Milwaukee MakerFaire 2017

This year's MakerFaire had the largest group of builders in the booth yet! We had six builders with a wide variety of R2 builds as well as some additional non-R2 droids and props.

The Milwaukee Dalek Asylum was hosting a Dalek costume contest in conjunction with an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records achievement of 95 Daleks.

My R2 Dalek costume was a hit, and elicited a wide range of reactions from makers and attendees. While I did not win anything in the costume contest, I was part of the world record. We had a total of 107 Daleks/Dalek costumes to set the new record!

Speaking of awards, it turns out the head of the Dalek builders nominated us for and award, which we won! We were awarded a Blue Ribbon as the "Maker of Merit"! What a nice surprise to cap off a great weekend!

But overall, as always the reaction from the kids really made the event worthwhile and I hope that we inspired some new droid builders!

R2-DLK

An interactive C-3PO head that I 3D printed

Steve Radtke's adorable mini GONK droid

 

The surprise Blue Ribbon our group earned as "Maker of Merit"!

Discovery World Sci-Fi Day

Well I completely flaked out and forgot to post about the Sci-Fi Day at the Milwaukee Discovery World Museum! While there were not as many costumed characters as last year, because politics, but there were still a great number of people in attendance and a nice showing of R2 Builders. Thanks everyone for all of your hard work!

It was especially fun to see the kid's reactions and to see some really excellent costumes!

Milwaukee MakerFaire

It was time again for the Milwaukee MakerFaire and the R2 Builder's Club was out in full force! Besides myself, we had Craig with his awesome menagerie of droids and creatures, Steve with his beautiful wood and aluminum work-in-progress R2, and the other Steve (there's two of them!), the Usian Bolt of droid builders who has his beautiful R2 there which he completed in 8 months!

I was able to put the new dome and the scooter motorist the test. I took R2 for several trips around the MakerFaire, meeting fans and making new friends. It was great to see excited the kids got, and R2 was feeling the love!

  

Radar Eye Redo

At long last I 3D-printed a new radar eye. The first I printed had a flat back on it and would not sit flush against the dome. Doh! This second one I reengineered to be hollow and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will fit adequately. I will install it tomorrow in time to finish up the dome for the Milwaukee MakerFaire on Saturday.

New Radar Eye Lens

I 3D-printed a new radar eye lens for the new dome. It turned out great, up until I left the primed lens out in the sun and the heat caused it to shrink and dimple.

Attempts to smooth out the lens with putty failed, so I printed a new one. I added a larger flange around the the base and it fit beautifully.

A little sanding, some priming and several light coats of gloss black and BOOM! Shiny new lens!

I love doing everything twice. Makes me feel like I am at work.

Blue Clear Coat

I got some DupliColor Clear coat for the blue dome parts and I have to say that the results were very impressive. The clear coat evened out anything that looked a little mottled and did not diminish the color at all. It gave them the subtle, glossy finish that I was hoping for!

I plan on redoing the chrome on the dome with DupliColor Metallic Silver and then clear coating that, with the hopes of recruiting the same results that I had with the blue pieces.

Wish me luck!