Founded in 1999 by Dave Everett, the R2-D2 Builders Club has continually striven to develop an accurate resource for reproducing the lovable Star Wars astromech droid designated R2-D2. Current membership stands at over 7,100 and continues to grow with members from all over the world.
The official club logo was adopted by the Lucasfilm R2-D2 Unit for their crew gear during the filming of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones in Australia. An example can be seen in this crew cap.
Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples, two English members of the club, were contracted by Lucasfilm Ltd. to provide and oversee the R2-D2 model for Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. In the summer of 2013, they met Lucasfilm Chair Kathleen Kennedy at Celebration Europe II and jokingly told her that they would be available for the film. Nevertheless, Kennedy recommended them to Executive Producer Jason McGatlin, who contacted Towersey and Steeples to offer them the job.