Hey guys, I know this has been dead for some time but I got some updates for the Graflex, finally! It's been a while but a couple of big things have happened. So here is a quick run-down before I get to the pictures:
I sold my old bottom that had the Blast-Tech grips on them and swapped it out with a Folmer Graflex w/ patent bottom, which now matches my Folmer Graflex top piece. I almost had a Folmer w/o patent bottom a couple of times but I decided eventually to cut the loss and go with this one. Besides, a vintage bottom is a vintage bottom.
I also got some grips cut by a friend of mine using a milling machine and a lathe and they came out beautifully. Still got small scratches on them like what Chaïm was saying, but they look a lot cleaner than anything I was doing.
I managed to get six Exactra 20 screws and put them onto the grips to hold the grips down. And before anyone asks, No. I did not paint the screws. Somehow, something around my area oxidized the screws in about a week and a half to the black color they are now. But I like it. Here is a picture from when they were Silver:
I also bit the bullet and decided that I was just going to use a replica Kobold piece. So I ordered one on Wanna Wanga so I can start getting this thing finished. I did, however, pick up a vintage D-Ring that was new/old stock and weathered it with flames and sandpaper to make it look a bit older. I wanted to swap that guy out on my WannaWanga Kobold Clip.
However, three days later, I found (and won) a Kobold Flash in an eBay Auction! It finally happened! After six months of searching I finally found my vintage Kobold! And it just came in today! And no, I was not driving when this photo was taken.
While I Originally thought about keeping the Kobold 100% original, this clip was pretty beat up while the rest of the Kobold was damn near immaculate, so I decided in the end to swap them out. Now the beat up vintage Kobold clip matches the saber, and the nicer looking Replica WW clip blends in well with the Kobold itself. And, I've got a great Droid Caller prop!
Here is the final Product:
So the parts on this lightsaber currently stand at:
Vintage Folmer Graflex w/ Patent 3-Cell with 2x Vintage Red Buttons
Vintage HP-44 I/O Bus Card
Vintage Textured Tape
WannaWanga Plastic Grips
Vintage Exactra 20 Screws
Vintage Kobold Clip
WannaWanga 4mm Rivets
Vintage D-Ring (New/Old stock, weathered by me.
I still have quite a bit to do. I got a Martin Beyer Chassis to paint, I got the electronics to Install, and I got a Neopixel Blade to make (Once I see the Crystal Focus 9 comes out, at least.) And I still need to make my blade plug using the vintage contact Point. But it's here. and it finally looks like a real lightsaber!