After lots of research and much debate, I finally purchased a Futaba 10 channel R/C with auto frequency lock (or at least that's what my guy at Colpar called it). It searches for frequencies not being used in the area and locks on it. No crystals needed, no asking everyone else with a droid/robot in the area "what frequency are you on?". I bought the helicopter version as it had a smoother non-ratcheted throttle control. As a pilot I have never liked the so-called ratcheted throttles. Most throttle controls have a locking mechanism anyway that is checked before take off. Personally, I have much better control with smoother throttles (and I just like 'em, so there!).
Bill, my guy at Colpar (and the nicest most knowledgable salesman you'll ever meet), also sold me one inexpensive $10 servo with plastic gear and one $30 servo with metal gear, just so I can try them both out. Sometime this week I'll get the holes drilled in the Rockler, finish putting together the dome, and try out the servos. Bill gave me a list of things I need to write down so I can get the speed controller. He didn't want me to buy one yet without knowing some stuff, like weight of dome, how fast I want it to spin, etc.
Other than this big purchase, not much else in droid building. I've been asked to give a panel on my droid during MileHi Con, but only if I can get a spot on Saturday (I work Sundays). If plans go well, I'll be sharing my panel with two others: one guy will speak on vacuum forming and my friend will be showing basic leathermaking. The three of us are calling it Propmaking 101. Ummm, jedi leather belts, simple $10 vacuum form table, and my mega-thousand dollar ultra R2.... this should be very interesting, if plans go well.
Until next time,
Jawa Jaka
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Jaka and AL: chapter 1, part 4
Part 4:
Daybreak, and Jaka woke up startled! He didn't mean to fall asleep. How was our patient doing? Still shut down. Oh well, Jaka didn't want a droid anyway. He got up, gathered his stuff, and decided this whole droid-rescue thing was stupid. It was time to go home. But something kept stirring in his heart. He never had anyone or anything to take care of, no family, no kids, no pets. Well, if this droid doesn't work out then no big loss. After all, there were too many droids for Jaka's taste running around on Tatooine. Then the droid squeaked and wiggled.
Jaka never felt overjoy before, but this new feeling was so overwhelming he cried. You're alive! You're alright! It's going to be OK! OK, Ok, now to get the canvas.... Jaka took his inner tunic off and loveling wrapped it around the droid as if to protect a child. Yeah, a child, that's it, this will be my child. Funny, I don't have any children, but this seems right. This is my child that I'll nurture and teach somehow. I'll be back my lovely child...
Jaka went to the camp. The patrollers were still there, munching on what looked like rotten flesh. He had woken up hungry but seeing this made him less wanting for breakfast. The sounds of bantha footsteps were clear now. Jaka could barely make out the two banthas in line with eacth other. The raider on top of the first bantha raised a long gaffy stick glinting in the extreme sunlight of the desert. The patrollers answered by raising theirs, then gathered their belongings, walked toward the two banthas and hopped on. At last they were gone. Jaka waited patiently for the banthas to go out of sight, then quickly he took the canvas and disappeared into the morning shadows of the ravine.
It was about mid-morning when Jaka finished the stretcher. He gently put the droid on it, tied it down so it wouldn't roll over, put the tunic cover back on it to protect it from the sun, and started for home. It took a few hours of heavy lugging through the extreme heat, but Jaka finally made it back to his tent where he left the rest of the junk. After pushing everything to one side of the tent, he made a little bed for the droid. This was Jaka's first droid and didn't know that droids slept on their feet with a power coupler on. Making the droid as comfortable as possible he began to clean it up with what little precious water he had in the little bottle. The droid was painted all black, a symbol of Imperialism, with beige panels and utility arms. It had been dented and had several broken parts. This droid had obviously been through a bad crash indeed. On the bottom was the small letter-stamp that identified it. R2-X8.
Exate sat quietly while Jaka attempted to clean him up. This poor little creature is sure trying, but I don't think he's been around a droid before, it thought. I need oil, not water. Exate slowly gained his conscience again, trying to remember the crash. Something about his ship blowing up and he fell, fell, fell to the drab sandy planet. But which planet? Not knowing where he was bothered Exate. He didn't know why, but it did. So, since he couldn't remember much, and this creature was trying to help, and there wasn't much else to do, Exate laid back quietly on the lumpy bed and tried to relax. He needed to remember, that was important. And to do that, he needed to heal.
Daybreak, and Jaka woke up startled! He didn't mean to fall asleep. How was our patient doing? Still shut down. Oh well, Jaka didn't want a droid anyway. He got up, gathered his stuff, and decided this whole droid-rescue thing was stupid. It was time to go home. But something kept stirring in his heart. He never had anyone or anything to take care of, no family, no kids, no pets. Well, if this droid doesn't work out then no big loss. After all, there were too many droids for Jaka's taste running around on Tatooine. Then the droid squeaked and wiggled.
Jaka never felt overjoy before, but this new feeling was so overwhelming he cried. You're alive! You're alright! It's going to be OK! OK, Ok, now to get the canvas.... Jaka took his inner tunic off and loveling wrapped it around the droid as if to protect a child. Yeah, a child, that's it, this will be my child. Funny, I don't have any children, but this seems right. This is my child that I'll nurture and teach somehow. I'll be back my lovely child...
Jaka went to the camp. The patrollers were still there, munching on what looked like rotten flesh. He had woken up hungry but seeing this made him less wanting for breakfast. The sounds of bantha footsteps were clear now. Jaka could barely make out the two banthas in line with eacth other. The raider on top of the first bantha raised a long gaffy stick glinting in the extreme sunlight of the desert. The patrollers answered by raising theirs, then gathered their belongings, walked toward the two banthas and hopped on. At last they were gone. Jaka waited patiently for the banthas to go out of sight, then quickly he took the canvas and disappeared into the morning shadows of the ravine.
It was about mid-morning when Jaka finished the stretcher. He gently put the droid on it, tied it down so it wouldn't roll over, put the tunic cover back on it to protect it from the sun, and started for home. It took a few hours of heavy lugging through the extreme heat, but Jaka finally made it back to his tent where he left the rest of the junk. After pushing everything to one side of the tent, he made a little bed for the droid. This was Jaka's first droid and didn't know that droids slept on their feet with a power coupler on. Making the droid as comfortable as possible he began to clean it up with what little precious water he had in the little bottle. The droid was painted all black, a symbol of Imperialism, with beige panels and utility arms. It had been dented and had several broken parts. This droid had obviously been through a bad crash indeed. On the bottom was the small letter-stamp that identified it. R2-X8.
Exate sat quietly while Jaka attempted to clean him up. This poor little creature is sure trying, but I don't think he's been around a droid before, it thought. I need oil, not water. Exate slowly gained his conscience again, trying to remember the crash. Something about his ship blowing up and he fell, fell, fell to the drab sandy planet. But which planet? Not knowing where he was bothered Exate. He didn't know why, but it did. So, since he couldn't remember much, and this creature was trying to help, and there wasn't much else to do, Exate laid back quietly on the lumpy bed and tried to relax. He needed to remember, that was important. And to do that, he needed to heal.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Osfest Fun!
With lots of droids (and builders) in attendance, I had sooooo much fun at Osfest in Omaha. Kudos to DarthMoose74 (Moose Mendolia, who actually had his droid, Patches, running around and blooping at everyone) for organizing the R2 tables, the panels, and the minis games. He had a lot to do, but kept everything running smooth. Since there was a lot going on I'll just post pics for now. After all, a picture paints a thousand droids - umm words. LOL
Many droids came. AL is in corner with blue ribbon on right leg.
A finished Artoo by Clay. I think someone said it was 9 years old, possibly making it one of the older club-built droids.
One of our tables, with DVD's running on my laptop.
Lots of parts on table, including resin and aluminum.
Both tables loaded to the hilt!
Iron Man, winner of costume contest.
Me and Iron Man. Notice the actual working blue lights.
Many droids came. AL is in corner with blue ribbon on right leg.
A finished Artoo by Clay. I think someone said it was 9 years old, possibly making it one of the older club-built droids.
One of our tables, with DVD's running on my laptop.
Lots of parts on table, including resin and aluminum.
Both tables loaded to the hilt!
Iron Man, winner of costume contest.
Me and Iron Man. Notice the actual working blue lights.
Denise Crosby doing her best Vanna White with the droids.
And dubbing Artoo as an honarary Jedi Night.
The R2 Central Builders with Denise Crosby.
The R2 Cake, and it was goooood!
I've already paid for next year's Osfest (they had a special discount going on during the con). AL should be rollin' and bleepin' by then. He sure had fun at his first con!
I've already paid for next year's Osfest (they had a special discount going on during the con). AL should be rollin' and bleepin' by then. He sure had fun at his first con!
Until next time,
Jawa Jaka
Jaka and AL: chapter 1, part 3
Part 3:
The Tuskan raiders sat quietly on a rock in the middle of the broken camp. It was a nightly ritual for them to patrol the camp area until the hunting party sent for them. This was to guarantee no one followed the hunting party. If someone stumbled on the camp, the patrollers would rush at them creating an illusion of more than two, scaring off anyone who came near. Simple and effective, no one could follow the hunting party's footsteps from the camp. Jaka knew this. So, how does a lonely little jawa get past the raiders? He knew his best chance was to wait it out until the patrollers were summoned. Jaka headed back towards the droid.
Back at the water puddle, the droid stirred slowly, trying to get his bearings. He tried to extract his sattelite dish, but that had been bent out of shape during the crash. The crash, the crash, the crash.... the droid barely remembered it. He would eventually remember everything, but at this time he was preocuppied with trying to find out where he was. He saw a strange little creature in a brown hooded robe with large orangy-gold eyes coming at him. He was too tired to shriek in horror. In fact the droid seemed paralyzed, unable to move or think. He could see, he could sense a strong breeze, he could feel the sand about him. Other than that, he could be dead for all he knew. The little creature bent down and whispered that they would spend the night here for now, at least until the something and something left some... camp? What the heck is the creature trying to say? Odd, I understand his language. I think he's trying to dig me out. What's going on? Am I dead? OK, I'm on a sandy planet with a small brown-robed creature trying to dig me out. I can't move. Should I run a diagnostic test? I'm too tired..... The droid decided it was best to shut down some of his systems to save energy.
Jaka kept whispering that everything was going to be OK. They just had to wait it out a little while longer, and everything was going to alright. Just hang in there. I'll take care of you. We've got to wait for the Tuskan patrollers to leave. I can't carry you by myself, so I have to make a carrier out of the leftover canvas. Don't fade out on me....
Jaka was dismayed to see the droid shut down. Was it dead?
It was going to be a long night.
The Tuskan raiders sat quietly on a rock in the middle of the broken camp. It was a nightly ritual for them to patrol the camp area until the hunting party sent for them. This was to guarantee no one followed the hunting party. If someone stumbled on the camp, the patrollers would rush at them creating an illusion of more than two, scaring off anyone who came near. Simple and effective, no one could follow the hunting party's footsteps from the camp. Jaka knew this. So, how does a lonely little jawa get past the raiders? He knew his best chance was to wait it out until the patrollers were summoned. Jaka headed back towards the droid.
Back at the water puddle, the droid stirred slowly, trying to get his bearings. He tried to extract his sattelite dish, but that had been bent out of shape during the crash. The crash, the crash, the crash.... the droid barely remembered it. He would eventually remember everything, but at this time he was preocuppied with trying to find out where he was. He saw a strange little creature in a brown hooded robe with large orangy-gold eyes coming at him. He was too tired to shriek in horror. In fact the droid seemed paralyzed, unable to move or think. He could see, he could sense a strong breeze, he could feel the sand about him. Other than that, he could be dead for all he knew. The little creature bent down and whispered that they would spend the night here for now, at least until the something and something left some... camp? What the heck is the creature trying to say? Odd, I understand his language. I think he's trying to dig me out. What's going on? Am I dead? OK, I'm on a sandy planet with a small brown-robed creature trying to dig me out. I can't move. Should I run a diagnostic test? I'm too tired..... The droid decided it was best to shut down some of his systems to save energy.
Jaka kept whispering that everything was going to be OK. They just had to wait it out a little while longer, and everything was going to alright. Just hang in there. I'll take care of you. We've got to wait for the Tuskan patrollers to leave. I can't carry you by myself, so I have to make a carrier out of the leftover canvas. Don't fade out on me....
Jaka was dismayed to see the droid shut down. Was it dead?
It was going to be a long night.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Jaka and AL: chapter 1, part 2
Part 2:
Looking into the little puddle of water once more, Jaka determined where the shiny bit was coming from. Using his bright keen eyes and his great since of direction he found a piece of metal sticking out of the sand bog about 5 meters to the left of the puddle. Some of the water had seaped towards the metal , but it had not corroded yet. This was a good sign, meaning this was fairly new and not rusted yet. Was this from the Imperial spy ship? There was only one way to find out. Jaka took out his digging stick and began to shovel the sand away. He finally looked up and noticed how dark the sky was becoming. He had to dig this up fast! Being out here alone in the dark with Tusken Raiders banding into large hunting groups was a frightful thought. Jaka dug feverishly, not really looking at what he was digging up. Then, suddenly he jumped back, realizing what the object was. A big black radar eye stared back at Jaka, then a very dim Logic Display flashed ever so briefly. Jaka threw his digging stick on the ground with disgust. You see, droids were a dime a dozen in the jawa world. Everybody had droids, droids flooded the market, droids were a hassle to repair, droids were senseless machinery that followed everyone like cute little desert rat dogs. Cute! That's how one off-worlder described droids. And Jaka despised cute! This was Tatooine, a very non-cute world, full of violent storms and shady characters. Who needs cute!!!
Jaka picked up the stick and bottle of water, turned his back on the buried droid, and started to head back up the ravine. He got as far as the other side of the puddle when he heard a faint cry from the droid. Something strange stirred in Jaka's heart. Jaka was not one to have sympathy or feelings for anyone or anything. Why should he? No one ever loved or cared for him. His life was spent hardening his heart, being tough in a tough world. He didn't need or want anyone or anything, except his junk. So why did his heart flutter when the droid pleaded faintly for help? Why did Jaka feel compelled to continue digging this droid up and take him home? Why was it getting dark fast?
Jaka had the urge to turn around and run, avoiding the sandpeople. Instead he walked back to the droid and spent the twilight hours, dangerous hours, helping the droid that still had some life left in him. It was going to be challenge carrying a heavy fully equipped droid that couldn't walk. After all these things weighed about 250 pounds. Jaka was a very svelt 120 pounds. He expected to find small bits of metal, not a whole working droid! So, in the dark, cursing himself to death for his stupidity of trying to rescue a droid in the dark, Jaka went to find some sticks and canvas to make a carrier for the droid. Sandpeople always left behind bits of tent canvas when they broke camp. It didn't take long for Jaka to find some. Problem was there were still a couple raiders still standing in the broken camp! UH OH! This is not what Jaka wanted to face! But he knew getting the canvas was the droid's only hope....
Looking into the little puddle of water once more, Jaka determined where the shiny bit was coming from. Using his bright keen eyes and his great since of direction he found a piece of metal sticking out of the sand bog about 5 meters to the left of the puddle. Some of the water had seaped towards the metal , but it had not corroded yet. This was a good sign, meaning this was fairly new and not rusted yet. Was this from the Imperial spy ship? There was only one way to find out. Jaka took out his digging stick and began to shovel the sand away. He finally looked up and noticed how dark the sky was becoming. He had to dig this up fast! Being out here alone in the dark with Tusken Raiders banding into large hunting groups was a frightful thought. Jaka dug feverishly, not really looking at what he was digging up. Then, suddenly he jumped back, realizing what the object was. A big black radar eye stared back at Jaka, then a very dim Logic Display flashed ever so briefly. Jaka threw his digging stick on the ground with disgust. You see, droids were a dime a dozen in the jawa world. Everybody had droids, droids flooded the market, droids were a hassle to repair, droids were senseless machinery that followed everyone like cute little desert rat dogs. Cute! That's how one off-worlder described droids. And Jaka despised cute! This was Tatooine, a very non-cute world, full of violent storms and shady characters. Who needs cute!!!
Jaka picked up the stick and bottle of water, turned his back on the buried droid, and started to head back up the ravine. He got as far as the other side of the puddle when he heard a faint cry from the droid. Something strange stirred in Jaka's heart. Jaka was not one to have sympathy or feelings for anyone or anything. Why should he? No one ever loved or cared for him. His life was spent hardening his heart, being tough in a tough world. He didn't need or want anyone or anything, except his junk. So why did his heart flutter when the droid pleaded faintly for help? Why did Jaka feel compelled to continue digging this droid up and take him home? Why was it getting dark fast?
Jaka had the urge to turn around and run, avoiding the sandpeople. Instead he walked back to the droid and spent the twilight hours, dangerous hours, helping the droid that still had some life left in him. It was going to be challenge carrying a heavy fully equipped droid that couldn't walk. After all these things weighed about 250 pounds. Jaka was a very svelt 120 pounds. He expected to find small bits of metal, not a whole working droid! So, in the dark, cursing himself to death for his stupidity of trying to rescue a droid in the dark, Jaka went to find some sticks and canvas to make a carrier for the droid. Sandpeople always left behind bits of tent canvas when they broke camp. It didn't take long for Jaka to find some. Problem was there were still a couple raiders still standing in the broken camp! UH OH! This is not what Jaka wanted to face! But he knew getting the canvas was the droid's only hope....
More weekend updates
I won't get as much done on AL as I wanted to this weekend. The 4th of July BBQ Spectacular for my ski club up in Breckenridge was just too darn fun!! I and a couple others smoked ribs, grilled brat dogs, and flamed teriyaki burgers. Forty hungry hikers and bikers in the club (including one who just climbed two forteeners in one day!) ate and drank their way through summer bliss. Even when it began to pour rain. AHHH! The joys of mountain BBQ's in the summer!!
And now, the AL news:
A close up of the paint on the legs.
Doing flag duty. Notice the HP is in. Crooked, but in.
And in case you didn't notice, HE'S STANDING!
Yep, my little buddy stands tall when he holds the flag.
HAPPY BELATED 4TH!
As I said, I won't be able to get some stuff done, like finishing the skins and painting the bronze parts. I had some great difficulty with my new airbrush and wondering if I should just hire someone to paint the parts for me. Also, the dome is just hanging off the edge. I think I'll need help installing the dome rings onto the JAG frame. Can't find six holes on the frame that matches the six holes on the plastic ring! CRAZY! But I'll figure it all out somehow. In the meantime, AL is just about ready to go to Osfest. And, boy oh boy, is he super excited!
Until next time,
Jawa Jaka
And now, the AL news:
A close up of the paint on the legs.
Doing flag duty. Notice the HP is in. Crooked, but in.
And in case you didn't notice, HE'S STANDING!
Yep, my little buddy stands tall when he holds the flag.
HAPPY BELATED 4TH!
As I said, I won't be able to get some stuff done, like finishing the skins and painting the bronze parts. I had some great difficulty with my new airbrush and wondering if I should just hire someone to paint the parts for me. Also, the dome is just hanging off the edge. I think I'll need help installing the dome rings onto the JAG frame. Can't find six holes on the frame that matches the six holes on the plastic ring! CRAZY! But I'll figure it all out somehow. In the meantime, AL is just about ready to go to Osfest. And, boy oh boy, is he super excited!
Until next time,
Jawa Jaka
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Building Update
Well, here's what I've done this month.
Got the legs and ankles painted and put together, including nice new shiny shoulder shims. Still no shoulders, though. Got all the parts for the shoulders, just need horseshoes. Same hammered gray as the panels.
Got the legs and ankles painted and put together, including nice new shiny shoulder shims. Still no shoulders, though. Got all the parts for the shoulders, just need horseshoes. Same hammered gray as the panels.
Got two of the HP holes cut out. I'll get the third one on top after Osfest. My friend Scott lent me his hole cutter drill bits. The 2.5" cutter was perfect. Just need to go slow and steady, which wasn't too easy to do on thin metal. Lots of sanding later, and I've got two great holes. HP's will get installed this weekend.
Two coats of gray auto prime on the steel feet.
Lots of parts to put together.
And after three days of sanding/grinding down the steel in the ankle channel of the foot, I was finally able to put a foot on an ankle and attach the whole thing to a leg. I'm still grinding down the other foot. Seems the steel feet ankle channel is about 1/16" too narrow, even with the paint sanded off. Ankle and foot are a very very tight fit, so don't know how this will effect 2-3-2 effect later. At least it's on.... Doesn't the foot look great? Priming first sure helped alot.
Another view. The foot was tilted backwards, but when I sat AL up straight and planted the foot on the ground, the foot seemed to automatically tilt forward. The foot sits correctly now. I did put a piece of tape on the front of the other foot to tell me which way to tilt the ankle.
This weekend: finish skins (panels all cutout and painted, just got to put them back on the skins), install HP's, install other leg/foot/ankle, sand/grind/install middle foot, install power couplers/coin returns/coin slots, paint some of the bronze parts (having trouble with airbrush so I might not be able to get to that until after Osfest - bummer), install utility arm rails and arms (takes fifteen minutes), and pack. Well, I've gotta have clothes for Osfest. LOL
Until next time,
Jawa Jaka
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