Reaction to MR V2 Design?

[cayman shen]

I don't want to post pics here, because I didn't take them, but for those of you who've seen the (now stolen...) MR Luke V2, what's your reaction? (Ah heck, I'll post a pic. apologies if it's yours. The pic is an MR with my Russrep. Thanks wackychimp!).

It looks strange to me because I'm used to seeing fan-made versions. Everything's just a little "off" from what I've seen. However, having stared at it a bit, I have some thoughts.

The windane is narrower than the most popular fan-made sabers. The emitter lip also seems to be thinner/sharper somehow. The pommel is narrower and the cubes more pronounced.

In terms of the clamp...no Graflex logo. I'm one of the few who prefers it that way, but let the naysaying begin...:lol It's interesting to see the clamp lever. But the lever and the circuit board are wicked fugly. Again, not a comment on whether they're accurate, just a comment.

Looks like they went with unknurled on the cone knob.

The d-ring is half-tri-ring. Odd.

Factory weathering and finish looks pretty sharp. Better than I can do anyway!

My gut instinct is to say that this won't sell well. It looks like a piece of trash (no insult meant--it was trash!) and only the hardcore fans will buy it. I'm on the fence myself. While I suspect this saber is more accurate than my customs, I feel like...well, say you thought your wife was gorgeous and then you get new glasses and she's actually a little bit homely. I think I'm falling out of love with this saber now, and it had been one of my favorites. Not a comment on MR's accuracy, but the saber itself just seems different to me now. Wierd.

 

[Shinobi]

Although we're used to seeing this saber weathered, I'm actually hoping that MR will make it a bit more idealized. I'm not saying that it should look mint but I hope it doesn't look like a beaten piece of pipe either. It's just that whenever I watch ROTJ, I always recall Luke's saber to be in good condition, and although we know that the prop was actually pretty worn down by the end, I sort of want to retain that movie look.

 

[ob1al]

It's funny, I too always loved this saber design until I bought a blank and painted my own after which I went off it a bit and came back 'round to appreciating the 'hero' version again.:lol

I still thinbk there's something cool about this version and it does feature in the movie a lot more than the so-called 'hero' - but yeah, it was a shoddy bit of cobbledtogetherness from the original prop department.

Looks like MR have done a nice job of replicating that - I still hope this saber turns up again from whichever scumbag stole it, I'd like to see a final production version of this piece.

 

[franz bolo]

It's proportions seem to match the shared stunt.

FB

 

[Funky]

I like the weathering. It looks hand-done. :thumbsup

 

[franz bolo]

My gut instinct is to say that this won't sell well.

This is probably one of the only MR sabers I would buy. It's probably the most accurate. It's also not made from found parts. I would rather have an original part than a fabricated one so this saber appeals to me on that level.

FB

 

[Sporak]

Here's mine...I still favor it over the "hero"...
I think MR did a pretty good job.

 

[kurtyboy]

Looks nice for sure and definitely one I'll be adding. I'm only actually missing 3 out of the full LE range so far.

Now, can we see the lever side please? :confused

 

[franz bolo]

Got these from Rebelscum. If there yours and you don't want them here let me know.

FB

 

[Nexus6]

This is probably one of the only MR sabers I would buy. It's probably the most accurate. It's also not made from found parts. I would rather have an original part than a fabricated one so this saber appeals to me on that level.

FB

I'll second this. I LOVE what they've done with this piece. :thumbsup

As far as not buying MR sabers, my reason is NOT that MR doesn't do good work, but that their sabers are typically very pristine & beautiful (with the exception of the Obi ANH Weathered), & that's something you just didn't see in the OT.

 

[cayman shen]

...and on a side note, does anyone else feel that doing a Jade saber is stupid? I hate that they're giving credence to the EU, and it's an absolutely horrible design.

 

[franz bolo]

...and on a side note, does anyone else feel that doing a Jade saber is stupid? I hate that they're giving credence to the EU, and it's an absolutely horrible design.

Is that the other saber on the table?

I like it!! :love It looks like one that Steve Dizmo was selling.

FB

 

[Knightsaber]

I only have one MR saber right now (Obi ANH weathered) but I may have to add this one as well. The only thing I would change would be to minimize the copper a little more, but it still looks good.

 

[Howard]

As the guy who's responsible for the blueprint the majority of the fan made sabers were built from in the last few years, I'm pleased to see my scaling wasn't too far off.
It looks as though the cone knob body has some sort of texture from the pics posted from the party - perhaps someone who saw this saber there can chime in and clarify this please?
I too like the lack of lines and lettering on the clamp.
I think the circuit board looks ugly though, as the stripes appear (to me anyhow) far too thick in relation to the clamp jaws. Then again, that's because I'm used to seeing the Luke TESB saber with narrow lines.

I don't think the D-ring looks correct from the few caps we have of this saber.
Perhaps MR (as they have done in the past) replicated the look of this particular element as it is now, and the D-ring has been distorted over time to arrive at this D / triangle hybrid shape?
That's one strange clamp lever, I must say!
Okay - if it's on the prop it's fact, period, but compared to the shots we have (Endor group shot) it looks too short, if what we percieved to be a rod was actually the lever.

From conversations I've had with Barry, I understood MR were going to replicate the grip rings with varying widths, as per the prop.
Perhaps this is now not the case - which I and I guess many would prefer, as it would look a little odd to the general public. The grip rings do appear to be a *tad* too thick.
Then again, this is a proto so this aspect may change...

The oddest aspect is the thickness of the first ring of the grip section at the neck end. This looks far too thin to me, compared to this pic, where you can also note the curve of the D-ring.

Also notice the very slight lip to the front of the pommel cubes (count the third cube from the top down) in the section where the screw sits. This lip can be seen clearly replicated by MR.
Now look at the section at the rear of the cubes. Can you see a lip, or indent there similar in scale? I can.
I added this to the last blueprint I drew up as it adds a little more detail to this otherwise plain area, and kind of mirrors the AS handwheel sloped gap when in its original configuration. Okay it's not there on the MR - I can accept that, but I miss it.
I've noticed in other pics over on Rebel Scum there appears to be holes in the neck - something I don't think requires replication as it detracts from the appeal.
I love the copper neck section - and I'm glad this aspect has been laid to rest finally!

All little gripes aside, I love this saber with a real passion - I guess that's why I've been pouring over its details for near on four years.
So yes, I'll be hunting down an AP, and if I can get hold of one, it will sit in pride of place as this saber's like an old friend, but an old friend with finally no secrets.

Howard.

 

[cayman shen]

I can't understand where the copper comes from. In ANH, wasn't it all black? When was copper added? Can someone explain?

The top grip's thinness actually looks like a detail I've often questioned...I thing the ring is a worn area on an angled section and there's not much flat grip there at all. However, I'm not an expert.

I agree the lever seems small, but some shot make it look much longer than others, perhaps due to blending with the metal of the lower section (the infamous optical illusion)?

One detail that I think I'm seeing is the windvane ring seems narrower and squatter than my russrep. Again, a detail I'd been questioning.

Yup, the circuit board is UGLY!

If one was to 'retrofit' a russrep, how would I acheive that cast/matte finish? My machine finish is pretty shiny. Thoughts?

 

[DARTH SABER]

As the guy who's responsible for the blueprint the majority of the fan made sabers were built from in the last few years

Hey, don't forget about me !

DS

 

[Knightsaber]

If one was to 'retrofit' a russrep, how would I acheive that cast/matte finish? My machine finish is pretty shiny. Thoughts?

Try 1000 or 1200 grain sand paper. Should dull it down nicely without scratching. After that you could try a scotch-brite pad to even the finish out.

 

[Howard]

Hey, don't forget about me !

DS

Hey Pat - I'm indeed very sorry! :redface

Just to put the record straight - DS and I worked together on the blueprint waaaaay back, so the V2 replicas out there are a combination of both our work.

What do you think of the MR version Pat?


Howard.

 

[lonepigeon]

Circuit board is changing. I was told the black and gold was accidentally reversed on the prototype. Cone knob was also a hair small and will be fixed.

They measured the shared stunt directly and the V2 was out of the same molds so this one should be very accurate.

 

[cayman shen]

I don't suppose the MR was cast?

Any SE or AFFB treatment?

Word on edition size?