How To Make Authentic Lightsabers 128
IQpierce writes "My good friend Bradley W. Lewis has set up a site for his hobby: building replica lightsabers at home. These aren't your average cheap pieces of plastic, in fact they're more authentic than the Master Replica sabers: Brad tracks down the pieces of equipment actually used to build the original props — or, when they're unavailable, very close replicas, that he further customizes with a metal lathe in his garage — and puts them together with loving attention. My favorite part is the embellishments he does add, on the inside of the saber — his replica of Luke's saber from ANH can be opened to see authentic-looking internals such as a glowing crystal (as well as another surprise — an autograph from Luke himself, Mark Hamill). Each project is documented step-by-step with hundreds of photos — whether you're a hobbyist, or just a big Star Wars geek like me, you'll find it interesting."
Hobbies (Score:3, Interesting)
I know it's good to have a hobby. I guess I'm just more inclined to hobbies with real world applications like building cars or furniture.
Of course this is beyond cool!
Have you seen the directions? (Score:2, Interesting)
There are a lot of expensive tools at work in those articles. A lathe, drill press, a gas torch for soldering, plus a lot of junk for spare parts. I think the equipment list would put this safely outside the hobbyist category.
Now if someone came up with a kit that you could use to convert an old flash gun, that would put in the hobbyist realm.
Originals (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:And Lucas says... (Score:5, Interesting)
This has been my hobby for quite some time now as well. Less with lightsabers and more with many other Star Wars props. You pretty much can not buy official licensed replicas that are more than about 75% accurate. I've always been shooting for 99-100% accurate. I have rebuilt the stormtrooper E-11 blaster from an original demilitarized sterling SMG, the tank scope, industrial counter, slide rails and other original parts used to make the original prop. I've also done the same thing for Boba Fetts blaster made from an antique British flare gun, 2 cell graflex tube, parts from the Rivel visible V-8 engine, and many other parts.
It's a hobby as much as anything else. Geeky in the scifi/fantasy realm as well as gives me a chance to build things.
Its now virtually impossible.... (Score:4, Interesting)
to get hold of a Speed Graphic/MPP flashgun nowadays thanks to these damn buffoons who need an "authentic" lightsabre. They're almost as criminally culpable as hotrod builders who take increasingly rare classic vehicles and prostitute them into something only a deranged magpie would love.
Once the Chilean miners have been rescued, I would like to post lightsabre makers and their customers DOWN the rescue shaft.
Bah!
Re:Its now virtually impossible.... (Score:1, Interesting)