Luke ANH Questions

[Jm419]

Hi everyone,

I have some picky questions about the Luke ANH lightsaber, the one made from a Graflex 3-cell flash gun. I was hoping someone on here would have the answers I need.


1. Do we even know what the grips were made from? I've heard both windshield wipers and cabinet T-track, but apparently at Celebration V, Hamill mentioned "metal tracks" that cut his hands. Do we know exactly what these are?
2. What orientation of the clamp is correct? If looking at the saber from the pommel end, and assuming the "bunny ears" are at noon, does the clamp belong at 2:30, 3:00, 9:00, or 9:30?
3. Was there actually mirrored tape behind the bubble strip, or was that something we made up?
4.. Was the Graflex flashgun modified internally? Did the producers rip the guts out, or were they retained?
5. How wide was the mylar tape on the clamp?
6. I believe the answer has been established for this one, but six grips or seven?

I'm looking to build the ultimate screen-accurate Graflex, and if these questions were answered, I'd have everything I need to finish it.

Thanks!

 

[Clutch]

This thread is a good read: http://www.therpf.com/f9/re-inventing-lukes-anh-lightsaber-vaders-too-143/

Closest we've seen to the real deal are brown plastic tracks. Gino makes some even more accurate repros. The clamp hs been photographed in different positions. In the movie, it is in the '9:00' position. I have seen pictures that look like you can see the clamp behind the bubble strip, so I believe there was no tape. I don't know if anyone knows if the insides were gutted or if there was tape on the clamp. Seven grips. Templates are on ------- The Parts of Star Wars -------- There's also some images floating around that shows the positioning of the grips in relation to the clamp.

Here's one I did. Gino grips. Exactra bubblestrip.

 

[Jm419]

Cool, thanks for the info.

That definitely helps.

 

[Jm419]

So the mylar tape behind the strip is a no, then? It seems everyone on here does it, but perhaps that's just aesthetic choice?

 

[Sym-Cha]

Hi there,

Apparantly the screen-used did not have the mylar tape however
the look of the bubbles does improve when you add mylar behind
them . . . plus you can see your own reflection x 7 :lol

-Chaim

 

[Jm419]

Hi there,

Apparantly the screen-used did not have the mylar tape however
the look of the bubbles does improve when you add mylar behind
them . . . plus you can see your own reflection x 7 :lol

-Chaim

Hmm. Ok, where can I get some of it? I might not like the bubbles without it, and I was curious if I can get some at local hardware stores and the like.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Question : Do you have the real Exactra 20 bubbles? If so put them in your graflex clamp first and see how you like it.

-Chaim

 

[Clutch]

This is a good pic showing the reversed clamp and the seethrough-ness of the bubble strip:

You can get the mylar tape at most automotive stores - Pep Boys, Autozone, etc...

 

[Tan Djarka]

You can also get it from hobby shops that sell RC cars and planes. It's a product called Monocote and come in strips of about 4"x24". There's a variety of colors including chrome for this application (backing the bubbles or on the clamp) and other projects (GOLD chrome for ?).

 

[Jm419]

Thanks guys. I have one of Rebelscum's Exactra 20 bubble strip copies, so it's essentially vintage. I'll check it out without the tape, but it seems to look just fine to me in that shot next to Luke's foot.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Be careful when you try to tighten the bubble strip under the clamps ... the rod/lever of your graflex can only handle so much pressure!!! If the lever won't close just take the whole clamp of your lightsaber, open it up and loosen it by turning it 360 degrees counterclockwise and then try to fit the bubblestrip again before re-attaching onto your lightsaber.

Also there are some of us who believe that the Exactra strip sat snuggly in between and not all the way under the clamp . . . if you know what I mean.

-Chaim

 

[Jm419]

Be careful when you try to tighten the bubble strip under the clamps ... the rod/lever of your graflex can only handle so much pressure!!! If the lever won't close just take the whole clamp of your lightsaber, open it up and loosen it by turning it 360 degrees counterclockwise and then try to fit the bubblestrip again before re-attaching onto your lightsaber.

Also there are some of us who believe that the Exactra strip sat snuggly in between and not all the way under the clamp . . . if you know what I mean.

-Chaim

Huh. Ok. So does that explain why the lever wasn't closed all the way on the screen-used saber? That's fascinating.

 

[Clutch]

If the strip won't fit, then gently pry the lips of the clamp up a bit with a screwdriver. Someone on here used a metal ruler to do it.