ARC32 Micro

I ordered this board today and if I can get the programming figured out, It will become R2's main brain.
This board can control 32 servos and also has the ability to use sensors and a Ps2 controller.
With this many servo ports, I should be able to get all the doors, panels and other goodies working.
The nice thing is this board will allow me to remove the 12 channel remotes used for sound control and light functions.
These functions will become part of the Ps2 controller through code.
I'll post more when it arrives.

MegaCon

Mega was real blast this year as the Southern R2 Builders Group joined forces with the Rebel Legion.
Our joint efforts made the booth Awesome!!!!
Next year I think we will join again and see if we can out do what we did this year.

Large Data Port

I installed the back in the LDP today.
I've noticed this seems to be a popular place for kids to stick
fingers and other items, So I closed it.
I was going to paint the aluminum plate black, But I really like
the aluminum finish as it goes with my dome.

More Panel Work

I added Leds to the lower area and here's a video of them working.
Not much, But it adds some flash to the panel. There will be more
Leds coming soon.

Restraining Bolt Panel

I've been working on the Panel behind the Restraining Bolt door.
This panel is made by A&A and it's really nice.
I did have to adjust the depth of the panel to clear the door hinges.


I found the little red buttons at Radio Shack and I need to paint the nuts black.
I'm adding black screen to each side of the panel, You can see the top part.

Side Work

I mounted the Side Vents on R2 and made the Flat Plate for the bottom of the skins.
The Plates, I need to paint white and they are bolted from the bottom of the frame.
The Vents are some I bought along time ago from Mark.
They are not perfect and the only way I could mount them was to add small screws to each corner. Later I will countersink the screw holes and get some better screws.
I also need to add screen behind each vent so you can't see inside.
The 2 black Push Pins hold them skin in place and I'll paint them white.
Maybe in the future I will find a insert and use 2 Allen Button screws instead.
SeeYa

Frame Upgrades

Ok, It's been quite awhile since I posted anything new, But I'm getting back to working on R2 again. I haven't felt like messing with R2 so it came to a stop.
Anyway, Jag (Jerry Green) had sent me a present awhile back and I finally started installing it. The top plate is now aluminum.
I did this to stop the dome from bouncing around and also to improve the strength of the A&A frame. I also plan to replace the 2nd to the bottom ring.
This will give me a solid top and bottom. I will replace the threaded rod with aluminum dowels. This will be a Hybrid A&A frame and will be very strong.
SeeYa

1st Upgrade

The square 4x3 inch aluminum tube has arrived and I've already started measureing
and cutting.
I've been worried about my A&A Foot Motor Holders not being able to hold R2 when he makes a turn, So this is going to change.
The tubing has a 1/8 inch wall and I plan to only cut away what is needed.
I will also add some additional bracing inside the tube.
I need to stop at the shop and pick up some aluminum bathroom partition mounts to make the channel where the ankle fits.
More to come.
SeeYa

Finally a Post

Hey Guys,
I've been very busy these last few months and I'm waiting on parts now.
I have many new ideas for R2 and as soon as the new scooter motors and the
aluminum channel arrives, I will be rebuilding R2's foot motors.
The A&A motor holders are OK for a light weight droid but since R2 is gaining
weight I wanted something stronger.
So, Stay tuned for the improvements.
SeeYa

Mr. Head

It finally arrived and the quality is AWESOME!!!!!!
It's the Palpatine head I bought on Ebay for $50.00.
There's a couple of guys selling these and one guy is always in the hundreds.
It is a hollow cast, Which I was hoping it would be and it's well made.
I will be buying more of these for future projects.

Backlit Poster

I had a hard time trying to get a decent picture of this thing.
It is on in both pictures and the camera really doesn't like the dark,
But you get the idea.

Driving Scrubby

Just a short video of Scrubby running around.

Scrubby's Stand Cont.

Scrubby's stand is almost finished.
All I need now is for the paint to dry and then I can wire up the Vex controller.
This will be the "Drive a Droid" at MegaCon so all the kids can enjoy him.
Next is to work on the 2x4 boundary, So he can't leave the area.

Scrubby's Stand

Please excuse the mess in our work room, But we managed to get the stand build
for Scrubby's Vex remote. Tomorrow I will paint the yellow lines on the stand
and it will look like Scrubby.
Brenda stained the trim for our backlit movie poster today also.
She chose mahogany red for the stain and it will get a satin clear coat.

Another Small Project

Brenda bought me the sign a few years back and I wasn't sure what
I would use it for back then, But now I do.
I made a new frame for it and will dress it similar to the large backlit
frame.
This one will not be backlit, I may add some lighting to the inside the box
so it shows up better later.

Lights for the box

I installed the backlight in the box and I know it does'nt look all that great.
But the rope light is LED and will use less power and keep the heat down
inside the box.
I've tested the lights with the poster and it's more than enough light.

Side Project - Movie Poster Box

Something I allways wanted and I finally got the chance to build it.
It's not finished, But it's on the way.
It will be backlit and the 2 sided poster will be the Clone Wars.
I plan to bring it to MegaCon and place it beside Crissy's Goldie.

Southern R2 Builders Banner

I had this 3x8 Banner made for our group at Mini MegaCon.
It turned out pretty nice and hope everyone in the group likes the layout.
We'll have to figure out what to hang the Banner on and the best place to put it.
I hope to have the large Banner made for the Big MegaCon and maybe 1 of the side
Banners also which will be the background for Watto.

Dome Bumps

I finally got them ready for use and it's nice to see them light up
for the first time.
I will use 1 of them on the side of the dome to turn on/off
the video panel.
The other 2, I'm not sure what I will do with them.

Lcd Mounted

Well, It's temporally mounted in the dome. I wish my camera took better video, But it's all I have to post pics and video. I had to cut the housing on the screen down to get a better fit. The whole frame made it set back to much.
It sure looks good in person and I like it much better than the red Leds.
With alittle more work it will be a GREAT Upgrade for my dome.
I plan to wire it into 1 of the dome bump switches I have on the side
of the dome to turn it on/off.