Month: January 2017

United Space Astromech Assemblers’ first meeting

I’ve decided to start a local R2 Builders Club. The first meeting was sparsely attended. I can only assume that there was a hyperspace glitch that sent the other droid engineers to the wrong place.

However, I did have a good time! I showed off the R2 dome that I built last spring for the Imagination Fair and gave a very short presentation on R2’s dome. Below is a summary of my presentation on the astromech hemispherical dome head.

Dome Specifications

  • The classic R2 hemispherical dome has a diameter of 18.16 inches.
  • The classic R2hemispherical dome has a height of 10.51 inches when measured from top of the base ring.
  • These measurements come from the Astromech.net community and can be found as part of the Official Club Blueprints: CS-R Blueprints. (“CS-R” stands for Club Spec-Revisited.)

Dome History 

Over the years, astromech engineers have come up with a variety of ways to create the hemispherical dome of the R2 series astromech unit. These have included …

Members of the Astromech.net community can read more about the history of dome solutions at Jason Smith’s Dome History.

Astromech Droids

I then gave a basic overview of the astromech droid units from Wookieepedia — including how to avoid the hemispherica doem problem by choosing a unit without a hemispehrical head.

Dome Terminology

I finished my presentation by reviewing dome components and standard terminology used by the Astromech.net community.

The next USAA gathering will focus on options for dome rotation including Lazy-Susan bearings, remote controls, and programming.

I came home to find that my own styrene dome had arrived!

Story Synopsis for Winter LARP #1 (2017)

The wind wailed while the sun fought clouds for its share of the sky. Ace braced himself against the cold breeze and turned to the Demolition Expert. They had been distracted by their tests of their new winter weaponry, but Ace knew that too much time had passed. “Where could the others be,” he asked his trusted companion.

The Expert stomped his feet for warmth and gazed out over the frozen plain. “There!” he cried, sweeping his arm up and pointing to the top of the distant hill. Two figures struggled in the deep snow, making their way towards the frozen encampment. Four more appeared on the other side of the hill. A lone figure followed them. Soon, they were all gathered in the swirling snow.

“We’ve got to get to the North Pole,” exclaimed a bundled warrior. “There’s a laboratory there that we’ve got to reach before sunfall or the world may not survive the night!”

The team quickly assembled their travel gear and set out towards the North Pole, but were confused by evil magic which turned them southwards. After trekking for leagues, they found themselves not at the North Pole, but at the South Pole. Confused and dismayed, they stumbled into a frozen dungeon. While searching for the way out, they were suddenly beset by zombie penguins! Weapons were drawn, blood was spilled, and the warriors vanquished the dreadful flightless beasts.

Wearied from their efforts, they tumbled into a local tavern. Demanding hot cocoa and board games, they immersed themselves in strategy. Feeling refreshed, half the band set out again, only to be stopped by a bombardment of snowballs! Was it the zombie penguins? No. They had been attacked from within by a small but brave knight! Exhausted and bewildered they returned to the inn only to learn that the dreaded North Pole Laboratory had never even existed. It had all been a giant ruse!