News / Star Wars
Star Wars droid rescued from recycling centre
The artist behind the model of a droid from Star Wars that briefly appeared on the empty Colston plinth has pledged to sell it to raise money for charity.
The battle droid took artist Simon Francis Thomas three months to make but was removed by council workers just hours after being placed on the plinth.
Thomas had put an Apple AirTag inside the 3D-printed PLA model which enabled him to track it down to the Hartcliffe Way Recycling Centre, where he picked it up on Saturday morning and drove it back to his studio in Montpelier.
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Roger the battle droid on his way back from the tip, with his seatbelt safely fastened – photo: Simon Francis Thomas
“Bristol City Council decided it was not suitable for the plinth,” Thomas told Bristol24/7.
“I was notified by a member of the public that had travelled down to the plinth to see the sculpture that it had disappeared.
“I then tracked the model using a AirTag that I had installed in the model to a local refuse centre that I contacted and they kindly held it for me and I picked it up this morning and now it’s back in the studio.”
Thomas said that the sculpture, which he named Roger, was “a homage to Star Wars during the Star Wars celebration weekend being held in London”.
He chose to make a battle droid because he has “an affinity for the prequel trilogy”.
“I enjoy sharing my work and I also hope it was a nice sight for children and Star Wars fans alike.”
The droid was put on the empty plinth early on Friday morning – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
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