R2 Back Panel...back from Florida

I sent my R2 back panel back to Florida since Kenny Baker was signing at Star Wars Weekends at Disneyworld recently.

Now I will feel ok mounting it (I was always hoping an opportunity to get K.B.'s autograph would come up.



I had some more bad luck on the weekend. I was driving my 2000 Honda Civic home from work and going about 120KPH there was a bunch of blue smoke and it quit. Luckily I was able to pull over and had my cell phone so I called a tow truck. It looks like there are TWO holes in the engine block!! The dealership people were very shocked. Looks like I need a new car. Here you can see the holes:

Small Update

Just a quick update. Last night I painted the battery connector areas metallic and attached the moons on the center foot. The one side is attached with magnets so it will just pop off when I need access to the bolt holding the foot on.

The moons are a bit high, but thats how I had to do it to get access to that bolt.

R2 on FEET! REAL FEET!!

I had some time to work on R2..got the feet painted and put them on.

Looks cool..but ran into unexpected problems. I hope I can solve them or R2 wil be STATIC (not move).

The center foot doens thave the side moons on yet (they arent quite dry yet). One side will just pop on with magnets (same ones I used for the restraining bolt). This will give me access to get the bolt out and the foot off. The problem with the middle foot is the swivel caster it uses. For now I tightened the bolt TIGHT so it will stay parallel to the floor, but I will try to drill & tapp a small screw in to hold it in position, otherwise the shell will push onto the floor and drag badly.

The outer feet have a problem. The scooter drive wheel is at the back and so that the foot doesnt swivel and drag on the ground I have small rigid catsers at the front to hold it flat. That should have worked in theory, but the foot is bottoming out (or topping out) against the ankle. As a result the scooter drive wheels arent even touching the floor. If I remove the front rigid casters then the front of the foot shell will drag into the floor. I am going to try to file the ankle down enough so that the foot pushes easily flat, then the weight SHOULD be evenly dispersed to the scooter drive wheels and the front rigid caster (front of the outer feet).

The feet turned out ok, but kinda rough. They were a nightmare to make and now have lots of scrapes. Oh well..R2 can't look brand new. One foot cracked at a seam while I was pushing it on..so that has to be filled and touched up. DAMN~!

Here are a couple pics...

New Fett Lid, V for Vendetta Mask and some Foot Progress

I recently ordered a V for Vendetta Mask and a new Boba Fett helmet. I DID make a Fett lid from scratch, but this one I ordered is rumoured to be cast from the one they used in filming the Empire Strikes back..so I might not peaint it..just display it 'as is'. I didn't need it, but I was feeling down lately due to recent events so I got impulsive with the spending.

I'll have to take some pics of the 'Mystery Fett Helmet' next to my scratch built.

The V for Vendetta Mask should be fun. I got another one on order for my 'little bro' so we can work on ours together sometime soon! FUN!


I spent a bit more time bondo-ing my R2 feet AGAIN. Man this is the third time....they are taking FOREVER!!! I'm getting closer to where I can paint and mount them. Damn bondo sets WAY too fast in the warm weather. I got frustrated last night..just making a mess.



I had to open up the battery box sides of the feet to allow the foot drives to fit inside. They will be mostly covered by the battery boxes...but still partially exposed. I might try to cover them with some flexible white plastic or something. Man these feet are taking TOO LONG.



The middle foot will have one side that opens. They one side pieces will come off easily. I have some STRONG magnets I will use to attach the panel, and if I neet to remove the foot I pop off the cover and then have access to the screw that *hopefully* keeps the foot level.