Hey all!
I just completed my first saber a little over a week ago and I've already got the bug to build two more! hahaha
My first saber was almost entirely scratch built using Copper plumbing, a few MHS parts, and a bunch of electronic goodness from the MHS store. To effectively tie everything together I designed and 3d printed a number of joiners, adapters, and chassis out of ABS Plastic. After some finish work and paint, I gotta say it came out pretty nice! But more on that in a different thread... ( I might enter it in the Saber building contest and don't want to give away too much now should I decide to do that.)
Anyway... I've been lurking and reading the forums off and on for the better part of a year and finally decided to dive into the world of Saber crafting. One big motivation is the Upcoming Star Wars Celebration. I'm all lined up to go and it just wouldn't be right if I showed up without a Saber!! So, mission accomplished there, but I've also got two good friends who are going as well (My friend and his wife). I haven't seen them in a long time and I really want to surprise them with something cool out there, so I decided to build a couple of sabers to surprise them with. My plan was to scratch build the hilts and fill them with basic electronics (Cheapy Hasbro soundcards I had laying around) and give them the option of paying for a fancier soundcard, should they want to. After much searching, I eventually found the info on how to get them to run a Cree at full power, but after I started playing/testing the card a little I decided to scrap that idea. The sound was quiet and horrible at best and even running 3.7V at 500ma was enough to short out one of the boards after only a few minutes. I could go buy another cheap toy saber to use, but I think the money would be better spent on prep work for eventually installing a quality board. So, it'll be a lights only buckpuck affair for now!
So, first the relevant details and then some concept pics.
I've decided to theme the Sabers Mando style as a sort of matched set. My friend is a huge Boba Fan, and it only seemed fitting. I've decided to call the first one Sarlacc and, after you see the concept pics below, you can probably guess why. hahaha
I'm planning on using either a Green or a Red Cree (I have one of each and will give him the option of which one he wants). The hilt itself will made up almost entirely from 3D printed ABS plastic. The shrouding/panels will made up of the leftover sink tube pieces i had after building my saber. The plan is to give the saber a worn, old, and heavily used look. The way one might expect it to look after cutting their way out of the belly of a Sarlacc. hahaha
Anyway, on with the pics:
And for those of you wondering, I did manage to print this speaker cover with the Mando symbol cut through it (for the sound to come out of) and it looks great!
I didn't model every single detail. (screws, buttons, wires connectors, etc) It might look a little plain jane, but I'm thinking between the paint and weathering I plan to do, along with whatever else I might add for accenting, it should look pretty good.
So there it is for better or worse. Any comments, constructive or otherwise, let em fly. I know I'll probably be cutting it a little close on the time frame, but really, with the 3d printer doing what it does best, the only really time consuming part will be finish detailing, and the nice part about that is if I end up rushing a piece here or there and ending up with a mark or a nick, etc... It'll just help add to the overall effect of being a beat up old saber! (at least I hope... worst case scenario i'm out 25 cents worth of plastic and have to reprint a piece.)
The 3rd saber will carry on in a similar fashion, but will have slightly different features and lines to it, along with a slightly older (newer?) paint scheme, if you catch my drift.
More to come as I get all the pieces printed to my satisfaction. (4 down 6 to go!)
Later!
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