Custom Robot Toys in Afghanistan
April 22, 2011 9:51 AM Subscribe
PFC Rupert Valero is a U.S. soldier stationed in Afghanistan who makes amazing custom toy robots out of recycled materials.
This is wonderful! By sheer coincidence, I'm hosting a school-fundraising "make a robot out of recycled parts" party next month, and this posting has already given me tons of exciting ideas. Thanks very much for posting. People like PFC Valero brighten the world.
posted by dylanjames at 10:21 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by dylanjames at 10:21 AM on April 22, 2011
For those of you that may have missed the link at the bottom, here's his Flickr photostream.
posted by MegoSteve at 10:36 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by MegoSteve at 10:36 AM on April 22, 2011
If you like Valero's robots, chances are you'll like Lockwasher's too (maybe even more!)
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:39 AM on April 22, 2011
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:39 AM on April 22, 2011
So … Rupert Valero was able to build these in a camp, with a bunch of scraps?
posted by gubo at 12:03 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by gubo at 12:03 PM on April 22, 2011
Not a bunch of scraps - it looks like he generally takes one piece of scrap, sticks a bunch of Lego Bionicle limbs onto it (those feet and arm joints are very recognizable), and then paints 'em.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:13 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by FatherDagon at 12:13 PM on April 22, 2011
Sorry, that came across as a bit dickish. The end result is still cool, but pieces like this are 85% lego pre-fab.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:14 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by FatherDagon at 12:14 PM on April 22, 2011
I'm tired of constant reminders, just like this, of how much I suck doing neat stuff.
posted by codswallop at 12:26 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by codswallop at 12:26 PM on April 22, 2011
FatherDagon: I disagree. While it's fair to point out that those arms and legs on the picture you cited were prefab, the way the body is cobbled together and the decoration/weathering/paint application are what give his robots soul and make them much cooler than storebought, not to mention the way he photographs them.
posted by MegoSteve at 1:18 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by MegoSteve at 1:18 PM on April 22, 2011
FatherDagon: Sorry, that came across as a bit dickish. The end result is still cool, but pieces like this are 85% lego pre-fab.
This is a Bionicle, this is not. They might have the same limbs or even the whole core, but the alterations are what make them original (and damn spiffy).
Then, there are also happy scrap robots, with not a Lego bit in sight, ready to be distributed to local afghan kids.
Also, I really like Toxic Skull and Stumpy, as I call these two.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:29 PM on April 22, 2011
This is a Bionicle, this is not. They might have the same limbs or even the whole core, but the alterations are what make them original (and damn spiffy).
Then, there are also happy scrap robots, with not a Lego bit in sight, ready to be distributed to local afghan kids.
Also, I really like Toxic Skull and Stumpy, as I call these two.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:29 PM on April 22, 2011
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