R5-D4, Factory Refurbished

"Hi there."

I thought the R5-D4 figure produced by Hasbro/Kenner in their new "Power of the Force" line was ridiculous. Its head split open, revealing a missile launcher, and it had laser blasters mounted on either leg. Good playability, I suppose, but not very true to the movie. Its middle leg, however, was locked in the extended position, and the head could not rotate. Not very good playability, in my opinion. It also had a paint speckling to simulate weathering. Good detail, but in my opinion, ugly.

So I decided if I needed a version that lived up to my standards, I'd have to make one myself. So I did, and here is the result.

Recipe:

1. Buy one POTF2 R5-D4 and one R2-D2.
2. Clip off either side of the head from the R5, and file the bottom edges until smooth. Glue together.
3. Saw the head off of the R2 along the blue line around the base of the head, leaving a swiveling plate connected to the figure's body.
4. Glue the R5 head onto this plate. Now the R5 can swivel his head.
5. Repaint R2 body to match R5 color scheme, and repaint R5 head to remove "dirty" speckling.