Opinions wanted on Anakin ROTS lightsaber finish

Anakin Starkiller

Anakin Starkiller

Master Member
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
Hello all,

In this thread, I am posting pictures of the Anakin ROTS lightsaber prop that was at the Dressing the Galaxy exhibit because I would like to hear everyone's opinions as to what the finish is on this prop. Is it polished aluminum or is it chrome plated metal? I did not get to go to the actual exhibit, so al;l I have to go from is these pics and I have been staring at these photo's for too long on my own trying to figure out what I'm seeing. If anyone has a definate opinion from the pictures, please post here and if anyone went to the exhibit and knows what they saw, or has some other inside info that could contribute to this discussion, such help would be invaluable. Thanks

Dan
 
Never went to the exhibit but from what I can see it looks chrome plated. I've noticed that when aluminum is polished to a chrome like finish the edges are rounded off instead of sharp like on this saber. I've also noticed that there doesn't seem to be any "grain" in the metal from polishing just the minor surface scratches from handling.

Andrew
 
Last edited:
BobasBounty said:
Never went to the exhibit but from what I can see it looks chrome plated. I've noticed that when aluminum is polished to a chrome like finish the edges are rounded off instead of sharp like on this saber. I've also noticed that there doesn't seem to be any "grain" in the metal from polishing just the minor surface scratches from handling.

Andrew
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply. Part of me thinks that I'm seeing chrome too, for the same reasons you posted above. But, when I compare it to the C3 saber, which was a different prop, and which is clearly chrome plated, the finish looks drastically different.

Dan
 
On a side note, it's really cool to see it scuffed up a bit. The "weathering" gives it a lot of character. Wish I had the cajones to ding up my MR a bit!
 
I originally was thinking chrome plated like the C3 saber, but after looking at those pics (esp the first two with the not so yellow tinting) I'm going to say polished aluminum. First, the color is too grey to be chrome plating in my opinion. It does look like chrome in the last three pics though. But look at the finish between the grips, it's very dull. If it was chrome, even a little cleaning would bring back most of the shine to the surface without repolishing. It looks like oxidized aluminum to me.

To give an example, here is a polished aluminum version:

100_1540.jpg

Room lights - no flash.

100_1539.jpg

With flash.

This is a saber I made and not an MR so I know it is aluminum.

See how in the no flash picture it has a darker grey color than a chrome saber would have.

As far as polishing rounding off the edges and leaving 'grain', that is true if you polish with a buffing wheel (like the one I did), but media tumbling would polish it with very little softening of the features. and leave a near mirror finish.

Anyways, my vote goes for polished aluminum that has been handled and oxidized then cleaned for a showing.
 
Thanks Erik,

Your posts are eminently helpful. I really apreciate your pics and I am definately thinking aluminum now.

Best

Dan
 
Polished aluminum. The edges on the mid band etc are duller than the body in the pics, chrome plating will just peels if you beat it up like this, not wearing off.
 
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