Discovery Science Center (Santa Ana, CA) 2014: Day 1

Today was my second time doing an R2 event at the Discovery Science Center. I was joined by Victor Franco, Roy Powers, Matthew Hendricks, and a few other builders. Victor gave two presentations (one of which I went on stage for) and the rest of us answered questions afterwords. I also saw the Mythbusters exhibit, it was small but they had lots of props. The day ended with a small dinner with Roy, Victor, and I. This event was from 12-4pm and I will probably go tomorrow with either the dome or the frame.

Victor does a presentation

Victor, Roy, and I on stage

Matt Hendricks, a DSC employee, and me on stage

Matt Hendricks and R2 go to the food court

My droid in it's current state minus electronics

Victor and his 2nd droid leaving

WonderCon 2014: Day 3

Today was the last day of WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center.There were about 7 droids today plus Pauls tread robot from "Empire". I was joined by Dan Johnson, Victor Franco, Chris Romine, Will Miyamoto and his family, Gene Arena, Russell R, and a few others. Victor Franco was bringing out his newly finished R4D5 when the U-bolt's nuts would not tighten. This meant the legs could not stay in place and R2 could only stand with support, no driving for him. At least we all got to see it in person.

Victors R4D5

Victors R4D5 dome plus a mess of tools

Victor supporting his R4D5

Gene Arena gets an interview

Pauls R2 wants a drink!

Chris Romine flipped off Wall-E, why not baby predator (Kayla Miyaoto). This was all organized by her mom, Nikki Miyamoto,and Chris showered her with wafer cookies later.

Baby predator needs her lollipop

Will Miyamoto and Kayla Miyamoto. Kayla/babypredator got to ride in her R2D2 stroller! She got quite a crowd!

Victor gets an interview

"Bith Happens"

WonderCon 2014: Day 2

Today was the second day of WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center. We had a few less droids but still had fun. Tomorrow is Easter for some so the crowds may die down. I was joined again by Victor Franco, Dan Johnson, Roy Powers, Russell. Chris Romine, Will Miyamoto (and his family), Gene Arena, and many more builders.

Fighting for equality for short stormtroopers!

Game of Thrones meets Star Wars

Droids like Selfies too.

WonderCon 2014: DAY 1

Today was the first day of WonderCon where I had something close to a droid. I had the frame and dome out for display as the legs are needing work/replacing.
It was very crowded and lots of fun. I was joined by Victor Franco, Will Miyamoto, Chris Romine, Dan Johnson, Roy  Powers, Russell, Paul, and many more builders. I stayed from noon to 5:30 (not 7pm when the event ended) in the R2 Builders Club booth.

Almost all of the 12-14 droids we had today

My frame so far with skins

Mike Senna and Zoidberg

Roy Powers with his R2

Will Miyamoto's stroller droid with a minion

My styrene dome

Victor Franco (right) and Chris Romine (left) taking Victors R2 to the builders panel

Russell gets an interview!

JAWA!!!

Taking R2 Apart Again. Droid Coins Arrive

I needed to take R2 apart again to work on some part separately in the future. So I took the legs off and the foot shells and motor holders off.

 

I ordered droid coins way back in 2013 from Mike Kurtz. Because of a lost email and address, I never heard back or got my coins until now. I was able to contact him over Facebook and the coins arrived 3 days later. I've been scammed on multiple online purchases and was afraid he wasn't legitimate. Fortunately, he is legitimate and the coins are pretty cool.

 

A small update: Repairs, parts, and the new year

I haven't posted here in a long time mainly because of college. I have been buying parts here and there and planning out repairs for R2 when I have the time. Because of college, I may not do to many big things with R2 until the end of May but hope that I can at least get his leg fixed before April. I have some events coming up that will just require parts to be displayed or a static droid so R2 won't be sitting collecting dust.
If I do have any time during my week off in March  for spring break, R2 will definitely get some repairs on the right leg.

Battery boxes came from Jerry Martin and I got some more resin parts as a Secret Santa gift in December.

R2 fell in the car almost on the way to an event and now has a "broken" right leg I need to fix when I have time. I may need to make a new leg or buy a new set of them. You can see here, I think, that he is standing a bit crooked.

On a happier note, R2 enjoyed New Years and celebrated 2014 with a new glow in the dark white  tree of Gondor sweater.

R2 Now Has Feet Shells!! He will be standing once more by tomorrow before Halloween night

R2 FINALLY let me put him shoes (foot shells) on. Grey because Rico gave them to me and his droid is black, I'll paint them soon. Big thanks to Rico for letting have these, they were cracked and broken in places but I fixed them up.
Still need to put on the center ankle one but that's easy. Waiting for the glue to dry isn't . Now all I need to do is put the shoulder disks back on with the pipes already attached and R2 will stand again after I put the center ankle back in. Then its just a matter of dropping in the nuts and bolts. Hot glued the small weak spots, works really well actually. The frame is all ready to have resin parts put in, shouldn't take more than an hour or so. Need to drill about 6 more holes for the pipes and center ankle bracket bolts and R2 will be event ready. I got some spray paint and will paint my resin parts before mounting them into the frame. Then putting the skins on. I've done way more in a day than that, this should take a few hours spread over 2-3 days at most. Also the foot shells seem to have closed in the channel on the ankle so R2's ankles don't wobble anymore. I had to remove and place Victor Franco's ankle blocks a bit higher and to the side because the extra centimeter made the legs not go down to the holes for the ankle bolts. R2 will be 95% complete (on details, no sound r/c or dome rotation) by Saturday!