The 2009 "$1 Store" Lightsaber Contest.

[jason1976]

Most cameras have a night shot with flash setting that has a moon cresent and flash symbol if you use that with the lights off it should fire the flash to show the saber then leave the shutter open to capture the LEDs/ beams etc.

Well sure, if you use one of those newfangled cameras. :lol The only pictures on my camera are the ones I take, and the dials don't have any half moons, stars, clovers, or any other lucky charms.

 

[jason1976]

My advice* is put the traditional lightsaber out of your mind. You need a series of shapes to make an oblong object you can hold in one hand, that looks like a beam could come out of one end. Pick up some bottles and glasses, do they feel like a grip. Look for things you can cut apart to get a usuable piece, the end of a candle holder or a wheel off a toy car for the emitter.
Think about how it will look with a coat of paint and some dry brushing, this makes a huge(HUGE) difference.
You don't even need it to fit your hand. You could go super scale, the thing might be 8" in dia. but proportioned so that it appears to be hand held(I am making a bit of an assumption, but the rules don't say it needs to be hand held)

*This is the advice of someone that has never done this kind of scratchbuild before.

I could not have said it better myself.

 

[sskunky]

Well sure, if you use one of those newfangled cameras. :lol The only pictures on my camera are the ones I take, and the dials don't have any half moons, stars, clovers, or any other lucky charms.

:lol
forgive me. I forget being into photography and always having to get the latest camera and gadgets others are not.

 

[Donberto17]

I gotta admit. This Looks to Be a Really Awesome Contest. Time to Hit up the Dollar Tree

 

[Allaerra]

This looks like a blast. I wish I had seen this thread earlier. Not sure if it is doable in 3 days:cry

 

[steveo]

This looks like a blast. I wish I had seen this thread earlier. Not sure if it is doable in 3 days:cry

It's definitely doable in 3 days! I just finished mine.

Email sent with photos and receipt. Can you let me know if you got it?

 

[ALPHA D UNIT]

Ok I just sent it to ur email. Lemme know ya got it! :thumbsup

 

[jason1976]

I have been recieving a few entries today, but I am on "dial up" so it's going to take me some time to download all the pics. As I get each entry, and download it (if it was e-mailed) I will send you a reply saying I got it, so don't worry.

 

[jason1976]

Thanks everyone who has sent there entries so far, for including all the required pics. I would like to have just two or three pics of each of the saber themselves, for folks to vote on, so for those that have sent more, just know that I will pick just a few pics from those submitted by you, and for those that have sent less, your welcome to send in one, or two, more, just to keep things even. You are of course welcome to send as many as you like, but I will only be personally posting a couple from each person for the voting.

Oh, and I know it wasn't mentioned in the rules, but i would really appreciate it, if everyone would refrain from posting pics of their sabers, until the contest., voting period is over. (in this thread, or any other.) They are of course your saber, and you soul be proud of them, and I fully support you in posting tons of pics when the contest is over. I just want to keep the sabers anonymous for the voting period. Thanks.

 

[Sporak]

In the past, if they were posted elsewhere before the contest was over they were disqualified.

Also when you post the pics for voting will they be annonymous?
I sure hope so.

Oh, and I know it wasn't mentioned in the rules, but i would really appreciate it, if everyone would refrain from posting pics of their sabers, until the contest., voting period is over. (in this thread, or any other.) They are of course your saber, and you soul be proud of them, and I fully support you in posting tons of pics when the contest is over. I just want to keep the sabers anonymous for the voting period. Thanks.

 

[jason1976]

In the past, if they were posted elsewhere before the contest was over they were disqualified.

Also when you post the pics for voting will they be annonymous?
I sure hope so.

Yes, just like the $1. store contest of old. Later this week, after the entry period has ended, I will post a few pics of each saber, with a corresponding number. Each person will vote for the saber they like best, using the number that goes with it..

After the voting period is OVER, and the WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED,, everyone should feel free to post as many pics as they like of their saber, and take full credit for it. (if they want.)

I just feel it's best to keep it all anonymous until the end of the contest, because I want the best saber to win, not just the most popular, or well known, person. This isn't a popularity contest, it's a saber contest.

I would have even like to have kept the votes themselves anonymous. (i.e. via PM, or E-mail.) but I think it would be best to keep them public, that way there is no doubt that each vote it heard, and that way there is know question in anyones mind to who actually wins.

So, in other words, you wont know who made witch saber, but you will see who voted for each saber.

 

[steveo]

Ok, I will be sending two more pics as I only sent in one. Thanks.

 

[jason1976]

Here is who I have received entries from so far, if I've mist you, just let me know. (and keep in mind, that even if your name is listed here, you can still send in more pics of your saber, if you want, up to midnight December 1st. )

fuelish
Jannix Quinn
Kenobius
razorsharp192
fabrik
Lightning
Steveo
ALPHA D UNIT
sporak
TK-1085
TrekFan_1701-D
contec

(Your sabers will stay anonymous, this list is just for those worried weather, or not, I got there entry.)

And for everyone else we are down to the final few days of the entry period, get your pics in A.S.A.P. I would really, really hate to turn away anyone's hard work just because their past the dead line, so get them in, wall you can. You do of course still have until midnight December 1st, but it will be here before you know it.

Man, when I started this contest, I though a month seemed kind of long for a contest, but here we are almost a month later, and it feels like it went by in the blink of an eye.

 

[Contec]

WHY AM I SO LATE grrrrr, Im building,glueing, painting it right now. Hoping to get it ready tonight because i work tomorrow...

 

[ALPHA D UNIT]

...Man, when I started this contest, I though a month seemed kind of long for a contest, but here we are almost a month later, and it feels like it went by in the blink of an eye.

Haha It sure did.

 

[pwyll]

This looks like a blast. I wish I had seen this thread earlier. Not sure if it is doable in 3 days:cry

Doesn't look like it in my case. I didn't get a chance to actually get to the Dollar Tree until yesterday (and five trips through the store only netted $4 worth of suitable materials). I did get the bulk/base of the hilt constructed yesterday (only used $2 of the items so far) but it seems that my five year old daughter found my paints and they are now unusable--and no store where I live actually sells modeling supplies.

So it looks like, at this point, I will only have a 3/4 finished build by Monday night :-(

 

[Contec]

Is it OK to Use the BAG you got in the same store for detailing?

 

[fuelish]

Doesn't look like it in my case. I didn't get a chance to actually get to the Dollar Tree until yesterday (and five trips through the store only netted $4 worth of suitable materials). I did get the bulk/base of the hilt constructed yesterday (only used $2 of the items so far) but it seems that my five year old daughter found my paints and they are now unusable--and no store where I live actually sells modeling supplies.

So it looks like, at this point, I will only have a 3/4 finished build by Monday night :-(

No WalMarts? They usually have a small modelling section with the toys.

You could also try a autoparts store, they have small cans of spray in a bunch of colors and usually have brush-in-bottle touch up paints.

 

[jason1976]

Is it OK to Use the BAG you got in the same store for detailing?

Um sure. Wow, I didn't see that one coming, but if you can figure a way to MacGyver the bag, into something useful, I'll allow it.

 

[jason1976]

No WalMarts? They usually have a small modelling section with the toys.

You could also try a autoparts store, they have small cans of spray in a bunch of colors and usually have brush-in-bottle touch up paints.

Yeah, if paint is all you need, there is a really nice selection of regular spray paint at wal*mart too. And since the paint doesn't count towards the $20. you can spend as much, or as little as you like for the paint.

Heck if you look in the craft section of Wal*mart, Meijers, or any regular craft store, they have those "Apple-Barrel" (and other brands.) of cheepo craft paint, for like .99 a bottle. (it sucks, but its cheep, and easy to find. ) At that price you could get enough for the little lady, to have her own to play with.

Or, hey, you could even us a marker. or pull one apart, and brush the ink on.

Stain if purple with grape juice, or other stain causing food. :lol

Us fingernail polish. (actually that stuff can be the bomb, for painting models, and small props. )

there are always alternatives.