Darth Vader..back in black

Well...my Darth Vader had a pretty undiginified moment the other night I tried to turn him a bit..and I noticed he was hunching badly. I realized his left knee wasn't in place so we had to do some quick surgery and gluing. Once the knee was fixed I tried again...and now his hip was out. Damn!

I had to hang him by an extension cord, reglue his hip, and let him hang for a day. Looks pretty sad like that with his belt off..pants around his ankles.




Here he is after being fixed. I think he is standing taller than ever...so it was worth it in the end.

R2..one leg....and a hub

I just added the hub that connects the leg to the body. Leg #1 is mounted with bolts...and there is nothing more I can do.

The guy supposedly welding legg #2 said he would meet me after christmas to weld up leg #2.

In the meantime...I wait....

Behind the big R2 on the right is the interactive one that wasn't working a few weeks ago. I just got it back from that guy who fixed it..and it works 100%. I just have to gut him again and mount the electronics in my big R2. This will bring some life to him...cool!!

Lightsaber, RC Toys & ONE R2D2 Leg DONE!

I heard from a friend yesterday who lives in Nanaimo (Vancouver Island) that he saw a Force FX Lightsaber Replica at his local Roger's Video. I have wanted one for a long time and I was kicking myself for not getting one when they had them at Best Buy, so I called around and found a local Roger's that had them.

It is pretty nice. Feels like it is a quality made item, and it makes sounds based on your motions. It also has sounds when you hit things (which I don't want to do too much), and power up, and power off. The coolest thing is when it turns on or off the light in the blade extends and retracts. It is really pretty bright too. I have been playing with Scout (one of my dogs) with my toy lightsabers..she loves to try to catch it while I am trying to smack her in the butt with it. This one I have to tell her, "No.". Poor dog.
















In the above picture (on the left) you can see a couple Remote control trucks (one is a truck, the other is a Jeep Wrangler). They are for a couple needy kids for christmas. At the mall they have a tree with kid's names on cards..so we grabbed 4 cards. The cars are for a 12 year old boy and a 7 year old boy. The great things about these is that they come with rechargeable batteries and a charger. I was sure to get RC's that had that, since a family that can't afford gifts for christmas, likely can't afford batteries all the time either. I hope they enjoy them!!

I am now completely DONE leg #1 for R2d2! It now has the cylinder at the ankle and a couple buttoms in the shoulder square holes (on the far right at the top). The guy welding up leg #2 was SUPPOSED to meet me at work last saturday to weld it up, but big surprise..he was late and didn't have time. Again he promised to have it done this wekk..but I am not holding my breath. At least in working on leg #1 I did all the parts for leg #2 at the same time..so when I finally get leg #2 it should be a fairly quick process.

Hot Dogs.....mmmmm

I have wanted one of these for years. I went to an auction once to get a real one (from a convenience store), but it got WAY too expensive.The other day I happened upon this little thing. It cost $69...a bit pricey for whay you get I'd say, but works pretty good, and I have wanted one for a long time! We used our last wedding gift card to get it.

Needless to say we had hot dogs for dinner last night.

















Here is a better pic of that Neon light I got the other day.

Leg #1..almost done!

Well..on the weekend when I had a moment here and there I got a bit more done. I glued a couple more pieces on. The cyliner (at the bottom) and the pieces around it aren't done..I just set them in place to see how it would look. Getting close to finshing leg#1!!!!!
















I then put the leg on R2 and now it was too heavy and wanted to pull him over. I set some popcorn spice under the leg to keep him from tipping.
















Here is a pic of the entrance to my theater. I found the 'open' light while I was shopping with my little bro on friday. It's kind blurry in the pic, but it is the light on the concession counter.

More Clutter....Obsessions are bigger than My House

I got news that a local pawn shop had an R2D2 cooler that was used as a Pepsi promotion a few months back. I wanted to get one then, but I couldn't get a hold of one...so this was my opportunity.

I went at lunch time to get it...and it didn't even fit in my car. Too bad I didn't have a hatchback (like Joanne) sometimes. Anyways I paid for it, then went back to work. Luckily laer that day a guy from work was running some work errands int he area so he stopped in and grabbed it for me. He was nice enough to drop it off last night for me. Once I got it in my basement I realized how big it is (bigger than the *real R2D2). I figure once I am done building my R2D2 the workbench and tools can get out of the basement, and it can go over there somewhere.















I also just got an emal from the guy who has my "broken" Interactive R2D2. He has replaced a sensor with one from his R2 and it is WORKING! All he needs to do is get a sensor for mine and solder it in. SWEET!

The other day I saw that London Drugs had some gumball machines with stands. I have a couple cheap ones, but one with a stand would be a nice touch.















I glued the aluminum coloured cylinder into the middle of R2's leg last night. I still have quite a bit of detal work to do on his leg...before I move on to leg #2 (THAT I STILL DON'T HAVE).

















Here is R2 guarding my basement....with no legs.























* Yes I know R2D2 isn't real.

Some Leg Progress

Well..I got past the bolt fiasco! I did have troubles last week drilling 3/4" holes in the main body for the bolts to go into. Lesson learned...don't spend $9.99 on a set of hole saws at Canadian Tire when you can get one hole saw base and one blade for $30. Good deals have to actually work to be a good deal!

I put some more detail parts on the leg..then yesterday I realized that one part should have been painted aluminum colour before (in this pic it is the flat part on the right). I did some carefull masking and got is the right colour now!


Here is a shot from the other direction. See the scrathces? They aren't real..I used paint to make them. One day I have to do this all over to make R2 look like he's been through hell in the Star Wars universe. It's going to be tough to do that too him, but weathering will make him look more real, and hide some flaws.

A Week of Getting Nowhere

I finished sanding my R2 leg down and put on a few coats of paint over the weekend. Sunday I figured I woudl start assembling the details on the leg, but found that paint had scratched on the botom so I hung it up and repainted a few more coats.

Monday night I was going to assemble, but I realized that the minute I put the detail pieces on the outside I no longer have ANY access to the bolt heads I will use to fasten the leg to the body. Off to Home Depot I went...god I hate Home Depot. I spent over an hour in the bolt aisle trying to find the bolts I needed for that and a few other things. That place sucks! I wanted 3/4" bolts....they only had up to 5/8"...so I went with 5/8". Then I couldn't find nuts becasue they go up to 1/2", then washers were in a different place, and I finally found some nuts in a completely different place...AARRGGHH!! Anyways.I got home to find that the 5/8" bolts would not go into the leg at all because of the bolt head......so back to the drawing board.

Tuesday I ordered some 3/4" threaded rod that will work..but I had to get them cut to length, so I had to wait for that to happen. Tuesday my INteractive R2D2 toy arrived (I got on ebay). It was returned because it was missing legs...which is why I got it. The plan was for me to take it apart and install it in my full sized R2d2 so that when you talk to it..it will answer you. Unfortunately even without legs this thing had problems. It would not "boot up" properly, and it's head would turn all the way one way, then back. It wasn't able to figure out where the center of it's head was to position. I took it right apart (see picture below) and I THINK the trouble was an infrared mitting and reciving set of diodes that look for a tooth on a wheel that turn with the dome..but I don't know how I could possible prove that or fix it. I went to bed discouraged and frustrated.


Wednesday...I exchanged a few emails with a guy in the r2builders group who did with his full sized what I want to do (using an interactive R2d2). He was very kind and offered to take a look at it for me. Wednesday night I put R2 back together (sort of) so I could ship it. Then I wanted to mount the threaded rods I finally got in the legs...MORE problems. It was working, but I need to have a hex nut on the outside of the leg, and the 3/4" hex nuts are too thick...which would make the space between R2's body and his leg too large. I tried to cuz the hex nut in half with a jigsaw...but that was a futile effort. I went to bed frustrated again.


Now it is Thursday...GOD I hope things start working out. I went out at lunch and bought some thinner hex nuts...and I shipped the non-working Interactive R2D2 to that guy who will look at it for me. Tonight I plan to mount the 4 bolt assemblies in the leg..what can go wrong now?!?!

Next on the agenda is to drill holes in R2's body so I can fit these bolts through. I have printed out a template to use as a guide to locate them. I need to drill 13/16" diameter holes...which will be another challenge, since I have a small cheap drill. We'll see what I can borrow from the shop. Once I am confident the legs can be fastened this way..I can then do the finish details to the leg. I will have a set of holes so I can mount the leg in 1 of 2 positions...vertically, or on an angle for when he is in 3 legged mode. A lot of people in the r2builders group made their R2's so that with the press of a button his center leg will retract and he will stand up straight (legs turn). This is beyond me so I will just have him fixed in a 2 legged vertical position, OR the 3 -legged "reclined" position. For now I don't have any feet so I will just hang the legs vertically (R2 is sitting on a stool so his legs aren't touching the floor).

Of course I STILL need my second leg to be welded together. I really wanted to be doing 2 legs at the same time, but the guy who is weling the legs keeps promising and not delivering. I appreciate him doing this, but so far I have bought him 3 cases of beer and waited for about 4 months!!!! He keeps saying "This week for sure!"..and then nothing happens. Welding aluminum is tricky and he is a really good welder..so I have to be patient..but man!

R2D2 Update #2

I have been working on my R2D2 legs lately...wel one of them. I am still waiting for the second leg to be welded up, but I decided I didn't want to wait any more so I got to work on leg #1. It was made in several pieces that were welded together, then I have been working with body filler to smooth the seams, and fix any holes, etc.

In this pic you can see the legs and the sholder shims that I made out of several pieces and glued together. I am again using body filler to make the edges smooth. I made the curved part at the bottom of the leg last night (after getting the pieces cut out like the one you see in the center of the pic.
















The blue pieces go on the middle of the legs, and the various aluminum painted pieces go in various places. I ordered all of those pieces from a guy in the US who makes them for people in the r2builders group. They are really nice and saved me a lot of effort!


















I should be able to paint the leg and start assembling it within the week I hope.

Hallowe'en Jack o' Lanterns

Friday night me and my little brother carved up a couple Jac o' Lanterns We had 30 to choose from (that I found online), but we both picked the same one.

Mine is the one on the left, his is on the right.

R2 Projector Update

I worked on it a bit more last night. I replaced a couple front panels with screen mesh (2 layers) and it turned out pretty good. When it's not running you can barely see inside, and with it on it's not too bad either. I had to sacrifice the front logic display (blue lights) to just ake one opened panel, but it was worth the sacrifice. I left it running for about an hour to see how hot it would get and it was venting really nicely, and didn't seem to hot at all.
I tried adding some more velcro do the dome wouldn't appear to be hanging, but it still kind of sags. I might just put a few strips that overlap vertically. It won't look great, but it willl fasten more securely. I will stil make an outline wheree he "goes into" the ceiling to neaten it up a bit. Yes I have to fix up the cables hanging there too. :)
Thanks for all the suggestions!!

R2 Projector..for now. :(

Well...I finally trimmed down my Paper R2 for my home theater, and mounted it. I fastened the dome with velcro tabs, which don't work too well, but I wanted access to the projector.
I was planning on putting some tape around the perimeter to give the appearance of a droid port that he is hanging from, but I doubt I will bother. When I had it running it just seemed too warm, and the last thing I want is my projector to overheat, or any bulbs to blow. I could cut holes where the fans are in the projector, but it will end up looking pretty dumb I imagine.

Anyways..here are a couple pics.

Paper R2

Here is my nearly complete paper R2. I havent done the feet or bottom since I will be cutting it down a bit to hang from my ceiling and cover my projector. I also had to make the front holo emitter bigger to not interfere with the projector's lens.

Diversions

Well...I have some kind of need to make useless things..and since I am still waiting to get my casting of Han Solo in Carbonite, and I am waiting for my second R2D2 aluminum leg to be welded up, I managed to create a couple more smal projects. I wish I could just relx, but I have some weird obsession.

The paper R2D2 (which is only partly done so far) I am making..just cuz it looked easy and kind of cool, but I was thinking if it fits I will have it hang upside down from my ceiling and cover my projector...that way it will look like R2 is projecting my movies. It might look dumb in the end, but I just gotta try.

I saw the Spider-Man costume at a store, and I couldn't resist. Once again I made the body from PVC and foam...and lots of duct tape. This one was tougher than thr Darth Vader and the Stormtrooper because I wanted muscle definition. It turned out ok. I still need to find some adult red gloves and socks, and I have to make hands and feet somehow. He will hang on the wall.

I am so happy my wife tolerates my weird hobbies..and hasn't checked me into a mental hospital yet!

Mountain View

The finally bulldozed the big pile of dirt across the street from our house..and we can see the Rocky Mountains...kind of. I just hope the houses they end up building don't block the view.

R2D2

Here is a recent pic of my R2D2. I am working on the legs now. The back panel is autographed by Don Bies who made some of the R2's in the movies. :)

Thanksgiving weekend over

We had a good thanksgiving. My mom came over for a nice turkey dinner. It's a lot of work for one meal, but there are lots of leftovers.

I got a call friday from a guy who works at the production company witht he woman who hit me (with the van). He was taking care of their insurance and needed to know the damages. Anyways he told me they were in town to film to Ron Clark story (a movie) starring Matthew Perry. I asked him if he could line me up with an autograph, but Matthew Perry left a couple of weeks ago. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

The Damage is in.....Finally!

Well..after a week I finally have an estimate to repair my car...... $4775. I was thinking it would cost around that.

Trouble is..it will be at least a few weeks. We ALWAYS have snow by the end of October so I will be driving the rental car in poor road conditions. I don't like driving on icy roads....and if I am driving a car I don't know too well..it will be that much worse..but hopefuly that was my one accident for a while.

Some Unfinished Theater Pics

Here are some pics of my unfinished basement/theater. We plan on getting some drywall put up this winter..which may be tough with all my junk in the way. ;)

I have a picture of the wall I project onto (with the seats)..and the one before shows what I envision it to look like when complete....roughly.

The pictue of the arcade cabinet was taken before we moved a year ago....it is now in my basement with the rest of this stuff.

My car..or what's left of it. ;)

One week ago today I was rear ended after going home form the gym. That'll teach me.

I was hit by a big Chevy van. I drove it home after, but it made a lot of noise..and when I looked closer it looked like the frame may have been twisted so I had it towed to an auto body place the next night. One week later and I still don't have an estimate. I just hope they decide to fix it, not to write it off.

In the meantime I have a little Hyundai Accent as a rental. At least I can get around, but I miss my car.

First Post

I have never had a Blog before...but I thought this would be a good way to post any progress of the development of my basement, and my projects in my theater..and anything else I want to share.

I'll start with a picture of a past, and a current project. This is my completed Stormtrooper..guarding a future project...a Han Solo in Carbonite. I have a casting of the front panel (full body) being made as we speak..well as I type. I am hoping it wil ship any day now.