Goodman's Luke ROTJ Conversion (MR sound w/ Seoul P4)
Since I used a few parts I bought from TCSS, I thought this would have value here on the forums:
Everyone knows how ugly the fat MR FX neck is on the Luke ROTJ, so a while back I commissioned a slimmer, more accurate neck be machined by someone who shall not be named. The problem is, the neck wasn't threaded to reattach to the rest of the saber, and now it was too narrow to accept (without modification) a light source, so the saber just sat.
Here is a quick build up:
To me, the most important thing in building a saber is the planning phase. So, I laid out what I had to work with. With a little creativity I was able to integrate the new neck without having to remove the soundboard. Initially, Kit Fisto said to remove the board if it was a hassle, but I really wanted to keep it in there for him as a surprise:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_6df3cfd7.jpg
As you can see, I needed to cut down the stock sled to accept the neck insert. Also, I needed to bore out in ID of the neck so the protruding soundboard would fit into it firmly with the insulation (not shown) for proper gesture recognition, and chop down the heatsink. I also needed to drill and tap the neck insert so it would be secure. The set screw there provides back pressure against the stock battery pack’s springs. The set screw at the front of the neck holds a steel collet, which is positioned to hold the lens, and lens holder tightly together, much like the MHS blade holders are designed to do.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_b1fcd28b.jpg
After all that, I checked the fit and alignment again:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_dbe8788f.jpg
Notice how the impact sensors are suspended upwards, so they are firmly in place but don’t touch the board or the neck insert/wall.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_59c05f53.jpg
Then assembled it together:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_ac8a8f84.jpg
Then voila, it’s finished! I used a Seoul P4 Green which, after seeing one Darth Tyranus sent me, is my new favorite green. Great brightness, close to a Lux V, but with MRboard compatible power requirements.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_d122f67f.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_175a5d7a.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_ca9b6c9b.jpg
And here it is next to the other sabers on my current workbench:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...h_a439f874.jpg
Any thoughts, questions, critiques, let me know!
