My R2 Unit

My build started about four years ago. I had already 3D printed a replica of BB-8 so at some point during the COVID lockdown I thought I might as well start 3D printing R2.

If you look around on line you’ll find an amazing resource (now on version 4!) of Mr. Baddely’s 3D printed droids. You can download every single part you need to make a complete operational R2, and they also have resources to make a few other versions such as R5, miniature droids, and Mouse Droids. That’s how I started.

I quickly discovered that my 3D prints were too lumpy and full of print lines. Bodyshopping them would take forever to make it look as nice as I hoped. A good friend of mine who runs a prop studio saw my sad attempt at R2 and invited me to come try again at his shop with better materials.

With a ton of his help, the Astromech forums, and close proximity to some extremely kind R2 builders who would swoop in at the right moment to give me just the right advice, I finally have a functional full motion R2. He beeps and boops, some doors open, his dome spins, and he can scoot around pretty quickly. Truly a rolling happiness machine.

Some people build classic cars, I made a classic robot. It’s amazing to see the reaction people have to it. Even though I built it, I still see it as a real life R2. I can’t recommend a build like this highly enough. It ain’t easy, but if you beat your head against the wall long enough you can have one too!