The R2-D2 Builders, the droid craftsmen who put on an exceptional display at Star Wars Celebration II in 2002, are coming back to the Indiana Convention Center, and this time they plan to bring an entire droid army. Not an army of battle droids necessarily, but of R2 units, "gonk droids," protocol droids, mouse droids . . . and the list goes on.
"Currently we have 58 builders signed up to attend," says Jason Smith, the U.S. leader of the group. "And we have at least 59 different droids we can display, with more being completed every day." This will more than double the droids that were on display at Celebration II.
An international organization, the R2-D2 Builders started as an Internet network for sharing building tips and information. With members from Australia to Germany, the builders have grown to hundreds of craftsman since Dave Everett of Sydney, Australia founded the group in 1999. Their work is most impressive ? many of their droids are hard to distinguish from the droids that were created for the films. The droid designers will exhibit their creations, and will be on hand to talk about their work and share their building tips with fans and potential builders.
Those who watched the R2-D2 Parade that rolled through Celebration II, grand marshaled by prequel Droid Unit Supervisor Don Bies, may have a hard time believing that the Builders could top themselves. For Celebration III, not only are they bringing more droids, but they have something special planned ? the DroidYard 500 race and obstacle course. Each day in the Fan Fair Hall the Builders plan to run their remote-controlled droids through elimination rounds on the course. The competition will end on Sunday with the DroidYard 500 Championship Finals.
R2-D2 Builders at Celebration II Droid Displays & Demonstrations Rooms 201-204
DroidYard 500 Fan Fair, Exhibit Hall C Thursday, April 21 through Saturday, April 21
DroidYard 500 Championship Finals Fan Fair, Exhibit Hall C Sunday, April 22
Times will be announced later, and locations may change. Please check
Celebration III Quick Facts April 21 - 24, 2005, at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana Badge and hotel registration are scheduled to start September 27, 2004 at Noon, PDT. Produced by Gen Con, LLC, based in Seattle, Washington, in partnership with Lucasfilm, Ltd. More than half a million square feet of Star Wars events, interactive activities, displays and action all under one roof. Seven hotels connected to the Convention Center by skyway, and many more are within a few blocks. Regular news and updates will start in the fall of 2004, and run through the event, on