Lightsaber Hilt (Kenobi TPM) advice needed.

[oXdanXo]

Hi guys, so I thought I would try here to see if I can get any luck.

I decided to have a go at building a Lightsaber and thought I'd start with Kenobis TPM, since the Hasbro Force FX is never on ebay and the only shops in the UK that sold it are Forbidden planet and they are Out of Stock.

After taking a look on google and on specific forums (FX-sabers, The Custom Saber Shop, etc)

I've seen a few different builds, but the only build logs I can find have had their pictures removed (because they are old) and I haven't managed to find any detailed information or scale drawings apart from

After a few days (yesterday) I stumbled upon this
http://s3images.coroflot.com/user_f...original_190761_vT38DsFVEZGSdoL_wS1Osb7v9.jpg
Which is great for me it's kind of what I was hoping for although it is just the artists imagination, not a proper render. I can see all the pieces, but I was hoping to either be able to find a build log or some form of concept design with a scale (all parted out like the above picture) that would be suitable for me to start from as I was hoping to make it as close as possible to the Phantom Menace version whilst still being able to accomodate a blade similar to the ones JQ sabers and Parks use, along with Luxeon lighting (seems easier using one LED as apposed to a string of them) and then at a later date possibly adding in a soundboard.

I thought about taking measurements from one of mine, but I only own two Replica (MR Vader/Anakin) which aren't suitable for taking measurements from for making Kenobi's and the old cheap toy hasbro versions (with the wierd like 5 part slide out blade).


If anyone could offer advice it would be appreciated. (Either pointing me to a design or drawings, or if they have a Larbel, Parks or similar Saber that they have taken apart before and would be willing to to measure up as much or it as possible (Although please don't try taking it apart if you can't put it back together since I'd hate to be the person that was responsible for destroying something that beautiful.), or even just advice on materials, since I was planning on using Aluminium for almost the entire saber and anodising the appropriate black parts.)

Dan

 

[scottjua]

I've built multiple parks obi tpms and have another on my bench as well as a larbel I was thinking about either building or selling empty.

The more accurate they are the more of a challenge as space is limited but there are lots of options.

First how accurate do you want it?

Second, what features do you have to have in the saber? Flash on clash? Auxiliary functions? Multiple sound fonts?

Check out fxsabers.com for more of the electronics sabers. There's a wealth of info there too.

 

[oXdanXo]

Hi Scott, I wasn't planning on making it 100% I was going to try and make one similar to Parks with the phase saber type of blade (I don't need a strong blade either since I'm not planning on playing with it or sound) I just thought that using the Luxeon type of lighting would be my best option for lighting since it's just the one at the base instead of having a string of LEDs going all the way through.

I wouldn't mind Larbel either, nearly all of them seem accurate to me, even the hasbro FX seems accurate although everyone tells me that the hilt is really fat compared to the movie.

It doesn't need any advanced features or the need to be built for swordplay.

Thanks for the reply by the way.
Dan

 

[Darth Lars]

Obi-Wan's TPM saber is far from the easiest lightsaber to built a replica of, at least not if you want to make it reasonably accurate. If you don't have a mill, then some details, such as the grooves in the handle will take a lot of work, no matter what material you use. The pommel cubes can also be quite tricky.
I know because several years ago I built a reasonably accurate replica by hand out of aluminium, with only a dremel as my power tool, and it was certainly no picnic.

You could check out the Modular Hilt System on The Custom Saber Shop for various parts. The dimensions are not spot on, but at a glance, I spot at least an emitter design that looks usable. Perhaps you could combine that with a "choke" or a '1.25" sink tube adapter' to fit parts that you make yourself from aluminium tubes. I am sure that there are people in the store's forum that have made Obi-Wan TPM - lookalike sabers before.

I have attached a blueprint that I downloaded from the 'net several years ago. It is quite accurate. There is also an official blueprint released as a limited edition print by Master Replicas, and it is slightly different, but it has far fewer measurements.

 

[scottjua]

The Parks one is pretty close to accurate, and the Larbel is as well. They both have little inconsistencies, but for the price if you want to saw the trouble of making it yoursefl the parks is hard to beat and is readily available. The Larbel, if you can find one is very nice as well, and they both constructed completely differently.

Here's a Parks I did recently, and at the end a comparison to an MR EE for shape/size:

Parks obi Tpm converted crystal focus 5.10 - YouTube

 

[oXdanXo]

Darth Lars - Thanks, I've seen that design it's at Sitharchives.com and I'm currently using it as a base.

Scott- I'd love a Parks or a Larbel, I plan on buying a Parks Saber next year once I finish University and can afford it

 

[scottjua]

No problem. Typing on my phone though makes me read like a dummy. Hahaha

I could be persuaded to sell my larbel though.

 

[oXdanXo]

I'll send you a PM about the Larbel, but I'm trying to build my own because I can't afford to get a custom job for another year (need to finish University first).

By the way if you know it could you let me know the overall length of the Larbel? Do you know how many parts it breaks down into?