14 May 2002
R2D2 clones made by Coventry University lecturer
 One of John Jostins' R2D2 models in Empire Strikes Back
|  | John Jostins, lecturer at Coventry University describes his involvement in the making of one the most famous robots to ever hit the screens.
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WEBLINKS
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FACTS
| The central theme of the design of the Microcab is lightness. Using techniques and materials drawn from the motor racing, aerospace and cycling industries the weight is kept to an absolute minimum. By keeping the weight down the power to move the vehicle is minimal.
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 | | Interview by Amy Elias from the webiste team with John Jostins, Lecturer of MA Design and Digital Media at Coventry University.
When did it all begin?
The making of R2D2, or rather eight R2D2's, for Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi began in January 1979 until Easter of the same year.
What did the work involve?
I worked on the moulds for eight R2D2's in Whitney in Oxfordshire.
Two of the R2D2's were built to house Kenny Baker.
Three of them were remote control R2D2's with motors for use in the corridors in action shots.
The other three R2D2's were used for pyrotechnics, essentially to be blown up!
What materials did you use?
The R2D2's were made from moulds using glass reinforced plastic, with particular attention paid to the interior finish.
This was because Kenny Baker complained about the inside of previous models, saying they were too sharp.
We designed a more ergonomic model for him which involved buying towel rails from Woolworths that were then fixed inside for him to hold onto. Children-sized wellington boots were also fixed inside to stabilise him.
There was also a children's car seat fixed into the interior for when he needed to be in a semi-standing position.
So what are you doing now?
I now run my own design company in London. Amongst other projects we are working on a prototype for a ecological friendly vehicle called 'Microcab'. Follow the link on the left for more information about this project.
We just won a DTI SMART innovation award (拢45,000) for developing the fuel cell powered version of the vehicle. The current vehicle is battery/solar powered. It is an ultralight urban taxi for one driver and two people.
The vehicle was influenced by science fiction, particulary when I was building future vehicles for Dennis Potter's last film Cold Lazarus (大象传媒 and Channel 4), a science fiction film set 300 years in the future.
I was commuting to the special effects unit in Wimbledon SW London, through terrible traffic and somehow the two ideas came together.
I am also a part-time lecturer on the MA in Design and Digital Media at Coventry University.
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大象传媒 Coventry and
Warwickshire
1 Greyfriars Road
Coventry
CV1 2WR
coventry@bbc.co.uk
warwickshire@bbc.co.uk
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