I’m working on the frame again this weekend.

This week I bought more aluminum and got some more parts cut out and ready for assembly, I also lucked out and got some spare parts from Jerry. I still need to cut, drill and machine more but I’m making progress. With a bit of luck I’ll get the vertical rods drilled and taped this weekend and I can start putting the frame together early next week.

One of the challenges on working with the official club spec drawings is that they’re in inches, and being from the UK and brought up on the decimal system (mm, cm etc) it’s hard to get my brain around it, especially when it comes to inches quotes in decimal – confused? I know I am. How do you measure 3.8750 inches with a ruler that only has fractions marked on it? Here’s a handy chart that help me along.

Another step closer today.

I was fortunate to pick up some shoulder to body hubs, and this is the last complex machined part that I need. I owe a lot of people drinks at C4 for helping me find stuff.
Frame build is well underway, and I’m now realizing how heavy this thing is going to be when done. People keep on saying 200-250lb for an all aluminum droid, but until you hold a stack of the parts bolted together it’s hard to imagine how heavy that really is. Time to start working about transport and storage in our two story house.

I didn’t get much done this weekend as I’d planned, but some good news. Jerry is doing another run of the aluminum legs so I’ve placed my order for those, and I also just paid for my aluminum skins from John. With a bit of luck both should arrive around the beginning of March. At this rate I’ll have 80-90% of the parts for a static droid by Star War Celebration 4, but no chance of assembling it.

I ordered a set of Vent Inserts from Dave who’s all the way down in Australia.

Well I got thru the R2 LA III DVD that I got from McMaster at the Don Bies get together – Well worth the money and I’m going to have to go back and get the set and can’t wait for the R2 LA IV disc.

I learned a lot from it and I’m going to have to watch it again soon. Mike Senna is amazing and I wish I had half the skill and brain he has. His leg tutorial is worth the price of the DVD alone.

Talking of legs a lot of people had been saying I should just go the wood route for my body and legs, but after seeing all the work and tools that’s need to do the job I’m less inclined. Another problem I have is that I live on the coast and it’s really damp and foggy here – I’m worried the wood will warp and de-laminate. I know how much doors and trim on the house warp from season to season (even when they’re sealed/painted), so I’ve decided to wait it out for an Aluminum run of legs and a body. It’s going to be expensive but worth it.