ANH Obi Wan Saber Project

[PHArchivist]

Have had random, mixed media Obi Wan parts for years.

Time to do something with these.

Suggestions?

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Is that one of Tom Buckley's mini clamps?

 

[Darth Lars]

The metal handwheel looks like one of Romans' older ones. It is lacking a chromed washer that is supposed to go in-between it and the "gear". If I were you, I would look for that washer if I wasn't sure I didn't have it.

The more yellowed resin parts look like casts of an Icons Obi-Wan ANH. When it was made, it was years before the handwheel, "gear" (booster) and emitter (Derwent balance pipe) were discovered. Looks like a clean cast though. The lengthwise grooves in the Icons are probably more accurate to the variation used for the real prop than the white grenade cast, despite being a replica.

 

[PHArchivist]

Is that one of Tom Buckley's mini clamps?

NO idea...

But that "crease" at the bottom (that it is not true round) may render it un-usable...

 

[PHArchivist]

The metal handwheel looks like one of Romans' older ones. It is lacking a chromed washer that is supposed to go in-between it and the "gear". If I were you, I would look for that washer if I wasn't sure I didn't have it.

The more yellowed resin parts look like casts of an Icons Obi-Wan ANH. When it was made, it was years before the handwheel, "gear" (booster) and emitter (Derwent balance pipe) were discovered. Looks like a clean cast though. The lengthwise grooves in the Icons are probably more accurate to the variation used for the real prop than the white grenade cast, despite being a replica.

THAT is the sort of insight I was hoping for on this thread.

Have had these parts for over ten years, and have NO idea of the heritage of each item.

I like that the vane of the white cast is open and not solid.

Will probably either use threaded rod or JB Weld to affix the chromed handwheel. Adding a washer seems easy (?).... Only have the one emitter, and I'm not certain if I can use the clamp, or how, since it is mildly torqued and missing parts.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

It looks like this:

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

I think the full saber is a cast of a Darth Hez, not an ICONS.

 

[thd9791]

This is great to see these older parts! I used to have one of those white grenade casts, where did they come from? NeoRutty drilled one out for me because the neck was crooked

 

[Tan Djarka]

Okay, this is what I would do... I'd carefully remove the booster from the rest of the large yellow resin assembly and drill it for a 3/8" threaded rod. The rest of it is probably unsalvagable. I'd also clean up and drill out white grenade. Fabricate a middle bit for under the clamp with 1.5" PVC pipe, and buy an old emitter and replacement bars and lever for the clamp. Over time, you can replace the resin and inaccurate parts with more accurate machined parts, and in a while you'll have an Obi ANH you can proudly display.

 

[OdiWan72]

I think the full saber is a cast of a Darth Hez, not an ICONS.

Most definitely!

A DH was my first Obi saber and I won´t forget its details.
Anyway...the metal handwheel is something I can´t identify

 

[PHArchivist]

Okay, this is what I would do... I'd carefully remove the booster from the rest of the large yellow resin assembly and drill it for a 3/8" threaded rod. The rest of it is probably unsalvagable. I'd also clean up and drill out white grenade. Fabricate a middle bit for under the clamp with 1.5" PVC pipe, and buy an old emitter and replacement bars and lever for the clamp. Over time, you can replace the resin and inaccurate parts with more accurate machined parts, and in a while you'll have an Obi ANH you can proudly display.

I like those ideas... Roughly / mostly what I had in mind. Especially threaded rod and adding a core for the clamp.

Remind this knucklehead what the booster is. I understand the saber as:
--Emitter
--Vane
--Grenade
--Clamp
--Gear
--Handwheel pommel

 

[scarf man]

Gear = booster.

 

[PHArchivist]

Gear = booster.

10-4 thanks

 

[thd9791]

3/8 16 to 1/4 20 coupling nuts exist too! If the resin neck is too delicate to drill out 3/8, I would throw one of those in there with some resin or glue and you can reduce your support as needed.

 

[PHArchivist]

One concern I have is that the Graflex clamp has been tweaked into a more oval shape.

Not sure how to really work around this...

 

[thd9791]

Hmm, if you're removing the tabs, you could wrap it around some 1.5" pipe, tighten a nut through the clamp bars to secure it, and use a rubber mallet to softly try re shaping it

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

I think it might be too small. If I'm right, I think that is one of Tom Buckley's prototype clamps that were too small to fit a 1.5" graflex

 

[PHArchivist]

I think it might be too small. If I'm right, I think that is one of Tom Buckley's prototype clamps that were too small to fit a 1.5" graflex

Hmmmm... That sucks if that's the case.

Anyone of an extra emitter and booster / gear resin cast? I almost have parts for two sabers.

 

[PHArchivist]

I think the Graflex clamp I have is in fact too large...

 

[PHArchivist]

You can see that if the clamp is pulled tight enough to match the circumference of the grenade, the protrusions (not sure what we call them) will not be parallel.