The OT stunt lightsaber blades research thread

[DaveP]

So, as an experiment I bought a military surplus antenna for literally a couple of bucks, and I can say that the diagonal lines in the video definitely mirror what is on my antenna that I picked up (and a few others that I saw) which made me immediately think of this thread. I didn't have calipers on me, so I wasn't able to measure until I got it home. Dimensionally it's inaccurate (16.6mm diameter with no taper), but the similar wrapped texture to whats seen in this video definitely tells me the "blade" absolutely is military surplus antenna (in case that was at all in question still), so I'm gonna hunt for a surplus antenna that meets the requirements of 1/2" (12.7mm) base with a taper and this similar wrapped texture to use for my spinning blade Obi Wan saber. Let the hunt begin!

View attachment 1429455View attachment 1429457

Hi there. That's a cool find. Further on in the thread though, I actually disregard the diagonal lines on the Yuma blade. If you look at the reference, you'll see the same diagonal lines on the actual hilt which leads me to conclude that they're artifacts in the image from it having been digitally scanned and then enlarged.

Also, you mentioned that your antenna is inaccurate because it doesn't taper? Well, in the case of the Yuma blade, that's actually correct. There was no taper. This is what leads me to believe that it was simply made from 1/2' stock material (most likely fiberglass rod).

The 1/2' diameter is pretty accurate as radial dimensions can be reliably determined using 2d photogrammetry. More so than length/height/etc.

 

[thd9791]

Pic dump:
ANH

You can see the Luke Motorized stunt in Vader's hands. Tapered blades.

Black stripe on Obi's long blade, meaning the reflective tape doesn't wrap all the way around the blade

ESB

Above: MPP, no grips, shroud and collar around base of blade

Above: Luke holds the Pipe Stunt, and (I was wrong) Those are lights from his helmet and the set - Vader is choking his lightsaber with his hands, right up to the emitter, and the blade goes past his helmet and right into his hands. Barbican or MPP

Above: Full length of the Dagobah MPP blade. Maybe a bolt there.. maybe not. The clamp is facing the left, downwards.


ROTJ

Above: Harold Cole stand-in for Vader, pick-up shot inspecting Luke's Lightsaber. You can see the rails on the box. You can also see the top of the emitter, and probably the nipple itself. No collar above the nipple. Tapered Blade.

 

[thd9791]

I may have more stuff coming

 

[vadermania]

Got my second vintage HMP antenna today. Although it‘s an original HMP CX-4 with the correct length, shape and antenna socket, it is not made of the screen-accurate brown duroplast, but of white fiberglass. Seems like HMP changed materials on their „newer“ models, even before they were taken over by Phelps Dodge in 1980. Damn. Anyways, I‘m planning to install a blade plug and ring on the base and transform it into a lightsaber blade for my Luke ESB stunt.

So we have to keep our eyes open for HMP CX-4 antennas from the early/mid seventies. Is there anyone here who found a correct one already?

 

[thd9791]

The blade on the pipe stunt in that video is much less tapered, like the CX-4 shape today. VM your older ones look to be much more tapered

is duroplast the fiberglass material? The Glomex ones are maroon inside

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

I have a hunch a lot, if not some, of the stunt blades were longer ones cut in half, leading to the more tapered blades and more straight, thicker blades; two blades in one and from different ends of the antennae.

The warehouse one on that Hamill uses with Bob Anderson is a little under 4 feet, at about 1 meter (3.3 feet).

 

[vadermania]

is duroplast the fiberglass material? The Glomex ones are maroon inside

Tom, can you show us a pic of that maroon material inside the Glomex antenna? Does it have fibers laid into it?

 

[vadermania]

Here are some images of my second vintage HMP antenna.

 

[thd9791]

Thank you for showing us that cracked paint surface..... whoa

These are Valor Antenna 8 footers cut down. (though not in half, took a section out of the upper-middle)


And I think this is a Glomex, more brown


Definitely looks like layered fibers in there.

 

[thd9791]

I matched two Luke ESB sabers today

They have the same diagonal scratch mark above the flash

I think these are also the same saber but I have some issues

1) grips - they change from foam to T track and.... maybe they swapped the bottom can but I doubt it.

2) Bunny Ears - I think it's an optical illusion and we're looking at the empty bunny ear socket in the first photos.. but I'm pretty sure this saber is the ROTJ Vader one. Seen here.

and here.... with mangled bunny ears

I'll also add that there is an obvious screw for the upper core, maybe on both sides...

I don't see the upper core on the Bob Anderson picture

 

[thd9791]

confirmed bolt on the back of the Dagobah bladed one

 

[Halliwax]

View attachment 1462346

This is very… VERY interesting…..

Vadermania, is your vintage ones like this with red stuff inside? Perhaps a different color?

 

[vadermania]

My vintage HMP antenna looks like this:

 

[vadermania]

After drilling it out for the blade core:

 

[Halliwax]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing those pics!

 

[thd9791]

Looks kinda maroon and brown, both my Valor and Glomex antennas are like this in different ways

Gosh, what was the filler like? it looks like putty. today they just wrap the guts in foam

 

[Halliwax]

Agree mine was foam, I’m wondering if that is some kind of fiberglass epoxy

 

[vadermania]

The HMP has the antenna wire inside a thin white (ABS?) plastic tube. The plastic tube sits inside the (dark brown) duroplast rod, which is filled with a black colored sort of „foam“. One can see that blackish foam on a few real beat-up stunt blades, where the outer duroplast shell is smashed.

 

[thd9791]

Oh my gosh, so they had to drill out the foam to insert the aluminum. and the foam is in the rest of the blade.. that probably helps with vibration

 

[Halliwax]

Oh my gosh, so they had to drill out the foam to insert the aluminum. and the foam is in the rest of the blade.. that probably helps with vibration

drilling, vibrations, keep that mind out of the gutter



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