Interest Veracity Labs - "The Princess" (Leia lightsaber) hilt Interest Thread

[Verity Cosplay]

Will the hilt come assembled already? Or will we be able to get to the copper to top-coat it and keep it "fresh", looking more like the rose gold? I guess what I am REALLY asking is: how do I keep the copper looking fresh - will that be done for me or will I need to do it? If I need to do it, will I be able to do so? Thanks for all of the FANTASTIC work going into this!!!!

that is part of what I am working out right now on final assembly setup. This will determine the material / construction.

There are essentially two routes:

1.) simpler assembly and pen plated. (This would lend itself BEST for either copper or gold since it is just a plating change and the overall material would be aluminum).

2.) more complex assembly which would allow for ACTUAL copper components. If we did gold then it would be gold plated copper in this case.

2.a) would be a blend of the above two.

i would think we can easily clear coat it all to ensure preservation and we'll get costs of that as part of fabrication.

The hilt will likely come assembled however it is capable of being fully broken down by the end user. I am specifically designing everything to be mechanically locked and not glued or anything so a user can fully break down the hilt if desired. This is a thing I try to do because it helps end users weather and such more easily for hilts.

 

[treansoturi]

Verity Cosplay - thank you for that explanation!

 

[Verity Cosplay]

Verity Cosplay - thank you for that explanation!

you bet. 89sabers has some examples of #1.

plenty of examples of #2 out there too. Most Luke Heroes for example. And the 89 Sideous.

There are trade offs for each path.

#1 would be cheaper, stronger and simpler for construction. Down side is mass, Leia is LIGHT and I wish it were heavier.

#2 would be heavier, but more expensive and more complex / trickier construction. (Copper is just more expensive than aluminum. No way around that). There MAY be a strength challenge this way as well.

my personal desire would be 2.a and do a blend, however this poses the challenge of matching plating to natural copper components. I'd worry about shade differences if we went that route.

Everything poses a trade off of some kind. That is the nature of designing sabers and represents what I am currently pondering through. The assembly design is probably 90+ % done but trying to work out that last 10%.

 

[PrinceZip]

BRRogers Verity Cosplay

Have your sources told you how the real hero prop was constructed?
Is the hero a solid piece or hollow inside?
Where exactly do parts separate?
Are copper sections plated or separate copper pieces?

Whatever option you guys go with, my vote would always be to make it prop accurate.

 

[Verity Cosplay]

BRRogers Verity Cosplay

Have your sources told you how the real hero prop was constructed?
Is the hero a solid piece or hollow inside?
Where exactly do parts separate?
Are copper sections plated or separate copper pieces?


Whatever option you guys go with, my vote would always be to make it prop accurate.

Almost impossible to tell whether it is plated or actual copper.

there are definitely some tells on breaks (and I am using those as for sure breaks in the assembly). There are other spots that are less sure.

we don't have details of the exact prop construction at this time.

As an example of such "tells"... you can clearly see the ring in the middle of the switch sits over the copper here, and that the switch has a cutout to sit on the ring vs the ring being cut:

 

[yodadawa]

I think real prop is painted. Ask to Spanish artist Ruth Villamagna on IG because she's been painting all new saga sabers.

 

[Verity Cosplay]

I think real prop is painted. Ask to Spanish artist Ruth Villamagna on IG because she's been painting all new saga sabers.

I disagree. Simply do to the fact the tarnishing of the copper between the scenes and the archives is obvious. It has a copper surface that is getting patina.

 

[PrinceZip]

Almost impossible to tell whether it is plated or actual copper.

there are definitely some tells on breaks (and I am using those as for sure breaks in the assembly). There are other spots that are less sure.

we don't have details of the exact prop construction at this time.

As an example of such "tells"... you can clearly see the ring in the middle of the switch sits over the copper here, and that the switch has a cutout to sit on the ring vs the ring being cut:

View attachment 1288770

Thank you for pointing out those 'breaks'!
I definitely notice breaks / gaps between aluminum sections and copper sections.

Thus, I believe copper parts are actual copper, rather than plated.
I think option 2. is the way to go

 

[Verity Cosplay]

Thank you for pointing out those 'breaks'!
I definitely notice breaks / gaps between aluminum sections and copper sections.

Thus, I believe copper parts are actual copper, rather than plated.
I think option 2. is the way to go

How I am CURRENTLY working things out is to do a thin sleeve type setup locked between thread sections. Similar to the fancy ring accents that TCSS sells for their hilt components (if that makes sense).

i think that makes for the cleanest approach. However there are a couple of spots (namely the copper rings that bookend The main grip section) that make this really inconvenient. Not sure how to handle those yet.

 

[Metaphysics]

Please remove me from the interest list. Unfortunately, something unexpected came up and I cannot afford to spend on this right now.

 

[Verity Cosplay]

Please remove me from the interest list. Unfortunately, something unexpected came up and I cannot afford to spend on this right now.

Sorry to hear that. Will do. Note if it helps on time frame I expect we would not be collecting money before 8ish weeks minimum. We still have to spec and prototype and produce them. We won't be collecting money before the run is fully produced and shipping.

 

[ventuoguy]

I would vote for full copper, not plating. That would set this piece aside from any other run in the future. The first scratch I see in any painted/plated metal object I've owned I can't seem to 'un-see.' I guess strength might be an issue up at the thin-neck region especially for an FX saber. Any thought to doing a solid variant? It would be HEAVY and incredible

 

[Verity Cosplay]

I would vote for full copper, not plating. That would set this piece aside from any other run in the future. The first scratch I see in any painted/plated metal object I've owned I can't seem to 'un-see.' I guess strength might be an issue up at the thin-neck region especially for an FX saber. Any thought to doing a solid variant? It would be HEAVY and incredible

i can compensate for the copper in the neck the same way we did the Luke Hero...

a couple folks have mentioned desire of a static but we are undecided.

 

[corliss1]

I'd also be in for a static, but I'll get whatever you guys do and just assemble as a static anyway, or see what assembly options you end up offering

 

[Obi1Kenobi]

I'd also be in for a static, but I'll get whatever you guys do and just assemble as a static anyway, or see what assembly options you end up offering

Same goes for me.

 

[Verity Cosplay]

Alright. So I need to make adjustments and overlays but rough cut of belt clip. It is NOT there yet so don't fret everyone. But it's rough shaped and I have a sense of the core geometry of it, I just need to adjust it all for accuracy.

 

[Halliwax]

Still wicked impressive

 

[Verity Cosplay]

Still wicked impressive

Thanks buddy! I won't call 'er good until it is FLAWLESS though. That is how we roll.

 

[Luuke]

I don't think that's a double groove at the base of the grip/clip. I think its a rivet or screw but blends in because of the low resolution.

 

[Luuke]

And...I think it's machined copper, not copper plated.