Hello everyone!

Back on June 19th and 20th I and Artoo rode up to Charlotte, NC with CO Jason Boyd for HeroesCon. This was my first HeroesCon and Artoo's first appearance outside of South Carolina! Not only was this convention thrilling for me and way beyond my expectations but I was taken completely surprise when I was asked to be what I thought was a group photo only to be suddenly inducted as an honorary Friend of the Garrison! You presented me with an awesome personalized badge and plaque to commemorate this honor after an extremely touching speech given by Jason! I was blown away! I could not believe what had just happened!
Jason later told me how swiftly the nomination went straight to a unanimous vote of my being an inductee! This meant more to me than anything I have ever been a part of! When I built my R2D2
In 2011 I had no idea what I was going to actually do with it but decided at the last minute to show it off at Captains Comic Expo spring of 2012 where I met Jason, his father Ronnie and Chris Gould. We immediately hit it off and from that moment forward I was always invited to area events as a guest of the 501st Carolina Garrison which really made me proud and thrilled! I bragged about these events constantly with photos at the R2 Builders Club forums!
I want to thank all of you at the Carolina Garrison for being so supportive and including me in your plans and event appearances. It has meant so much to me.
I have been a Star Wars fan since I was 10 years old in 1977 and to still be a part of that world on this level of fandom is an amazing experience and a fulfilling life long hobby! Becoming friends with all of you has enriched my personal life more than you will know!

Recently my life has taken yet another detour at yet another crossroad. As some of you know my wife of 21 years recently left me. Sadly it's a situation were we are unable to reconcile which has put me in a tough situation. I cannot live on what I earn at my current job for which I've been employed for 11 years. By March I will be moving to Florida to start back at an old career that I was successful at 20 years ago. I airbrushed T-shirts for tourists in Panama City Beach, FL and my old friends are welcoming me back. I hate that I will be leaving my Star Wars family here at the Carolina Garrison but that doesn't mean Artoo and I won't come back for an event or two from time to time being my 2 kids and my parents live here. There is even a chance my relocation will be at a large shop in Orlando! (And you know the benefits of that!!!)

Until I am able to secure safe passage aboard a fast ship with my droid and blast out of docking bay 94 I will see many of you at Star Wars Reads Day at the Charleston County Library in October and hopefully the Eighth Annual Captains Comic Expo in Mt. Pleasant February 20-21 before I go.

Again thanks to all of you for adopting me into this wonderful family of friends and Star Wars enthusiasts at the Carolina Garrison. I (and Artoo) will always be a Friend of the Garrison.

May the Force Be With You... Always!

Edward Reed and R2-D2

silverBoyd wrote:Hey Edward...as I've told you many times before...we love having you join us


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Thanks Jason! Its always an honor and privilege and so much fun! Great seeing you today at Captain's Comics for Free Comic Book Day... hope you enjoyed driving R2 around... your skills there may come in handy!

Carnage wrote:There was a guy at the Lego event that is working on an R2, I didn't get a chance to talk to him. Does any one know who I'm talking about? I think he's in the Charlotte area. We need an R2 up here!

here is a picture of Mike Cummings from the Charlotte area and below is Bryan Reniker of Mooresville if either look familiar to you...

RogueTrooper wrote:Hey Edward!!

Welcome brother!! and BTW look out for the Jawas here ... they love to steal droids.......




Also I have bumped you up to Visiting Dignitary since you are part of the R2 builders club

Thanks! Visiting Dignitary! I feel dignified! There is a guy by the name of Bryan Reniker that is just finishing up his full aluminum R2 that lives in Mooresville, NC. He goes by Rhyno45 at the R2 Builder's Club. He is a really great guy, very funny and very helpful. You will see him and his droid around a lot. He appeared with me with his half finished droid this past November at Atomacon in North Charleston and helped me out at the Van's shoes promotion that I attended with Jerry... and I have asked him to start attending events that I cannot get to like Xcon in Myrtle Beach ... He will be at Celebration Anaheim in the droid builder's room. there are two other builders in the Charlotte area with droids in various stages of progress so it won't be long and NC and SC will be better covered! One of the Charlotte area guy's name is Mike Cummings and goes by Pakrat77 at the R2 Builders website. Not sure how far along his droid is though.

Hi Guys! Edward here from the R2 Builder's Club!

I have worked with many of you over the past 2 1/2 years at various events and conventions in South Carolina and just wanted to stop by and say hello and thank you! Especially many thanks to CO Jason Boyd for always including me in invites as a guest of the 501st Carolina Garrison! When I first built my R2 I had no idea what I was going to do with it and where.... then I walked right into some 501st guys at Captain's Comic Expo a few years ago! What a thrill!

For now, as some of you know I am limited by transportation logistics so I am only able to do local area (Charleston Tri-County Area) events and only on the weekends. I hope this status will change in the near future and I will be able to attend more regional conventions and events!

I am in the middle of a lot of upgrades and a new all metal (aluminum and steel) R2 unit that will hold up better to physical stress although my first build (wood, styrene and resin) has been holding up pretty well considering. That build now sports a nifty new all aluminum dome with fiber optic lights and periscope which some of you saw at the latest Captain's Comic Expo!

Latest update is my steel foot shells are shipping next week and that is one of the more vulnerable areas on a droid.

I look forward to seeing all of you at area events and Star Wars Reads Day!

May the Force Be With You and long live the Empire!





here is the status of the aluminum build (and that is a full fiberglass build in the back that might one day be finished...