I’ve always had mixed feelings about Luke’s ROTJ saber. I think, as a kid, it was the first one that made me realize that lightsabers were all unique, and it’s probably what made me a lightsaber nerd. But when I was a kid the toy lightsabers looked nothing like the real thing so it wasn’t until the Archives book and tech journals came out that I really was able to fully see the thing outside of VHS pausing.
Obviously, the fact of the Graflex being a real world object, and it’s more unique features, I was quickly won over into being a bigger fan of that design. As the “hero” ROTJ saber was replicated more and more for toys, models, etc. I started to actively dislike it.
The idea that Luke would need two giant buttons with arrows rubbed me the wrong way. When the discovery of the V2 was verified, I was overjoyed because it was SO much cooler and Star Wars-y than the hero.
That said, it had two features I really didn’t like. I hated the flat top emitter, and I didn’t like that the Graflex word wasn’t covered on the clamp. Minor details, yes, but it ruined the full-immersion factor that the ANH/ESB sabers had. So, in my lurk mode here, when I saw the various V2 runs and offerings I held back.
But a couple things have happened…
First, for some odd reason Battlefront’s artist chose to use the Vader stunt and V2 as their models in the game. Given that Luke’s saber gets a close up on a load screen, they of course omitted the GRAFLEX logo:
Then, a behind the scenes video revealed Luke’s saber was recreated for TFA. Despite being based on the hero, which I dislike, I DID like the Obi-Wan style emitter that suddenly made it seem much more real to me.
When Dan decided to offer up this model in a unibody design, I realized I could make an idealized version that would make me happy. Given that my ESB Vader has an inverted color scheme, and my ANH Graflex had six holes drilled in it before the discovery of the toe-pic, it should be pretty obvious that screen accuracy isn’t my thing as much as something that makes me happy.
So this is my happy-making idealized Luke build… I plan to basically recreate the V2, but with the emitter detail of TFA, and the clamp detail as seen in Battlefront.
Step one— I’m doing the scariest part first. Mostly because I don’t want to mess up the weathering and paint later if I slip, and also because I’d hate to get really far than ruin things. Using the work of many of you that have come before me, I’m to screw/tap holes for the cone-knob and mystery chunk. I did these both on my last custom saber, but that was on a tube— I’ve never done it on a solid piece… without a press.
Pilot holes first….
I was sweating these the whole time… partially because I just moved into a new house, and built my little workshop outside because California… but it’s 100 out today…
Started great, then… SNAP
Fuuuuuuuuuuuu…..
Okay… don’t panic. GENTLY use some pliers to back it out and.....
SNAP AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGVKJHVLHBOBKGKU
Sooo, maybe I start a new pilot, bigger bit, you know, an actual titanium one meant for metal, right next to this, knowing the real hole will encompass both… I didn't take any pics here because I was too nervous and cranky and working super slow. BUT...
THANK THE MAKER IT WORKED. I was terrified the tap was going to snap off too as I turned away.. again, no pics cause I wanted to get out of the dangerzone asap...
Thankfully, success on both pieces.
The process added a few dings and scratches, but thankfully, the V2 has plenty of those, so by the time I'm done you won't notice...
Next— a bit of pre-weathering with ye ol’ oven cleaner. Two hits, 3-4 minutes each, warm rinse between.
And apologies for the blurry pic-- but the Aluminum blackener was working so fast I had to snap and dunk. I plan to use Trent's stencils, but the emitter pattern won't work given the detailed TFA style. So I decided to blacken it as that might make for a more organic result. It worked GREAT-- but it bubbled over. At first I was worried that might mess me up, but I realized it actually was great. I used a scouring pad to scrape off where I didn't want it, and it actually gave the right kind of look on the underside of the emitter, where the stencils don't cover.
Next step should be paint... but I am going to go out of order and assemble the clamp. My concern is that the clamp is going to require some serious wrangling as while it technically belongs on this thing, none of the pieces being used have been exactly machined for this body. Plus, given that this is a unibody design, I'm going to have to expand the clamp a but to get it over the pommel.
All that muscle work done on top of a paint job? knowing my brute skills I KNOW I'd just mess up the paint, so I'd rather get it on and deal with taping it off for paint.
I'll be back with that step!
Obviously, the fact of the Graflex being a real world object, and it’s more unique features, I was quickly won over into being a bigger fan of that design. As the “hero” ROTJ saber was replicated more and more for toys, models, etc. I started to actively dislike it.
The idea that Luke would need two giant buttons with arrows rubbed me the wrong way. When the discovery of the V2 was verified, I was overjoyed because it was SO much cooler and Star Wars-y than the hero.
That said, it had two features I really didn’t like. I hated the flat top emitter, and I didn’t like that the Graflex word wasn’t covered on the clamp. Minor details, yes, but it ruined the full-immersion factor that the ANH/ESB sabers had. So, in my lurk mode here, when I saw the various V2 runs and offerings I held back.
But a couple things have happened…
First, for some odd reason Battlefront’s artist chose to use the Vader stunt and V2 as their models in the game. Given that Luke’s saber gets a close up on a load screen, they of course omitted the GRAFLEX logo:
Then, a behind the scenes video revealed Luke’s saber was recreated for TFA. Despite being based on the hero, which I dislike, I DID like the Obi-Wan style emitter that suddenly made it seem much more real to me.
When Dan decided to offer up this model in a unibody design, I realized I could make an idealized version that would make me happy. Given that my ESB Vader has an inverted color scheme, and my ANH Graflex had six holes drilled in it before the discovery of the toe-pic, it should be pretty obvious that screen accuracy isn’t my thing as much as something that makes me happy.
So this is my happy-making idealized Luke build… I plan to basically recreate the V2, but with the emitter detail of TFA, and the clamp detail as seen in Battlefront.
Step one— I’m doing the scariest part first. Mostly because I don’t want to mess up the weathering and paint later if I slip, and also because I’d hate to get really far than ruin things. Using the work of many of you that have come before me, I’m to screw/tap holes for the cone-knob and mystery chunk. I did these both on my last custom saber, but that was on a tube— I’ve never done it on a solid piece… without a press.
Pilot holes first….
I was sweating these the whole time… partially because I just moved into a new house, and built my little workshop outside because California… but it’s 100 out today…
Started great, then… SNAP
Fuuuuuuuuuuuu…..
Okay… don’t panic. GENTLY use some pliers to back it out and.....
SNAP AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGVKJHVLHBOBKGKU
Sooo, maybe I start a new pilot, bigger bit, you know, an actual titanium one meant for metal, right next to this, knowing the real hole will encompass both… I didn't take any pics here because I was too nervous and cranky and working super slow. BUT...
THANK THE MAKER IT WORKED. I was terrified the tap was going to snap off too as I turned away.. again, no pics cause I wanted to get out of the dangerzone asap...
Thankfully, success on both pieces.
The process added a few dings and scratches, but thankfully, the V2 has plenty of those, so by the time I'm done you won't notice...
Next— a bit of pre-weathering with ye ol’ oven cleaner. Two hits, 3-4 minutes each, warm rinse between.
And apologies for the blurry pic-- but the Aluminum blackener was working so fast I had to snap and dunk. I plan to use Trent's stencils, but the emitter pattern won't work given the detailed TFA style. So I decided to blacken it as that might make for a more organic result. It worked GREAT-- but it bubbled over. At first I was worried that might mess me up, but I realized it actually was great. I used a scouring pad to scrape off where I didn't want it, and it actually gave the right kind of look on the underside of the emitter, where the stencils don't cover.
Next step should be paint... but I am going to go out of order and assemble the clamp. My concern is that the clamp is going to require some serious wrangling as while it technically belongs on this thing, none of the pieces being used have been exactly machined for this body. Plus, given that this is a unibody design, I'm going to have to expand the clamp a but to get it over the pommel.
All that muscle work done on top of a paint job? knowing my brute skills I KNOW I'd just mess up the paint, so I'd rather get it on and deal with taping it off for paint.
I'll be back with that step!
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