BEHIND THE SCENES: INSIDE ARTOO!

An original blueprint, circa late 1975, for the construction of Artoo Detoo, and how the later cast Kenny Baker would be inside operating it, from the original STAR WARS.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO was sad to hear of the passing this week of one of the Astro Droid's most important practical realisers, freelancing with Elstree for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK's UK production phase: Tony Dyson.

Tony Dyson, creator of Star Wars robot, found dead in Gozo - The Malta Independent
R2-D2 creator Tony Dyson diess - and Star Wars fans pay tribute to the man behind the famous droid
Remembering Tony Dyson – T-bone's Star Wars Universe

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE LITTLE DROID DID IT!

In an angle I don't recall seeing in the finished movie, our heroic Artoo Detoo opens the security door that will allow access to the Millennium Falcon, and escape from Imperial controlled Cloud City, in this exciting moment from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

Creating Artoo for the Classic Trilogy was truly a team effort, but one of those key people was technician Tony Dyson. Check out this Australian video interview about how he got involved in the saga, and helping to bring the world's favourite Astro Droid to unique life for TESB: Tony Dyson Creater of Star Wars R2D2 in Second Life - YouTube