Cool Stuff: Steampunk R2-D2

Crabfu Steamworks has created this very cool Steampunk version of R2D2 named R2-S2.

What is Steampunk you say? According to wikipedia, Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction which denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used-usually the 19th century. The stories are often set in Victorian era England-but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. The cool new trend at Comic Con is to dress as a Steampunk version of your favorite character. Last year I saw a Ghostbuster wearing a top hat and a wooden backpack.

Anyway, back to R2-S2 (R2 Steam too)... Crabfu Steamworks used the Chassis/Body from a broken Hasbro R2D2 Interactive Droid and mounted the steam engines, using sprockets and chains to drive the gearbox. Inside R2, Steamworks installed an old Cheddar Boiler, and two Wilesco marine engines, splitting the steam for each engine using heat resistant silicone tubing.

"The steam pressure needs to be built up around 20 psi for a pretty short run. The gas fired flue boiler simply can not keep up with the thirsty demands of the two engines. Gearing is very low, and R2S2 runs at a snail crawl.... However, R2S2 is still holds the record for the fastest steam powered R2 in any galaxy."

Watch a video of this thing in action after the jump.

Thanks to redandjonny for submitting this creation. Read more about Crabfu Steamworks at crabfu.com.

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