I've been having a go at my first saber builds recently, my kids have wanted some for ages, and as things are a bit tight this year, I thought I'd try and make them some in time for Christmas. Man has it been fun , but trying to keep them a secret has been hard work:lol The ony purchases have been the lights and blade, everything else is recycled (each saber: £15).
Armed with a few pipe cutoffs, and a box full of greeblies:
Okay, this may come across as a bit "Star Wars Geeky," but I have an idea on how you might further enhance the "presentation" aspect of these gifts you're making for your kids . . .
As I've been watching this latest season of "SW:The Clone Wars" - the most recent episodes being about youngling Padawans obtaining their own "power crystals" and constructing their own lightsabers - an idea hit me . . .
SEE CLIP --> Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 5 Episode 6 The Gathering Trailer 1 - YouTube
In seeing that these are "unique" saber hilt creations for your kids - as opposed to movie replicas - then an idea to accompany each saber gift for each respective child would/could be to create/build a cool looking hinged box for each saber, along with some kind of plaque or parchment (with "Star Wars/Jedi esque style font) denoting the unique significance of the lightsaber to each Jedi, yadda yadda yadda.
--> GOOGLE'd IMAGES for OLD PARCHMENT
--> GOOGLE'd STAR WARS-esque FONT
Just an idea that hit me as I saw how you're coming along with your custom saber project(s).
TOM
P.S. (Are there instructions/tutorials online as to how to create/wire-up the actual acrylic (or whatever it is) saber "beam" part ??)
Cool, thanks . . . I know I've seen a couple of sites out there that offer the various "parts" - I'm just not all that up on the whole "how to" for wiring it up for activation (and sound, if desired). I'll drop you a PM at some point for some pointers. :cheersPM me if you want help with lighting, it'll keep this great thread on topic, but this is a WIP pic of the light test just prior to painting the hilt:
(Keeping it simple - I'm using the torch, cellophane and mirror setup for the kids sabers, it's the simplest method out there, and the blades can be removed so the hilt can be worn on a belt)
Tron Legacy Baton
using a $10 flashlight, $15 in paint, free cardboard and hot glue
Although it's not very accurate- I carved an m41a- pulse rifle from pink foam. Lightweight, and easy to haul as a costume prop. I know not everybody has a cnc machine available- but if you have access, you can make quick cheap props as well as high end expensive ones...
I built a Vortex Manipulator for a Capt. Jack Harkness Halloween costume this year. Total cost was under $20 as nearly all of it was scraps from other builds. The expensive element was the snaps!
This is my lightsaber from Halloween several years ago. Very loosely based on Kenobi's. This was back before all the parts to the Obi Wan AHN saber had been identified.
Anyway, all-in-all I spent maybe $20 on new parts, and the rest was made from stuff already in my basement.
Great thread BTW. Most of my stuff is low budget. I'll post more later when I have time to dig for some photos.