Dwayne's Custom Saber

[Sidd]

This saber was a fun build for me for a couple reasons. First of all its a commissioned saber so I had a carrot on a stick urging me to finish. Second the design was submitted to me to build so I did not have to both with any of that artistic crap for once :cool:. And lastly this is the first painted saber I have tried and I really like the way it came out.

I receive a PM on one of the Airsoft forums I am part of in response to an ad I placed wanting to trade a custom saber for an Airsoft gun. The PM was from Dwayne of Dee's Custom Airsoft. after a few emails back and forth Dwayne came up with this design and trade deal was worked out.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/th_Sithblade.png (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/Sithblade.png)

For the black I decided instead of powder coating I opted for spray paint enamel which was baked in the oven at 250 degrees for 4 hours.

The specs of the saber are:
MHS hilt
Seoul P4 Red
4 AAA battery pack
guarded switch
Hasbro Econo sound
TCSS Heavy Dueling blade custom sanded with Poly P wrap
plastic Covertec knob
Pics:
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/th_DSC01142.jpg (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/DSC01142.jpg) http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/th_DSC01146.jpg (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/DSC01146.jpg) http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/th_DSC01150.jpg (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/DSC01150.jpg)
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/th_DSC01148.jpg (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/DSC01148.jpg) http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/th_DSC01149.jpg (http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/snipersidd/Sidds%20Saber%20Customs/Customer%20Builds/Dwaynes%20Saber/DSC01149.jpg)

What do you guys think?

[mongo]

Me likes --very pretty

[Shadar Al'Niende]

wow... that is one of my favorite sith hilts i have ever seen... Great Job on the enamel ;)













and i don't usually like sith hilts

[Noyl Wendor]

Looks good. I do like it. Good work.

[Borax]

nice saber. its a simple elegant design. I do think the blade screw stands up a little to tall, but still very nice :)

[Benevon]

I do think the blade screw stands up a little to tall, but still very nice :)

That should be easily fixed by cutting a little off the screw itself so it sits more flush when the blade is in.

[Sidd]

I keep the retention screws a bit high on purpose. the new owner can trim it if he wants.

I like to be able to tighten the blade is a lot for dueling

[Tepp Audama]

Thanks Sidd, I am looking forward to getting this and probably starting on a Jedi one in the near future! For the rest of you, I am Dwayne.
A question about sparing with these; how careful do I have to be of the blades? The ones I made for myself in the past had no electronics or lights and used 1" thick acrylic blades, so I am new to how "gentle" I may need to be with these.

[Sidd]

to give you an idea of how "gentle" I am Dwayne.

I have used my personal saber which is set up very similarly to yours as the bat in a whiffle ball game, and it has been through some heavy dueling as well.

[Tepp Audama]

Very cool, I am really looking forward to getting it here. I have been reading the build tutorials and plan on building a saber myself in the near future, probably on a fairly tight budget but it will be a good starting point for learning this myself.
I am noticing a lot of similarities to the blaster building I have started doing, so I am hoping that the knowledge with crossover regularly.
My first blaster build, need to do the body fill and primer/paint on it;
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/Sci-fiAirsoft/th_766a6865.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/Sci-fiAirsoft/?action=view&current=766a6865.jpg)
And my first sabers, solid 6061 aluminum hilts (one piece) and 1" thick acrylic blades;
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/Sci-fiAirsoft/th_79d9717f.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/Sci-fiAirsoft/?action=view&current=79d9717f.jpg)

[Sidd]

A lot of your machining and lathing knowledge will cross over.

and if you have any questions just ask me

[Tepp Audama]

Just finished the belt it will hang from too;
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/Sci-fiAirsoft/501st%20and%20Rebel%20Legion/th_35cc94a3.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/Sci-fiAirsoft/501st%20and%20Rebel%20Legion/?action=view&current=35cc94a3.jpg)

[Sidd]

very nice dude

you make the belt yourself?

[Tepp Audama]

Yep, took me 2 nights and probably a bit more then it would have been to buy a generic one, but I wanted something to help build a "signature" for my generic Dark Jedi. Working on pouches and arm braces now that match it.

[Jedi-Loreen]

Not bad for a first belt, but I have a few critiques.

Those keepers on either side of the buckle look out of place because they don't match.

Did you dye those straps yourself? Or did you buy pre-dyed straps? If you dyed them yourself, did you put any finish over the dye? They look real dull.

[Tepp Audama]

I dyed them myself, and left them dull to go with the pouches I am working on, since the entire set-up will be distressed when I am done to make it look worn. I am intending this to go with a "dirty" look for a sith I am working on. I guess my view is different then others, coming from a long career of wearing and uniforms and tactical gear; things that are parade pretty are seldom combat ready.
I intend to add more black to it as I go, with keepers for the slim belt being put around the thick belt and held into place by the Sam Brown studs. The buckle covering in the back is actually black as well, and the pouches I am making are two tone with ox blood sides and black flaps with chrome snaps.
No offense taken or meant.