Listing Details
| ID: | 1571 |
| Title: | Builder Of Life Size Robots |
| URL: | http://floridarobot.blogspot.com/ |
| Category: | Recreation: Hobbies |
| Description: | Building giant life size robots for fun. |
| Entire life size robot collection up for sale - 2011-10-06 13:23:00 |
It's been a nice break not having to blog during the past year. But it's time to temporarily add a couple more posts to this blog. As I mentioned in the previous entry, I was considering the sale of our entire robot collection. Today I made the big decision to get them ready for sale. I have a few maintenance tasks to do before selling them though. I'm going to put R2 on the lift and give his drive train a tune up and checkup. He's been to many events over the past year and we put quite a few miles on him in some interesting and fun events. And I'm proud to say that he's performed flawlessly at every event and created about a gazillion smiles. But all the driving and vibration could have loosened something so he's officially in the shop for service. Also during all the robot tune ups and inspections, I may be taking video to detail how some of the important parts can be accessed and maintained. Not that they break down a lot but it's good to know how to tear them down if you need to get to some of the components. The sale will be for the entire life size robot collection and I'm prepared to wait awhile until we find the right buyer. I think a full collection of robots representing all the decades from 1950's to present is a pretty cool concept. Great draw for a business or organization that wants an eye catching display that people love. We'll be selling the following; 1950s - Robby the Robot from Forbidden planet(A Fred Barton Robby) 1950s - The "Bus Stop Robots" inspired by the famous artist Virgil Finlay's cover art 1958 Fantastic Universe Sci fi magazine. 1960s - The Lost in Space B9 Robot 1970s and 1980's - R2D2 and C3PO from Star Wars 1990s - Steel life size abstract Sculpture of a Star Wars Battle Droid - Roger the trumpet player 2000s - Bender from the cartoon Futurama I've had a few letters from people wanting to buy the robots individually since I posted that last blog entry but again I have hopes to sell them as a collection. They all get along together real well so breaking them up just wouldn't be right. It's wise not to upset the robots if you know what I mean. So keep checking back because I'll be posting more pictures, videos and details of the sale within the next month or so. Might even sell some of my metal sculptures - the life size steel giraffe that sits in our back yard as well as an almost complete life size steel lion ... or should I call it an "Iron Lion" like Bob Marley would say. The robots are now listed on EBAY and will be listed until they sell. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Life-Size-1-1-Robot-collection-Star-Wars-R2D2-C3PO-LIS-B9-Robby-Bender-and-more-/110784265363?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cb41bc93 My new "Angry Robot" collection will be listed the middle of December as well as A life sizeSteel Champagne drinking Battle droid. |
| Final Story? - 2010-09-02 07:40:00 |
| After going to Celebration, I came up with a few realizations. Even though we had a great time, I made a decision that it will be our last con with robots or droids. It's just too much work, expense and vacation days that could be spent in other areas. We need to spend more time in the mountains and less time at conventions. Another thing I decided is there will be no more new robot projects. I plan to sell all my extra parts and robotics components and may even sell some of or possibly all my life size robots collection in the next couple years. Still not sure about that decision though.  Instead of robots, I'll be turning my attention into more art related projects. I've been learning a lot of metal working techniques and enjoying that immensely. Plus it will be a good thing to carry over into retirement where I could even make a few dollars with it now and then. But we'll see. So I guess this is the official end of the Life size robots blog. Thanks for following. |
| Celebration V was a blast - 2010-08-16 21:24:00 |
| I've stayed away from the computer for the last week while we were away in Orlando, Fl attending Celebration V which is a massive 4 day Star Wars party. The R2D2 builders club had a room where we displayed around 80 droids and got to hang out with other builders. It was a good time meeting builders in the club from all around the world. We all had a very good time and I learned a lot talking to the other builders. Also had a good time with the 501st attending the "bash" at the Doubletree. We were lucky to meet up with a couple members in our local garrisons to have a few drinks and talk. The highlights of the convention for us were the droid races and the droid parade in addition to wrangling R2D2 among all the convention attendees .... especially the kids. If I had a nickle for every smile that R2 generated, I'd just about be able to retire. My R2D2 performed flawlessly until the last day when I was unhooking my charging cable. I made a mistake in designing that cable and made it where it could short out when disconnecting it from the charger. Which is exactly what happened on Sunday morning before the droid parade. The short started a small fire in R2 with a lot of smoke and melted wires and a melted switch. Since the switch melted, I had to pull the hot wires out manually to stop the short. But by this time the battery wires to the switch / charging unit were completely melted and fried. These were thick wires too ! After picking the melted plastic out of the circuits, I borrowed some wire and bypased the switch to power on R2. Fortunately all my main circuits were protected and all the important electrical components were intact. I was able to run R2 for the rest of the day but with no on/off switch. I had to manually disconnect from the battery to shut it off. Another lesson learned. I'm going to redesign the charging port to be a little safer. Here's a few pictures and a link to the droid parade. I'm the guy who has his hand in a brown leather bag controlling his droid.     |
