R2-D2 / R2-Q5 and Wall*E

artoo’s last special visit for the year…

nixonfiles — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Last weekend I did my last special visit with R2 for the year. I try and do one special visit over the Christmas holidays to a specially chosen child to brighten up their birthday (or special day) a little more than the usual. That look in there eyes gives so much back that I kind of have made it a tradition. This year it was little Olles turn. The look in his eyes says it all
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Filed under: events

The long but exciting event weekend is finally over…

nixonfiles — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:51:17 +0000

This weekend was a very exciting event weekend! It was one of Sweden’s biggest yearly SciFi events. Together with the 501st Nordic Garrison, here in Sweden we raise $3300 for UNICEF over the 2 days of the event. We got the R5 up and running even though we broke a foot axle while transporting him to the event. After a “quick” fix he was running perfectly. My R2 was doing great with my new wheel layout. I’m going to make the axles a little stronger to be on the safe side though. I also scratch built a Deathstar data port, similar to the Star Wars: A New Hope and it turned out pretty well. I didn’t have the chance to install the motor because I was pressed for time but it spins as well. Anyway, here are a few pictures and videos:
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Filed under: events

still tinkering away….

nixonfiles — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:09:38 +0000

Many have been asking me how the building has been going lately because I haven’t posted anything for a while. Well Wall-E is taking shape but I needed to take a short break because I needed to work on my R2. I have a major event coming this weekend and I wanted to do some major changes in the wheel designs and layout, including the drive system. I now have made all the wheels in a fixed setup so that they don’t bend from stress. The re-design is now done and its perfectly rigged! I’ll post some pictures shortly. Another project for this event is that I’ve been helping my good friend Jimmy work on his R5-D4 and that one will also be ready for its premiere showing at this event as well. We did the first test run just this weekend and its looking good. Hopefully all the minor details will be done before this weekend. A lot of it is dependent upon me. Anyway, here’s its first test run:

Filed under: project ideas

…taking colour

nixonfiles — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:29:21 +0000

As everyone know Wall*E isn’t just a rusty brown colour. He’s really yellow when he’s new. So I’ve been testing the yellow colour choice on the front compactor. It’s a perfect match! I even put the “Wall*E” text that I made earlier and it looks so cool together. Here’sa few pics of the test fitting
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Filed under: Wall*E frame

working on the Wall*E logo

nixonfiles — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:24:47 +0000

This is the way I made the text on the front door of Wall*E. The best way to do this is by inverting the image in a picture editing program such as Photoshop, print it out and then glue it on a thick piece of polystyrene plastic. I used spray glue and carefully cut it out. You’ll need a steady hand for this kind of work. It works great and I even did the rear door logo the same way.
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Filed under: Wall*E frame

more front panel and side detail work…

nixonfiles — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:02:57 +0000

Finally making some progress over the past weeks and its finally looking more and more like Wall*E
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Filed under: Wall*E frame, Wall*E Panel

test fitting the front panel and LCD screen

nixonfiles — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:07:53 +0000

The Wall*E work continues. I’ve been working further on the panel this weekend. Its finally taking shape and almost coming to life. The LCD actually works and you can see the charge level change in sequence over time. I created the display pictures in Photoshop with a little of a glowing affect. I still have some work to do on the panel but its coming along nicely
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Filed under: Wall*E Panel

eye lenses…

nixonfiles — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:19:41 +0000

Thanks to my wonderful friend Fiona in Germany my Wall-E will have beautiful eyes. As you’ve seen in earlier posts my eye shells are almost done but I’ve been looking a very long time for a nice matching set of inner eye lenses. Now, thanks to Fiona I got what I’ve been looking for and they are perfect
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Filed under: Wall*E head

arm slots….and a little self-reflections

nixonfiles — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:55:02 +0000

Just one picture for this but making the slots were a measurement nightmare. The angle for the side slots for later mounting the arms needed a lot of measuring and re-measuring, but it worked out.

A little “off-topic” but not totally. I have been asked why do I do these building projects. Originally I’ve done these to just have a hobby and not over-work myself. Now, 4 years later I’ve come to realize that my building projects help with fund raising for many organisations such as The Children’s Cancer Fund, UNISEF, Diabetes research and so forth. Plus they are challenging and a lot of fun. Not many can say that their hobby helps others that can’t help themselves and I’m proud to do my part. Of course not everyone can do what I do nor I do what others are best at. But, if we do what we can for others that all that’s matters

Filed under: Wall*E frame

even more back-end work….

nixonfiles — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:33:23 +0000

After a short break from work related travelling I can post these pictures. I had just finished up before my trip but never got around to posting these. Its a small area of the Wall-E body but required many days of testing a few different ideas to achieve the most accurate end result. The primer painting will be done when the weather permits. Enjoy and ask if you have any questions
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Filed under: Wall*E frame