lightsabre by boris

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lightsabre

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POSTED BY: BORIS
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 00:50
SHORT URL: http://bit.ly/hJdssE
VIEWED: 7529
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Monday, March 28, 2011 12:19 AM

Does anyone know how to make a reasonable non lethal lightsabre? I have some time on my hands (while I wait for my thesis results to be finalised so I can get on with my life) and would like to do all those things I always mean to do but never get around to such as make my own lightsabre, learn to surf, go snowboarding and for once not spend most of my time with my face in the snow (which is what usually happens but its so much fun anyway and the closest I've come to flying...actually there is some flying involved before I land)
so any instructions or tips re the lightsabre would be great...even if its a high tech torch with a great looking beam.

Rose S

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Monday, March 28, 2011 1:28 AM

THESOMNAMBULIST

Here's a rather good example:

http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Build-a-Lightsaber-for-a-Fan-Film-393
05077

Oh and thumbs up on the snowboarding. I love snowboarding and you're right it can feel like you're flying. It's an awesome sport. I'm not one for speeding down the mountain though - I just like zig-zagging and doing the odd trick along the way.

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Monday, March 28, 2011 3:15 AM

WISHIMAY

Hey Rosie!
STILL waitin', huh... Gone crazy yet? I'm almost there...

If it were me, I'd go to a hardware store and and ask the help, there's always one old guy that does that kinda thing...Ya got costume stores? Bet you could take a close look at one or buy a cheapie and deck it out. Have ya done searches? Figured there'd be a dozen sites for that...

Heh, adds by google on the side has two adverts for lightsabers and one for traveling in Australia...

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Monday, March 28, 2011 3:46 AM

LWAVES

Master Replicas do a range of collectable hilts and Force FX lightsabers (that have the correct lights and sounds) but you couldn't fight with either, they are just for show.

I'd suggest trying here as well:

www.therpf.com
http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com/content.php

A search should give you plenty of information but it depends exactly what type of lightsaber you want to build and how much time and money you want to invest.
The basic versions are these:

1. A Hilt. Just the hilt, nothing else. Good for showing off or wearing as part of a costume.

2. Hilt with a plain blade. No lights but if the blade was strong enough you could fight with them and add VFX later through software. Similar to how they did it for the actual films.

3. Glowing blade. Not suitable for fighting as the blade is usually a series of LEDs that light up. They look cool though.

4. I've read stories of people building sabers that light up and can be fought with as they use a highly strengthened tube. I heard some used plasma for the blades (don't know how true this is). But you also hear horror stories of what happens when they do break. Think Two-Face meets Freddy Krueger and you get the picture.
I've also read about ones that use lasers but these are just as bad as the laser can cause blindness.

Hope this helps.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Monday, March 28, 2011 5:04 AM

STEGASAURUS

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
Master Replicas do a range of collectable hilts and Force FX lightsabers (that have the correct lights and sounds) but you couldn't fight with either, they are just for show.

Bite your tongue! I duel with all of my MR lightsabers! They actually hold up quite well, even if they are a bit on the expensive side. :D

Also, there are conversion kits via www.ultrasabers.com that help enhance the lighting in the ForceFX sabers.

There is also a site out there, www.parksabers.com they specialize in more semi-custom sabers - and the blades are detachable for wearing on your belt. Used to be that they charged $400+ for their sabers, but I believe the price has diminished. Their sabers (at least at the time) didn't have sound, they just lit up, and they are all handmade. I have to say that my saber is pretty gorram shiny and has held up quite well over the last 6 years. I think I have a picture of it on this site somewhere in one of the picture threads.

The reason I'm leaning heavily on *purchasing* a saber instead of the full on *making* of one is that the process in and of itself is VERY time consuming and quite aggrivating to say the least. You might get more milage with your money in buying one than getting the parts and making from scratch. BUT... I'm also a Dark Jedi. I don't mind picking up the pieces from the fallen rather than "completing my training by building my own." Hey, it's just who I am. :P

EDIT: I just checked and Parks Sabers prices have dropped a bit. Looks like you can get some pretty sabers at around $250.00.

-Steg

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Monday, March 28, 2011 5:18 AM

BYTEMITE

I've heard of using welding torches somehow to make the blade. No, you can't fight with them (well you could, but you'd be arrested for manslaughter), but they look cool.

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Monday, March 28, 2011 6:55 AM

LWAVES

Quote:
Originally posted by Stegasaurus:
Bite your tongue! I duel with all of my MR lightsabers! They actually hold up quite well, even if they are a bit on the expensive side. :D

Really??
I'm not doubting a fellow Browncoat but footage I'd seen and reports I'd read/heard showed that they broke relatively easily or the strikes were pretty weak and unrealistic. Of course this depends on exactly how hard you are striking at each other.

Quote:

The reason I'm leaning heavily on *purchasing* a saber instead of the full on *making* of one is that the process in and of itself is VERY time consuming and quite aggrivating to say the least.

Completely agree with this. Especially if you don't have the metalworking equipment to hand. Even if it's a case of getting all the bits and then just putting them together.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Monday, March 28, 2011 7:09 AM

STEGASAURUS

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
Quote:
Originally posted by Stegasaurus:
Bite your tongue! I duel with all of my MR lightsabers! They actually hold up quite well, even if they are a bit on the expensive side. :D

Really??
I'm not doubting a fellow Browncoat but footage I'd seen and reports I'd read/heard showed that they broke relatively easily or the strikes were pretty weak and unrealistic. Of course this depends on exactly how hard you are striking at each other.

Many of the earlier ForceFX sabers were fragile enough to break with one whack. Also, alot of the earlier handmade sabers were made with fluorescent lights, making them impossible to use for dueling without potentially causing harm to yourself or others. Today's ForceFX sabers are made with much heavier blade stock, and allow for quite a bit of abuse. Last year during our BBQ, I let some of the kids play with my sabers in the back yard. I have 3 ForceFX sabers - Vader's, Anakin's and the ForceFX "Construction Set" where you can build your own. Those kids beat the everlivin crap out of each other with no damage (except some light scuffing on the blades). Then one of the kids let her father hold the Anakin saber and within 30 seconds he had broken off a knob (which I fixed with superglue). Other than that, they operate quite nicely and still have very bright blades.

Now, if you get the blades replaced with custome blades from Ultra Sabers, I don't think they are as durable, because you lose a little of the saber's integrity with how the new, brighter blades are attached.

And the Parks Sabers? Not that anyone would want to, but you could literally kill a horse with those things. They are amazingly sturdy.

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
Quote:

The reason I'm leaning heavily on *purchasing* a saber instead of the full on *making* of one is that the process in and of itself is VERY time consuming and quite aggrivating to say the least.

Completely agree with this. Especially if you don't have the metalworking equipment to hand. Even if it's a case of getting all the bits and then just putting them together.

I tried. I really did. But eventually, time and sanity forced me to buy instead of build.

-Steg

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Monday, March 28, 2011 7:32 AM

FREMDFIRMA

Okay smart people, help me out on something a wee bit trickier than a lightsabre then...

Where might I get my hands on a copy of Raising Heart without paying downright extortion for a cheap hunk of flimsy plastic ?
http://nanoha.wikia.com/wiki/Raising_Heart

Bear in mind that the lady who wants it might very well hit someone with it, as the middle management of the corporation she works for seems to have the notion she's an indentured servant...
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BewareTheNiceOnes

Any ideas ?

-Frem

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Monday, March 28, 2011 7:52 AM

STEGASAURUS

Ack. I did a cursory search, and I'm not familiar with that series, let alone the weapons it offers. What's also confusing is that there appears to be an "upgraded" version of that particular weapon. Given the pictures I found, I couldn't begin to tell you how to make it, let alone find any companies that offer replicas.

Sorry, Frem. :(

-Steg

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Monday, March 28, 2011 8:53 AM

STEGASAURUS

By the way, I didn't mean my "Bite your tongue" comment to come across as combative. I was trying to jokingly contradict your statement. I have no doubt that there have been instances where the mentioned manufacturer's sabers have been overstressed and broken.

-Steg

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Monday, March 28, 2011 11:07 AM

LWAVES

Quote:
Originally posted by Stegasaurus:
By the way, I didn't mean my "Bite your tongue" comment to come across as combative. I was trying to jokingly contradict your statement.

That's the way I took it. The smiley at the end of the sentence always helps to tell if someone's being serious or not.
But we could always schedule a round of Force FX lightsabers at dawn if you want?

As to the breaking of lightsabers conversation then I was referring to the early Force FX models. I have a second run (I think) Anakin saber that had better lights and sounds but still had the fragile tube on the blade. It was the only Force FX saber I was really interested in as I prefer to collect 1:1 replica hilts (amongst many other props) so I haven't followed up on the improvements that they've made regarding strength since then. It sounds like the newer ones seem pretty decent.
I almost bought one from Parks Sabers many years ago but I didn't really have the money. They are tough buggers and look great as well.

I did lose my sanity trying to make Vader's ANH lightsaber hilt. I got most of the bits and started working on it but, as you say, it was taking forever and I had trouble locating the last couple of pieces. Then I went to a collectors show and saw the MR version of Vader's hilt so I bought that and gave up on my model. It sits as part of a set of all three A New Hope saber hilts along with Luke's and a custom made Ben Kenobi complete with sand and weathering from all the years spent on Tatooine. It looks fantastic for a custom job.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Monday, March 28, 2011 11:20 AM

LWAVES

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:

Okay smart people, help me out on something a wee bit trickier than a lightsabre then...

Where might I get my hands on a copy of Raising Heart without paying downright extortion for a cheap hunk of flimsy plastic ?
http://nanoha.wikia.com/wiki/Raising_Heart

Any ideas ?

-Frem

Try this?

http://www.dhgate.com/magical-girl-lyrical-nanoha-raising-heart/p-ff80
80812bf28baf012bf6a35f3f7886.html

Don't know how that fits into any price range or that it's made of PVC but it's the only one I could find.
Also it doesn't look exactly like the Wiki pic but from the description it seems to have different modes and as I don't know this anime then I don't know how the modes affect it's appearance.

Would be curious to know what you think of it?

EDIT:

Curiousity got the better of me and on a whim I tried the US and UK Ebay. Found this more accurate looking replica although the price is even steeper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Magical-Girl-Lyrical-Nanoha-Magic-Wand-Raising-Hea
rt-/220550714224?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3359d8d370

If they are no good then your best bet is to find someone that can work in wood and metal (or just one might be good enough), give them as many pictures of it as you can find and have them make it for you. May cost just as much I'm afraid unless they are your friends/family.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Monday, March 28, 2011 12:51 PM

STEGASAURUS

The first one you linked (from what I gathered) was the original, and the second on Ebay was the "upgraded" version. Like I said before, I have nooooooo idea about this series, so I'm just as lost. However, you DID find stuff for sale, whereas I did not. Therefore, I bow to your awesome intertubeness.

-Steg

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Monday, March 28, 2011 2:29 PM

DREAMTROVE

Flashlight + fog
Expandable collapsing plastic cups
Inflatable tube

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Monday, March 28, 2011 4:54 PM

FREMDFIRMA

Yeah, those are the usual scams, alas - not only is the "shipping" pyschotic, you won't get the product either, about 98% of the chinese-based stuff is just a front for credit scammers and whatnot, plus all of the first-in-line search results (achived via combination of exploits and bribery) are all actually the same cartel of scammers.

Believe me, I deal with anime distributors, and if you thinking finding one of them who's trustworthy and reliable is hard, it's far worse with cosplay gear - I'm sure you've enough horror stories over american fangear.

Anyhow, doesn't matter too much which version it is, or how accurate the copy, the lady in question will go squee just at having one - the shaft would be easy enough to do from PVC, as would the endcap, it's the head of the freakin thing which'd be the difficult part, thanks for the effort though.

Oh, and just to share the in-joke with you, Nanoha might look rather harmless, but, erm...

Beware the nice ones, indeed!

-F

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:50 AM

LWAVES

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Yeah, those are the usual scams, alas - not only is the "shipping" pyschotic, you won't get the product either, about 98% of the chinese-based stuff is just a front for credit scammers and whatnot, plus all of the first-in-line search results (achived via combination of exploits and bribery) are all actually the same cartel of scammers.

Believe me, I deal with anime distributors, and if you thinking finding one of them who's trustworthy and reliable is hard, it's far worse with cosplay gear - I'm sure you've enough horror stories over american fangear.

I've dealt with prop collectors quite a bit, especially in the past, and have been ripped off a couple of times so I know what you refer to. Once was for Deckards pistol from Blade Runner. Folks who had the same model said it was fantastic and well worth the price. He replied to all my questions promptly, his website looked the business and was regularly updated so he appeared to put some work in. I paid for it and then of course communication stopped. No reply to any e-mails and eventually it led me to search a prop forum where I read the horror stories of what others had gone through. By that stage it was too late to do anything about getting my money back, especially as I was in a different country. The story continues but eventually I gave up and took the loss.
Learnt many lessons about researching people/items first and I still use that prop forum as there are so many fakes, recasters and cheapo jobs out there.

Quote:

Anyhow, doesn't matter too much which version it is, or how accurate the copy, the lady in question will go squee just at having one - the shaft would be easy enough to do from PVC, as would the endcap, it's the head of the freakin thing which'd be the difficult part, thanks for the effort though.

I was actually thinking of a wooden brush handle (or similar) for the shaft as it would add some weight and strength to the piece.
I could also proably knock up a quick blueprint of the headpeice if you want, with some rough sizes on it for the major parts.

Let me know.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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