I found a NEW Bioloid Comprehensive Kit on Ebay, used this thing that seemed like a scam, having to do with Microsoft sponsoring purchases on Ebay of electronics, and got 25% off of the kit (What a steal!).
I had some extra cash left over to buy some CrustCrawler SSB aluminum AX-12+ brackets, and now I’m working with 18 DOF, aluminum+plastic construction and ordered the remote control.
Thanks anyway guys.
just curious but why the scout or 209? the BRAT is literally half the cost in servos and brackets, is much easier to write sequences for, and teaches the same basic principles of gait and manipulating CG. you can also get away with HS-475 servos on the BRAT provided you don’t try to load it up with lots of battery and modules and additional dof. possibly one of the most flexible economy combinations is simply a 6V battery, ssc-32, and bluetooth serial adapter module that communicates with a bluetooth enabled laptop or workstation. the ssc-32 has (4) analog inputs which can be polled by software and allows an inexpensive means to add analog sensors like the gp2d12 ir distance sensor or force sensitive resistors with minimal amounts of additional wiring or electronics. I am just trying to point out that while the BRAT may not look as cool as the scout or 209 it is certainly flexible, cost effective, and perhaps equally as important is that it is made from SES brackets that can be used to expand and make a scout / 209 when the next years budget is on the table… if you find it is even necessary to teach what it is you want to get across to your students. 
