Lightsaber advice.

[harrisonp]

If you’ve got the budget and really want a bulletproof saber install I would look into some of these guys who do it as a service. I recently built my first saber from scratch with parts from TCSS and a sink tube, and while the pride in the object is strong it definitely came along with a lot of hair pulling and wasted money/effort.

if the build is half the fun for you though then have at it, there are tons of resources for making your own!

 

[xl97]

Old Builder: (requires flash)

The Custom Saber Shop Forums - MHS Builder

The Custom Saber Shop Forums

forums.thecustomsabershop.com

New 3D Builder: (not as robust, better 3D parts/view)

Saberbuilder

forums.thecustomsabershop.com

 

[Joek3rr]

Look what came in the mail today

 

[benhs1898]

If you’ve got the budget and really want a bulletproof saber install I would look into some of these guys who do it as a service. I recently built my first saber from scratch with parts from TCSS and a sink tube, and while the pride in the object is strong it definitely came along with a lot of hair pulling and wasted money/effort.

if the build is half the fun for you though then have at it, there are tons of resources for making your own!

I couldn’t agree more about self-installing. There is a STEEP learning curve, but you save a ton of money. Now, I could not rightfully sell anything I installed, but I got the job done. Even after completely frying a cf9 I saved money doing it myself.

 

[harrisonp]

Frying a board must be a rite of passage because I killed and NBv4 building mine!

 

[benhs1898]

Frying a board must be a rite of passage because I killed and NBv4 building mine!

It's what I get for trying to swap a board out of one saber to hastily start on a new one.

 

[harrisonp]

I crushed mine by over-tightening a bolt

 

[Joek3rr]

So far I've been lucky, just fried resistors and a speaker.

 

[vader45]

And this is why I haven't built my own saber yet! stuff like this scares me away.

 

[Verity Cosplay]

And this is why I haven't built my own saber yet! stuff like this scares me away.

it's not THAT bad as long as you are patient and are careful. Don't let nerves scare you away from what is a rewarding experience.

 

[OddballFett]

it's not THAT bad as long as you are patient and are careful. Don't let nerves scare you away from what is a rewarding experience.

Your skills are complete!

 

[H0llyw00d]

Look what came in the mail today
View attachment 1269775

Nice! Just spent a day researching Smoothswing capable boards and this is definitely the one for me. I ordered one since in my experience boards have a tendency to sell out. Since I'm doing a Korbanth K4 I have the option of Neopixel (1") or in-hilt LED (7/8" or 1") so the timeliness is quite serendipitous... Now to figure out how to cram the Verso board (slightly larger than the NBv4) into a Goth Master Chassis... it's gonna require some precision alteration but I'm hoping it can be done... this is gonna be fun...

 

[Verity Cosplay]

Nice! Just spent a day researching Smoothswing capable boards and this is definitely the one for me. I ordered one since in my experience boards have a tendency to sell out. Since I'm doing a Korbanth K4 I have the option of Neopixel (1") or in-hilt LED (7/8" or 1") so the timeliness is quite serendipitous... Now to figure out how to cram the Verso board (slightly larger than the NBv4) into a Goth Master Chassis... it's gonna require some precision alteration but I'm hoping it can be done... this is gonna be fun...

I got a full Teensysaber v3 sandwich into my Goth MK1 chassis (though i could not use a Rudy chamber)... so it should be totally possible.

 

[Joek3rr]

Nice! Just spent a day researching Smoothswing capable boards and this is definitely the one for me. I ordered one since in my experience boards have a tendency to sell out. Since I'm doing a Korbanth K4 I have the option of Neopixel (1") or in-hilt LED (7/8" or 1") so the timeliness is quite serendipitous... Now to figure out how to cram the Verso board (slightly larger than the NBv4) into a Goth Master Chassis... it's gonna require some precision alteration but I'm hoping it can be done... this is gonna be fun...

I'd love to see what you do. I'm wanting to use a Goth chassis thats meant for a NB v4. I was planning on useing some itty-bitty files. If I recall the Verso is just a hair bigger.

 

[H0llyw00d]

I'd love to see what you do. I'm wanting to use a Goth chassis thats meant for a NB v4. I was planning on useing some itty-bitty files. If I recall the Verso is just a hair bigger.

Roger that. I'll take pics and post progress. I'm as concerned with the pads being on three sides as the dimensions. :/

 

[Joek3rr]

Roger that. I'll take pics and post progress. I'm as concerned with the pads being on three sides as the dimensions. :/

Ooh I think you only need the solder pads on the one side. Though I only glanced through the manual once.

 

[H0llyw00d]

Ooh I think you only need the solder pads on the one side. Though I only glanced through the manual once.

Looks like the only pads that are used on the side for an in-hilt LED setup are the speaker and activation pads. That shouldn't be a problem.

The Verso board (on left) is slightly larger in size than the NBv4:

And the Goth Master Chassis for the K4 is a tight fit for the NBv4:

The easiest way to get it to fit will be to cut off the side section closest to the camera in the image below and then shave the inside of the corner so the board is still being held on three sides... that's probably how I'm going to do it:

 

[chazzychaz]

There is an fb page dedicated to this board apparently there is issues with the first run of this board. but the guys on the page have all the answers. mine hasn't arrived yet. great start to your build

 

[dascoyne]

My Vector lightsaber finally arrived from Rob at Genesis. Crystal X and Neopixel.

This is a design that's very practical for dueling amd well thought out. The recessed buttons make it impossible to actuate accidentally. No aesthetic greeblies to hotspot your palm.

I LOVE my current font (I don't know the name) which has a loud flash as the "blade" deploys fast.

I don't think I could ever live without true smoothswing now. There is no perceptible lag. I just tolerated the lag with my old Force FX lightsaber. And the flash-on-clash without lag is terrific!

I have a Graflex on order from another vendor. I can hardly wait to have that one, too. And I haven't forgotten about the Genesis Badax which I still want when it's in stock.

 

[dascoyne]

Update: 18 months later and I'm in this deep now ...

In addition to the GCS Vector I now have a GCS (Corran Horn) Speeder (weathered) on order...
plus an 89 Sabers Graflex
plus a Sabertrio Skylar (polished) on order
plus a Sabermach (Kanan Jarrus) Specter on order
plus a Vader's Vault "Aggressive Negotiations" CC Classic I just ordered.

all I want now is a GCS Badaxx

Last month the GCS Vector made me a hero to my kids at Galaxy's Edge in Anaheim. The Vector was on my hip when we were confronted by Kylo Ren and a couple of First Order troopers. A First Order trooper picked me out of the crowd because he spotted me fixing a blade to the hilt. I came forward and Kylo said something like, "I see we share a common knowledge" referring to the lightsaber in my hand. I then fired up the blade (green with Hero font) and slowly leaned into a fighting stance. The crowd (literally, I swear) gasped when the blade came out since most don't know anything about CFX/neopixel. Kylo ultimately advised me to reconsider my allegiances, and I retracted my blade and walked away as the crowd applauded. My daughters (9 and 10 years old) were really proud of their dad.

I'm sticking with CFX for now. Maybe some day I'll want to get into Proffie.