Unlimited Run TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run! NOW SHIPPING

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

Should have some new pics tomorrow. I think he's starting work on one of the knobs.

 

[KaanE]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

I really like the stuff you're doing, keep the good work.

 

[upandatom]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

Thanks for the update.

What will hit first, these sabers or the Star Wars BluRay collection?

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

These should hit first I think. God, I hope so. I am so tired of the delays this run keeps hitting.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

Holy crap, I have photos of something that's not a cylinder!

BEHOLD!

Well...it starts off as a cylinder:

But then ends up all knob like:

Those are test shots. The finished knob will have a slightly thicker threaded post, and the head will have a subtle radius along the currently sharp edges to match the screen used one.

And since they're so tiny, he was able to run one without the fluid so that I could take a neat video for you...well...neat if you like watching 4 1/2 mins of a dizzy piece of metal getting smaller:
CLICK THE VIDEO


Also, I stuck the LEDs into the Chen body that I have just to see how they looked. The LEDs that came with the Chen saber, though very nice, are not quite shaped right, but I think mine match the hero saber:

And here's the pile of nearly complete inner and outer bodies and shrouds. They're just awaiting repairs on his indexer before they can be finished:

 

[Shinki-Ro]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

:thumbsup

 

[bobafresh]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

So mad I wasn't a member when this run started! Do let me know if you ever do a second run? They look AMAZING by the way!

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

All the aluminum knobs are finished (minus some clean up), and it looks like he made a few extras, so if anyone needs a spare for a custom saber, let me know and I might be able to hook you up. These double as the blade retention screw, which is why they're so long. They'll go through the Delrin "bulb release," through the shroud, and through both outer and inner body tubes.

The brass knobs will be getting worked on soon, but he's waiting on a custom knurling tool to be be made for him, because apparently, nobody at the LFL prop department likes to use standard sized anything.

The shrouds are currently being worked on. I posted pics a while back of their roughed out shape that was done on the lathe. Now they're being refined in the milling machine. The box shape on top that the wire loop goes into has now been formed, and the diameter of the neck is at the correct scale.

The radius where box meets neck is too shallow in these two shots, but has since been corrected:

And here she is as she looks now, which is about half finished:

Before and After:

And attached to a body:

Next he'll be milling in the little horseshoe shaped channel that the bulb release fits into, drilling the holes for the wire loop and knobs, and then shaping the rear as well as adding the angled cut to the front. Stay tuned for more soon.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

...aaaand the rest:

 

[bigcow]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

Awesome ,super cool!

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

Angles cut into shrouds:

I'll get some better shots on Mon or Tues. These were just emailed to me from the machinists phone. The custom knurls should be in this week to start on the brass knobs.

 

[Reel Fakes]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

Nice!!

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

Here are some better shots of what's going on with the shrouds.

Here is the custom jig that was machined to sit the shrouds on so the correct angle is cut, while keeping it aligned with the box on top:

And an uncut shroud in place:

Unfortunately, locking it into the jig caused the shroud to get bent about 1000 - 2000ths of an inch, making it very very difficult to slip them over the main bodies. So he tossed some stock on his manual lathe and made a solid 1.25" plug to fit into the shrouds while they're in the jig:

The shroud, with plug, in the jig:

And milling:

And now the plug makes the bottom water tight :lol

Front angling finished:

Before and after:

After After:

Starting to look like a saber!

 

[Mah-Al Thorn]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

I don't know about everyone else, but I love seeing the details of the process. The downside is that it exacerbates my gear envy. My lone minilathe is looking smaller every day.

 

[bobafresh]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

again...i'm so mad i was late to this party, it's looking REALLY good!

 

[LostSkywalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

~ is very looking forward to getting his saber in the(hopfully) near future

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

First off, good news. There are definitely going to be quite a few extra sabers left over, so a good portion of you on the waiting list WILL be able to get one! I'll have an exact number sometime in the next few weeks. And there are 3 or so people on the original list who never sent in their deposit, nor responded to my PMs, so that'll free up a few more spots too.

On with the progress pics...

The holes for the wire loop have been drilled into all the shrouds:

The machinist is now planning on how best to align the shroud in the mill to start with the cut for the "bulb release" and the threaded knob holes:

He also started work on the brass knobs. The shape is spot on, but the knurls aren't. He was using a set he borrowed from another machine shop on the off chance they worked. Unfortunately, they don't so he's still waiting for the ones he ordered to come in.

Next to one of the aluminum knobs:

And Ki Adi Mundi from FX-Sabers requested I snap some shots of my saber next to some other sabers. I figured I'd share them with everyone just for fun.

My Ki Adi Mundi saber, and a screen accurate Qui Gon:

Ultimate Anakin Starkiller OWK TPM & a resin Dukoo taken from production molds:

The Chen Anakin (mine looks longer because there is still material that needs to be trimmed off the bottom by the rings):

 

[upandatom]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

It's like watching a baby being born, but not nearly as disturbing!

 

[bobafresh]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

still jealous! It's shaping up really terrifically! and this is off topic but if ANYONE has extra Chen grips I'd do anything to get them!

 

[TridCloudwalker]

Re: TridCloudwalker's Anakin AotC Lightsaber Run!

The Chen grips are just the silicone Anakin grips you can get on eBay.

Updates are going to be delayed for a short time, as the machinist is back tracking a little bit to make more bodies and shrouds with the left over material so that I can get some of the people on the wait list a saber. It should only take a few days, as he has all the programming saved in the machines still.

I saw the wait list growing and growing, and he said if he started making the extras RIGHT now, he could slip it into the machining fees for this run, as opposed to charging me for a second.

I hope everyone is okay with this, and I apologize for another delay. Just trying to help others get in on this great run.