Jetsi
09-26-2007, 01:04 PM
I have my MHS saber sitting on hold, figuring I wanted to try this first. It could (and did) serve as a learning experience on what to do and what not to do.
It started out as a 2002 MR Luke ROTJ EL saber, which didn't work. The conversion has it now running off of 4 AA NIMH batteries with a recharge port, a Corbin battle blade, and a green Lux 3 running off of a Hasbro card.
Here is what I had to start with. Notice the condition is far from pristine. The only thing I have done here is gutted the saber and painted over the "copper" with flat black.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07417.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07418.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07419.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07420.jpg
Since I have never worked with aluminum before, I wanted to get a feel for drilling into it, and figured some accent work along with the screws to hold the blade and holder in place would be a good task.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07421.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07422.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07423.jpg
Everything was quite a tight fit into the hilt, and it is slightly larger than a MHS one, if I am not mistaken. Something to keep in mind.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07425.jpg
Everything but the switch installed. You will notice on the closeup that this board has the switch connected to it directly, instead of with wires. This caused some trouble, but I think I have it working.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07427.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07426.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07428.jpg
Here it is with the switch cover in place. Just a piece of sink tube that has been cut lengthwise and had the corners rounded. I then cut a holt into it for the switch to go through, and fastened the switch with a few homemade cuts on the back side and some wire, along with a screw to go between the switch and sinkpipe. Doesn't work the greatest, but it is accomplishing the task for now.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07429.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07430.jpg
Some shots of the saber illumated.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07434.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07435.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07436.jpg
And an example of the sound working as it should:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/th_MOV07433.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=MOV07433.flv)
I must admit, I am a little disappointed. The blade isn't near as bright as I thought it would be, at least when I have seen other peoples pics and videos. Here are a comparison shot of this one and a 2005(?) MR Luke ROTJ LED side by side:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07437.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07438.jpg
I plan on dressing up the hilt some more, with some rails to help protect the switch from accidental activation, and I also plan on redoing the switch entirely when I can find something suitable.
Is this as bright as they get (for a Lux 3), or am I expecting too much? The batteries are fresh and putting out 5.1 volts, as far as I can tell the solders are good and solid, and it has the 5 degree lens on it. I like the way it looks in the dark, but I really expected to see it better in daylight as well. Any help or input would be appreciated.
It started out as a 2002 MR Luke ROTJ EL saber, which didn't work. The conversion has it now running off of 4 AA NIMH batteries with a recharge port, a Corbin battle blade, and a green Lux 3 running off of a Hasbro card.
Here is what I had to start with. Notice the condition is far from pristine. The only thing I have done here is gutted the saber and painted over the "copper" with flat black.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07417.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07418.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07419.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07420.jpg
Since I have never worked with aluminum before, I wanted to get a feel for drilling into it, and figured some accent work along with the screws to hold the blade and holder in place would be a good task.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07421.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07422.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07423.jpg
Everything was quite a tight fit into the hilt, and it is slightly larger than a MHS one, if I am not mistaken. Something to keep in mind.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07425.jpg
Everything but the switch installed. You will notice on the closeup that this board has the switch connected to it directly, instead of with wires. This caused some trouble, but I think I have it working.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07427.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07426.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07428.jpg
Here it is with the switch cover in place. Just a piece of sink tube that has been cut lengthwise and had the corners rounded. I then cut a holt into it for the switch to go through, and fastened the switch with a few homemade cuts on the back side and some wire, along with a screw to go between the switch and sinkpipe. Doesn't work the greatest, but it is accomplishing the task for now.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07429.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07430.jpg
Some shots of the saber illumated.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07434.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07435.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07436.jpg
And an example of the sound working as it should:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/th_MOV07433.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=MOV07433.flv)
I must admit, I am a little disappointed. The blade isn't near as bright as I thought it would be, at least when I have seen other peoples pics and videos. Here are a comparison shot of this one and a 2005(?) MR Luke ROTJ LED side by side:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07437.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/jetsi/MR%20Luke%20ROTJ%20Conversion/DSC07438.jpg
I plan on dressing up the hilt some more, with some rails to help protect the switch from accidental activation, and I also plan on redoing the switch entirely when I can find something suitable.
Is this as bright as they get (for a Lux 3), or am I expecting too much? The batteries are fresh and putting out 5.1 volts, as far as I can tell the solders are good and solid, and it has the 5 degree lens on it. I like the way it looks in the dark, but I really expected to see it better in daylight as well. Any help or input would be appreciated.