Something out of Nothing - Budget Builds lets see them!
- Thread starter Fuzzual
- Start date
There's some great builds on this thread, not sure mine are on par with what I've seen so far, but here ya go 
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:
One done
And a couple WIP
As well as sabers, I modded one of my boys naff looking nerf pistols using nothing but recycled materials, and a plastic bottle.
Does workshop equipment count?
My degassing chamber and work unit were made from a chest of draws and a helium bottle
Welding the gasket flange on was the only part I couldn't do, and that becouse I don't have a mig or tig
And most recently to help with the saber builds (y'know, just in case), a pipe lathe
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:
One done
And a couple WIP
As well as sabers, I modded one of my boys naff looking nerf pistols using nothing but recycled materials, and a plastic bottle.
Does workshop equipment count?
My degassing chamber and work unit were made from a chest of draws and a helium bottle
Welding the gasket flange on was the only part I couldn't do, and that becouse I don't have a mig or tig
And most recently to help with the saber builds (y'know, just in case), a pipe lathe
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CaptainMarvel
Well-Known Member
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
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 ??)
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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 ??)
Awesome suggestion, and links!!! Many thanks
I love details like that and i only touched on the presentation aspect :thumbsupPM 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)
CaptainMarvel
Well-Known Member
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)
Bandit-Jedi
Sr Member
Tron Legacy Baton
using a $10 flashlight, $15 in paint, free cardboard and hot glue
using a $10 flashlight, $15 in paint, free cardboard and hot glue
Tron Legacy Baton
using a $10 flashlight, $15 in paint, free cardboard and hot glue
excellent build!
Mean Obiwan
Well-Known Member
I love this thread. It just goes to show anyone can make awesome, impressive props without having to spend a butt load of money. Almost any project of mine costs under five bucks, most nothing at all, and they usually come out fairly impressive.
The batteries for my camera are dead, but as soon as I get my hands on some, I'll post up some pictures of all of my budget builds. :thumbsup
The batteries for my camera are dead, but as soon as I get my hands on some, I'll post up some pictures of all of my budget builds. :thumbsup
Mean Obiwan
Well-Known Member
Ok, here's some of my stuff. Most of this didn't cost me a dime. At the most I probably spent a buck on super glue.
Here was my attempt at the "Move Along" sandtrooper helmet. I did have to dish out a little bit for bondo, and the like.
I clearly support the empire, even in music. My nerf gun next to it.
Here's a cantina I made for my figures. Some of them are knocked over, but that's one of the benefits to having a cat.
Some western, and post apocalypse props.
The start of some Supernatural stuff.
All of these figures I spent no money on. The stormtroopers helmet is current being used a christmas tree-topper.
And last, I re-painted my keyboard.
Here was my attempt at the "Move Along" sandtrooper helmet. I did have to dish out a little bit for bondo, and the like.
I clearly support the empire, even in music. My nerf gun next to it.
Here's a cantina I made for my figures. Some of them are knocked over, but that's one of the benefits to having a cat.
Some western, and post apocalypse props.
The start of some Supernatural stuff.
All of these figures I spent no money on. The stormtroopers helmet is current being used a christmas tree-topper.
And last, I re-painted my keyboard.
That m41a Looks great !
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 had always wanted the CPU from Terminator but... these either cost too much or were not very good. So I made my own from cardboard including the display stand.
http://www.therpf.com/f9/t2-cpu-display-99800/
Enjoy.
http://www.therpf.com/f9/t2-cpu-display-99800/
Enjoy.
Flagg
Sr Member
OK, I'll join and put a few of my cheap projects here...
Phantasm Sphere. Stole the orb from my sister's garden and used scrap for the rest so I'm in to this $6 for the chrome paint.
Audrey 2 plants. Not accurate at all but still cute and popular when I do offer them. Costs about $2 in parts. Made from plastic easter eggs, hot glue, fake leaves and some liquid latex.
Resident Evil-ish T-Virus and Injector Gun. The gun was a toy from an "Xtractaurs" set and cost about $4. I used a nasal spray bottle for the barrel end. Some clear plastic tube and plastic end caps and plastic rods. Maybe $15-$20 somewhere in parts? I found a flight case for like $10 at a pawn shop that I then customized to fit this and used an old t-shirt as the black lining over a foam insert.
Lastly, I made a "Beads of Subjugation"necklace from Inuasha for my wife. I sculpted the claws out of sculpty and the beads were store bought so this was like $10.
Phantasm Sphere. Stole the orb from my sister's garden and used scrap for the rest so I'm in to this $6 for the chrome paint.
Audrey 2 plants. Not accurate at all but still cute and popular when I do offer them. Costs about $2 in parts. Made from plastic easter eggs, hot glue, fake leaves and some liquid latex.
Resident Evil-ish T-Virus and Injector Gun. The gun was a toy from an "Xtractaurs" set and cost about $4. I used a nasal spray bottle for the barrel end. Some clear plastic tube and plastic end caps and plastic rods. Maybe $15-$20 somewhere in parts? I found a flight case for like $10 at a pawn shop that I then customized to fit this and used an old t-shirt as the black lining over a foam insert.
Lastly, I made a "Beads of Subjugation"necklace from Inuasha for my wife. I sculpted the claws out of sculpty and the beads were store bought so this was like $10.
I built a Vortex Manipulator for a Capt. Jack Harkness Halloween costume this year. Total cost was under $20 as nearly all of it was scraps from other builds. The expensive element was the snaps!
Very cool!
You guys are amazing.. I feel silly posting my simple build... Tthis is the first project ive finished.... Im currently working on a Marvels Sentinel Foam armor....
But these we made out of left over items in the home..... A piece of a Concrete form, cereal box, an empty smart water bottle, some plumbing pipes, a left over electirc corrigated tube, and we had to order the globe.... So I would say MAX cost was 35$
But these we made out of left over items in the home..... A piece of a Concrete form, cereal box, an empty smart water bottle, some plumbing pipes, a left over electirc corrigated tube, and we had to order the globe.... So I would say MAX cost was 35$
robinhood jw
Member
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.
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.
Hey man this is pretty great. The screws on the circuit board is pretty ingenious. Any bits on the parts you used for the gear or clamp portions? This looks inspired by Big Yellow Box (The garden hose neck) probably screwed onto a wooden dowel right? (My first saber was from them too - an Obi EP 1 style)
