Roman Obi-Wan ANH saber build
- Thread starter Gregatron
- Start date
Added the weld on the booster by Dremeling away the edge of the fin at an angle, adding solder, then carefully shaping the solder blob with various Dremel bits and files. Might need some more work. Based on the limited (and mostly black and white) photo reference, I suspect that the weld was blued along with the rest of the booster after it was separated from the flash suppressor, so I’ll likely give it a dab of Super Blue to blend it in a bit.
I also gave the booster and grenade yet another sandpaper/steel wool treatment, stripped the booster yet again with white vinegar, then re-blued both parts. And, once again, I’m letting them rust, with no oil treatment.
The goal of these stripping/rust treatments is to create surface texture/pitting and uneven wear. I tend to agree that the screenused Death Star/Chronicles saber probably wasn’t too rusty. Maybe even not at all.
I also determined the exact amount of threading necessary to position the windvane in its Chronicles position. It’ll have to be glued on in the final stages of assembly.
Also, Roman’s FX cage appears designed to clock the parts in a specific way. However, it looks to me that, on the real prop, the big hole in the booster (just above the threaded section) was actually aligned with the fin that has the weld. That’s how Scott Juarez and others have aligned their builds. Roman’s has it the other way, spun around 180 degrees.
So, I’m not fully threading the booster and grenade onto the FX cage, and I’ll just allow the balance pipe spacer to tension-fit the parts in place when aligned properly. In the final stages the FX cage and the center of the threaded rod which holds the prop together will be painted black, so as not to be seen through the holes in the clamp.
Still more work to do on weathering the balance pipe, as well as all the clamp work.
But we’re getting closer.
I also gave the booster and grenade yet another sandpaper/steel wool treatment, stripped the booster yet again with white vinegar, then re-blued both parts. And, once again, I’m letting them rust, with no oil treatment.
The goal of these stripping/rust treatments is to create surface texture/pitting and uneven wear. I tend to agree that the screenused Death Star/Chronicles saber probably wasn’t too rusty. Maybe even not at all.
I also determined the exact amount of threading necessary to position the windvane in its Chronicles position. It’ll have to be glued on in the final stages of assembly.
Also, Roman’s FX cage appears designed to clock the parts in a specific way. However, it looks to me that, on the real prop, the big hole in the booster (just above the threaded section) was actually aligned with the fin that has the weld. That’s how Scott Juarez and others have aligned their builds. Roman’s has it the other way, spun around 180 degrees.
So, I’m not fully threading the booster and grenade onto the FX cage, and I’ll just allow the balance pipe spacer to tension-fit the parts in place when aligned properly. In the final stages the FX cage and the center of the threaded rod which holds the prop together will be painted black, so as not to be seen through the holes in the clamp.
Still more work to do on weathering the balance pipe, as well as all the clamp work.
But we’re getting closer.
Obviously, my setup doesn't require the pins to hold the clamp in place, but I'll be simulating them, yes, since they can be seen onscreen.
Well, after studying the film frame-by-frame in several formats (due to the variations in color grading, over the years), it looks to me like the Chronicles grenade was a relatively light, steely color with patina and/or rusty spots. Not a dark blue or black or anything like that.
The stamped lines on the clamp are also visible in the death-drop shot, indicating that the clamp's chrome/aluminum tape was partial (or nonexistent) even at that time, as well as the one transistor washer being missing.
It seems pretty evident to me now that the Chronicles saber IS what's seen in the film during the Death Star scenes, as is.
The stamped lines on the clamp are also visible in the death-drop shot, indicating that the clamp's chrome/aluminum tape was partial (or nonexistent) even at that time, as well as the one transistor washer being missing.
It seems pretty evident to me now that the Chronicles saber IS what's seen in the film during the Death Star scenes, as is.
Disassembled the prop. Gave the grenade and booster a scrubbing to remove the past two weeks’ worth of rust buildup, then re-blued them once again. I’m really liking where this is going. Both parts are developing a patchy, textured appearance (including subtle rust spots) which really helps with the illusion of aging.
I also gave the central section of the threaded rod a shot of black paint. Roman’s steel FX spacer cage developed a bit of rust while the prop was assembled, so I’m currently stripping it with white vinegar before giving it a shot of black paint, as well. The threaded ends will then get a coat of oil to prevent them from rusting.
Once everything is cured, I’ll reassemble the prop, and mark out the spots for the clamp screws/wires/damage.
I also gave the central section of the threaded rod a shot of black paint. Roman’s steel FX spacer cage developed a bit of rust while the prop was assembled, so I’m currently stripping it with white vinegar before giving it a shot of black paint, as well. The threaded ends will then get a coat of oil to prevent them from rusting.
Once everything is cured, I’ll reassemble the prop, and mark out the spots for the clamp screws/wires/damage.
