R2D2 part 2
(note: We
have noticed a lot of people are finding this page first. If you'd
like to see the first/other R2 page click
here.)
The true
hero. It is amazing how we can become attracted to a tin can with
personality. We actually started he little guy a number of years ago
and put him aside due to lack of finances and time. It took five and
a half years to collect the parts in order to build the little guy.
After all of that collecting we finally had enough material and was
able to obligate just enough time to complete our baby. The following
are more pictures for you to enjoy.
Partially painted he looks like a garbage can but we
love him anyway. In figuring out many of his measurements we compared
our own heights with those of the actors who have had the privilege
of working with the original. We feel we got very close.
Even
without the dome, our droid has personality. Looking inside the head
you can see we are already filling his brain with gadgets.
Left:
Scanner dish. Rises and oscillates.
Right:
Periscope. Rises and lights up. Total height when extended:
5'6"
Front
with green tape wrapped around it: Voice unit.
Many
have asked how we get power from his body to his head. Our droid can
spin his head continuously in either direction as there are no cables
connecting his head to his body. The metal rings match up with the
contacts in the body and transfer the power and signals from the
source in the body to the head.
As you
can see his head actually extends into the body. This provides
support and also gives us room to do more with his head.
A look
at his insides. You can see his wiring and power terminals. We are
using card slots for his control boards. They hinge down to get out
of the way of any internal repairs. His Switch 16s are on his
'control cards'. The second one shows the lack of space once the leg
is pulled up into the body.
These
pictures give you a quick look at the inside of his feet and his
legs. His wheels were custom cast and the batteries for his feet are
in the inside pack detail of the foot. His legs have power window
motors in the shoulders and a tension rod in order to keep the ankle
taut when he's upright.
The
first year we had him out at Toronto Trek (1999) he had blown a speed
controller.
Click here for the write-up
(includes stats) we had with him when he was just on
display.
