(08-30-2015) Battery boxes and other R2 foot related stuff

R2 is still being worked on, but I ran into a bit of a problem with the battery boxes.  I was threading in a KHF (knurled hose fitting) that holds the battery cables on the feet when it suddenly seized and wouldn't turn any more.  I tried both ways, but it wouldn't come out, and in the end I destroyed the KHF and mangled the threads in the aluminum battery box as well.  This was a massive disappointment - but it will be fixed.

I'm now trying to find a tap that will fit the threads and re-cut them, but for now I'm in a holding pattern until I can find what I need to continue working on those.  The best news is that there is a current run of KHF on the Astromech.net site - so even though I destroyed one I was be able to buy some new ones and get the feet finished.  Usually the wait time for a part you need can take a year or more, so this was really very lucky.

I also disassembled a foot drive for test fitting and checking the mounting points to the feet.  I hope to sometime this week get the feet drilled, foot drives reassembled and mounted together - then I should be able to have R2 standing on his legs for the first time.

I've also worked on running air lines in the shop and hope to get my sandblasting cabinet installed soon so I can strip and repaint a few things that I wish had turned out better.

(08-19-2015) More foot stuff

Did a little bit more work on the outer feet by drilling and mounting the battery cable holders and plates, as well as painting the side plates of the feet.

The half-moons and battery boxes still need to be painted, and the foot drives are almost ready to be mounted as well.  Getting very close to having R2 on his feet.

(08-16-2015) Outer feet...

Today I took the steel outer feet and cleaned the cosmoline off of them with acetone so they would accept paint.

The paint flowed out very well and they look great for the most part.  There are a few spots that I wish had turned out better, but once R2 is done I doubt anyone will notice other than me.

(08-15-2015) Done with the blues

All of the blue for R2 is now painted and ready to go - it's been a long haul with lots of time spent sanding, masking and painting the parts - but the blues are finally finished.

Now to decide what to do next - feet, battery boxes, skins - so much to do and it's hard to know where to start.

(08-11-2015) Utility arms, large data port and more...

The utility arms and large data port are now painted and I started masking painting the power couplers.  Still a ways to go on the blue parts - maybe one more evening of masking and painting will get it finished, and then again I may redo some parts again to get a better finish.