JAG Center Foot Caster Modification

The JAG center foot has the base skirt cut out to allow for unobstructed caster rotation. The Wheel used is a 60 durometer 2.5" diameter, 1.25"wide wheel with a 5/16"axle bolt hole with a sealed bearing. You can get these from McCarr Master. Part number 2829T15. They are 6.94 each. I then got (2) 2" SS. 5/16" bolts with lock washers and nuts or you could use the nylon aircraft nuts. The frame for the caster is easily obtained from Home Depot. The part number is 3900309393. Take care to not just get any 2.5" wheel. The others will not work. I found that only the item number listed above will fit. You will have to cut the plastic wheels off but that is not too difficult to do.

Dallas Childrens Hospital Droid

Well, Here we go. This is the beginning of the DCH droid (Dallas Children's Hospital). It will be a R2D2 even though I have a R5 head on him right now. I just didn't want him headless right now. This one was made with a Wood Frame design with a Fiberglass Skin.

In this droid I have a Vantec RDFR23, RET411P and have the CF3, RF12ChRF bundle with the standard R2 Sound file. It was very satisfying to see him move around the house like it was on air. This droid has my caster setup to fit the JAG center foot. Very smooth movement on carpet, especially when making turns from a dead stop! The same setup with the omniballs actually stalled the droid on carpet when turning.

Back in the saddle again........

Thank the Maker!! I found a decent painter willing to do droids!! It's Chris at Detroit Customs in Sasche, Tx. They have been written up in several hot rod, motorcycle and custom paint magazines. They do excellent work. When I was there they were about to start the 1966 version of the Batmobile. It was really cool seeing that body lifted onto the rolling Lincoln Chassis.

I had a lot of parts to paint for 3 droids!! Hopefully I will have enough stuff ready to go to keep people keep busy at the build off in May. I know JAG is sending my Frames so with the B9 frames and R2 frames we will be doing a mass assembly. It will be cool!!

I am also having the Dallas Robotic group and the local R2D2 builders there as well as it is the start of the monthly meetings.

Progress Delay

Bad news for my schedule. My painter backed out half way through my build and several parts I was hoping to have by now have not materialized. This has added several complications to getting my droids ready for the donation process to the Dallas Children's Hospital for 2007. So it looks like it will be delayed to 2008. That was a real bummer!

Anyway, here are some photos of my Progress. The painters did an awesome job with fine line detail which is why I was so disappointed when they said they just want to do cars now half way through my painting process. Take a look at a closer picture of the ankles and cylinders. Aren't they just beautiful? The blue color is 2003 Pt Cruiser Metallic Blue. The White is BASF 1054a is is perfect. These are beautiful in person and outside in sunshine. Now to try and find someone that can do as good a job as the previous guy. I know it wont be easy or cheap!!! In the mean time Robby the Robot looks over my precious cargo!

Chrome Domes

I had my other dome "shined on" by Hands off Polishing of Garland, Tx. These guys are great and not too expensive either. These guys have been written up in motorcycle magazines for their chrome and aluminum machine work. They have done such good work in the past that they even held the NASA contract for the Mars Lunar Rover project for some of the drive parts and assemblies. This is the dome for the Dallas Children Hospital Project. If you guys are looking to find someone to buff out your domes then I would recommend these guys. 1 more week and my aluminum parts should be back from the painters! I feel like a child waiting for Christmas morning!!

T minus 80 days and counting.......

Plano Comic Con is Oct 20th. Maybe My droids will be ready by then to run up and down the halls of the Plano convention center in a finished state. I am waiting for Stuarts Paint and Body to finish my R2 and R5 painting.

My astromechs will be R/C'd with the Dx7 Spread Spectrum RC system. Inside Electronics consist of the following items: Vantec RDFR23 for the Drive Motors, RET411P for the dome controller, Robotic servos for the doors and dome panels, CF3 sound system, 12ch RF remote from Cold Fusion, Footdrive motors are NPC 2212's. My Goal is for both of them to eventually look something like below

Waiting for the paint to dry

Right now I have sent my Aluminum parts to be painted professionally to get a beautiful lasting finish. The auto body shop is rather backed up so it will take a little while to get them back. In the mean time, I just got my 2nd 300mm dome from Daren Murrer. If you have the means I highly recommend them. So I guess my next step is to start cutting out the doors, polishing the domes and attaching hinges...Robart Hinges that is!! This dome I took to Hands off Polishing in Garland, Tx. They are the ones who have the contract to polish the parts for the Mars Rover from NASA! Here is what one of the domes looks like after polishing the lines out. The picture does not do it justice.