CONSTRUCTION OF AN ANH (EP IV) LUKE SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER
USING AN ACTUAL GRAFLEX FLASH HOUSING
I have always wanted a lightsaber from the original movie (ANH) that was given to Luke Skywalker by Obi' Wan.
As far as what I have in light sabers, I currently have:
o Master Replica's (MR) Luke Skywalker ANH full scale replica.
o A MR .45 scale version of the Luke ANH saber.
o MR FX Luke ESB
o MR FX Anakin Skywalker.
o 2 REAL Graflex Flash Units (both from eBay).
This will show my progress, collected parts and related information.
After visiting the kind folks at the RPF forum, I have gathered quite a bit of saber information that was unknown to me!
The saber parts/details are very hard to come by if you want to make an EXACT copy as used in the movies.
In particular what is called the "bubble" strip that goes into the flash clamp.
Some key items and design/upgrade issues:
o The originals had a bubble strip that came from an old Texas Instruments "EXACTRA 20" calculator (70's era).
I have/had one of those and used to use it, now I'm scrambling through boxes to see if I still have it (I'm a pack rat :)
(The bubbles were used to magnify the LED displays on the calculator)
o Finding the correct hilt "D" ring assembly that is attached to the bottom of the housing.
o Locating the proper 7 grip strips (or "T-Tracks") that are added to the bottom of the housing for the grip.
I'm now told they used rubber material/windshield wiper blades AND plastic track from cabinets.
As far as a light source/blade, I have decided to go the Luxeon LED route. Luxeon LED's are bright and if the blade is removed, will make one heck of a flashlight :). Anyway, I've ordered parts to convert the original Graflex into a Luxeon power saber. Only time will tell if I have made the right choice. Color of blade will be Cyan, hopefully close to Luke's ANH saber's color. Luxeon LED's are also getting better all the time as technology is updated on them. I can see the future of these Luxeon's to be "bright".
I ordered a Luxeon Conversion Kit with a "generic" blade from the kind folks at The Graflex Shop. They have been very helpful with great communication, I highly recommend dealing with them!
Another good and popular/friendly supplier of saber conversion parts is Tim over at The Custom Saber Shop (TCSS). They carry the popular "Coring" type blades which I will be using on my Luxeon converted saber. They also host a popular saber build forum The Custom Saber Shop Forum. You can go there and get all kinds of information on building your own custom saber or prop.
I ordered a Luxeon driver and sound board from Erv' over at Plector Labs in located in France. The board is a great addition to any Luxeon based saber. The Custom Saber Shop also supplies a custom Luxeon/sound driver board though I have not tried that one yet.
One of the original Graflex's will get the Luxeon treatment, and the other will just get the grips, bubble strip, etc. for a static prop/model.
ORIGINAL GRAFLEX DISASSEMBLY
08/20/07 : Click on this link: Graflex Disassembly to show how I disassembled an original Graflex Flash Housing to remove the front Flash Bulb Housing to ready it for the Graflex Shop Luxeon kit.
ORIGINAL GRAFLEX LUXEON DRIVEN ASSEMBLY
01/07/07 : Click on this link: Luxeon Graflex Assembly to see my current build efforts for the Graflex Luxeon LED powered saber. Using a Crystal Focus 3.0 board from Erv' over in France. Shows assembly and how I'm putting this thing together.
MY CURRENT GRAFLEX TYPE LIGHT SABER COLLECTION:
The upper two "sabers" are the REAL Graflex Flash Units.
Third unit shown below is a scale Master Replica (MR) Luke ANH saber.
And finally a MR .45 Luke ANH saber.
The top unit I have chosen to gut out and put in the Graflex Shop Blade Kit since is has the most wear.
Second unit from top is in very nice condition and will become a "static" prop only.
PARTS COLLECTIONS, PICTURES AND COMMENTS
09/10/07 : Graflex ANH Conversion kit from Charles Wallace Design Studio's.
o Grips look great, about the same as MR and nice rounded edges.
o "D" ring looks good, but seems a little larger than MR.
o Bubble Strip looks pretty good. Bubbles are not quite as tall as MR. Will need a little cleanup as it has casting marks and other problem area's.
o Of course the usual "chrome" strips.
08/18/07 : More T-Tracks
Received a set of plastic "T-Track" grips from Derek Marcum ("SaberFreak" on RPF). He mentioned that the "original sabers had hard grips that hurt the actors hand..." I'm going to put these on my static "real" Graflex prop.
They will have to be lightly sanded then properly painted black.
Not quite sure how to attach them as they are not curved in the back like the rubber grips that come with most of the Graflex ANH Conversion Kits....
Will have to round the edges also on the plastic "T-Track"...
08/14/07 : The Graflex Shop Luxeon LED Conversion Kit.
Parts included were:
1) Luxeon III cyan colored LED
2) Luxeon LED Heat Sink (aluminum)
3) Deluxe Graflex Blade Socket (aluminum)
4) 1 ohm 5 watt Resistor Voltage Limiting Resistor
5) Battery Holder for 4 AAA Batteries (will be updating to re-chargeable AA types)
6) Red Graflex Red Button with Switch (momentary)
7) Graflex "Glass Eye" Replica Blade Retaining Screw
8) 40 Inch Long x 1 Inch Diameter Polycarbonate Blade with Installed Light Diffuser (not shown)
Extras:
1) 1 Set 4 Each Brass Graflex "Short" Brass Pins
2) Graflex Pin Removal Tool
08/12/07 : Graflex Conversion Kit from TFX Studio's.
Turns out the "bubbles" in the strip are incorrect (looks like the ones from Park Sabers...)
Again, there are supposed to be 7 "bubbles" from an old Texas Instruments calculator.
I have ordered another kit to try and get the correct bubble strip from Blast Tech.
The 7 rubber strips in this first kit appear "correct", but they are a little taller than my Master Replica's (MR) Luke ANH saber.
The D-ring looks close, but there is a stamped "U" in the ring clip and the D-ring hole is fairly large, making the "D" ring flop around a lot. D-Ring is about the right size compared to my MR, but I do not like the looseness nor the stamped "U".
Bubble strip from my first conversion kit show above. Notice incorrect bubble spacing and count!
FARG!!! I'll have to order another one. I think BlastTech.com has the right ones.
This is a picture of my Master Replica's Luke ANH Lightsaber.
Notice the "correct" 7 bubble strip on the flash clamp
Here is a closeup shot of the bubble strip on the MR saber
ORIGINAL GRAFLEX FLASH HOUSINGS
08/12/07 : A picture of my first REAL Graflex housing I got of eBay. (the one shown in the top of the picture shown the group of 4).
No, REAL Graflex Flash Units are not cheap, unless you get lucky and get a good deal :)
Also, no it's not "mint" condition, but I'm going to weather mine anyway (like my R2 droid )
This one is getting the "blade treatment".
Another shot of the Graflex
End shot of the Graflex housing
That's it for now. Will be updating as I get more parts in...
Last updated: January 09, 2008
Time: 0752 EST