Saber Forum

Sorry if this causes nightmares for some, but I just got a line on some Graflex camera flashes known as Graflites.  I have heard these were used for Luke's saber in the HS TV episode.  Can any one confirm this for me and also does anyone know what parts were used to make it look like the HS lightsaber?  Sources I have found thus far say mixed things about what was used. 

Ex.  Door bell button for activation box, six wiper blade pieces or seven, round belt ring, and cut aluminum for the emitter.  I know very little about the HS so anything is a help. 

Blue

Have you seen this page? http://www.partsofsw.com/holidaysab.htm (http://www.partsofsw.com/holidaysab.htm)

There's also some little info and pics here: http://www.therpf.com/f9/luke-holiday-special-lightsaber-4589/ (http://www.therpf.com/f9/luke-holiday-special-lightsaber-4589/)

And a pic here: http://www.restrainingbolt.com/swprops/pics/lightsabers.html (http://www.restrainingbolt.com/swprops/pics/lightsabers.html)

I saw the two websites but that pic is the best one yet,   point

I'm glad to help, even marginally. You've got me wanting to find out more about it and make one too! So, when I get back on my computer, you get a point back!

Here are some pics I found. I couldn't determine for sure if they were of the original or replica (I suspect the latter), but it gives some clear views.

(http://www.angelfire.com/ar/kaljoren/images/ls-hs1.jpg)
(http://www.angelfire.com/ar/kaljoren/images/ls-hs2.jpg)
(http://www.angelfire.com/ar/kaljoren/images/ls-hs3.jpg)
(http://www.angelfire.com/ar/kaljoren/images/ls-hs4.jpg)

Might need the link.  The pics didn't come through. 

Also, I scored on the Graflex Graflite.  I picked it up for .99 Canadian Cents.  I plan to do a video on this build as well.  I am going to do this build as budget as possible so that the Holiday Special Lightsaber can gain some traction in the saber communities. 

I don't want to cut this thing (like the original was thought to be cut) but it would be really nice to have a small angled piece attached to the outside.

Once I get the piece shipped to me, I am very interested in using as much of the original equipment on this thing as possible.  I am starting stunt build but I have seen one thread where a guy said the flash gun was 1.5 inches in diameter.  Unless the aluminum is super thick, this could easily support sound boards and everything. 

Thanks for all your help Ben.  Point. 

I also discovered this on the tube if someone has not watched the Holiday Special.  Bear in mind that some people believe you need to be super high to enjoy this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bMGn63b3Vg# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bMGn63b3Vg#)

Awesome that you guys are going after this! I love the flashbuilds, and I love to see the more obscure ones getting done! Wonder if anyone 'll do yoda next... :D

I'm actually looking for an inexpensive Bolsey flash. Unfortunately, they're all $90 minimum at the moment (from what I can tell).

EDIT - I found a place that had a Bolsey flash for $13! Needless to say, I snatched it up and will be doing a Yoda build. And Blue, I found a Graflite too, so I'll be joining you in the build. Maybe we can keep bouncing ideas off of each other.

DAH! Stop tempting me to get in on this stuff! lol Guess I know what my next project will be after Ben-knows-what. *has nefarious secret project in the works* bwa-haha! ;D

Hehehehehehe I'm so evil at times. *tempts Manny some ,ore*

When you come out here for CVII, I am so making you spend all your money on dumb toys and Jar Jar merchandise...

Ummm...isn't that what conventions and friends are for?

I cannot wait to see the Yoda build.  I also look forward to continually bouncing those ideas off as well.  I am trying to get through the holiday episode but I don't have enough meds to do it in one sitting.

Thanks! I just picked up something that I'll be able to use on both builds! It's a much smaller flash handle, but the "hood" looks like it'll be perfect for the "spoon" section of the holiday saber, and it can be cut down for the emitter guard on the Yoda build. I'll definitely have to watch the Holiday Special later. Thanks for the link!

Here's my pickup:

(http://www.cameramuseum.nl/images/4490%20cm%20web.jpg)

Hey Ben,

Just got a line on something.  A shoe horn.  When I went to the local black smith to see if he could make me the top section of the h.s. saber, first reaction was "That thing looks like a shoe horn."  So know I am looking around town to see if I can find a metal one that does not cost $20. 

Not an easy task even if you do!  ::)

Thanks for the info and update, Blue! I would have never thought of looking for a shoehorn! Have you received your Graflite yet? Mine came in today.

In other news, I've got a message in to LFL asking about the saber. Who knows if anything will come of it, but it's worth a shot. I'll keep you updated as I find out anything.

Ben gets a point for actually contacting LFL about a saber. lol That's awesome Ben!

lol, thanks. I'm of the opinion that they'll never tell me if I don't ask. And even if they don't tell me after I've asked, I'm not any worse off than I was before I sent the email.

I received my Graflite yesterday.  By going to the following link:  http://graflex.coffsbiz.com/acc.html (http://graflex.coffsbiz.com/acc.html) , I found that I have a 1st version of the Graflite.  If I were a camera enthusiast, I would have been really upset because when I took the internals out, they fell to pieces.  It might have worked in the present condition but it wasn't going to stay that way for too long.  

The spring in the bottom cap came off by simply doing a pull and twist.  The clamps were easy to remove with a slotted screwdriver.  The internals were held in place by two screws that required a jeweler's set of screwdrivers to take those out.  The switch unit's button is going to make a nice decoration piece as it is just a red piece of plastic and the dial knob is too long to leave in place.  

I plan to use one of the threaded inserts where the dial knob currently resides to act as a blade retention screw holder.  I'll cap it off with one of the thumb screws on the 90 degree angle bulb holder as it is an 8-32 screw as well.  

To act as a blade holder, led holder, and reinforce the hilt, I'll be inserting a 1" piece of Sch. 40 PVC inside.  The black ring at the top has a spring mechanism that will stabilize a 1" polycarbonate blade.  The PVC will also support the standard LED unit that US sales.  

The interior is large enough to support a speaker with some extra wiggle room but I don't plan on making this into a sound saber at the moment.  I am toying with making this an RGB lightsaber so that I can represent ever color Luke would have held and also to be able to toy add some extra flavor from time to time.  

Mine is going to be a slow process as I can only currently budget $20 a month to completing this project.  I am not going to cover the words Graflex or the others stamped into the hilt.  I am wanting this to be a tribute to a lesser known lightsaber as well as a tribute to the camera flash that inspired the lightsaber in the beginning.  

Learned a great deal about Graflex flashes from the above listed site.  They even made mention of the lightsaber on the Graflex 1st version type two.  Type one has rings the top where our Graflex ANH lightsaber did not have those rings.  

EDIT:  forgot to mention that the 2nd screw that holds the internals in place is under the switch housing. 

Wow, lots of good info there Blue! I didn't know all of that about the different versions! So, we're going to have unique Holiday Special sabers too. That's one of the reasons why I love flash gun builds!

Speaking of which, the Bolsey arrived today for my Yoda build. It's going to have to be either static or stunt because of the size. I knew it was small, but had no idea how small. Here it is on my laptop's keyboard:

(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii558/BenPass/photo5_zps9e1e5aa1.jpg)

Here the first bits of the Graflite so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIcj9Xqu54#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIcj9Xqu54#ws)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkHAeGFbmaw#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkHAeGFbmaw#ws)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b69x20oUN8E#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b69x20oUN8E#ws)

Some things to note are that I have heard some in posts from 2008 and 2009 archived threads from web sites no longer in operation stating that the Graflite is hard to turn into a lightsaber and that it is flimsy.  It is neither.  I used some Schedule 40 1" I.D. about 4 inches long and wrapped with Black Duct Tape to use as a blade holder, an LED holder (the US regular LED unit fits nicely there), and added strength and weight to the project.  The Black Duct Tape helps by adding strength to the internals of the hilt as well as keeping the PVC in place.  The color looks great coming from the former plug in holes on the Graflite. 

If anyone is wanting to go the prop route with this saber, it adds a little finishing touch to the look of the saber.  If someone is going the stunt route, you can drill the plugs to create indicator lights for statuses of the saber since the markings will still be visible. 

The PVC and duct tape also allowed me to reattach the original screws since the former internals were the nuts for these screws.  A small pilot hole and then a little effort, they will grab into the PVC and tape and hold parts fast.

I used a brass threaded furniture insert I acquired from Lowe's and placed in the old knob hole of the black switch unit.  This will allow me to adequately use any blade retention screw that I wish and it will remain hidden from site.  The ones sold here on US work effectively as well. 

On the 90 degree attachment, there were two silver thumb screws.  These screws are also 8-32 threads and just long enough to reach inside the knob hole and attach to the insert.  Now the retention screw is hidden and you have a very unique look "prophecy" style look to the saber.

The PVC and tape made it impossible to place the red button back into the former hole as it arrived to me.  It was simply a piece of red plastic that pushed a button on the internals and was not a button in its own right.  I did learn that if you take the button and switch it around, it will fit into it's former slot with zero movement and gives another unique appearance to the saber.  It is pure decoration at this point and will serve zero function on the finished product. 

My next stages will be grips, covertech knob or D-ring, emitter shroud, and activation box.   I have found a really unique activation box that will look like the movies, clamp into place, but still have some open spots for installing switches and buttons. 

Don't know whether I want to use a D-ring or Covertech knob though.  I have heard a rumor that there exists a product that allows one to use a D-ring or Covertech knob saber for a single belt clip.  I am still searching on that one as the post was an archive from 2 years ago. 

If anyone has any questions on the videos, please let me know.

Blue

@Ben.  I love the look of that flash.  It is sad that it will not be sound capable as I would so want to hear the Yoda battle cry from his fight with Dooku in Ep2 as a font.  Please keep me updated on your progress.

Hey Blue, I'm really enjoying seeing what you're doing and planning. I've not even started on my Graflite. I kind of feel like I'm not holding up my end of the Graflite project!

On a different note, I'm glad you like the Bolsey. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get the Praco (which is the silver model that was used for the original), but I'm glad to have this one anyway. I did a lot of work on it tonight for only minor results, but it's starting to resemble Yoda's saber a bit more. Oh, and for size reference, that's a normal sized watch face beside it (though my watch needs to be wound).

(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii558/BenPass/IMG_0182_zpsf151daa1.jpg)(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii558/BenPass/IMG_0183_zps8598f32a.jpg)(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii558/BenPass/IMG_0184_zps9e5ebf9d.jpg)(http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii558/BenPass/IMG_0185_zps9ad3eaae.jpg)

Ben, that saber just screams concentrated awesome!  My accountant is going to kill me eventually when she learns enough from Dexter on how to properly dispose of bodies but I so want to do a Yoda build in the future after seeing that.  Point awarded my friend. 

lol, thank you very much! It's certainly fun to work with! I'll be fortunate to get a single cell and LED in there. Still, for $13, it was well worth it to turn it into a Yoda hilt!

"Size matters not.  Just me by my size do you?  The Force is [your] ally and a power ally it is."  Sometimes you find inspiration in the craziest of places.  You may have to have the cells stuffed up your sleeves but since Yoda doesn't throw his saber much, you could pull it off.

Now THAT is a good idea! Many thanks blue!

This saber is really taking a good bit of my time.  I found a super cool photo from the path of the jedi book that I believe would be a great fit for the graflite.  I am also thinking about doing this as an rgb build.  Wondering if I should have three switches or go with the dip switch route.  Thoughts?

Here is the latest of what I have done to the prop version of the saber so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dWlsBKgscI# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dWlsBKgscI#)