Build your own R2-D2

[ChadTower]

Also from the site: "Likely the cheapest option for making your own dome is by using a clear birdfeeder dome. These are fairly inexpensive, costing around $40 each."

Ah, like this:

http://www.doublebara.com/as-182.html

That would make a good foundation for an R2 dome. It's not quite full size, 18 inch vs 18.25 but that's close enough for me. Still have to build it up at the bottom so it's the correct shape, but it's a very good start.

You could easily just cover it with clay or papier mache in order to make it 18.25"

[missioncontrol]

Also from the site: "Likely the cheapest option for making your own dome is by using a clear birdfeeder dome. These are fairly inexpensive, costing around $40 each."

Ah, like this:

http://www.doublebara.com/as-182.html

That would make a good foundation for an R2 dome. It's not quite full size, 18 inch vs 18.25 but that's close enough for me. Still have to build it up at the bottom so it's the correct shape, but it's a very good start.

-S

.25 smaller no big deal.........

get some silver paint and your off to a good start

[Stingray]

Also from the site: "Likely the cheapest option for making your own dome is by using a clear birdfeeder dome. These are fairly inexpensive, costing around $40 each."

Ah, like this:

http://www.doublebara.com/as-182.html

That would make a good foundation for an R2 dome. It's not quite full size, 18 inch vs 18.25 but that's close enough for me. Still have to build it up at the bottom so it's the correct shape, but it's a very good start.

You could easily just cover it with clay or papier mache in order to make it 18.25"

I guess I'm really going to attempt this. I ordered one of those birdfeeder domes. I like your suggestion about building the dome out Chad. Rather than papier mache or clay (which would be difficult for me to control) I'm thinking that I will use the clear dome for a base and then skin it with 1/8 styrene sheeting. That way I can create the panels pretty easily. If I add 1/8 inch of styrene all the way around the outside, I'm building it up a total of 1/4 inch, which gives me the correct size dome after all.

-S

[missioncontrol]

I guess I'm really going to attempt this. I ordered one of those birdfeeder domes.

-S

Keep us updated on your progress......

Hope to see your BYOR2D2 in the project anouncements.......

What are you going to use for the body and legs?

[Stingray]

Not sure if the project announcements on this site will be the appropriate place for this project since it's not arcade related at all. I'll post updates here in EE though.

As far as the body & legs go, one step at a time. Gonna have to see how my "skin it with styrene" plan goes with the dome to see how that works. If it works well I'll probably go the same route with the body. I have access to a commercial tubing bender so I can make a frame for the body out of tubing. I'll probably wrap it with thin guage sheet metal or possibly another material if I come up with a better plan. Then I'll do the same styrene skin method to it as I plan to do with the dome. Legs- still giving that some thought. Maybe carve a master and use that to cast a matched pair. Maybe I'll fabricate them from sheet metal. Most likely by the time I get to that point I'll have thought of a dozen other approaches, so who knows.

I don't know how long it will take for the dome to arrive, but that will give me some time to think about it some more.

Suggestions are certainly welcome.

-S

[ChadTower]

Well, I tell you what.  I am very interested in this.  If you need someone to go in on the project, for cost purposes, I'm in.  We could split the production costs and all you have to do is produce two items from each mold rather than one.  Let me know if you're interested.

[str1der]

When I was in the seventh grade our school was asked to paint garbage cans that would be put around the city. They were metal cans that had domed tops that looked just like R2D2 except the flap part. I painted mine to look just like R2D2 and it sat on that same street corner for years until the paint finally faded away. If you could get one of those kind of garbage cans it could be a good starting point.

[Stingray]

Well, I tell you what.  I am very interested in this.  If you need someone to go in on the project, for cost purposes, I'm in.  We could split the production costs and all you have to do is produce two items from each mold rather than one.  Let me know if you're interested.

At this point I'm not sure that I'm still going to do a mold. I think that the clear dome overlayed with styrene will be durable enough to use on it's own - bearing in mind that I'm still talking about making a static model and not a moving robot. However if after I get the dome construction finished, I still might consider pulling a mold from it before I paint it if enough people express interest in getting one, and it looks like I can do so without damage to the original. I'll certainly let everyone here know if it looks like pulling a mold will be practical.

When I was in the seventh grade our school was asked to paint garbage cans that would be put around the city. They were metal cans that had domed tops that looked just like R2D2 except the flap part. I painted mine to look just like R2D2 and it sat on that same street corner for years until the paint finally faded away. If you could get one of those kind of garbage cans it could be a good starting point.

As a matter of fact, my dad has one of those types of trash cans in his shop. I thought about that first thing when we started discussing this, but I'm certain the diameter of the one he has is only about 13-15 inches. Way too small IMO. I think the 18 inch dome that I ordered is a way better option.

-S

[Samstag]

As for the .25" difference, it comes down to two things:

• Do you care that much about making it "authentic" to go to the extra trouble?
• Do you need to use the existing plans/blueprints as is (18.25") for the rest?

The fact that you're confident about taking this on makes me think you can easily modify the plans to suit an 18" dome.

[Stingray]

As for the .25" difference, it comes down to two things:

• Do you care that much about making it "authentic" to go to the extra trouble?

No not really. I still think it would be easier to create the panel lines by skinning the outside of the dome with styrene sheet cut to size however (as opposed to trying to etch them into the surface). The way I see it I'm killing two birds with one stone with this approach.

• Do you need to use the existing plans/blueprints as is (18.25") for the rest?

I plan to use the existing plans for reference, but at this point I think it would be easiest to complete the dome construction first and then build the body to fit it.

-S

[str1der]

Well, I tell you what.

[Stingray]

The one I'm talking about is more of a kitchen sized trash can.

-S

[str1der]

The one I'm talking about is more of a kitchen sized trash can.

-S

Here's one with a 18" diameter.

http://www.trashcandepot.com/product_info.php/cPath/240_311/products_id/1414

[Chris]

The one I'm talking about is more of a kitchen sized trash can.

-S

Here's one with a 18" diameter.

http://www.trashcandepot.com/product_info.php/cPath/240_311/products_id/1414

$160 for a TRASH CAN?

[str1der]

Better than $400 for just a dome. 
It also might be possible to by just a replacment lid. These were just quick searches. I'm sure there are others.

[Chris]

Better than $400 for just a dome.

[Hoagie_one]

I asked teh guy with the dome on ebay

Hi

What's the deal with the masking tape on the inside?  What is is
securing and will it fall apart?

his reply

Hi - it just covers the whole so that round eye piece won't pop out.
There's a small square in there that about the size of the acrylic eye.
It just holds in for now.  Some one with more time can figure out
something better.

 

[missioncontrol]

If your planning on making it for a jukebox, It would be cool to put a motion sensor in it so that when it detects someone walk by and it's not playing music to make some R2 sounds....

Kinda like an attract mode........

[Daniel270]

Not sure if the project announcements on this site will be the appropriate place for this project since it's not arcade related at all. I'll post updates here in EE though.

There might be a remedy for that... might cost a few more dollars tho...

In place of the "holo-projector", install one of those theater projectors mentioned in the movie theater threads....   then, install an ITX motherboard and PC setup somewhere inside R2's chassis....   Then... MAME^TM him   

[Stingray]

If your planning on making it for a jukebox, It would be cool to put a motion sensor in it so that when it detects someone walk by and it's not playing music to make some R2 sounds....

Kinda like an attract mode........

Found this software when searching for something else:

http://proaudio.zicos.com/news.php/n/156358/

Randomly plays R2-D2 sounds. I don't know how (or if) it would work with a motion detector, but it would be pretty cool to just have it running in the background.

-S

[Chris]

Looks like it requires a Mac, though.  As if building an R2 unit isn't expensive enough already...

On the other hand, if you're going to put a PC in there to control sound, you could start really doing fun stuff... with a few sensors, you should be able to make it much smarter than an Aibo....  I wonder, how much stuff do you have to put in there before it stops being a fake robot and starts being a real one?

--Chris

[Stingray]

Looks like it requires a Mac, though.  As if building an R2 unit isn't expensive enough already...

If I put a computer in there it would almost certainly be a Mac. I've got a bunch of them laying around anyway. Mine is't going to move, it's just going to sit there & make sounds.

-S

[missioncontrol]

Mine is't going to move, it's just going to sit there & make sounds.

-S

it needs to have a few lights too. it would be cool though to come up with something to make the dome move a little bit when it was making the sounds......

[Stingray]

Okay, I agree about the lights. Making the dome move sounds like more effort than I want to put into it. I'll give it some thought though.

-S

[Chris]

Okay, I agree about the lights. Making the dome move sounds like more effort than I want to put into it. I'll give it some thought though.

There's a few threads on that in the R2 forum... probably not really difficult, especially if you already have enough power in the unit to drive a PC, and if you don't want the head to be able to spin completely around. Certainly easier than some of the motorized rotating monitor contraptions here...

[missioncontrol]

Okay, I agree about the lights. Making the dome move sounds like more effort than I want to put into it. I'll give it some thought though.

-S

you know those motorized reindeer people have out at christmas time that the head or feet move.......

perhaps you somehow use that concept to get the dome to move.....

just an idea......

[Stingray]

Got the dome yesterday. You don't really appreciate how big an 18 inch dome is until you see it. Going to the model shop to buy some styrene sheets after work today.

-S

[Hoagie_one]

post pics of your progress as you go.

very interested

[Stingray]

If I make any progress, I'll be happy to report it.

Oh and the dome is a lot tougher than I expected it to be. It's made of a fairly thick plastic that has some flex to it. I was afraid it might be a bit brittle, but I'm pretty sure it will hold up just fine.

-S

[missioncontrol]

can't wait for the updates.............

[Stingray]

Went to my favorite modeling shop to buy some styrene, cement & other misc supplies. Looks like they're out of business. Guess I'll try hobby lobby or one of the other big chains after work.

-S

[Chris]

Went to my favorite modeling shop to buy some styrene, cement & other misc supplies. Looks like they're out of business. Guess I'll try hobby lobby or one of the other big chains after work.

How are you going to deal withthe seams between the sheets?

I think you're going to be far better off either cutting the sheet styrene into the various blue panels, or just scribing the panels on the dome.  The .25 of an inch you're missing on the diameter is less than 1¹/₂% of the total diameter.  Nobody will notice it without a measuring tape.

--Chris

[Stingray]

The seams will be filled with modeling putty & sanded out.

I do intend to cut the blue panels out of styrene, but I also intend to cut the white/ silver panels, and the spaces between the panels as well. If you look at this picture you can see that the panels should be flush with the surface and not raised above it. This isn't really about adding to the diameter, it's about creating the correct surface.

-S

[Stingray]

After doing quite a bit more research, it would seem that I'm not the first to come up with this method of "skinning" an R2 replica. At robotbuilders.net it's referred to as the "jig saw puzzle" method.

-S

[missioncontrol]

I am really wanting to build one too, but I've got so many other projects I'm working on right now....

Everytime I pass a trashcan or something else that could be used for the body I'm measuring it to see if it will work with the Dome your using..........

[Stingray]

Everytime I pass a trashcan or something else that could be used for the body I'm measuring it to see if it will work with the Dome your using..........

So am I.

I saw a reference to using 18 inch PVC sewer pipe, which seems ideal to me. I have no idea where to buy such a thing though.

-S

[ChadTower]

Just dig one out of the street!

[Jabba]

I am really wanting to build one too, but I've got so many other projects I'm working on right now....

Everytime I pass a trashcan or something else that could be used for the body I'm measuring it to see if it will work with the Dome your using..........

...I can see it now, an All Points Bulletin put out on missioncontrol by the local police force.....reason: theft of garbage can.......Opening scene: missioncontrol rolling garbage can down dark alley with cops in fast pursuit....

[Stingray]

Styrene is the same kind of plastic that most model kits are made from. It's also used for CD boxes, those plastic cups that you get at convinience stores & fast food places, and I believe it's also used in styrofoam. I expect that it is carcenogenic if you burn it and inhale the smoke, but I'll try not to do that during construction of R2.

No pictures to post yet. I haven't done anything but look at the dome, do a bit of mad scribbling, and repeat. I have to help my mom move this weekend, so I doubt I'll do anything until next week.

-S

[missioncontrol]

Everytime I pass a trashcan or something else that could be used for the body I'm measuring it to see if it will work with the Dome your using..........

So am I.

I saw a reference to using 18 inch PVC sewer pipe, which seems ideal to me. I have no idea where to buy such a thing though.

-S

I tried looking in the yellow pages under Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies Wholesale & Manufacturers.......

and called a few of the numbers to get a price on the pipe, but no one had anything that could be used.......