way: glossy or non glossy?

Lastly, I just want to show off some of the good stuff that arrived as well:

First off my aluminium shoulder hubs from England..

Second, my Ewok Zapper, also from England, but this is made in resin and PVC:

This will be mounted inside my droid at some point, but that day is far ahead! First I’ve got to get all this painting done! I made a quick run to the hardware store just before they closed and bought a foldable small work table that I can use as a base when painting the droid!

Now it’s time to sleep, or pac-man will eat me!

By micke|2016-12-06T00:01:08+01:00October 11th, 2012|R2-D2|Comments Off

Mounting the Ankle… stuff

So, after the ankle wedge was done, it was a simple task to just slap some paint on to it.

I’ve been toying around with ideas on how to mount this, as I really want most of the things on the droid to be removable, in case of service!

Not fixed the ankle wedge per se, but I’ve fixed the ankle cylinder and the ankle half-moon (The half round part underneath the cylinder that the cylinder rests on.

I drilled a hole from inside the cylinder down into the half-moon, and went as deep as I dared (watch your thoughts, Edwardo), glued 2 long M4 screws into the holes with superglue, cut the heads off with my dremel (wear goggles people!) and finally just secured them together with two bolts.

The cylinder itself sits tight on the ankle, by pressure alone, and if I need to, I can simply add some double stick 3M tape underneath the half-moon to really fix them into place.

Just look how nice it all looks when it’s all in place.

I still haven’t decided how to fix the ankle itself though. I may use magnets, I’ve got a shipment of magnets coming in..

Please note that the leg itself is not painted, but the half-moon is painted satin white. No clear coat, though.

By micke|2016-12-06T00:01:09+01:00October 11th, 2012|R2-D2|Comments Off