Designing a new saber

[Just A Jedi]

Hi all,
I'm planning a MHS saber strongly influenced by the Obi-Wan Apprentice saber. My hope is to have several of the MHS pieces customized by TCSS, to get a body shroud cut that goes over the ribbed section and powder coating. The shroud will butt up to the thick extension behind the blade holder and be locked in place by one of the glass eyes and the switch.

Here are the basic parts:
apprentice_saber_base.jpg

Here is where I hope to end up:
apprentice_saber_final.jpg

Here are my first thoughts at the internals.
apprentice_saber_final_internals.jpg

Does anyone know if grinding down a part of the shroud (or cutting a wide groove in it) would weaken it too much? My layout has that thinner (black colored) section flush against the thick extension, so I don't think it would be under stress. I've toyed with just doing a single switch, with a bezel and no box, and moving the recharge port to the end of the pommel. I'm concerned that whether I use box 9 or a bezel a standard switch won't be long enough, and there aren't many options for the long 16mm switches.

Feel free to make suggestions. I'd like to get the pieces sometime soon, but the sound may have to wait. Thanks!