"Imperial forces and the rebel alliance will call a truce Saturday (Oct. 24) atDiscovery World, where "Star Wars" fans can talk with costuming experts and droid builders and learn the science and secrets of their craft.
Members of the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion, two global "Star Wars" costuming groups, along with the R2-D2 Builders Club, will show off their creations and then teach attendees how to make them during the second annual Star Wars Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It's a chance to get photos taken with strikingly realistic storm troopers, bounty hunters, droids and wookies, as well as learn about the materials and technical processes behind bringing "Star Wars" into the real world, says Paul Hayden, an information technology expert at Discovery World organizing the event.
Costumed "Star Wars" fans will roam the halls, and visitors can attend technical presentations, including sessions on resin casting, vac-forming lifecasting and circuitry.
"The quality of these costumes is absolutely amazing," Hayden said. "We are going to be focusing on the technology and materials in making them. It's going to be entertaining and educational."
Hayden, who has built a realistic remote-controlled re-creation of R2-D2, said there will be at least two droids at Discovery World, and his will be fully charged and ready to roll. His R2 can race around, spin its head, wiggle its eye-projector socket and make all the blips and beeps the one from the movies made. The droid is made of parts recommended by other builders he's studied online as well as some homemade improvisations."