My 1:1 Scale / Lifesize Custom Projects *Project R2D2 Update 01/9

[kirk_dougall]

I've decided to create a thread for my lifesize projects as I've now decided I'm going to be taking on a few.

Those of you who have seen some of my previous projects will know I recently opened a Movie Collectibles and Model kits shop.
All of my 1:1 Scale items are being made for display pieces for the shop although I am hoping to make some of the R2D2/R5D4 to sell on Ebay also.

Heres how my display looks so far:

This diplay no longer exists, my figures have took over that spot now.
Han solos been mounted on the door to the store room and yodas moved too. Bobas in the store room as theres no room for him anywhere.


My current projects
Boba Fett * Complete
R2D2 *Planning/Parts buying stage

My future Projects
R5D4
Jawa
Power Droid

[kirk_dougall]

Boba Fett

Unfortunately I've lost most of my WIP pics. But will post what I have when I get too work tommorow.

Boba fett started when I came across a great deal for some aluminium Fett armour ready painted and weatherd on Ebay it worked out around £80inc postage from the states to the U.K.
I then bought 2 Grey overalls and used the second to chop up for the pockets and arms etc for the other.
I then bought a cheap Don Post helmet on Ebay.
Boots were simple.... some painted rain boots!
Then came the Jet Pack now to buy one of these I was looking around around £200 No way could I afford that so i decided to make my own.
I scratch built the pack using templates I found on the net printed them glued them on too card and used bottles for the rocket etc This was then covered in paper and pva glue to make it hard and solid and then painted green.


The Jetpack ready for painting.








Fett is now complete I just need to get hold of some false hair to make the wookie scalps and some ammo puches for the belt.

[kirk_dougall]

R2D2
Now I've only just decided to start this project hopefully its going to be a fairly accurate 1:1 scale R2D2 for a fraction of the cost of what they go for on Ebay, I'm hoping £150 max. I may make more of these if this is succsesfull and sell them on Ebay at a cheaper price than the usual £1500 -  £3500 ones I usually see on there
Heres whats happend with it so far.

I came across a guy who makes R2D2 dome kits out of fibre glass and resin. I emailed him and he offered me one for £90 so i took one, heres some pics of the kit and one of one partially completed:





I visited a DIY store and found some very flexible bendy wood which I intend to use for the body, the woods is soft enough for me to be able to engrave all of the panels etc into it and to be able to cut out the parts for the fans and grills etc.
I found some good large templates for the front of R2's body which I will print out and attach to the wood for the engraving:

Large images of the template can be found here: http://www.redgunblack.com/images/r2d2/r2-fat.jpg


More updates to follow the project is pretty much on hold until I recieve the Dome as I can't start the body until I have the dome to use for the body cicumfrence measurments.

[kirk_dougall]

Before I post my R2 upate I've updated the Fett pics in the fett thread.

Well the R2-D2 Dome arrived awhile ago now.... it was appauling, he describes them as only needing a small amount of trimming but it needed huge amounts of filling and then alot of sanding. It also needed all the panels re dremelling. Parts were missing but I did manage to persuade the ass to send me those. Paypal werent interested and totally dismissed my complaints. So if you ever see these kits on ebay avoid them or expect alot more work than advertised.
So I did all the filling, sanding (until it had a glass like finish), dremmeling and primed it again. After priming it showed up a few areas which still needed filling which we'd missed the first time round so I've filled those and I've started on part of the blue. I plan on spraying all the blue parts first and then touching them up with a small brush and then masking all the blue parts off and spraying the silver all at once.
Here how its looking now I havent done any work on it for a few weeks now will hopefully get around to doing some more soon.





Its taking alot longer than I anticipated... I won't be building more lol. I may RC this one though but got to start the body first!

[ThePerennial]

That's a pretty sweet Boba fett. Did you use Sintra for the chest armor?


 That Artoo is looking pretty spiffy, too. Great stuff.

 EDIT: Oh, and Kirk; I've got a suggestion for when you paint up your r2d2 dome. There's a products called Rub N Buff that has a colour called Silver Leaf. It's what is called a wax metallic finish and you simply apply it with your bare hands. All you do is take a little dab and spread it around (just a little dab covers so much space) and once it is spread, you buff and rub it with your bare hands to cause enough friction to warm it up. Once you do that, the Rub N Buff creates a layer of realistic-looking silver. Somethoign you couldn't achieve with any conventional paint. I've seen rub n buff used on fibreglass jango helmets and they look so realistic -- like polished metal!

Here's an example of something that's been rub n buffed:

The following is a comparison. On the LEFT is an unpainted cast aluminum Jango fett helmet. on the RIGHT is a resin-fibreglass helmet with rub n buff used instead of silver paint. (On a side note, I love how this guy even put the battle damage and dirtied up his jango helmet.)

[kirk_dougall]

All the armour except the helmet is made from galvanized sheet steel.
I'll looking to this Rub N Buff but I doubt I'll find any in the U.K.

[ThePerennial]

I'll looking to this Rub N Buff but I doubt I'll find any in the U.K.

Ah, Yeah, it's pretty hard to come by outside of the US. I live in canada about 40 minutes from the border and I still can't find any. If I find some I plan to use it on a jango though.

[kirk_dougall]

To be honest even if i find it because I've painted the blue parts first I'm not sure if I'd be able to use it
Isnt there anyone on here from the U.S who could you could pay to get some from a store near them and they post it to you?

I got the last of the blue painted yesterday, took me and my dad 3 hours just to mask all the parts off! I left all the paper etc on it while it dries over the weekend. I won't be at the store until Tuesday due to it being bank Holiday on Monay so I'll get the paper off it on Tuesday and some pics up... then I'll start masking off for the silver.... Should take a good few hours at least.
I've also found a U.K based company who make huge cardboard tubes, the sort that are used for concrete pillars. I now plan on using one for the body.

[kirk_dougall]

blue and sliver all finished, just needs some touching up in places and I need to find an eye.
Once the touch ups are finished I'm going to have a go at some lighting.