(08-14-2013) Dome panels cut

Last night, with the help of Jody, all of the top dome panels cut out on R2.  I need to add hinges, cut out another hole on the side for access to release the wires inside the dome and drill holes for the dome bumps and then it will be final assembly and clean up of the dome.  Can't wait for it finally to be a completed piece.  Someday I'll add periscope and LFS lifters, but that will have to wait for now.

(07-16-2013) Status update

A few weeks back my brother wired up my 220v power outlet for the welder, plasma cutter and most importantly - the oven to cook the powder paint for all of R2's large parts.  Unfortunately the stove's bottom stove burner instantly burnt out, and so I have ordered a replacement which should arrive soon.

The parts to complete R2 are down to just a few:  battery boxes, foot strips and battery/side plates.  The foot strips and side plates I could make, but if someone does a run I will probably order them. 

All of the electronics are either on hand or on order, but the foot drives are still several months away from being ready to ship.  The next step is to finalize the mounting of the dome drive motor and start testing the mouse interface for dome positioning.  Hope to get that working and have a demo to show soon.

(06-25-2013) R2's radar eye

The other day I put R2's radar eye on to see how he's going to look.  Something about that center eye really says R2 to me.

In other R2 news, the outer legs are almost complete, the center ankle arrived and soon he should be standing on his on 3 feet.  It will still be a while before the foot drives are ready and then I will need motors, so don't expect him to be moving in the near future.

(06-15-2013) More color tests

I powder coated a few pieces of R2 and placed them to see how the color looks.  I'm very happy with the color, but not too happy with my paint skills.  Too much dirt in the paint and it's hard to sand and remove the specs from powder paint.

I also did some tests on some old aluminum go kart wheels.  The copper looking wheel is painted with transparent orange, and the grey is painted smoke chrome.  Both of these colors are from Eastwood.

(05-31-2013) The Bentley Blues

Today I powder coated the ankle details, coin slots and a pie panel in Bentley blue.  I really like the color, and it seems very true to R2 blue to me.  I hope to get more painting done soon, but ever since I hurt my back even doing the smallest of things is a huge challenge. Still, it was great to finally get out and do anything other than just sit and wait for the doctors.

(04-28-13) Inner skins mounted

This weekend Jody and I finished mounting the inner skins to the frame.

Test blues

Here are two different shades of blue that I'm trying out for R2 blue.