SPECTRE - a CFv5 Saber

[cannibal869]

Howdy Saberland!!!

(wow it feels really good to be able to say that finally after keeping this build in the wings for so long ;) )

Well, this was originally supposed to be my entry into the TCSS Saberbuilding Contest... but I finished this one about a month before the deadline for the contest, and somehow the Dark Side decided to come out and take over in the form of my actual contest entry. Most of you guys already know which saber I built for the contest so I'll just leave it at that....I'll post up the build log for my contest saber tomorrow.

This is my first CF saber and after making this one, I can finally understand why the CF is so awesome. The features, ease of use, customization options - everything really speaks to the mindblowing quality of Erv's work and dedication.

This saber was constructed to be an homage to Mace Windu's saber and also to the works of Vader's Vault, so VV - Cheers! All I have to say is that the consistent quality and artistry that is exhibited by many of the smiths here has really elevated the hobby and I think inspired all of us here.
And for that, I sincerely thank you all.

A special shout-out goes to Slothfurnace - for I think the phrases "spring loaded" and "lightsaber" probably would not have come together in the same sentence without him.

Onto the build!


SPECS:
Crystal Focus v5
(Sountfonts: Novastar, Ancient Saber, Blackstar, G-Busters, Afterburn, Phoenix Pyre)
(iSaber tracks: Imperial March, Duel of the Fates, Battle without Honor or Humanity)
CREE RGBW (Main blade R+B with G+W FoC)
2 Li-Ion 14500 with in-hilt recharge port
Custom spring loaded crystal chamber choke cover
Custom telescoping swing mounted premium speaker with custom motor stator cover (to allow for easy access to the CF MicroSD card)
Custom blade plug
Custom kill key
3mm accent LEDs (4 in hilt – blue, green, amber, and cyan, 1 in speaker stator cover - white)
5mm purple crystal chamber accent LED and 2 purple in-hilt accent LEDs for sideglow effect underneath rear shroud
Swarovski cushion cut copper 12mm crystal in pommel
Clear quartz double terminated polished crystal in the crystal chamber
Momentary activation and accessory switches
Powder coating colors: black starlight, black gold glimmer, gold trans

GLAMS!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/Spectre2.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/Spectre1.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/Choke2.gif
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/Spectre3.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/Pommel.gif


And selected in-build pics:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectretemplate.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2817%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2831%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2834%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2828%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2830%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2826%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2827%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2822%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2810%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%289%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%287%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectrebuild%20%2815%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectreplug.jpg

And video:
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac29/cannibal869/Lightsabers/th_spectremov.jpg (http://s882.photobucket.com/albums/ac29/cannibal869/Lightsabers/?action=view&current=spectremov.mp4)

Hope you guys enjoy!
-C


EDIT1:

All the aluminum parts are from the store - just some of it gets modified. For instance the CC "shroud" is actually the "narrow" part of the MHS 1.25" sink tube adapter
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Assets/ProductImages/Picture_162.jpg
that got cut off. Then I hand filed in the grooves around the circumference of the "ring". Then i cut the ring in half and dremeled in the cutout for the "button" and the latching edges on the inside of the shroud. I JB welded a few watch band spring bar pins to the edges of the "shroud" after sliding the compression spring on there. I drilled tiny depressions into the choke for the pins to sit in. Man, I hope that all made sense... :013:

As for the speaker cover, it's actually made from the MHS choke style 2
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Assets/ProductImages/175_7526.jpg
Just have to cut it off and modify it slightly, so that the outer diameter is the same as the TCSS premium speaker holder.

One of these days I'd really like to get a real lathe and/or mill, but in the meantime I'll have to make due with my dremel and hand drill :dft001:

There were also some general comments elsewhere about the shroudwork, so I decided to take them off and "clean them up" so to speak.

Here are pics:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectreshroud.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectreshroud%20%281%29.JPG

I actually didn't do very much other than buff up the edges and smooth them out *very* slightly. Looking back at the pics, I think some of the irregularity was from an optical illusion of sorts - since when I was smoothing out the edges, I noticed that some of the edges had specks of black PC whereas other areas didn't. Maybe that was part of it?

Anyway, yes the edges are bare brass now. I kinda like it since I think it will help accent a bit the "gold" color scheme... in a kind of quasi-Tron-ish sort of way.

So here are some reassembled updated pics... hope these look a bit better now

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectreredo%20%281%29.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectreredo.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29075063/spectreredo%20%282%29.JPG

Enjoy!
-C

[Tarrell]

Wow shame it was,'t in the contest,because its very nice work.
"Spring....loaded" thats a great idea.

[stegasp]

Wow... this saber is just gorgeous! I love the shroud work & the spring-loaded crystal chamber reveal is really innovative!

[Knighthammer]

Outstanding job! The amount of detail is amazing. I love the sping loaded reveal, the teliscoping rod in the back...just too much to like!

[Darth Midian]

This is a beautiful saber. How did you attach the spring loaded elements? The shade of purple you have great.

[ARKM]

Awesome saber. Really diggin' the sping-loaded crystal chamber reveal.

[cannibal869]

Thanks everybody for the comments! I really love the way this saber came out!


This is a beautiful saber. How did you attach the spring loaded elements? The shade of purple you have great.

DM - I used the watch spring pins - take a look at the 3rd and 5th build pics to kind of get an idea of how I fit them in there.

[bk_renesis]

Just wow! You have pulled off some amazing things with this saber with only a dremel, a drill and some hand tools. Wow again.

[JRD1]

I like this a lot, it has very clean lines. What was the turbine from?

[cannibal869]

I like this a lot, it has very clean lines. What was the turbine from?

thanks! The blade plug gear is from a RC car gear and the piece in the pommel is from the motor of a black and decker RTX that died.

[cannibal869]

DOUBLE POST!!!
LOL sorry I just realized something - the part that I used for the CC shroud actually came from the new 1.25" OD Blade holder
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Assets/ProductImages/125blank.jpg

not the 1.25" sink tube adapter as I originally thought - the sink tube adapter turned out to be a smidge too narrow. Sorry 'bout that...
-C

[Nichos Seastrider]

Beautiful

[Vlad Doon]

wonderful and innovating saber...