Nominee – Sarah Saunders

What would you improve within the droid building community?

I think there’s always room for improvement – although I feel the group is a very well run, friendly group.

My thoughts are maybe to gain interest from more families, women, and children. We are *slowly* getting more female builders, which is great! It can be quite daunting for new members to know how to even start a project! Maybe have “build days”, local meets and buddy systems to help? This might be impractical in some areas, but different from Comic Con meetups. Other ideas that may have already been tried include: Zoom get-togethers, write-ups on the basics of starting a build on-a-budget, and more “who’s who” on the website.

Maybe have a small joining fee to help with running costs?

What could you bring to the committee that may be of a benefit to the droid building community?

Enthusiasm! I feel that I am a very friendly and approachable person, having worked in a customer based career most of my life. I would love to learn more – I have just started an R2 build myself (after my Protocol Droid of course…) and there is so so much to learn!

The community has been really supportive so far, and it can be difficult. I would very much love to share my experiences and teach others.

Please include a builder profile of yourself, as though we don’t know anything about your droid building journey over the years.

I’m Sarah and have been a huge Star Wars fan for many many years. Since the start of it all, to be honest. I’ve always been quite creative and even asked my woodwork teacher once if I could make an R2D2 in class (he answered “no”, in a kind way). I first encountered the R2 builders at SW Celebration 2 in Indianapolis and was amazed and slightly in awe at how good the Droids were.

In 2012 I had some time on my hands, and started work on a C3PO fibreglass head I had acquired some years earlier. After a lot of research on forums i managed to create a wearable protocol droid head that was fully chromed just like the TC-14 droid. In about 2016 I acquired a basic 3d printer and gradually there became a larger community of resources, inspiring me to have the complete droid by August 2022! I was encouraged by the wonderful DBUK guys to finally wear the full complete suit, very daunting but great fun.

I’ve since performed TC at many Comic Cons and even at Celebration 2023 which was just amazing! Recently I’ve acquired my next project from a member – an R2 build!

Lots to learn, I have no idea what an “Arduino” is yet but I’m sure with the support of the DBUK guys I will soon have another droid to share. My woodwork teacher would be so so proud….