"My second foray into the world of EL..."
Click on the picture for a 640X480 picture with more detail.
| This is my re-creation of Darth Vader's saber from
ANH.
This saber was made from an antique SOL flash gun. I used a slightly
modified conversion kit from Yoda's house. (Thanks John, its great stuff!).
This kit only came with 6 grips, but I had some excess gripping, which I used to make another grip.
Now, it has seven, which the current consensus agrees is correct. The grips were stuck on with thicker double-sided tape so the end cap can still screw off. The battery is located under it. |
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| I am going to have to remove some
of the material under the vents to make it look more like of the venting around the bulb on
the old flash. I drilled and tapped the blade tensioner bolt in crooked, but the bulb release hides it OK. I am still waiting for a nice injected modeled band to go under the clamp's band. This should make the clamp nice and tight on the tube. Without it, it has the tendency to turn and slid up and down. |
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| The bulb release will not
work on this flash tube. I did drill and tap the 4/40 screws to hold it though. This makes it nice and flush with the tube. In these pictures I only have it stuck on with
some double-sided tape.
I want to use a micro-switch under the clamp that I salvaged from one of those lightsaber pen thingees. I have to test the voltage first, but I should be able to use this as the switch to turn the EL cable on and off. |
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| Aside from the scratches
on this tube, I believe it is turning out OK. I wanted it to be as close
to the original as possible, but it doesn't have to be spot on.
I plan on using this hilt for sparring anyway. |
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| I used a piece of 1 1/4" aluminum tubing for the blade sleeve. I then JB welded it to the flash's original emitter. Gives it a better look. I am not sure what metal the flash's emitter is made of, but I want to polish it before I really consider it finished. |
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| Here is a couple of pix of
the blade. If you compare this one with my green blade, you can tell it is not as bright.
The green EL blade is located on My First EL Saber page. |
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| The cabachone on the end looks dark in the picture, but the light comes through it. I used a bit of wax paper under it to keep the wire from being seen, but I don't really think this is necessary. I compared it to my green blade after I remade it, and you can't really see the wire. |
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| I do love the color though! It looks pretty close. If only red EL was about twice as bright :-( . |
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