This Week in Making: Star Wars Droids, Comic Con, and Deadly Paper Cuts

Art & Sculpture Craft & Design Paper Crafts Science
This Week in Making: Star Wars Droids, Comic Con, and Deadly Paper Cuts

K-2SO is arguably one of the best parts of last year’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The reprogramed Imperial droid takes C-3PO’s charm and incessant need to always speak his mind, and puts it in a body designed to intimidate and kill.

Photo courtesy of RPF

Darren Moser (@DrSciFi), a costume and prop builder and fan of Star Wars, decided to bring K-2SO to life. He has been making a 1:1 scale replica of the droid, and just this past Friday moved on to the torso. Ultimately, Moser wants the replica to be a fully functional puppet with working joints.


You can follow the playful antics and inventive projects of the creators that use a makerspace in Durban, South Africa on the YouTube channel theMakerSpaceCOZA. These makers clearly love both what they do and that they do it together. It makes them fun to watch (the quality of the filming and editing does not hurt either), and you really cannot go wrong regardless of which video of theirs you choose to start with.

However, you definitely want to check out the video they just posted this past week called “What Is The MakerSpace?” It touches on the importance of creating a place where technology and ideas can be shared and experimented on together. The video has some of the best descriptions of what a makerspace is, and I am honestly a little inspired to go out and join one myself.


Comic Con returns to the Bay Area for its second year this weekend. Although not nearly as big as its older siblings held in New York and San Diego, Silicon Valley Comic Con (SVCC) differentiates itself with is own unique take on comic books and geek culture. Like other conventions, SVCC features an “artists alley,” opportunities to meet actors and writers from TV shows and movies, and watch panels. However, because of its location, SVCC thrives with a tech creator’s spirit.

Artists alley is complimented by an app alley. Discussions on panels tend to stray away from the writing behind a TV show episode, and instead focus on the technology that someone specifically made to create that episode’s effects or costumes. Also, the cosplay you will find at SVCC usually features a little more technological integration and achievement than what you would typically find at a different convention.

SVCC does not prominently feature makers like a Maker Faire, but the convention does provide a cool and unique space to witness where the maker spirit, geek culture, and science come together. I plan on attending SVCC 2017 myself. Hope to see some of you out there!


Still looking for a gift for Mother’s Day? Make: has you covered. Our Mother’s Day Gift Guide features plenty of ideas for the mom who likes to make projects or would appreciate a unique, handmade gift from her soon to be favorite child.

If nothing on our guide immediately strikes you as the perfect gift for your mom, we urge you to check back at a later date. We are regularly updating the page with new gift ideas as they come to us. Have a great idea for a Mother’s Day gift but don’t see it on our guide? Let us know about it at editor@makezine.com for a chance for it to be featured!


Next week will be the last week to submit designs to our April Fool’s Day Worst Cup Ever Contest. Do not delay and get those submissions in! The maker of the worst cup will be awarded a SeeMeCNC H2 Delta DIY 3D Printer Kit.


I will never touch a piece of paper the same way ever again. Mr. Hacker, a YouTuber who makes videos about various life hacks, posted several videos this past week, and all of them show just what paper can do when it spins at high enough speeds and creates a ton of heat.

The next time you are playing Rock, Paper, Scissors and your friend tells you that scissors always beats paper, show them one of these videos, or (if you are feeling sadistic) make one of these paper cutters for yourself and murder a plastic doll right in front of them. Bet that will change their tune.

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Jordan has spent much of his life writing about his many geeky pastimes. He's particularly passionate about indie game design and Japanese art, but loves interacting with creators from all walks of life.

View more articles by Jordan Ramée

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