New Stuff

I came home today to find this waiting for me in the mailbox - my J.E.D.I. control system!!  Christmas in September!!  This system includes Sabertooth speed controls, J.E.D.I controller, music module, LCD display. IR motion sensors and more.  Now I can start building an electronics panel and get some real brains installed.

R2 progress to date

There is a Science Fiction model contest at a local hobby shop (Galaxy Hobby) this weekend and they wanted me to display my R2 so I figured this was a great time to put him together with what I have completed so far.  I got everything in place and I am thrilled with the progress.  R2 runs and drives great and looks pretty darn good too.  Actually with all the panels missing and door off he is very interesting to look at.  This is fun!!

Skirt

Received my skirt from Jerry Greene (very nice).  decided to install the strips and then powdercoat later.  My screws bottomed out in the threaded holes before they tightened up so I needed to tap them out slightly.  I clamped my tap in a vice and broke off the pointed tip so they would cut threads deeper and that worked fine.  Parts fit was excellent.

Finished skirt ready to install.  I am waiting to get a few additional parts before powdercoating and need to finish up skins etc. so it stays this way for a while.

Skirt in place on frame.

Fitting Skins

I spent today fitting the front and rear skins to the frame.  Lots of measuring and double checking but in the end it was pretty straightforward.  6 screws hold on each half and they are very sturdy.  After fitting the skins I looked over the door and hinge situation and have pretty much decided I am going to make the door removable instead of hinged.  This should give me much better access to the internals.  I also plan on building a flip down panel for the electronics. 

3/4 Rear Door

I finished up the rear door skin.  Using JB Weld I filled in all the gaps in the rear side panels leaving the door pretty smooth inside.  I plan on finishing this so I can use it if I ever have a chance to get an autograph or two.  I want to be able to get the frame out of the way when I do this so I am going to bolt on the skin to the door frame.

This is the 3/4 rear door frame from my Com-8 frame.

Using my drill press I drilled and tapped 4-40 holes at each corned for the skin.  Matching holes were then drilled in the skin.  It was a bit tight edge drilling the frame but not too bad.

Here is the skin bolted into place.  The socket head bolts are temporary and I will probably use stainless button head screws for the final fit.

3/4 Door mounted up - looks great and it has given me some experience before I mount the main skins!