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Post by Olos Nay on Sept 13, 2006 13:13:07 GMT -5
The power up, power down effect is created using a series of LEDs, and the Lueon, I believe it is just one very powerful LED in the hilt. So, yes, you would lose that effect, but the sound would remain. I don't currently have video to prove it, but with the proper Luxeon Driver you can have a fade-in and fade-out on the led. Combine that to a properly made blade and this fade-in and fade-out becomes an extension/retraction on the blade. My luxeon lightsaber has been set up like that for a year now, with older luxeon leds. the new ones must be inpressive.
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2saberjedi
Message Board Member
in Darkness we are the lite
Posts: 161
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Post by 2saberjedi on Sept 14, 2006 21:31:38 GMT -5
(bow)
i would like to see that video Olos Nay
May The Force Be With You
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Post by Olos Nay on Sept 15, 2006 10:45:01 GMT -5
I'll try to manage to film that with my videocamera, but I can assure you that it is impressive.
another effect you get with the proper setup if the "lock flash"... as far as I know, there is no lock function with the MRFX blades.
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Post by Shafo Cloudwalker on Oct 14, 2006 10:34:06 GMT -5
Boy im glad I saw this thread, I have the MR Obi-Wan FX lightsaber too, and my only real misgiving was that the blade isnt removeable/switchable. I love the Parks sabers but im now spoiled with the FX's sound effects. To me it looks as if ultrasabers is the ticket. I was thinking of buying another one as Fry's Electronics has plenty of them in stock, and just hackng into it to see what I could do and that way if I ruin it I still have a working one. Though after lookng it over I still dont see how they come apart, though im sure there is a way. But, it does appear that ultrasabers has the best answer to what I want, and at a price I can live with. Thanks friends, and also to Leda for starting the thread on this. Shafo...............
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Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 16, 2006 23:14:13 GMT -5
Hmmmm.... hmmmm..... this is very interesting..... I have an Anakin Ep III that I *love* and I don't want to mess with it. But I would like very much to have sort of an "everyday" saber with a removable blade. And my local Borders has the Maul for 20% off so I've been "toying" (pun intended) with the idea of a conversion and have looked at the UltraSabers site (and others). So I'm wondering a few things: 1.) Leda (and anyone else), have you actually done the conversion yet, and if so, were you pleased and/or do you have any tips or observations? 2.) Could the hilt accommodate a PVC (or something else) as well as the Luxeon? (Is it adaptable? Or is it basically blade in / blade out?) 3.) How easy or hard is it to take the blade out or put it in? I know the sites say it just uses an Allen wrench, but I'm looking for personal experience/feedback on ease of use. 4.) Does the knob-thing work with the Covertec clip, or does this setup need to be "tweaked"? It looks like on the Maul that the placement of the knob-thing on the hilt would require the saber to be worn emitter up instead of down. (Yes, I see there's already been discussion about up vs. down.... ) The Maul is a great idea for possible conversion, for all the reasons mentioned already. Hey, it just feels great in your hands! It could also be changed a bit with some O-rings or other "embellishments" to make it different. If one looks in the AOTC VG, several of the Jedi sabers have a similar look, but the badminton-shuttlethingy-looking piece is usually at the handle end rather than the emitter end as on the Maul. Thanks again, everyone, for sharing your ideas and expertise!
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Oct 17, 2006 20:04:27 GMT -5
No, I haven't managed to look into that yet.
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Post by Olos Nay on Oct 19, 2006 14:53:33 GMT -5
Leda, if you need help: remember there are people willing to give you a hand. 1.) Leda (and anyone else), have you actually done the conversion yet, and if so, were you pleased and/or do you have any tips or observations? I personally haven't done it, but am using a custom saber with luxeon blade. if you look here you'll see that my low brightness 1W luxeon competes good with the MRFX... the 3W are brighter, and there are other advantages (removable weightless durable blade) of using luxeon. 2.) Could the hilt accommodate a PVC (or something else) as well as the Luxeon? (Is it adaptable? Or is it basically blade in / blade out?) You mean... using a PVC blade for training? Once you take out the polycarbonate blade, you can put whatever you want it... as long as its the proper diameter. However, if it breaks and scratches your led lens, you're in problems. 3.) How easy or hard is it to take the blade out or put it in? I know the sites say it just uses an Allen wrench, but I'm looking for personal experience/feedback on ease of use. I would tend to say it will vary from conversion kits to others, but generally there is a thumbscrew used to hold the blade in place. 4.) Does the knob-thing work with the Covertec clip, or does this setup need to be "tweaked"? It looks like on the Maul that the placement of the knob-thing on the hilt would require the saber to be worn emitter up instead of down. (Yes, I see there's already been discussion about up vs. down.... ) I tried 3 different FX sabers and the knob worked on my covertec clip. In fact, they are supposed to be accurate to what's in the film, and the film used covertec At Con*Cept, Master Leda and Corja cliped their sabers to their covertec several times.
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Oct 19, 2006 18:01:19 GMT -5
Right... the Master Replicas sabers that have the covertec button fit exactly into a standard covertec clip... no modification.
Thanks Olos... I will be needing help I'm sure!
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Post by Olos Nay on Oct 20, 2006 9:58:23 GMT -5
Its going to be my pleasure :-)
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Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 20, 2006 18:19:56 GMT -5
Leda, if you need help: remember there are people willing to give you a hand. Well, I'd like to thank both of you for your advice. 1.) Leda (and anyone else), have you actually done the conversion yet, and if so, were you pleased and/or do you have any tips or observations? I personally haven't done it, but am using a custom saber with luxeon blade. if you look here you'll see that my low brightness 1W luxeon competes good with the MRFX... the 3W are brighter, and there are other advantages (removable weightless durable blade) of using luxeon. I'll have to investigate that further. I've read that the LEDs produce a lot of heat internally and shouldn't be left on for long periods of time. Therefore, I've been assuming I'd just do the 1W but maybe I should consider other options. I'm really still in "Padawan mode" in this department -- I don't have a lot of experience with things electrical or electronic. I can hang blinds, drapery hardware, shelves, etc., but if it has to "work" when I'm done (e.g., the light switch, the disposer, the faucet), I'm toast. That's my husband's department. ;D Great pictures by the way -- looks like ya'll were at an event last W/E -- fun!!! You mean... using a PVC blade for training? Once you take out the polycarbonate blade, you can put whatever you want it... as long as its the proper diameter. However, if it breaks and scratches your led lens, you're in problems. Wow... glad I asked.... No, don't want to go there then. Never taken one apart so I didn't know how the "guts" worked, other than just very generally from the various threads. Thanks for saving my neck. I would tend to say it will vary from conversion kits to others, but generally there is a thumbscrew used to hold the blade in place. I'm wondering if they have to "drill" the hilt of the Maul for the thumbscrew, since it doesn't have an emitter shroud. I went to the UltraSabers site again, and they have the conversion service for this one but not the kit. I was originally assuming I'd use their service, but based on your conversation, I was thinking I might try to enlist (OK draft ) Jerry for this. Now I'm wondering if there's more to this particular one than meets the eye. Might be the reason TCSS doesn't do it. This conversation will help me know how ask intelligent questions when I contact them, assuming I go this route. (Their quote is for the double saber and I'd only do one. BTW, Leda, I would do green since you want to do the blue.) 4.) Does the knob-thing work with the Covertec clip, or does this setup need to be "tweaked"? It looks like on the Maul that the placement of the knob-thing on the hilt would require the saber to be worn emitter up instead of down. (Yes, I see there's already been discussion about up vs. down.... ) I tried 3 different FX sabers and the knob worked on my covertec clip. In fact, they are supposed to be accurate to what's in the film, and the film used covertec At Con*Cept, Master Leda and Corja cliped their sabers to their covertec several times. Good deal! I tried a cheap pager clip ($1 store) just to see if it works/fits, and it does. So I've gone ahead and ordered a couple of Covertecs. But based on your comment about the lens, I'm wondering about the wisdom of wearing it emitter up. (Dust, etc.) The button is NOT near the pommel, more like 1/2 to 2/3 way -- I'm sure b/c most people would do the double saber and the location of the button would be placed for wearing it like that -- like a traditional sword. If the single is worn emitter down, it sticks up too high and stabs me in the side of the... ahem... bust... and probably wouldn't stay anyway due to the "wrong" balance (no pun intended) as it hangs on the belt. I hear that DV wore his saber emitter up in the OT, but do you foresee a problem with doing it that way from a practical standpoint? (Since we don't have Jedi powers to keep the dust out... ;D) Thanks again for the expert help -- much appreciated.....
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Post by Olos Nay on Oct 23, 2006 11:34:09 GMT -5
To be honest, I use my custom sabers for dueling all the time (well, once a week if there's no rain) and after one year of mistreatment, I had no problems with mine. I'd want to mention that the polycarbonate can take quite a beating, most likely more then the PVC pipe. Now, unless the pipe is pushed to the led (you have a thumbscrew to prevent that) or it breaks in the hilt (when it breaks, I'd assume it would be upon impact of the blade or on the flex point, not inside the hilt - but I'm no mechanical engineer) so I'd say you should be safe... Also, even scratched or misplaced, the led lens works great. my saber took a 8 foot drop and damaged the led holder on my green saber (35 lumens) and it was still working great when I (poorly) replaced everything.
If you go 1W, check to get at least 40 lumens light output, otherwise the effect will be a little dim at the end of your 36 inch blade. I currently use red-orange and amber (45+lumens) and I'd say it competes good with the MRFX... but I'd like to go 3W and see how it goes (some 3W are not all that more bright)
Heatwise, I did tests of leaving it lighted for about 1 hour, the hilt was warm to the touch, but not hot. if you have a good heatsink, the 3W should not be a problem, particularly if you think that you will rarely keep your saber lighted for more then 5-10 minutes. (from experience) I have a luseon 3W flashlight, and it does get warmer then my saber, but no problems to report after long period of being powered on.
Now, for the set screw in the maul... I can't say for sure, I haven't checked the conversion kits. I would suggest you ask whoever will make it for you how they'd do it.
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Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 23, 2006 19:37:13 GMT -5
Thanks, Olos! It actually made more sense to me the second time I read it -- remember, "electronically challenged" here.... (That's what droids are for... what? We don't have droids??!? ) More good advice, and thanks for sharing your experience with the blades -- being sturdy and all. That's good to know -- I assumed the blade needed to be babied a bit, even if the LED chain (or whatever it's called) were removed.... it's good to know it's a bit forgiving for a 40-something Padawan. ;D But I'll know better how it works inside and how to be careful. I just looked at the UltraSabers conversion info page again -- it does spec the Luxeon III. I must have missed that before. I'm also glad to know about the heat and brightness issues. Well, I've emailed an inquiry, so I'll see what they have to say. I REALLY appreciate the help!
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Post by Olos Nay on Oct 24, 2006 11:22:17 GMT -5
No problem. I did tons of research before making mine, and am happy to share this info with you and other TJA members.
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Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 24, 2006 17:14:06 GMT -5
Well, thanks again for sharing your knowledge with all of us. ;D
BTW, got a very prompt e-mail reply from Todd of UltraSabers this AM, and the single Maul conversion is now offered on their website.
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Post by Kryy Jacobi on Jan 26, 2007 19:17:46 GMT -5
"Loose Ends" Department -- In case someone new is looking around in here and hasn't been to the other threads, I did get my conversion and was very pleased.
And to borrow a saying from Paul Harvey, here's "the rest of the story"...
[ftp]http://apfoister.proboards9.com/index.cgi?board=Hilts&action=display&n=1&thread=3748&page=1[/ftp]
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