R2-D2 Dome Lights - Teeces Kit, Diffusers & Holo Projector Assemblies

Making R2-D2 Part 3. Today we'll be going over R2-D2 dome lights along with the holoprojectors. Topics include the light set, the diffusers I used for the logic lights & the PSI lights, along with the 3D printed holoprojector assemblies (moving & non moving), holo projector lenses, and a super bright R2 holoprojector LED light option & fitment ideas.

This is just to give you ideas - there are many R2 dome lighting methods :)

For example, the Teeces light set I used is not the only lighting set available for R2-D2, but it's still the most popular, has been around for several years now and it generally works best with the Mr.Baddeley printed light surrounds - the boards just screw in.

Teeces light kit components cost around $150 USD for the parts and will give you the two front logic lights, the large rear logic light and the front & rear PSI lights (there are 5 lights Picard). Pre-built Teeces kits are also available that are already soldered up, micro Arduino installed & programmed - they cost around $250 USD. Well worth the extra $100 IMO if you are not a good solderer or well versed with Arduino programming.

A more advanced R2 lighting option is the RSeries Logic Engine Dome Light kit also around $250 USD but doesn't come with the PSI lights. This kit uses fiber optics and cross color fading assignable LED's to more closely approximate the look of the fiber optic and color wheels used in the original trilogy R2-D2's.

Both the Teeces and RSeries R2-D2 dome light sets are available through the Astromech R2 Builder Club Forum: https://astromech.net/forums/index.php

March 2024 Update: The latest R2-D2 dome light kit is called Astropixels and are my new favorite. Here is a link to the overview I did on them:    • AstroPixels R2-D2 Dome Lights - Great...  

I got my Teeces light set from forum member "Mr. Fubar"
The RSeries Logic Engine light kit are from member "Joymonkey"
There may be other sources as well.

I've also seen low cost battery powered blinky LED Christmas light sets used for R2 logic lights or other "blinky" light options that are as simple and inexpensive as soldering a bunch of blinking LED's onto a circuit board. You are only limited by imagination, skill set, and budget :)

For the XML Cree LED driver, most hobby adjustable voltage and constant current (two adjustment pots) DC-DC buck converters should work: These are the inexpensive ones I used (note the two adjustment pots): https://amzn.to/3At8iJF
Caveat - this is LED dependent of course, so check the specs of your particular high output LEDs to make sure the power source for it/them puts out the correct voltage and current. You only need one driver if you only will have one Cree LED (holoprojector light) on at a time.

Video Time Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 R2-D2 Teeces Light Set
2:06 Teeces logic light diffuser ideas
2:50 Teeces PSI light diffuser ideas
4:30 Teeces wiring connectivity
5:40 R2-D2 Holoprojector Introduction
6:22 Holoprojector 3D print versions
7:46 Holoprojector Rub N Buff
9:04 Holoprojector lenses
10:09 Holoprojector LED's
12:25 Loosey goosey holo gimbals?

Making R2-D2 Video Series:
Introduction to a DIY R2-D2 Build:    • R2-D2 Build Your Own - Getting starte...  
Part 1 Making the dome:    • Make Your Own R2-D2 - Part 1. Dome pr...  
Part 2 Painting the dome:    • Painting R2-D2 - Dome Colors, Priming...  
Part 3 Dome lights & holoprojectors:    • R2-D2 Dome Lights - Teeces Kit, Diffu...  
Part 4 Dome Completion:    • Making R2-D2 Part 4 - Final Dome Asse...  
Part 5 Body Assembly & dome drive:    • Building R2-D2 - Part 5: Body Assembl...  
Part 6 R2 Sound System Basics:    • R2-D2 Sound System - Easy RC control ...  
Part 7 R2 Electronic Basics:    • The Basics of R2-D2 Electronics for t...  
Part 8 R2 Legs & Foot Drives:    • Building R2-D2 Part 8 - First Steps! ...  
Part 9 Painting R2-D2:    • Painting R2-D2 - Plus More Finishing ...  
Part 10 Installing Electronics:    • R2-D2 Build Part 10 - Electronics Ins...  
Conclusion to a DIY R2-D2 Build:    • Making R2-D2 - Finishing Up The R2 Bu...  

Resources:
Astromech R2 Builders Club Forum:
https://astromech.net/
Mr. Baddeley's Patreon Page (source for Astromech Droid 3D print files):
  / mrbaddeley  
Printed Droid Website File Download Page (Printed Droid Print Guide):
https://www.printed-droid.com/files/

Thank you for supporting RC Helicopter Fun.com & my channel which helps me keep creating content & fun projects like this. Please consider giving a thumbs up & subscribe - thank you & thanks for watching :)