Radar Eye Creation

I started my Radar Eye using the template off Astromech.net out of 0.40 styrene. The hardest part to do as a newbie at styrene was cutting out the radar eye.
I found the best method was using a twin point ended compass and going round and round, then slicing and snapping segments out individually. I still have to do the inner wall of the lens and fill and sand the exterior but its not looking to bad for a 2 dollar job and a bit of spare time. I also still have to create the side part of the lens but this won't take to long.

Heres the link to the Radar Eye Template: "Click Here"

Dome Top Dead Center

With my new dome the first thing to do was find top dead center of the dome so I could use this as reference when I start drawing all over it. To do this I placed the Dome upside down on a bucket and dropped a marble into it, where it stopped was top dead center, this is the easiest way in my understanding to find TDC.

Then I have started with the long process of sanding the outer dome initially using 150 grit sand paper and will slowly progress to 600.

Dome Arrival

The Inner & Outer Dome arrived today along with the detached bottom ring. The first thing I plan to do is find top dead center for the dome. I can then start drawing up the cutting template on the dome so I can finally try out my new dremel!! (but no hurry for that I'll try a few test cut pieces first)


Here is a concept of my planned R2D2 droid "R2DB" using photoshop.

PSI Electronics

I have solder my Front and Rear PSI's using a standard LED blinker from a local electronic store replacing the LED's with super brite LED's. I'm also planning to use the milk bottle plastic as a filter for the lights, this was my mock rig up on the right. Thinking about how I will do the front and rear logics, I'm not an electrician so am thinking about using fibre optics with a color wheel. Also the reason being I can't locate the PIC Flasher circuit in New Zealand that other builders use, bit expensive otherwise with the conversion rate.

First Part: Side Vents

These are my first parts created with sheet styrene, not bad for my first attempt. The next plan is to create the front vents and coin return.

Here is the link to the tutorial I used when making these two parts:
"Make your own side vents"

How to get in touch

Welcome to my R2D2 Project this is where I keep track of my progress on my R2D2 droid please fell free to contact me with any help for me or questions. I can be contacted through my username NZDamo at Astromech.com or the R2Builders Club.

Welcome to My R2D2 Project

This is the start of my R2D2 project, with a love of the star wars movies what greater thing to do on a rainy day in the South Island of New Zealand than build my own R2-D2 droid. Understandably this will be a challenge, I will attampt to home build a lot of my parts but will purchase some parts overseas that are above my own skill level to create.

I have joined the R2 builders club, the Austalian R2 builders club and ama keen reader of the Astromech forum.

Thank fully I found a person in New Zealand 'Bazzack' that has a few spare aluminum domes for sale at a reasonable price, I have also managed to obtain the lower ring for the dome as well. They are planned to arrive tommorrow sometime. Therefore one of my first challenges will be the cutting of the inner and outer domes, time and care will be taken and I will post pictures of my results, hopefully successful!!