Comparisons between N.D. & A.S. Luke RotJ Hero Sabers

[TridCloudwalker]

I enjoy looking at the subtle differences between different runs of the same props. It helps you rethink and reevaluate what you thought you knew about something and look at it in new ways. I recently stripped my Anakin Starkiller Luke RotJ Hero saber for a repaint, and also received a client's Nicksdad saber to polish, assemble, and paint, and just for fun, I took some side by side comparison shots. They both used the same referances for the most part to arrive at their designs, but some interesting variations appeared.

This thread is not to say whose saber is better or more accurate. This is merely meant to show how two identical sabers made only a couple months apart from one another can have subtle variations based on interpretation of the source material. I just find it fascinating.

The A.S. will always be pictured on the left, and the N.D. on the right

Most noticably, their full lengths are off by 7mm

The largest ring is half a hair thinner on the ND and the neck is slightly longer on the AS:

Of course another easily apparent difference are the grip rings. ND went with an idealised even approach, and AS chose to duplicate the wonkiness on the screen used saber. Neither is better than the other, as it's a matter of personal taste:

There are some pretty major departures in the pommels:

The emmitter holes are different diameters. AS - 9mm, ND - 7mm:

The AS nipple is 9mm tall with a centered and threaded set scew hole, and the ND nipple is 10.5mm tall with an off center UNthreaded set screw hole:

There are even a few variations in the control box dimensions:

And for fun, here is one of my own Delrin switches from the Control Box Doodad run next to the ND switch:

 

[kalkamel]

Nice comparison! Though I wish Rylo's version is also included in the comparison, coz that's the version I have. :lol

 

[TheRealMcFly]

I love my AS but it is a beast next to the MR. Anyone know for sure how long this original prop really is?

 

[TridCloudwalker]

I don't have the MR Hero, but I do have a V2. Here's the AS next to it. Size wise, they're really not that far off.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Here is a pic of the original set next to a Luke ESB saber. As is shown here the original is longer than a graflex flash

 

[cayman shen]

Nice pic!

 

[jason1976]

interesting. I have the AS, and a JE, and some resin ones myself. The JE, and the AS are similar in size to the AS, but like with the ND, there are differences. (I may take pics later, or tomorrow.)

I think MR made the mistake of scaling theirs off of one of the resin screen used props. Do to shrinkage from casting, the movie resin props were smaller then the metal heroes.

I got a black control box switch, off of a real MR Luke hero, for a resin saber I had, that was cast off of a saber by another maker. (I forget who, but it was years, and years ago, but they where well know back then, and it was a nice kit.) Anyway's, the control box on my resin saber had two small holes were the black switch was supposed to go, and the black plastic pins on the back of the real MR switch, fight it perfectly, in size, and spacing. (weird HM?) From this, I gather my resin saber is exactly the same size as an MR, or darn close to it. And, that resin saber is way smaller, then both my AS, and JE.

I was really tempted to get one of ND's Luke sabers, but how many Luke sabers does one person need. (I just picked up two more resin ones. I'm going to make one into a V2, and the other into a Obi/Luke shard saber.) I am very glad I got one of ND's Obi ROTS sabers though. that thing is sweet.

Man, I love saber.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

ND did an amazing job on the OWK ROTS saber, and his price was unbeatable

I'm trying to talk him into doing an Anakin ROTS saber to pair it with.

Dan.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

ND did an amazing job on the OWK ROTS saber, and his price was unbeatable

I'm trying to talk him into doing an Anakin ROTS saber to pair it with.

Dan.

He'd make a killing. I ADORE the OWK RotS of his that I have. If he doesn't get to it, I certainly will at some point. But the Ki-Adi and Anakin AotC sabers come first.

 

[Jedi Reali]

Interesting comparison.

Man, I wish I had me an AS Luke Hero :love

 

[Son of Skywalker]

Thanks for the comparison. Each one is unique:cool

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Does anyone know if Stormpath ever did a Hero version? I know he did a V2 and also a Luke/Obi shared stunt (which I have and it's gorgeous!), but I can't recall if he did a hero too.

 

[jason1976]

Ok, I'm posting this just to keep the fun a rolling, but not to hijack the thread, or to show off my stuff, so if TridCloudwalker would like me to take these down, just let me know ,and I would be happy to comply.

Ok, here are some pics of my JE (always on the left) and my AS (always on the right) The Box is off of my JE because I'm going to be putting one of AS's boxes on there. (because I never liked the JE box) and the box isn't on the AS yet, because ........... I'm lazy. :lol (oh, and I painted the stem on the JE, copper, to match the paint I put on my AS. and on that note, please excuse my less then perfect paint jobs, they may not be perfect, but I'm way to cheep, and lazy to do them over again.)

The JE is longer, over all. The Je went with a more idealized look, and had a brass stem, and I believe the black parts are anodized. The screw whole in the emitter of the JE isn't as far around the nipple, as it is on other replicas. This is because it was made so that the Pommel cub with the try ring lines up with the control box exactly, versus that cube being off sinter from the box on other replicas, and the real prop.

Here is a pic of the MR Black switch, on my resin Hero Luke. (please excuse the fact that I haven't painted the strips on the board, and I haven't made a new panel for the side of the box yet) I post this just to show why I think it's the same size (or close to it) as the MR version.

And here are some pics of them together. (JE, AS, MR sized resin)

And just for fun, here they are with the tow blanks I just got a a couple days ago, and plan on making into a V2, and a Obi/Luke shard stunt.

 

[cayman shen]

Is the MR THAT undersized?

 

[TheRealMcFly]

Is the MR THAT undersized?

I wish I had a comparison shot, but the MR ROTJ was the only saber hilt I ever held and thought this feels small. Keep in mind my first replica of this saber was a giant-pommel yodashouse, but MR had the license. It must be correct, right?:unsure But hey, yet another reason to love the AS hero.:thumbsup

 

[jason1976]

Well, now that I think about it, mine could be way off from the MR in many other places, I just find it interesting that the pins on the back of there black switch perfectly match the holes in my control box. All I know for sure, is that the MR is smaller then the AS.

Oh, Oh, wait, I just remembered, I have the Blueprints for the MR saber. :lol It says 10.980 for over all length. (I don't want to post the full blueprints here, because I'm sure that would be braking some kind of copy write law. )

So actually that's almost exactly the length of the gray resin blank, in this pic. (that means my painted resin one is even smaller then the MR.)

So yess the MR is smaller, but not as much as I thought. MR usualy got it wrong. They liked to idealized stuff a lot. (round up, and down.)

 

[Son of Skywalker]

Great pics.:cool

 

[jason1976]

I'm not familiar with tow blanks. What/where are they from/used? :confused

That would be a typo. It should be Two resin blanks.

 

[lesternessman]

Does anyone know if Stormpath ever did a Hero version? I know he did a V2 and also a Luke/Obi shared stunt (which I have and it's gorgeous!), but I can't recall if he did a hero too.

He did. The first one he made, 4-5years ago, had a brass neck. The second featured the copper neck. Here are the pics I had of each. The first hero is pictured with his take on the stunt.

Stormpath's is a saber genius; Chen's titanium hero was equally cool.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Great pics, everyone!! I love seeing variations. Stormpath truly is an artist when it comes to sabers. I wish he made more. His brass necked hero looks a hair on the small side, but as usual the craftsmanship can't be beat.

Here are all the RotJ Lukes in my house right now. From left to right - Nicksdad, Anakin Starkiller, Master Replicas, and Stormpath: