It's a Retro-Robot Christmas!

Sometime in the summer, Maureen got stuck on a retro-robot fix. She found some cute robot merch, and she just kept going on and on about robots-this and robots-that. Well, we decided to use some of that energy to plan and execute a robot family Christmas display.

Luckily, we've got a great resource in Maureen's in-laws. Her father-in-law, Charley, is an automotive and welding genius, and he gave us free reign over his backyard "junk pile." We sketched out some ideas, and picked out some parts, and we were off to the races!

ROB-E2010: His head is a muffler (Charley), springs (REStore), weatherstripping (Lowe's), and old knobs from a stove (REStore). His teeth are connectors (Lowe's). His body is an old propane tank (Charley); his hands are forks and spoons (Rummage Sale). His legs are Heineken mini-kegs (convenience store), and his feet are extra casters Mo had lying around. Total cost: $17.00!

Mamabot: Her head is a colander (rummage sale) and an old Buick hubcap (Charley), with LED lights and a mouth from a Mrs. Potatohead. Her body is a muffler (Charley), with two headlights (REStore) and a computer fan for a belly button. Her arms are old desk lamps we got from a rummage sale. Her "skirt" is an old bell housing (Charley). She's set on an old air filter (Charley), and her tracks are made from 4x4s and rubber mats (Maureen). Total cost: $2.50!

Data (get it? Dada): His head is an old air filter (Charley), with the face of an old car heater/radio (Charley). His hat is an oil cap. His body is an old keg (Brown Distributing), and his legs are truck mufflers (Charley). His hands are clamps I found at Big Lots, and his feet are bread pans (Dollar Store). Total price: $29.00!

With the additional cost of the rope-light tree, some ornaments, the fireplace, and some robot toys for Rob-E to open, the total cost of this display was about $175! (We found the TV for free in someone's garbage on the side of the road. We asked permission and hauled it away, much to their amusement!) Also, BIG THANKS TO STEVE THE UPS GUY for helping us locate Data's keg!