Saber Forum

Hello Everybody,

Well the title of this topic sort of explains all, this is my little corner of the FanFiction/FanArt section of the forum. Here I plan to post a few images of some of my designs I have created with Blender 3D, the animation and 3D modelling software.


I used to create designs using "other" software then painted the preview images up in photo editing to create "themed" hilts, tribute hilts to sports teams, TV shows, movie crossovers even Star Trek (yes, I said it...the other franchise). You will not see those posted here.

The images here however are created using Blender 3D and GIMP to add any text.
I will say I am a relative beginner with full 3D modelling and only started using Blender in June 2018. But I'm learning all the time. My laptop is also old and slow like me. Anyway enough talking I need to post a couple of pics to get the thread started.

First up a couple of pictures of a crossguard I built as practise. I had no plans or measurements I did all of this model by eye.
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/kylonotver-4-forum-1.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/kylonotver-4-forum-3.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/kylonotver-4-forum-2.png)

I will post the variant versions of my saber "Citadel" soon.
Thanks for taking a look and I hope you enjoy.

Looking good there, Tyeth.  You're my inspiration for learning the software.  Keep it up!  :D

Wow FT, that looks awesome!  Can't wait to see more  :)

Looking great Tyeth! (can't wait for the Gold version  ;D)

Hi Infinit01, TheDutchman and Golden Fedora,

Thanks guys! I hadn't learnt how to apply materials to objects that early on but I will add the Kylo to my list of "To Do Jobs" and give it a bling gold coating.

points all round.

thanks Tyeth, have one yourself!

Hey right on For!  ATTA BOY!!!!!  :)

A crossguard though huh?   UGH!  J/K.    :P


Keep 'em coming man. ;)

+1

Thanks Rapine,

Yes a Crossguard, but I only modelled this to get practise and learn what all the functions of the software did. Blender has dozens of ways to shape objects, either by drawing outlines, or using pre-shaped geometry, all the way down to typing out dimensions into an X,Y,Z grid to form the model.

Believe it or not, this hilt is just TWO cylinders that have been pulled and stretched into what you see here!

And don't worry I have a few more lined up.

Hello For Tyeth! Very neat design! I'm curious to see what else you come up with!!! Also, you had mentioned that you were doing "themed" hilts. I'm curious to know the inspiration theme behind this first one. You probably already planned to do so, but I would recommend listing your inspiration with each design that you present, so we can better appreciate your artistic vision for each piece. :)

Hello Lady Revan, thanks for the kind comment and recommendation. This as I told Rapine was just a "test bed" to learn the basic functions of Blender 3D.
It is a loose facsimile of Kylo Ren's crossguard. As I had seen his I knew how a basic crossguard should look and I attempted to build something close.

You might have seen one of my "themed" hilts already as I posted a Black Panther inspired hilt for Imgumbydammit001 and Obi-Wan Wakanda.

point incoming

Hello Everybody,

My second saber design was another "test bed" to get to grips with the software. I am a fan of most motorsports and was watching an Indy Car race and there was also a MotoGp weekend of motorcycling racing on TV, so I figured I'd try and make a "Speedy" design. I wanted to work out how to use the "Bevel" function that rounds off the sharp edges and see what I could do with the extrude functions. This is what I came up with (again basic but I had only had the software for about 9 days)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/speeder-blender-version-plate.jpg)

Speeder Speaker Grille/Pommel
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/racer-darkblade-forum.png)

As I say nothing too fancy. I just experimented with the Bevel tools to create the rounded edges. I did divide the surface that forms the speaker cover and indented alternate sections to form the "Chequered Flag" look. I also replicated that detail on the side grips, colouring them in a contrasting colour. Final touch was to add a Guarded Switch and it was finished. The blade will come in another post.

Thanks for checking this hilt out.

Hey right on.  Reminds me of the Darksaber...

+1 For.

Hi Rapine,

Funny you should mention that, but you'll have to wait till my next collection of pics to see what I mean.
Thanks for the support.

I DESPERATELY want to learn Blender…I would really benefit from learning the ways of mesh and texturing!!

Hi mrg149,

Well the good news is that it is free! And the other good news is that there are a lot of useful tutorials on YouTube (Blender Guru is quite a good tutor).

I only started using the program in June of this year and one of the best ways to learn is to mess around and experiment. Get used to working and orientating yourself in 3 dimensions, learn to move the cursor and camera around your workspace and test the predefined views. Then pick a beginner tutorial video and follow along with it. Don't try to run just make a model like a house or bungalow (a cube with a pyramid) so you learn how to add shapes and move them into position. Use the different ready made parts like the cube, cone, plane, CYLINDERS (useful for sabers these!) and the TORUS which looks like mmm do-nuts!

There are literally hundreds of ways of achieving the same result so play around and find what works for you. Then things will start to click as certain functions work in conjunction with others.

Have a go.

Hi Everybody,

Well my "Speeder" hilt was ok but you will have noticed it lacked a blade. In an effort to learn a new function or feature each week I decided to try out the "Materials" feature that lets you model  different materials and there was a big stir in the community at the time about "Darksaber" style blades so this is what I worked on.

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/adventures-plate.jpg)

Blender allows you to create objects and apply a material type and fortunately there is a Transparent/Translucent choice. So I modelled a short dagger style blade (to reduce the number of polygons) and messed with the settings to make it look as if made from acrylic. First off a blue blade...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/blade-test-1-forum.png)

But of course I'm For Tyeth and in case you hadn't noticed I kinda like green so that was the next colour...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/blade-test-2-forum.png)

They seemed to work even though there are a lot of speckles of light in the rendered images. These are caused by the light simulation in Blender and cutely these speckles are nicknamed "Fireflies".
I also worked on some other none lightsaber based objects ready for the next modelling project I did and I came up with these...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/sneak-preview-2-forum-mk.png)

Some fans of a certain Sci-Fi animation series might recognise these heads!
Thanks for looking in on this post and I'll post a more recognisable hilt in a few days time.

Hey sweet For. 

Diggin' the lion heads. ;)

Have a point. :)

Thanks Rapine, you did mention the Darksaber. I am working on illuminating the edges of the blade for a future build.

And I'm glad you recognised the Lion Heads!

Of course I did. :)

SFD will love 'em. ;)

Hi Rapine,

I forgot SFD was into that show. It's funny as I created the Lion Heads for the younglings of another member of the saber community. I sent the 3D data file so the kids can have them printed out as desk ornaments. I also use them as a pommel for another hilt I will be posting soon  8)

That's awesome man. :)

Yeah - SFD likes it alright...lol  I'm sure he's not nearly the only one though...(Prowl?)  

Very cool about the models for kids, and I really hope to see that pommel. :)

Another point...

Hello Everybody,

I have another instalment of my design chronicles and this time it is of a very recognisable saber albeit not from Star Wars. To test how well I was progressing I was sort of challenged by a friend to make a Voltron themed hilt. Well as you saw from my previous couple of posts here I had worked on an acrylic/transparent blade so I took on the challenge. It would be another test bed to practise and hone my eye. Again I had no plans or measurements (so it may be a little off in scale) but served to help me create specific shaped objects, such as the Tsuba section. Anyhoo here are a few pics...
In the Blender workspace..

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/blade-of-marmora-studioforum.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/blade-of-marmora-forum-nk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/blade-of-marmora-1forum.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/blade-of-marmora-2forum.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/blade-of-marmora-3forum.png)

There are sections of the hilt that need tidying up but I think it looks close for a beginner. But at this point I felt like a beginner who was really beginning to get into 3D modelling! Thanks for checking these out and I'll post again in a few days time.

Looks really nice Tyeth! with some small edits, I can see a really pretty Darksaber blade. or maybe a hilt like Ezra's season 1/2 hilt (I always was partial to that hilt)

and I really like the grip, would that be leather in RL or another material?

EDIT: I just saw those above lion heads. I really like those. you had a really nice amount of detail added to those.

Hi Golden Fedora,

Thanks man, I had noticed the similarity to Ezra's "Stapler/Nail Gun" hybrid saber. The Darksaber blade just needs another layer of material added around the edge of the blade and then I can set the material to one that emits light. That way the core of the blade would be blue or black with the white edging. I am currently working on that now.
The material on the handgrip looks to be a hard plastic or whatever material they have in Voltron and wasn't picked for comfort as the weapon is used by the Paladins in their Robot mode (sorry don't know the technical name) But a layer of yellow foam could work or that spray can rubber sealant.

And I was worried the about the Lion Heads as they could have been any Cat like creature but the added colours for each Paladin helped  :)

Thanks for the comments...point coming your way.

Haha, so glad I'm not the only one who thought his saberblaster looked like a stapler. :D

Hi Taegin Roan,

No we are not alone, there were quite a few people who thought the same. I remember reading all the Star Wars discussion boards where they made jokes about it. I think the replacement saber he got for Season 3 was better (the thin neck).

However I have recently built a version of that (which I posted in the "US Wishlist/What Do We Want From Ultrasabers" thread)

Hello Everybody,

OK it's been a few days since I posted here so I best get on with the story. I posted the Voltron designs I made to my friend but not before I had sent a teaser image to get him guessing what it was. Well the reply I got was "Hey Tyeth, don't tell me you are making a Voltron Katana?!"
I wasn't obviously but that comment gave me an idea for an original design and so I set to work on a Voltron inspired Katana style hilt. Here is what I came up with.
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/voltkatana-forum-1.png)

The Lion Head Pommel
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/voltkatana-forum-2.png)

The Katana with Green Blade installed.
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/voltkatana-forum-4.png)

And to have a Green Blade you need a....
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/voltkatana-forum-3.png)

Yep! A green crystal! I also knocked up a basic crystal chamber to take my modelling up a level. And as the chamber is a separate module I can load it into other designs.
So this is a weapon I envisaged the Paladins could use when not piloting the Mecha Lions (sort of like a side blade to accompany their Bayards). The saber's cross section is hexagonal (partly to reduce polygons and the workload on my old laptop) to give the hilt a slightly mechanical look. It does share the same type of handgrip as my Voltron scimitar has. The flat sides would also give the owner options to add their own decoration.
At the time I built this I was still struggling with out a 3-Button Mouse (some Blender functions use all three buttons and the scroll wheel) Hopefully in my next designs you will see an improvement when I get my new mouse.

Thanks for checking this post out and....WAIT! What was that thing floating behind you just then?....we'll see in my next offering.....

looks nice Tyeth. looking forward to your next design!

Thanks Golden Fedora,

At the time I felt I needed to come up with original designs and as I felt I had a good handle on using the software it was a good time to let my mind run away and create.

And unrelated, great new avatar.....HANG ON!....there's something behind your sofa man...it's hiding...can you see it?

what is it? AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

thanks Tyeth. I got commander so, new rank, new me, right?

Hi Golden Fedora,

Indeed new look and Rank! Same great Fedora!

Oh that thing....It's Something Strange.....better have your phone ready.....

Hey Tyeth, I agree, new look and rank but same cool Fedora! 

Thanks guys. and Tyeth, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY PHONE?!?!?!?!

Hello Everybody,

First up I have to let Golden Fedora know I haven't done anything to his phone...but you might all need your phones tomorrow when you see what I have in store....but "Who ya gonna call?"

Ok back to my designing and today's offering. I try to learn a new Blender 3D function each week and at this point in my "Training" I decided to push myself and try out a feature called "Modifiers". Modifiers are as they sound, functions to change or alter a model or object in a project. They range from texture modifications to create elevations (Gamers will have heard of Bump Maps to create 3d lumps and bumps) all the way through to Wireframe modifiers (making a model into a skeletal frame).

I chose Wireframe and attempted to incorporate a wireframe object into a Solo A Star Wars Story inspired hilt. This is a pair of hilts named Red Morning and Crimson.

Red Morning:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/red-morning-7-forum.png)

This hilt was inspired by Qi'Ra and in particular the dress she wore on Dryden Vos' yacht. I used a desert brown colour to accent a basic windowed hilt. The Wire frame is actually the ridges that form the handgrip. I created a sleeve and applied the Modifier to it and that created the cage that I scaled down to wrap around the hilt.
But that isn't all. I thought the saber needed a strong link to the inspiration so I added the pommel cap below...

Pommel Cap:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/crimson-dawn-4-forum.png)

I modelled the opening of the pommel to represent the necklace Qi'Ra wore and her tattoo, which of course is the Crimson Dawn logo.
You will have noticed the colours have changed also and that is because you can't have Qi'Ra and not mention her boss! So I tweaked a few bits and built Crimson....

Crimson:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/crimson-dawn-ignited-forum.png)

I added Dathomirian horns around the emitter, gave the saber the new red and black colour scheme to mimic Maul's iconic look and Ta-Dah! I had a new saber! At this time I also learned how to add a photographic image as a backdrop to the 3D model and below is the "Glamour Shot" image I created to show the design off.
 
Crimson Title Plate:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/plate-1.png)

Hope you enjoyed this offering and thanks for checking it out. I have more to come.

Hey, that's pretty slick.

I like Red Morning. :)

+1 for always learning For.  :D

Hi Rapine,

Thanks, it is a basic hilt but it taught me a "trick" that came in very useful for a later design inspired by something really cool in The Last Jedi.

I have only scratched the surface of what is possible with Blender, but as I mentioned elsewhere, the more I do the more different functions click and make sense to me.

I'm loving that saber, Tyeth.  The spikes on the emitter reminds me of Darth Maul and after reading the rest of your description, I'm happy that it was the first thing that came to mind. 

Hi Infinit,

Thanks, I try and add details that connect to the character or theme I am drawing from. The "horns" was a simple change to the original Red Morning hilt where I picked alternating points around the emitter opening and stretched them along the Y axis. This created the zig-zag horned effect.

point back atchya!
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/teaser.png)

"Who ya gonna call?".....

he he he he he...

Hi Golden Fedora....

Yes the Psycho Kinetic Energy is rising and the Gatekeeper and Key Master will meet up soon....!

he he he

I like that, is that the Ecto-8 that you're working on?

Hello Infinit....

Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night?
Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic?
Have you or your family ever seen a spook, spectre or ghost?
If the answer is "yes," then...

Maybe, we'll see soooooon......

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYnFLqbA34Q/UhGPHEj6aZI/AAAAAAAAQOM/b7b9Wuc7N0c/s1600/anigif_enhanced-buzz-13288-1376509105-10.gif)

Hi again,

AIM FOR THE FLAT-TOP!

Thanks, patience my friend it is nearly the time to open the gates....

Will do and as always....

(http://i.imgur.com/MjvnFVr.jpg)

 ::)   ::)   ::)   ::)

I should have known this ^^ was coming.

I've been wanting to use that meme for quite some time now.
 ;D

*sigh*   Children....    ;-)

lol, but that’s what makes this forum so funny

Hello Everybody (and children  :D )

It has turned midnight in the UK and it is officially the 31st Oct and Halloween....the Psycho Kinetic Energy is too high, Golden Fedora has apparitions in his house affecting his phone....The ghouls and ghosts and spectres and spooks are awaiting the joining of the Gatekeeper and the Keymaster....

This is a bad situation....Who ya gonna call?......yep, For Tyeth!

Here is my latest design that I have made and it is a culmination of all the tricks I have learnt in Blender so far. I have jumped slightly in my story to show this one but I'm pretty proud of this hilt and it is topical...so here is

ECTO-Plasma Saber...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/ecto-plasma-saber-6-forum.png)

ER....ok that's the roof rack! Not quite the saber I was expecting. But this shows off a few techniques including Wireframe modifier (to build the rack itself) Mirror modifier to create multiple copies of objects and place them symmetrically (The Ghost Traps). There are Materials added to give the chrome effect on the Ventilation Unit and the handles on the traps. Now those traps have a special function and were placed just right to balance this on them....

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/ecto-plasma-saber-plate.png)

Yes here is ECTO-Plasma Saber! And as you can see it rests on it's own display stand, or rather the roof rack! I realise that this design is more of a display fun hilt rather than a viable duelling weapon and it's shape makes it hard to grip comfortably. I couldn't add the rack to the saber so used it to form the stand. The saber rests on the handles of the Ghost Traps.

The emitter is meant to represent the chromed radiator grille that Cadillacs are famed for and sets off the "Slimer-Green" blade quite nicely. The main body I tried to make look as close to a car body as possible. It has chrome trimmed windows, emergency lightbar, a Ghostbuster logo which would incorporate a Tactile switch as the activator. There are also the Streamline fins in red and chrome down the sides of the hilt, and on the rear we have a New York City yellow license tag and a set of chromed rear impact bars (seen in the teaser image I posted). And just to make this hilt useful, there is even a Covertech knob to hang it off your belt....ooh!

Hopefully I have done justice to the Ghostbusters' franchise and avoided upsetting any purists who think crossovers are a bad idea  :) From here on in my sabers will be inspired by Star Wars...(well maybe  ;) )

Thanks for checking out my spooky special.

Whoa there Tyeth. I have to say that I wish this was real and not just a render. I would have to have both the stand and the saber, they compliment each other well.  I always ask myself how are you going to design the next and what will you use to pull off the wow factor as before or better. You still amaze me with this demising and took it further while you’re learning a new modifier!

Point

Hello Infinit,

Thanks man, I put myself under a bit of pressure as I know the fan bases for both Star Wars and Ghostbusters are devout so I had to get it right. I found the hardest part was knowing what details to include and which to leave out.

The roof rack just seemed to "flow" and whatever I tried worked. Believe it or not the rack and equipment is made up of just 5 pieces and arranged to look more complex than it really is!

So glad you like it.
Accept a point in return.

You did both genres justice since to me, the stand flows well with the saber that you designed and you chose the right arrangement with the equipment location for the roof rack.  I instantly knew those were Ghost Traps and the Ecto-1 tribute.  Really good work once again Tyeth.  You're someone that I look up to not only for just 3D designs either.  Keep up the good work!

Wow, Tyeth, I like it!  As Infinit01 said, I loved the homage to both the Ecto1 and the 'roof rack' display cradle.  Ghost traps indeed!  Those were always my favorite part of that movie.  There was at least a nod to actual science in what was basically a fantasy ghost story.  :-)

And an ectoplasm saber...  Sweet!  I still remember ecto-green cool-aid...   :-)   No connection, other than the color made me think of it.  LOL

Nice designs, Tyeth!  I'm sure you'd get some buyers if you realized it!

Hi Karmack,

Sorry I'm late responding, there seemed to be a bit of a glitch with the Recent Posts list not updating properly and I didn't see you had commented.
But in regards of my design thank you very much. I loved Ghostbusters and when I realised Plasma was mentioned by both sets of fans I thought "There's an idea, a Ghostbusters hilt!" Obviously I could have modelled it on the "Wands" of the Proton packs but it would just look like the wands. Basing it on ECTO-1 gave me a challenge and an opportunity to get creative.

thanks again and accept a point.

Hello Everybody (and Naris Suril!)

I just noticed a comment by one of our newer members to the forum, Naris Suril, who suggested something about a special Crossguard saber. Well I may have the answer. I needed a Fully Operational Battle Weapon so I thought about building a Death Star....this was as far as I got.....

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/throne-room-plate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/throne-tower-2-forum.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/throne-tower-3-forum.png)
And I added an Imperial Logo on the pommel for good measure...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/throne-tower-4-forum.png)

I based the hilt on this...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/the_emperors_tower_ep6.png)

Again it might not be the best duelling saber in the galaxy...but it is the MOST POWERFUL!
I just need to build the rest of the station now.  ;D

Beautiful work there, Tyeth.  Once again, you captured the a great recreation of something in saber form, in this case, the Throne room for the Death Star.  I really like it and the four mini blades are a really nice touch.  Swell work there! Point incoming!

Hello again Infinit,

As I mentioned on the Wishlist/What Do We Want Form Ultrasabers thread this hilt I posted quickly as Naris Suril mentioned a four bladed crossguard (< I like this person's thinking  :D )

My friend from another message board suggested that I branched out to do larger scale models. I think they meant maybe a room interior or a Dalek but I picked the Death Star.

Looks good Tyeth. If I may, I'd like to see a Joker themed hilt, could you do one like that next?

If it's anything close to your design that US sells, I'd buy it!   :D

Hello GF, Infinit,

@Golden Fedora: I can add it to my "To Do List" which is getting longer every day. I have been asked recently to design a whole series of hilts based on popular TV/Movie franchises.

@Infinit01: Thanks for the compliment, maybe US will be able to make a workable four blade one day.

points to both for your support.

a 4 blade would be interesting but I am not sure anyone could figure out how to put 5 LED's in a saber an not have it die in 10 minutes.

This. Unless batteries with more MAH are used which one will have to do it on their own since the 14500 batteries are only 800 MAH

Hi guys,

You are both correct. Higher capacity cells would be needed...but I just come up with the concepts!

Though I do have a grasp of Ohms Law from my Theatre days (the lights I wired were just a LOT bigger - 500W Spotlights etc  :D )

500W spotglights?! Whoa, I bet they were incredibly bright and HOT

Yes, they did warm up quite a bit. The operator had to wear gloves if using the spotlight for extended periods. Fortunately most solos in musicals only last a few minutes.

The real heat can build up when you have rows of lights (known as ParCans) If you watch the new Bohemian Rhapsody film you will see Queen's stage lighting rig which is mainly ParCan lights. The smallest ParCans I used were 250W each and if you had four on each mounting bar that alone was 1000W (1K)

Nowadays though the new LED clusters run much cooler and are more consistent in colour.

Love the simplicity of the crimson and the death Star blade wow...it's like Tarkins sabre in my mind crisp strong build and brutally destructive.

Hello Lord_S_Gray, Crimson was one of my early designs and the first of which I tried using a Modifier (a specific modelling tool) to create geometry rather than creating parts using the supplied basic objects. The Throne Room hilt is the shape it is so that I could attach all four side emitters. But in shaping it in this way gave it the powerful look, a bit like a musclecar!

Thank you also for the kind comments, I appreciate all the feedback I get so I know what works in people's opinion and what I need to work on.

Hello Everybody,

Just a quick update as I have learnt something quite neat. As some of you may have noticed, the blades on my designs are pretty basic. They are basically just coloured rods that emit a colour. This is because I didn't know how to add the famous "ILM" magic special effect to make the blade look like a lightsaber. From the tutorials I had seen on YouTube made it seem like you had to apply the effect onto the surface of the model like adding a paint layer but every technique I tried failed to work. :-[

But I have had success and found the solution. Here are a couple of before and after pics for you to decide...
Before:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/crimson-dawn-ignited-forum.png)

With FX:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/crimson-dawn-ignited.png)

Ecto-Plasma Saber before:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/ecto-plasma-saber-plate.png)

With FX:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/glow-blade-1a1.png)

Not bad if I say so myself! Now it might look as if I have just Photoshopped the blades but if you look really close on the windowed emitters you will see the effect shining through the holes! This is because the effect is embedded within the 3D file and is not an overlay. If I rotate the model then the effect also rotates and casts different shine and shadows on the saber and it's surroundings automatically.

It's taken me four months to work this out but I'm glad I have. Hope you like it and thanks for looking in.

I really like that black and red one. It looks sinister.

Hi SFD, thanks very much, I'm glad it looks sinister as I designed it based on Darth Maul! I call it Crimson. I also posted this hilt and a similar one for Qi'Ra earlier in this thread. The post can be found here:
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=40017.msg674191#msg674191 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=40017.msg674191#msg674191)

I'll have to work on Specular lighting next  ;)
point incoming

Loving the Ecto sabre with the kind of Slimer Green blade glow is really nice with the FX - another option could be a red that pulses out to a blue like the proton pack beam for a blade colour. 

Hi Lord_S_Gray,
Thanks man, so glad you liked the new effects (and especially on the Ecto saber as I am real proud how that one turned out). The pulsing blade colour may be a thing for the future as I would have to learn more on the animation side of the Blender Software to do that. But it is possible!

point for the great feedback.

Well I promised I would work on one so...here you go Rapine!
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/for-tyeth-real-darksaber.png)

(They do exist!)

This reminds me a bit of the "sabers" that appeared in "Tron: Legacy" a few years ago.  A "light edge" blade would be something to see, though.  I love the traditional saber tube, but having a dark blade with a lit edge...    Sooooo many SciFi possibilities!  :-)

Thanks Karmack, The Darksaber blade at the moment I think will always be a display piece due to real life limitations (transparency vs blade strength and lighting the edges) I have an idea how to make an improved display one but I don't think the components I'd need are good enough just at the moment.

Thanks for the support.

YAASS!! I loved that movie.

Me, too.  I was stoked to finally see Tron come out of the computer in the next installment, or at least finally see Tron and Alan finally meet in the computer.  :-)   Alas, it wasn't to be apparently...

Me three! I wish they would of filmed the third installment but it went stale, unfortunately. 

Yeah.   They could still do it, but Boxlitner isnt' getting any younger....

Hi guys,

Do I take this as a "Group Request" for me to add a Tron inspired hilt to my list of "To Do" projects?

Anyway I'm glad you like what I post so thanks again.

I think I can speak for Karm and I01 when I say YES

I second this!

Still haven't watched Tron, I have it on my list and am planning to sometime. ::)

You’re correct my good man  ;D

Ok, Ok...motion forwarded! I will get to work on it. I just hope my laptop holds out long enough as I have been having "technical difficulties" recently.
And don't worry Taegin, I haven't seen the reboot yet either.

Thanks for the challenge and support, points heading your directions!

The reboot was Really well done, in my opinion. It is a great movie to watch.

Its worth seeing for the updated light cycles alone.  :-)  Amazing what they can do with LEDs...

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOxtRsPOvkU#)

I look forward to seeing your Tron designed saber, Tyeth. Point back!

Yeah, thanks! I have just been looking up reference images and material for inspiriation and realised it ain't going to be as simple. There isn't many details in the films, it's all neon circuitry patterns and glossy panelling. But as always I will do my best, just give me a few days!

can't wait to see it Tyeth.

Hello Everybody,

It has been a few days since I posted a design so I had best rectify that. I felt that with the skills I had learned so far I needed more original hilts and this was the next hilt I came up with after Crimson. I went from one extreme of good and evil to the other. This time the saber is based off an heroic icon...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/falconsaber-plate.png)

First I built the emitter...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/falcon-saber-build-1.png)

Next up were the ventilation grilles...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/falcon-saber-build-5.png)

Then I built the "Escape Pod" recharge port covers
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/falcon-saber-build-2.png)

Finally the Covertech, body details and Holochess Board pommel/speaker grille...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/falconsaber-3.png)

You can probably see what my inspiration was and what I tried to achieve. But one detail that may not be apparent is the use of one of the Ventilation Grilles as a cover for an Activation Tactile Switch and I imagined a recharge port could be hidden behind the "Escape Pod" covers. At the lower end of the hilt there are indented panels to replicate cargo crates and to finish the hilt off there is a clever speaker grill in the pommel. The grille is modelled on a Holochess Board and each black segment would be a venting hole.

Thanks for looking in on this design and oh yes...I suggest you let the Wookie win  ;D

Looks great. I like straightforward hilts myself, but I also appreciate the variety you've been doing for people who like stuff that breaks the normal conventions for sabers. :)

Hi SFD,

Thanks man, as you'll know I like my "themed" hilts. I try to be different but I will be doing some regular hilts too in future. I have been reading the stories in the Fan Fiction section and was going to design a hilt for Lady Revan's character "Halin Chan" based on her description...then realised it looked rather familiar!

point incoming.

Yeah I see where you're going with that...my only feedback would be for a 'Han' Falcon it would be Awesome to see some grey patches, odd red stripes and dings to give it that used feel. For a Lando one Blue lines instead of black maybe, but yeah i think the overall shape is very well suited.

Hi Lord_S_Gray, I like those suggestions! I built this hilt in July so hadn't learnt how to add scuffs and scratches back then. I have a few more skills now (such as subdividing sections which greatly helps making panels) so will add a few of the mods you mention.
Thanks this has been great feedback. point incoming.

I do some custom saber work in a game I play. Here's my store for your perusal

http://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/166159 (http://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/166159)

Love your take on the Falcon saber, Tyeth. I really like the escape pod ports that you used and the emitter design really pays homage to it’s cockpit

Hi mrg149,

Thanks for your comment. I went and took a look at your page but it didn't seem to have any designs on it, but there was a drop down menu with price ranges though!
I'll take another look when you have a few sabers up on display ok!

Hello Infinit,

Thanks man, I try and add little details on all my hilts I design. The Falcon has lots of little details that can be incorporated into a design to reinforce the visual ties. For example, did anybody see the Batmobile Tumbler that was stuck onto the model of the Falcon used in TFA? I like those little "Easter Eggs" and I try to add similar ones to my hilts when I can.

Lord_S_Gray even suggested a few more mods I could add which I'm working on now!

So thanks again guys for the feedback, it really helps (and adds to my workload  ;D ) Point incoming.

Ah nutso! I forgot you can't see items that are listed under the "moderate" category without having a Second Life account…my bad.

Hi mrg149,

Don't worry about making a simple mistake, it gave me an idea for a new design...an invisible stealth hilt!
It's a design no-one will have seen before  ;D

And I love the "Ah Nutso!" quote, I'm going to have to use that one in future!"
point incoming.

This isn't the saber you're looking for....

Haha! Even if my stealth saber was the one you were looking for you wouldn't see it!

I have taken a look at making a design for Halin Chan, but as I read the description of her hilt  and drew a quick sketch of it I realised it looked kinda like an  Ultrasabers Butcher, sooo I'll take a look at designing a hilt for one of your other characters. Just wanted to let you know I hadn't forgotten and was still working on it (some members here have taken to giving me suggestions of what they'd like to see me design,  keeping me busy!)

That’s because it’s a canon saber for a canon character ;) sorry for the spoiler if you’re not that far yet. lol glad my description was accurate enough.

I have blade color descriptions for Opela and Alex, but no hilt ones. Lots of Jedi characters though, so do what you see fit! I’m currently writing a scene of a character building her first saber but that will be a couple days before posting


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Lady Revan,

I just reread the first couple of chapters of your story and will set to work.
Hopefully I should have one for Opela and one for Alex. I'll let you know when they're ready.

(And you're descriptions where really good)

I look forward to seeing what you come up with! Honestly, the timing of this couldn't be better since I'm currently writing another character constructing her first saber. :D "Halin" is going to construct another saber in the chapter after the one I'm currently working on... but that's another canon saber (though it *does* undergo  changes through the story).

And thank you! :D That chapter was fun to write, just because of the number of turning points that happen in it... plus main main character's lightsaber construction. From SD to DVA... at least 3 more saber versions for Halin to come (though the third isn't until part III)

Hello Everybody,

Sorry I have been a little bit AWOL recently but I have been busy in my little cave creating and not only have I come up with an initial design for Lady Revan's great FanFic story "Only Light Can Cast Shadow":
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=39828.msg664275#msg664275 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=39828.msg664275#msg664275)
but I have knocked up a few basic TRON themed hilts (Sorry SFD, but Lady Revan's new hilt is a complete original non themed hilt you might like when I post it!)

I mentioned that the TRON films consisted of a lot of FX lighting and dark spaces so not a lot of details but I think you should be able to see what I've attempted to do with these next couple of hilts...hope you like....

Sark Studio shot:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/sark-studio-1-mk.png)

Sark Tank:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/sark-studio-3-mk.png)

Clu LightCycle:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/clu-cycle-1-mk.png)

And of course on for the titular character TRON!..
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/tron-cycle-1-mk.png)

So there you go guys and girls, a few legacy sabers for TRON.
And I'd just like to say thanks to all of you for checking this thread out, it has had 1092 views already!
Now, I think I need some Astromechs to help me in my work....hmm there's an idea...

D’awww you flatter me ❤️ Points for plugs!

Also, I’m loving the tron sabers, especially the last one. Not gonna lie, before I read that they were the Tron ones, I though the very top image looked a bit like an X-Wing

Hello Lady Revan,

Credit where credit is due, I am really enjoying your story when I get the chance to read some! With all these hilts I've been busy. The first hilt I based on the "Hover Tanks" that Sark sent out to get Tron in the first film, but I can see what you mean about the X-Wing profile! However if you are patient for a couple of designs I have a hilt designed in honour of the X-Wing and the Greatest Pilot in the Resistance coming up!

Thanks again for the kind words and I'm now going to treat myself and read another chapter or two!
point incoming.

I REALLY like the yellow and blue versions. The red one looks cool, but the impracticality of the cross guard going down towards the hand and getting in the way is getting to me. So, the circles on the cross guard are sweet. :D

Whoa. Love the blue and yellow versions

Hi SFD, the Light Cycle sabers are a little more sleek and I guess ergonomic even if they are really just concepts. (I think the hilts could be recreated using side glow fibre optic but would still probably be impractical).

The "Sark Hover Tank" could have the crossguard flipped one eighty degrees so the hilt looks like a Sai blade. This would clear the handgrip, I just placed the guard the way it is because the "legs" hung down.

Thanks for the comments. Point coming in.

Love that futuristic clean bright blue look on the Tron sabre!

Hello Infinit and Lord_S_Gray,

Sorry I was just typing up a reply to SFD as the two of you posted! It does seem like the Light Cycle sabers are quite popular! Then again the cycles were one of the most famous parts of the film!

I think the neon colours do lend themselves to lightsabers too which helps.
Again thanks for the feedback and comments. Points incoming.

I agree, I love these designs.  They really capture the essence of the original Tron visuals.  Nice!

Hi Karmack, thanks again and I'll let you all in on a little secret. Due to the way Blender handles the lighting the software sometimes creates patterns on the image and that is what caused the speckled look. I thought it looked like the original film effects so didn't apply a filter to clean the image up. A  happy little accident!

point on it's way to you.

Hey Tyeth.


I wanted to give you my more elaborate take in your Tron sabers.  You did a great job capturing the light cycles and the added Tron lines give the rest of each saber a little glimpse of the world or the battle arena. At least that’s the vibe that I get from it anyhow.   I’m not going to lie, the two light cycle sabers are my favorite; however, I really like the Recognizer saber. Using the Recognizer as the main theme for the emitter was a great idea.  You really outdid yourself in these and I love it. That would be cool if the main cockpit or the “legs” would move mimicking it moving up and down like in the movies.

Great work once again, Tyeth and point.

Thanks Infinit,

I'm glad they proved so popular. And I now know what the Hover Tanks are called! I'd looked up that info and they were just referred to as Tanks. And the Light Grid is exactly that, the floor of the arena. I thought it looked/fitted the theme better than just the reflective floor I usually use! (And maybe an animated Recognizer is something I can work on for the future)

Wow Tyeth, these are amazing! you have truly outdone yourself this time. I love the yellow hilt (Why is it only a concept?!?!?!?!) I would love to see these in RL, that would make my year.

You're welcome, Tyeth.  Don't mind me, I'm a huge nerd when I get into movies and comics, I get fully immersed into it that I talk to most people as if they're immersed into it as well.  All equals of course.  I look forward to that although it wouldn't be exactly "duel" or "spin" worthy with moving parts.  It would look cool nonetheless

Hi Golden Fedora, I just meant that with a flat acrylic blade and the complex shape of the Light Cycle Tsuba it would probably be difficult/expensive to manufacture. Not to mention finding a way to recreate the neon lighting all over the hilt (though I did mention side glow fibre optics might be an option).
The Clu Cycle Saber might become a reality in the future even if it is only a "One-Off" prototype.

Glad you liked the hilts though thanks. Another appreciation point coming your way.

Hi Infinit, I was a fan of the film but as a youngling didn't have funds to get all the merchandise and fully integrate with it's fanbase. And I didn't have the Internet and stuff back then to find like minded Nerds!
I have dabbled with animations and I have a Kylo Ren inspired hilt coming up that spins pretty well I think you will all like. (Can't do much animating with my current graphics card  :( )

However I think you already have one of my designs that has potential to be a good spinner.... :-X

Hello Everybody,

A few posts back I jokingly mentioned that I needed a droid to help me with my workload now I was getting requests on this thread. Funny thing is I owned a droid many years ago, he was my Red friend. Wanna see him? Ok, but first I have to explain I bought him second hand from a bunch of scavengers on Tatooine and he needed a bit of work...bad motivator....here's R5-D4...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r5-d4-saber-plate-1.png)

In the workshop!...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/early-build-3-mk.png)

Clean those optic sensors...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/early-build-4-mk.png)

He's alive I tell you!!!...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r5-d4-ignited-mk.png)

But sadly I no longer have R5, he started babbling on about a mission to ensure some guy called Skywalker bought an R2 unit or something. He ran off and hitched a lift on the Tantive V that was passing by...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r5-d4-runner-mk.png)

Well I don't need to explain my inspiration for this hilt, hopefully it was obvious enough! I will say I would install tactile switches under the two silver grilles to act as the activation switch and aux button (depending on install).
Hope you enjoyed it, and I have one or two more Astromechs to introduce in future posts but for now thanks for checking this one out.

That's kind of adorable, actually! lol R5-D4 looks like a very useful droid-saber

Nice, I like it.

Hi Lady Revan, so glad you liked him, it er, the saber. A lot of my early designs I based on characters from the films but due to limitations with the software I used back then I couldn't do justice to the Astromechs. Switching to Blender meant I could build what I had envisaged.

However I can't promise the next Astro will be so cute (but he is an R-Series)  :-X

point incoming.

Thanks for the point! *tosses one back at you*

I can't wait to see how the next R-series droid saber turns out! Looking forward to it!

Hi Taegin, thank you very much. I didn't think Red had that much screen time but there was something about him (and the other Astros) that created a strong image/theme. Probably explains why there are so many Astromech builders clubs around the world.

Thanks again and I hope you enjoy my upcoming hilts too.
point for you also.

Hi again Lady Revan, thank you and I will post the next Astro in a few days time.

Haha, without looking any further, I was looking at the first picture of the saber and thought to myself, that's R5 and I was right!  Hitting the nail on the head there with that design (or so to speak), Tyeth!

Agreed that fits the lok so well its uncanny, great job FT, not just the sabre but the creativity behind it! R Unit into sabre is very innovative idea and really works well!

Wow, that totally wouldn't work with any R-series astromech except for the R5 line. It looks good.

Thanks guys, I built this design after I got up close to some real Astromechs at the Comic Con and Sci-Fest I visited recently. I don't know what triggered the idea I just think they have a lot of details and character (even if we only saw R5-D4 briefly). That plus they are cylindrical!

The inspiration for my next Astromech hilt was on screen for an even shorter time but is quite famous (and the one I met is "possibly" THE droid in the film but for legal reasons I can't confirm that  :-X )

And to SFD, I have a final Astro hilt to show you all with a domed head and I think is a bit clever!

Thanks again for the comments and have points back

That's really cool For. Point.

Hi Darth Silenoz,

Thanks man, I'm glad you liked it. I hope to post a few more hilts over the next week or so but I can't guarantee anything as I am having technical issues with my computer and I may be forced offline permanently if it crashes. So I will post as and when I can.

point back in return and thanks!

Sorry to hear about your computer issues. I think I heard a rumor floating around about it being remedied soon. ;)

Hope the issues with your computer get worked out, For Tyeth. Computer issues are a real pain.

Hi Lady Revan, I will keep going as long as I can but my laptop is an old reconditioned machine I have had for 3 years now. Unfortunately I bought the laptop cheap (about $13) from an Adult Community College when they upgraded their setup but now the inner workings of the Windows operating system has eaten up the memory.
I keep getting messages that I have "Low disk space, please delete files as Windows needs 300MB to run" but I have already deleted or transferred all my files to removable disks/USB etc. I have also uninstalled all non necessary software and programs but to no avail.

My big problem is I am unable to work  due to a long standing medical issue and am on a low income so can't replace the laptop if it dies.

I will keep posting for as long as it lasts....and thank you for the support.

Keep us posted <3


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello Everybody,

I'm still here and have another Astromech saber to show you all but this one is slightly more sinister and was recently seen in SOLO A Star Wars Story. The Astromech in this case is...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r5-pht-plate-1.png)

Here is the body and grip..
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r5-pht-1-mk.png)

It may look as if this is just a "repaint" of the R5-D4 hilt seen previously, and to a degree it is based off that hilt but I added an extra part that was missing from R5-D4 and that part was a blade plug!..
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r5-pht-11-mk.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r5-pht-10-mk.png)

It turns out there is a function within Blender that can automatically shape an object using a second object as a mould or form. So using the emitter I instructed Blender to fit a cylinder into the blade socket. The cylinder was the same diameter as the hilt but Blender removed the excess material to shape the cylinder into the mushroom shaped blade plug you see. And by doing this the plug fits perfectly in the socket!

And as R5-PHT is an Imperial Droid he had to be perfect or this guy might complain..
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/34185669_221798688412555_2280221149881171968_n.jpg)

In a surprise twist of fate this guy also knows R5-PHT... I met R5-PHT at my local Comic Con...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/dsc_0493-smlmk.jpg)

And the best part of this story? Well the droid I am posing with is THE DROID not a replica!
(R5-PHT also has interchangeable heads as you can see in the picture and poster behind me! R5-PHT has a flat head and R2-PHT has the dome to carry out different missions)

Thanks for looking in on this design, I have one final Astromech to show you (I promise)

Love the R5-PHT saber you designed, Tyeth. I see Imperial and R5’s inspiration all within this saber. Well done

Hi Infinit,

Thanks but I admit it is only a small design tweak and colour change. However in my defence it highlighted the Boolean Modifier function I learnt (you might have used them in your 3D modelling too) and the funny little story of my meeting with a real life film star!

Blade plugs will also be a feature of the next couple of designs!

Dark Side Droids can be cute too ;) Excellent design! :D I love the photos sharing your inspiration as well! Keep up the good work! I can't wait to see what else you have in store

Hello My Lady,

Thank you very much, so glad you approve! It's not often you get to have a photo with a legit film star so I couldn't pass up on the opportunity  ;D

I have one more cutesy Astromech hilt to show everyone then I have a TLJ inspired hilt that is rather rooted in the First Order/Darkside!

Thanks again for looking in. Point on it's way to you.

Nice FT really captured the looks of the droid again - the darkside opposite for the R5 as it were, plug is a nice touch too.

Thank you kindly for the point! Sending one back! Looking forward to the next Astromech hilt. I have a feeling I know where this is going....

Hello Lord_S_Gray, the blade plug came about because I realised that all my hilts had been missing something when I didn't have the blade slotted in while modelling them. Also when I got to inspect the internals of the Droid when his handler/builder swapped the heads I realised how neat the top of the flat head looked. I thought it would make a nice plug design.

I have one final Astro and I guess he won't need an introduction, then I have something a little special to show!
Thanks once more for the kind comments. Point incoming.

Hello again my Lady, you should have a good idea which droid is next...you are strong with the Force sneak peeks  ;)

Can't wait! ;D

Dude, that Imp astromech saber is hot! Great stuff.

Hi SFD, thanks to you also. It was around the time I built this design I started to really explore the Modifiers in Blender and as you will know they are really powerful tools for shaping objects, plus a lot quicker!
My final Astromech hilt needed me to use another function, Wireframe Mode, to achieve the design but you'll have to wait and see that post in a few days time to see why I used it.

I'm so glad you all like these hilts so far, and I'm also happy to report that R5-PHT's real life owner and builder has actually contacted me about the saber which was cool!

Thanks for all the kind words and a point is incoming.

To be honest, I don't play around with Blender much myself, I'm more of a Lightwave person. But, a friend of mine recently released a tutorial series that may change all that. ;) But, I do know modifiers are how you perform a lot of functions in Blender. One thing I like is that you can set them up, see their results and if you like them. If you do, just apply them. If you don't, just trash them. No lengthy undo process to get rid of their effects. :)

Hi SFD,

Ah ok Lightwave, I have heard of that and Z-Brush but I'm just getting started in 3D modelling (and animation and rendering!). Modifiers really are intuitive and because they work in "Real-time" and are non-destructive makes Blender act like a giant ideas sketchpad. I love that aspect. I'd be interested in seeing what you came up with if you get into Blender... a Constitutional Class Saber maybe?  ;)

One time, about 12 years ago, I'd built a bunch of lightsabers. I then started on the Constitution class. After I got the saucer done, I used sabers to make the engine section and warp nacelles, and jokingly posted it on a CGI forum I was a member of at that time. People got a huge kick out of it. (I later finished the Constitution class)

Lightwave is professional level software. It's been used in a lot of feature films and TV shows. However, I'm less than enamored by the render engine in Lightwave 2018. It has some bugs that should have been fixed already. Considering that I could have gotten a higher end Ultrasaber with premium sound for what I paid for the upgrade from LW10 to LW2018, I'm a bit salty about it.

Anyway, that's got me looking at Blender again. It's free and Linux compatible, both of which suit me fine. Plus, a guy I've known in the CGI scene for about 12 years or so posted a great tutorial series on building the Constitution class. One of the great things about it is that it's a tutorial for building something I care about. Plus, it's for the current version of Blender. It's a pain trying to follow a tutorial that uses an older version and things have changed.

Anyway, enough about me. Back to you and your cool sabers.

Hi SFD,

Hey, I enjoy chatting with other artist's about their work, it's through talking with experienced people like yourself that I have been able to learn and pick up knowledge.
And it's much easier chatting to someone than following some tutorial videos. I mentioned before the trouble I had adding the glow effects to the blades. I must have watched a dozen videos and none of the techniques described worked.

So I'd say go for it and give Blender a try, it would only cost you a little time and effort while you installed it. if you don't get on with it just delete the folder!
Thanks.

Actually, I already have Blender installed, it's a dependency for the video editor I use.

I thought you mentioned you had Blender in a previous conversation we shared elsewhere. Well, if you ever come up with any new Blender builds let me know.

Hello Everybody,

Well he is finally here and ready to make an appearance. Astromechs can be vain and want to look their best. As some of you may have already sensed (or have seen) this hilt is based on the most famous R2 unit ever R2-D2! Ok then on to the pictures..
Build Picture 1:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r2-d2-saber-build-screen-5mk.png)
Build Picture 2:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r2-d2-saber-4mk.png)

Yes this is R2-D2! Another quick colour change and I added a dome complete with sensor eye details and panelling, and he transformed from an R5 to an R2. But I hear you ask "Isn't this meant to be a saber?" and "Where is the emitter?" Yes it is, but I needed to use a clever feature known as Wireframe Mode to make it work.  This picture may help explain...
Wireframe Mode:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r2-d2-saber-build-screen-7mk.png)
The emitter is the segment in the picture above highlighted in orange! The Wireframe Mode enabled me to fit it into a small space. And yes it is situated inside the dome! So that means to get this saber to work Artoo needs to "Blow his top"!..
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r2-d2-saber-build-screen-1mk.png)
The dome acts as the saber's Blade Plug/Protective cap and the emitter is a sort of thin neck to make it look more elegant..and lit up it looks like this...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/r2-d2-saber-glow-mk.png)

And just as I bumped into R5-PHT at my local Comic Con, I also got to meet Artoo and he was kind enough to pose for a pic!...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/dsc_0467-smlmk.jpg)

That wraps up my collection of Astromechs and hopefully I saved the best till last!
Now I can move on and bring you a hilt inspired by The Last Jedi and the First Order. And as a teaser here is part of that hilt... :-X
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/teaser-pic.png)

Thanks for checking out this hilt and all the great feedback and comments.

I like the saber, Tyeth.  It looks well thought out and designed and of course, it's R2!!!!!  Keep up the good work there

Thanks Infinit, I only just had chance to click back to Recent Posts and you'd commented already!

Well I appreciate the comments and I'm glad you like it. Next up is something a little different!

point on it's way.

As I expected... IT'S ADORABLE! I love the little end cap shaped like R2's "head." It kind of reminds me of a lightsaber/pez dispenser hybrid in that way... please know I mean that as a compliment XD

Hello Lady Revan,

Haha! Yes R2 does resemble a PEZ now you mention it, just don't pop it and point him at your face and expect a fruity flavoured candy!
I have mentioned before these droids had so much character there were lots of details I could add to reinforce the look (and cuteness) of the hilt.

And I know you are being sincere so please accept a point in appreciation of your support!

You're welcome, Tyeth. I follow your work rather closely as I am a fan.  Have a point back!

I can't wait to see what designs come up next. The teaser image is looking good!

You know you have my support without points, but have one back anyway <3 We artists have to stick together. There are enough critics in this world as is.

Thanks, and I have to say the response I have received on this forum from members (and Admin) has been so positive.

But my next hilt is definitely not based on a droid...it's something much more dangerous!

That's a good observation.

I can see a similarity to another kind of battery powered product with that kind of shape too...

Great stuff again FT, really taken the droid sabre concept and run with it, they are all similar in a way but all work because of that, i could easily see them as a product range, as you have light side/dark side and neutral options.

Hi Lord_S_Gray

Thanks for the feedback! Sadly this is the last in the series of Astromechs (though I might make an R2-KT hilt as it has special meaning). The next saber will be totally different.

point incoming.

Looks good. I like the R5 ones better, but it's cool.

Hi SFD,

That's ok each to their own. That's one reason why I did a range as R-series droids are like sabers in that one person will like Thin Neck hilts and Prowl 1701 likes the Prophecy ;D

The same goes for droids some like R5s and others like R2s. You only have to check out the droid action figure collector's forums to find that out!

Thanks again and maybe the next one or my KOTOR/SWTOR inspired hilts will catch your attention. Point incoming.

How about one based an R4 with the OT dome? I've always liked the R4 units.

(https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/r4_negtd.jpg)

Hi SFD,

That is a great suggestion I can work on. If you give me a few days I should be able to adapt one for you. Any particular R4 or the one in the picture?

Actually, you have reminded me I have another hilt based on part of a droid. I'll post that next.

I don't know of any specific R4 units, besides the ones from the prequel trilogy with the wrong domes. "The Jedi modified theirs with R2 domes so they can store more hyperspace coordinates." ::) Right. Just admit you didn't want to make those original domes. That pic is just one from Wookieepedia.

Cool, bro. I'm not in any hurry. It was just a suggestion anyway, nothing you had to act on or anything.

Hi again, well let me know your favourite colours and I can knock one up in your scheme....maybe R4-SFD?

I've personally always been a fan of the Imperial droid color schemes.

(https://evilgenius180.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/imp_astromechs.jpg)

Hi SFD, not a problem, I should have one done by the weekend. I'll send it to you via PM then if you want to post it it's up to you ok! Thanks again for the suggestion.

Oh one more thing...do you want a particular blade colour or regular Sith Red?

Looking forward to those!

Hi Infinit, I don't think they should be too difficult to remodel then a case of "repainting" them! And thanks I got your point you sent earlier.

Hello Everybody and SFD, well I 've been busy again! How about this?
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/r4-fte-mk.png)

Dude, you're awesome. :) That looks great.

Hi SFD, thank you for the compliment  :-[
I just got carried away after creating your personal R4 and built one for me!

point incoming.

Cute droid sabers!!!!

Hello Lady Revan, yes I know more droids but SFD's suggestion sounded good to make an R4 version too. He now has his own as well in his choice of colours!
I have one final droid related hilt but it is only PART of a droid I used as inspiration.

Glad you liked FTE, point incoming.

Hello Everybody,

Today I bought nothing in the Black Friday Sales but I still feel like joining in the fun! When you buy something from a store it usually comes all wrapped up in packaging yes? And that packaging needs recycling to protect the Galaxy, yes? Well I don't have any packaging but I do have some droids I could recycle!
DON'T WORRY FOLKS... I'M JOKING!

I haven't dismantled any of my Astro hilts but I have repurposed a part of a droid here take a look...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/scomp-saber-4mk.png)

SCOMP 2:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/scomp-saber-3mk.png)

SCOMP 3:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/scomp-saber-2mk.png)

SCOMP 4: Do you recognise it yet?
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/scomp-saber-1mk.png)

SCOMP 5: This might help!
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/scomp-saber-6mk.png)

SCOMP Original:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/scomp_link.png)

SCOMP In use:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/r2_tcg_by_foti.jpg)

One day I noticed the SCOMP Data Connector found on R-Series Astros looked very similar to a Thin Neck saber of sorts! I just needed to add an Activation Switch/Power Level Indicator (PLI) and a Covertech Wheel (optional  ;D)
This design even comes with it's own resistors installed and in this case the brown resistor is a 39ohms resistor while the blue one is rated at 4.02 megaOhms just like the real prop has! (BTW these resistors would not be suitable for a real replica!).
The resistors were actually fun to model as I built them the same size as the hilt then scaled them down to their proper size but all the colour banding is correct. And I even added the red wires and a SCOMP DATA TERMINAL CONNECTION SOCKET (I just built that for fun, it doesn't work but looks good on my wall!)

Well I hope you enjoyed this recycled saber of sorts, I have another made from an X-Wing Fighter to show you soon.
Thanks again for looking in on this design and all your support,  it's much appreciated.

Nice captures the mechanical look but what really sets it off are the wire and resistor details. Again great creativity and lateral thinking to pick such an unlikely object from Star Wars and run with it.

Hello Lord_S_Gray, those resistor greeblies were the most fun part to model! The wires themselves were a little difficult to route however.

So glad you liked the hilt (and it was only part of a droid this time)
Thanks and a point incoming.

Looks good, dude. Interesting choice, turning the computer probe thingy (technical term) into a saber.

Hi SFD

Thanks man, I thought it was poetic way to wrap up the Astromech series of hilts! The "Computer Probe Thingy" is called a SCOMP Connector according to the Industrial Automaton Owner's manual. And yes before anyone asks, I remember TWAIN compliant devices too, I'm an old Geek/Nerd!

point incoming.

Now I keep thinking of C3PO. "I'm an interpreter, I'm not supposed to know a power socket from a computer terminal." ;)

It's a great line! I think Artoo and Threepio's exchanges are brilliant bits of writing considering we only understand/hear one half of them. (It's a bit like a good actor making a telephone call).

But onwards, we have to go for a spin with my next hilt!

Good looking saber there, Tyeth. Just from that screenshot, you created R2’s iconic arm. Kudos and point to you

Hi Infinit, thank you also. I am getting the hang of looking at images and using a form of reverse engineering I'm able to work out approximate dimensions of an object based on comparing them to a known fixed measurement. (i.e. if there is a Covertech wheel in the image then I can base the measurements compared to the Covertecjh and scale parts accordingly.)

I hope my next hilt will be a bit different than a droid.

point incoming.

Good stuff as always For. This is my personal favorite so far though. Very creative. Looks like it would make a great spinning saber too. +1

Thanks Darth Silenoz! The spinning characteristics of this hilt might be a little hindered by the resistors, but probably not much! The crazy thing about this design is that I have watched the OT for nearly forty years and it was only a month or two back I realised how much like a saber the SCOMP arm was!

You won't believe how the X-Wing hilt turned out and how little I modified the part that inspired it.  8)

point incoming.

Hello Everybody,

Sorry I was AWOL for a day or two but I do have a special hilt for you to see today!
May I present my next Astr...Haha! Just kidding! No droids this time...today we get serious. This is my take on what I think will become a design classic in Star Wars.
The TIE SILENCER! Or as I call it the TY Silencer (<see what I did there?  ;D )

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/ty-silencer-plate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/ty-silencer-build-8-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/ty-silencer-build-7-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/ty-silencer-build-4-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/ty-silencer-build-5-mk.png)

OK a few Glamour Shots now...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/ty-silencer-1-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/ty-silencer-2-mk.png)

I used a few little tricks on this hilt including transparent windows which reflect the red blade and the fuselage looks as if it is made from one solid part right? Actually it is one solid block which I duplicated then removed the face panels to create a framework that fits around the body to create the body panels. I have since learnt a quicker technique to do this  ;D. Oh and do you like the pommel?

Ok I had better finish here. I hope you like the design but before I go Infinit01 and a few other members might be interested to know how well it spins...ok I hope this works (as I can't see it due technical glitches!)

(https://youtu.be/0Ydal3zIe3A)

https://youtu.be/0Ydal3zIe3A

Whoa! Really nice saber, Tyeth!  You caught Kylo's Tie Fighter rather well and I like how the cockpit is the emitter's opening for the blade.  Love that activation switch as well

Hello Infinit,

I said I had something a little different than a droid this time :)
Glad you like the details and the emitter socket should illuminate through the transparent windows. And if you tire of using it as a saber you could unscrew the handle then replace it with just the pommel and you would have a display model of the Silencer!

Thanks for the feedback. Point inbound.

You're welcome Tyeth. I gave you a point in another thread but expect one within the hour.

I love that ship. Well done For. :)

Hi Silenoz,

Thanks man, I saw a few comments posted in another thread about the Lego Silencer so I know a lot of folks here love the ship. I'm glad I captured it well enough.

My Force premonition must be strong... ::)

(And thanks Infinit I got the point!)

Far less cute, but the fighter wings make excellent claws.

Hello Lady Revan,

Thank you very much also. And I will apologise as some eagle eyed people may notice the Wings are not matching! When I built this I hadn't worked out the Mirror function so I built one claw then copied it and flipped it horizontally and vertically to create the second. Unfortunately it means it has two left claws - but you do have to look closely.

BTW can anyone tell me if the YT embed and links work as my laptop won't display videos on this forum  :(

Thanks and a point Lady Revan.

I see all your pics and one YT link. Here it is.
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ydal3zIe3A&feature=youtu.be#)

Hi Silenoz,

Thanks for the assistance! I have an old Win7 laptop and YT videos don't show up on it if I try to view them on this forum (Boo!)

And I apologise the animation is only 5-6 secs long but that is about as much as the laptop can manage to render without it crashing!

points coming in. (Take the saber for a spin  ;D)

Very nice Tyeth. The TIE Silencer is (and sadly I will admit it) one of the best parts of the new trilogy. They did very good on Kylo's ship.

Hi Taegin, The Silencer was the best part I think and I have to say that the LEGO Tie Silencer is awesome too. They actually addressed the pilot visibility issues for Tie Pilots and made it look good. And it does spin very well  ;D

Glad you like the design and I hope to bring a few more yet.
point incoming.

Great job FT you just keep em coming! Can't add much more than what the others said, but yeah very well integrated design an has a very Sith/Darkside (knights of Ren whatever they are LOL) feel with the claws/wings. Only thing i would add is some grey highlights to break up the black a little.

Hi Lord_S_Gray, your comments are always welcome. Having looked at the Lego Silencer I noticed there was some detailing behind the cockpit that I could add as a greeblie and maybe some detail in the wing panels.
I might even fix those claws so they do match  :)

Thanks once again and please keep giving recommendations they all help.

Yeah it was the Lego  75179 i was looking at, the thin edging of gray around the black wings that i noticed most as it 'frames' the black so it doesn't get lost - grey on the raised edges on the main hilt handle as well might be a way to get it down the length of the sabre too. but yeah so many options you could do!

Hi again Lord_S_Gray,

I will get to work on those modifications you suggest and I think I may have another detail I can add to the effect. Fortunately I built the hilt in sections so that should make things easier!

Thanks once more.

Looks great. And, I'm sure that would silence her. (see what I did there?) ;)

Hi SFD,

Thanks, I'm glad the design worked out. I did see what you did there but I'm not sure who you want keeping quiet!  :-\

Nobody I know....I hope!

Hello Everybody and in particular Lady Revan,

Today I have a really special offering as I am feeling quite pleased with myself. Whilst making some changes to my TY Silencer hilt suggested by Lord_S_Gray I came up with a completely new design!
But I'm not going to show you that one! No, I have another new hilt I have been working on this past fortnight and it is special as it was inspired by Lady Revan's Fan Fiction "Only Light Can Cast A Shadow"
Click the link to read it:
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=39828.msg664275#msg664275 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=39828.msg664275#msg664275)

This saber is for the character of Alex Khaar and just from the small description of him towering over some Jedi younglings I came up with this...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/alex-khaar-studio-1-mk1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/alex-khaar-studio-2-mk1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/alex-khaar-studio-3-mk1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/alex-khaar-studio-4-mk1.png)

And two final "Glamour Shots"
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/alex-khaar-saber-1-mk1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/alex-khaar-saber-2-mk.png)

And yes, this is a saber from the Old Republic era so it has a D-Ring - no pesky Covertechs here! The hilt I think would be suitable for an imposing Jedi and the foregrip has finger indentations to assist grip for power strikes (so no spinning with this one..sorry) built into the forward claw. But this hilt can accommodate a two handed grip too when Alex needs it.
The colour scheme is a basic silver and black with a blue blade nothing too gimmicky this time, just a solid character hilt.

I hope you like this design and I have another inspired by Lady Revan's story and a pair of Staff hilts all coming in the future. Thanks to all of you for your support and comments it really helps me improve. Till next time....

Dang, dude. That's officially my favorite hilt that you've posted.

Also, not to nitpick, but the Covertec wheels could be considered Old Republic. Proof: Obi-Wan, Anakin and Vader all had Covertec wheels on their sabers in the OR time, and D-rings in the later time period. ;) Though, really, I'm sure you could use either one for both eras.

Hi SFD, I hoped it would impress you as I know you're not into themed hilts, this is just a regular TOR style hilt! Albeit based on a character!

I just remember a lot of folks saying the hilts from the games looked better with D-rings so I tried one out (I did add one on my Ezra Bridger but that was triangular).

Thanks for your comments and a point incoming.

I have to agree, excepting i'd say second best you've done so far (Silencer!) - the droids.Falcon/Death star were amazing but were definitely 'niche' looks - this is a real battle sabre that's gonna hack people to shred from on high! Khaarnage is absolutely correct!

Hi Lord_S_Gray,

This was a fun build for me as it was a total blank workspace I started with save for the passage in Lady Revan's story describing Alex Khaar and the younglings' reaction to his size. So I just went with that concept and thankfully it seems to have worked.

It shows me that I can do gimmicky "niche" hilts or full on serious designs that may have graced a Star Wars universe! And that is such great news for me.

And I have started the updates on the Silencer hilt and finished the edging, but while working on it I triggered a further new design.
So thanks again and I'll keep you posted on the Silencer updates.  Point incoming.

Just when I wonder how you would outdo yourself from the last saber design, you continue to amaze me, Tyeth.  This is an amazing saber and niwnthat I know where you got the inspiration from, I’ll have to add that into my reading

Hi Infinit, well it is comforting to know I am still progressing in the right direction!

This one is probably the most "regular" hilt I have posted so far but it's one of my new favourites. (But I still have 2 or 3 more TOR styled hilts to come so it might change).
And whenever I give myself a few minutes break from Blender I like to digest a few pages from the fan fiction section, but you guys have kept me busy lately. However please do check it out yourself!

point incoming.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IT'S UP! *screams*

All right! now that I've gotten that out of my system, I'm so excited to see what you've come up with for Alex (and I love the punny name ;) )! The D ring placement on it looks especially nice!

Everything about this hilt just screams Alex to me, and I'm touched to know that my own work could have inspired you to come up with such a beautiful creation of your own! I can't wait to see the other ones that you have in store! Thank you so much for sharing this! Point incoming!

Yep. That's my new favorite by far. +1
And Congrats to Lady Revan for creating the character that inspired it. -!

Hello Lady Revan, I am really glad Khaarnage lives up to your vision!

I pictured the scene where Alex is teaching the younglings and the saber just seemed to create itself. But the really good thing is that because it is a "standard" hilt I might be able to convert it to a Sith colour scheme or a neutral "Gray" version! And the D-Ring has a swivel so it is articulated and the saber hangs nicely.  8)

Thank you for the inspiration and I hope my other designs please. point inbound.

Hello Silenoz, I'm really pleased you like Khaarnage also. I sometimes get carried away with my "themed" hilts I forget about regular designs, but this one has really inspired me to concentrate a bit more on in-universe (or forum-verse) inspired designs. Again I hope my future hilts are as good. Thanks for the support and recognizing LR's contribution!

point incoming. 

For, that's amazing.  :-)

I'm not real big on the finger-grip part of the claw, I'd want to cut that down and slim the claw out a bit, more like what US uses on the Scorpion, for example, but ...  Yeah.   This is a down-right amazing battle saber, no doubt about it.   The emitter is amazing, and honestly there's something just ... right ... about the silver hilt with black recessed highlights. 

Nicely done!  :-)

Hi Karmack, I have good news for you! The Khaarnage Claw ( ;D ) is removable, or would be if this was real. If you look real close on the choke point band there is a gap between the emitter body and the claw so if the claw was removed you would have a spinning hilt too.
The only reason I made the claw as bulky as it is, was because I wasn't sure how sharp I could go on safety grounds if this ever got made or printed!

I'm so happy you like this design and I have news that I may have made a few variants! But they are for coming posts  ;D

Thanks for the kind words and support. point incoming

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I posted telling Karmack that I had a few variants of my most recent design...well I have a question.

What happens if you design a weapon with two blades?
You get DOUBLE THE KHAARNAGE...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/alex-khaar-staff-1-mk.png)

Hope you like and stay tuned for the other versions coming soon, and thanks again.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!! that is a pretty! when will you be making these in RL?

You seriously need a drummer to follow you around with a snare and a cymbal (rim shot). ;)
I would offer to do it myself but I'm... beat. Plus I have to baby sit my twin nieces, Anna One, Anna Two...  
I should go to the doctor. I hit my head on a Conga. I think I might have a percussion.

 

he. he. he.

dats funny right der

Hi Golden Fed,

Sadly due to my financial circumstances and health I don't know if they will ever see the light of day as real life builds. But you never know. I might be able to knock out a couple of 3D printed miniatures - I'm looking into doing that )I need to tweak the 3D files so they are printer friendly) I'm just glad you all seem to like the designs so far.

Thanks and a point on it's way to you.

Hi Silenoz, yeah sorry I keep forgetting myself and think I'm still a cabaret performer! (I was for three years) I'll cut down on the jokes.

This is actually a pretty good idea, you should do this. Maybe make some lightsaber necklaces?

Hi again,

I was thinking more along half scale size models (I'd have to go to 50% size as .45 scale models are already a thing and I don't want to copy anyone's idea's and get a bad reputation  ::) ).

There is a 3D print "factory hub" in the next city to me but I'm not sure they would accommodate orders for one-offs and prototypes. I will look into it further though and thanks.

WHAT?! Don't do that! I love your sense of humor Teyeth. That's what you're here... For.

I like the staff, but those finger grooves would limit your grip options. On the single blade, it was less of an issue than it would be on a staff.

Not sure about practicality, but THAT LOOKS EPIC!

Hi SFD, I just got carried away and wondered how it would look doubled up, and now I have nailed the Mirror modifier it makes tweaks like this so much easier  :)

But as I mentioned to Karmack the Khaarnage Claw is removable so I might post the de-clawed versions too, they just lose something though. I also have a Naginata/yari style extension piece lined up for this too.

Thanks again for your input. point on it's way.

I'm sorry Lady Revan, it always happens...I type out a reply and somebody comments again as I'm in the process of sending it! I have a non clawed version as I told SFD above but I feel it just loses some of it's intimidation factor.

However if you are interested I do have the Darkside versions if you want  me to send you a pic or two  to check out first. And thank you again.

point incoming.

*rimshot*

Hi Karmack, yeah when I was a performer there used to be a quote we used that went, "Bada-Bum Tisch!!!" It was meant to mimic the drum roll cymbal shot for a corny performance. A bit like "mwah! mwah!..mwaaaaaah!" for the cheesy trumpet call!

Hello Everybody,

Now I know I said I would concentrate on less gimmicky hilts but I do have a few "tribute" and "Inspired by" designs left in my workshop, so I best share this one with you.
Some of you will be getting ready for the Christmas holiday blockbuster movie season and are eager to go to the cinema. Well here is a saber to "WET" your appetites even more...
Can you guess the inspiration?
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/aquaman-bend-build-1.png)

Ok a couple of Glamour Shots to help..
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/aquaman-bend-1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/aquaman-bend-5.png)

Worked it out yet? No? Ok this will help...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/aquaman-bend-plate-1.png)

Yep this is a weapon for a watery warrior...Aquaman. I built this around the same time that I built my Black Panther hilt but I was able to add a bend to this hilt! (That took some doing as I had to bend both the inner core and the outer sleeve and get them to match and then align the pommel and emitter!) Anyway the hard work was worth it and I hope you think so too. Thanks again for checking this hilt out.

Yes, it was obvious that it's Aquaman's saber. ;) Looks good. :)

Hi SFD,

Haha! Thanks but I think I left a big clue at the top of the first picture - I forgot the filename was on show in the Window title bar when I took the screenshot!  :P

I'm glad it still worked though and thanks again. (That's the Bend and Curve Modifiers off my list to learn now!)

point incoming.

Yeah, I didn't even look at that. The scale-like webbing and color scheme were pretty obvious to me.

That's a relief to know! I created that webbing using a wireframe and adding a Subsurface modifier that created rounded holes in the sleeve. Then when I scaled (not a pun) it to fit over the inner core the holes elongated to look like scales or his tattoos. Having seen the trailer last week I think it might look a bit like his suit even more.

Please do! Consideration for... later ;)

Hi Lady Revan, preview pics are on their way should be in your inbox by now!

Excellent! >:3

Hi All and SFD....

Nah! That saber.....it belongs to me!!
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/swotor-one-1forum.png)

Just one I was working on to improve my leather wrapping technique!  ;D

It's still a work in progress, I need to add some Greeblies and accent LEDS.

Whoa, Tyeth! You work fast

And I can do the Kessel Run too!
I had this one lying around but just worked out how to produce leather textures without using images as skins.

I'll post the finished version when I get a chance (I'm still working on about 8 other hilts ATM)

point incoming

Ha


Can't wait to see them!

Hi Golden Fedora, I should have them finished over the next few weeks, I just hope they live up to expectation.
Thanks for looking in.

point on it's way.

Thanks For, I'd give you one as well but there is a one hour limit on these things.  :P

and as I said above, I cannot wait to see what you do next

Hello Everybody,

Well it's been a day or two since I posted a hilt and Lady Revan has signed off on this next version so for the slightly more Darkside followers out there here is Dark Khaarnage...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dark-khaarnage-1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dark-khaarnage-2.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dark-khaarnage-3.png)

This is an all black hilt and I edged it with silver (thnx Lord_S_Gray for the tip). I am working on a new claw without indentations and have a Sith Pureblood version of this hilt to show you too in a little while but for now here are a few Staff pics...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dark-khaarnage-staff-1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dark-khaarnage-staff-2.png)

Hope you all like it, and I am working on a few other designs including the SWOTOR replica and a couple of staffs/staves. Thanks for looking in.

Tyeth, I thought I like the last saber that you posted but I love this one even more!!! The black LE version looks really good giving me Imperial Officer or Dark Trooper vibes, something that an Emperor's Hand or a Dark pupil of Vader would wield to hunt down Jedi.  I love the Guardian looking pommel and the choke point underneath the emitter itself looks good.  The emitter gives me vibes of Vader's saber and the knuckle grip with a sharp edge reminds me of a bayonet.  Now the staff..... What can I say? What's better than this saber?  TWO OF THEM!!!!  Especially in staff configuration, I would love to feel how this would spin and thing that it would be far better off as a staff since most spins on a staff are geared towards the middle of the staff than towards the emitter's end of a single saber.   

Love it and have a point my friend

Tyeth man you have outdone yourself this time! That staff is gorgeous, and I really like the indentations on the claws. Seems like it would make a better choke point.

Hi Infinit....thank you! I've been wracking my brain trying to think what the term was for those indentations! Knuckle grips!
I'm glad you like the staff form, that was my thoughts - the staff is mainly gripped mid shaft. There are times when using a quarter staff when you would extend your reach but as a Lightsaber staff is mainly blade then you can't do the extended technique grips.
And Shhhh! Don't mention Troopers their hilts are on their way  :-X  ;)

thanks again, point incoming and HIjol!

Hi Golden Fedora, I'm glad you think so. I have really been trying to get away from doing just single blades and try different configurations. Thanks to Infinit01 I now have a better name for those indentations - Knuckle Grips - though I'm not sure they would work for spinning but more for performing power strikes. I might post a version without the claw because there is a legitimate choke point beneath it (the silver band).

Thanks for the kind words and I hope my next hilts meet your expectations too!
point incoming....Qapla'!

You're welcome, Tyeth and glad that I can be of help without knowing! Lol. I'm loving this design and you're designing with these sabers are getting better and better.  Not that they have been anything less. Have one back for the great designs

I really like the black with hints of silver aesthetic. :)

Hi SFD, I have to thank Lord_S_Gray for those accents, he reminded me of the trick when he suggested I try it on my Ty Silencer hilt. And if you just give me a half hour or so I'll have two non clawed versions (one standard and one dark) of the single hilts for the spinners out there.

Thanks once more for the support. Point inbound.

I like this one as well.  Again, the finger grips bother me more than anything.  I understand the aesthetic, but I'd love to see this hilt with a claw more like the Scorpion.

And on a "real" weapon, that claw would have a very sharp edge.  :-)


Another idea that has tickled my mind on occasion: an 'energy' bat'leth.  Basically a Klingon Sword with the cutting edge equipped with an energy blade like the weapons the praetorian guard used in the big throne-room battle on The Last Jedi.  

yes, could you try making some solid blade weapons Tyeth? I'd like to see your take on something like the Pacific Rim Chainswords.

Hi Karmack and Golden Fedora, I will take a look at solid edge blades but ATM I still have quite a few plasma blades to show (and I think someone's been snooping in my workshop again as one of the hilts is Trek based  ::)  )

Regarding claws, I am working on some different shaped ones and should have something to show for it soon. But here are the two pictures I promised SFD above.
Khaarnage NC:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/a-khaar-noclaw.png)

Dark Khaarnage NC:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/dark-khaarnage-nc.png)

Hope you approve. Can I take a break now?  ;D

Those look great without the claws, thanks for sharing. As for taking a break, you can take one whenever you want. We're here to admire your stuff, not be task masters. ;)

Hi SFD,  I'm glad you think they work. I will build a new claw as I still think the hilt loses a bit of intimidation factor without one.

And don't worry I don't think of you all as Task Masters, I am now pushing myself more, as I start one design then I'll make a "mistake" and it triggers an idea for something else. Currently I have 8 hilts or staffs still to come with one final Sith Khaarnage  version.

Oooo, I really like them without the knuckle grips, Tyeth.

Hi Infinit, I guess they are a little more spin friendly without the knuckle grip. It's just me being protective of my initial version liking it with the claw but that's the great thing about sabers...some people can like one thing while others have a different opinion!

Don't get me wrong, as a staff, I want the knuckle grips on there.  It does give the sabers/staff character and just changes its personalities a bit. 

Same here. though it may get a bit annoying for spins

Hi again, yes this ^^ it's all down to personalities both in the saber and it's owner. That's why I imagine a backstory/reason for a particular character and the saber.

Anyhoo, I am going to have to log off for now, I haven't slept for about 36 hours and that's not good  :) Thanks again guys and gals, I'll be back online later.

P.s. I'll have the Non-Claw staffs later too ok!

Get some rest, Tyeth.  See you in a bit and can't wait to see the non-clawed staff!

later Tyeth!

SOLD!

I know right?

If only we actually could buy them.

Ditto!

Very clean, the knuckle grips are menacing but i'm not a fan of claws overall, i like the smooth look and that Dark Khaarnage staff...brutal in a good way!

Hi Lord_S_Gray, Silenoz, Fedora and Infinit....

Thanks all for the kind comments. I too wish I could get these built...maybe one day when I'm rich. For now though I am still sharpening my skills really and finding what works and how. I promised I had the Non Clawed versions and as I still can't sleep I'll post them now.
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/a-khaar-staff-noclaw.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/dark-khaarnage-staff-nc-1.png)

Oh and I found some spare parts in my locker...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/spook-emitter-2.png)

Whistle...whistle...whistle (sorry don't know the emoticon code!) ::)

Ooooo, they’re gorgeous, Tyeth!  I really like the silver LE with the Purple blades! The Sith version looks like it
May belong to an Inquisitor or Jedi hunter

Hi Infinit, Purple? Darn colour palettes! Trust me the standard Khaarnage staff has blue blades in Blender but when I take a screenshot and add text to it in GIMP the colour sometimes changes. To me it looks like a white core with a blue inner aura and on the edge of the outer aura there is a hint of purple/violet etc.

Either way I'm glad you liked them.
point on it's way.

My apologies, Tyeth. It looks purple to me but I like it whether it was accidental or on purpose.  I’m a fan of colors for Jedi that aren’t the typical blue or green.  Have a point back!

Hi Infinit,

No need to apologise I know the problems of matching colours to monitors and software/picture formats and then getting them to look right by eye for everyone!

I will bear in mind your preferences for variety in future!

....Still looks blue to me, albeit a different shade. Still love what you've done with Khaarnage! lol

I’m also viewing it on my phone so it may very well be blue. Thank you for keeping my blade color preferences in mind for future projects!

Hello Lady Revan, thanks, as I mentioned to Infinit it is a nightmare getting images to match up for everybody as everyone's eyes are different to begin with. Then there are all the different screens and monitor settings we have. I'm pleased to hear you like the different versions. I'm really happy that it has been such a versatile design.

And I still have your "Silver Vision" to post yet!

Looking forward to it! :D Ipersonallylikethatoneevenbetter XD

Hello Everybody,

It's taken me about a day to work this one up as black hilts are notoriously difficult to get to show up well but some members wanted to know what a Dark Spectre might look like....

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/spook-or-spectre-1.png)

and picture two to show off the emitter a bit more....
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/spook-or-spectre-2.png)

And yes those windows were tricky to get lined up, as I had to cut them through both the emitter shroud and the blade holder!
It's not identical...it's at least 30% different but gives you a rough idea what it might look like :D

Very cool! I think it could use some accents though. The problem with black sabers is that they can easily become one-dimensional

Hello Lady Revan, that was exactly my point about notoriously difficult! All black (or any single colour) hilts need something to contrast otherwise they appear very flat and plain. I did add silver turret cube ring parts and the choke has some silver along with the block on the emitter shroud. The recessed part of the grip is a slightly lighter shade of black but it is till hard to make out without boosting the lighting then you get all sorts of light distortion and reflections!

I am just adding gold to a second version and might post that later too.

Thanks and a point incoming.

Oooo! Gold on black might be interesting!

Oooooo, really beautiful looking saber there, Tyeth!  I have to say that I like the Spectre much better in black than silver but that's just me.  I do wonder how it would look with black and gold accents.

That^

Yes! Yes! and a bit more YES!

Hi Everybody, well I have tinkered a bit with my model and come up with the black and gold version. I will say I am not totally sold on the third gold shrouded one but as this is just a concept or work in progress I can always modify it more. Anyhoo here are the pics...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/gold-spook-or-spectre-1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/gold-spook-or-spectre-2.png)

And one final hilt that has the gold shroud around the grip...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/gb-spook-or-spectre-1.png)

I love it, the gold really brings the accented features out some, Tyeth! 

I personally like the gold shrouded one the most by far. All of them look great though.

I like the gold shroud but the black tsuba

Thanks Infinit, It did need some form of accents. As I mentioned to Lady Revan single colour hilts need some contrast to make the details stand out but as members asked for a Dark Spook the majority of the hilt needed to be black. The grip insert is/was a slightly lighter shade of black but was still hard to make out.

The third picture was just a test really to see how much gold I could use and get away with.
And Dark Spook is just my name I gave this model so I didn't cause confusion with the real US hilt  :)

Thanks and point incoming and I'll PM you a new pic soon with black Tsuba.

You're welcome Tyeth and I like your experiments with how each part on the saber would look.  Thanks!  Can't wait to see it!!!!!

Hi Darth Silenoz, again it's all a matter of personal taste! The main reason I was unsure of this gold hilt was that members asked for a Dark version of the Spectre to look at and I thought this strayed too far from that idea. Anyhoo, I am glad you still like them.

point on it's way.

Hi Infinite, I don't know the real engineering behind the Spectre model but I built my hilt in sections as this picture shows. Blender is so flexible that I can now make hilts like this and swap parts really quickly from other versions or even other hilts I've built (in object mode you select Append Object from the file menu and you can pick an emitter shroud for example and load it into your current build.) This also means you can quickly swap colours too!

Whoa!!!! I need to learn more of it, sadly, I haven't had time

I love the gold shroud Tyeth! the Dark Spook needs to be a thing

Hi Infinit, you have to prioritise your time as you need to. I don't have family concerns and I am unable to work due to health issues so I get (way too much) time to tinker and do stuff with Blender. But even I have only just scratched the surface of what it can do.

I saw your thin neck (which you still haven't posted yet...hint,hint) and that looked well done so you have the skill, the rest will come with...well time.

Thanks once more.

Hello Golden Fedora, thanks man but this is just a concept model I knocked up to help you guys and gals to visualise one, the people you need to petition are Ultrasabers.  Oh yeah and I did give my version a different name too, just to be safe!

thanks for your continued support and point incoming
(P.S. And when I get a free moment or two I will read your updates to Invictus!)

More great innovations For!  Not to be too demanding...but gold shroud with red blade or purple blade would look opulent like the saber of a decadent hedonistic Sith....*cough*Xithar*Cough*

Hi Lord_S_Gray, glad you like my take on the Spectre. I guess you would like a Xithar themed version sending by PM? Give me a bit of time and I'll get to work on it.

point and pics on their way.

You're too kind, Tyeth and yes, I do have to finish it though. Haven't laid down the metal look of it just yet. 

And will do once I finish  ;D

Apart from the blade colour its already there I reckon!

Just uploading the pics to my hosting site, be with you shortly.

I'd love to see what it would look like if you tried to do the Spectre engraving in gold also

Hello Lady Revan, funny you should also mention engraving. I may have something in your inbox in a few minutes. Shhh! Secret upcoming design!

Ooh, I really like the Gold and Black versions.

Hi Taegin, thanks. very much, I'm really beginning to enjoy this designing hobby. Blender is so cool to play around in I feel like a Freemaker and I still haven't posted my second recycled parts hilt yet which shows how busy this thread has kept me!

point incoming.

For Tyeth: Unfortunately I can't make a gif of Christopher Walken saying wowie-wow-wow on this post using my phone otherwise I would put it here.  I also cannot swear or use sexual innuendo to accurately convey how awesome this gold shroud one looks.  If this concept ever comes to fruition and if it ever gets some gold etching I will buy 2 and forever be dual wielding in my wife's doghouse. 

I apologize for the hyperbole.   There was beer...

Hi HanSolo Voltron, ...thanks very much, so glad you like it but that puts me in a difficult situation now...er whether to post my next image I just finished...

Heart medication at the ready...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/gold-spook-or-spectre-etched.png)

I have been tinkering again and found an old bit of printed circuit board lying around  and thought I'd use it ;D
It's not quite perfect as the engraving  isn't actually carved into the surface, it is a trick Blender has to superimpose a black and white image onto a surface and make it appear 3D engraved. But again I think it gives an impression of how it might look.

Thanks again HanSolo, I hope I haven't done any more damage to your future finances.
Point incoming.

Tyeth, your latest black and gold Spectre is now one of my favorites one of the bunch

Hi Infinit, as always thanks so much. I realised I needed to up my game as Lord_S_Gray requested the etching.

point incoming for your unending support.

Very nice! Even if it's technically not a true engraving, I still love the effect! Point incoming!

Hello Lady Revan, I know the circuit path should be gold on the black background but the way Blender adds the texture meant I had to have a light coloured surface to past the dark overlay onto. But considering it is an optical illusion I like how it worked!

point on it's way to you and thanks.

It's settled then:  dual wielding your last 2 images (gold etching on the first one and the second one as) .  I nearly bought a plastic toy spectre in target today just to tide me over. 

Hi HanSolo, Ok, major damage to your virtual bank account has been achieved, I think my job here is done!
Glad you liked the concepts and hopefully one day you will get the hilts you desire.
Thanks for the kind comments. Point on it's way to you.

Hello Everybody,

Now I have finished the Spook/Spectre hilts I can return to a few "old" designs I had intended to post before I got side-tracked!

Quite a few posts back you may recall how I "recycled" a part of a droid to create a lightsaber? Well how about recycling a ship! Or at least part of one. This hilt is a tribute to one of the most famous and iconic starfighters in the galaxy...the Incom T-65 otherwise known as the X-Wing Fighter! It is also a tribute to the "Greatest Pilot in the Resistance" and by sheer coincidence it's the correct colours. Any how this is what I came up with and see if you can tell which part of the X-Wing I used!...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dameron-wip-3.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dameron-bench-wip-3.png)

Any guesses yet? No? Ok I'll just point out here that I used the WireFrame mode again to add the crystal chamber and there is a Resistance Logo activation switch. Onto some more pictures then...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dameron-final-3.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dameron-final-4.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dameron-final-6.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dameron-final-1.png)

So any guesses now? Ok I'll show you. After watching Empire Strikes Back repeatedly for over thirty years I never saw this till I got Blender and started seeing objects differently. Remember when Luke crash lands on Dagobah and Artoo falls in the swamp? Well when the camera zooms in over the X-Wing cockpit and shows the control panel take a closer look and you'll see my saber right there in plain view. It is the cylindrical object on the dashboard! If you still don't know what I'm talking about then here is a behind the scene picture of the cockpit and look in the upper right hand corner!...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/xcockpit.png)

So in one fell swoop I was able to create a hilt that honours the T-65 X-Wing and with the switch and the colour scheme I honoured Poe Dameron too! Thanks for checking this design out and for your support and comments. I'll leave you with one final picture.
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dameron-plate.png)
 

Interesting design! I like the incorporation of the Rebel symbol on the hilt (I presume for the switch)

Hello Lady Revan, I have to admit it didn't need much work as it is basically just that dashboard control. But the fact it was perfect and the colours are as you see I just had to convert it. And yes I imagined the logo as housing an activation switch - I have a few Tactile switches for a Qui-Gon build  and they are brilliant if you add a decorative tophat/plunger. A 3D printed Resistance logo fit the bill.

Thanks for the comment and please pass on my Congrats to your BF on his recent theatrical casting!

point INCOMing   < see what I did there  ;D

Interesting design there, Tyeth. I can't but feel Poe's X-Wing as inspiration for this design before even reading what you did.  I truly like the windows in the main body of the saber, my apologies if it's not, and the button does give me vibes of the buttons within the cockpit of the T-65 starfighter.  I do recall this cylinder as being in TESB when Luke crash lands his X-Wing....

(http://i.imgur.com/L77je8x.jpg)

Truly a great design and good eye there, Tyeth. Point incoming!


Edit: After I posted this, I went back to read to see if I was right and sure enough, I am! Lol. I thought I was the only one who looked for odd things

Hello Infinit,

Thanks and don't worry as you venture further into your 3D modelling career you will start looking at things differently more and more! I think it's a bit like "The Sixth Sense".....I see sabers...and blasters....and crystal chambers....everywhere ;D

Anyhoo, I am so glad you like the design and the windows, as I mentioned to Lady Revan the details on the prop were so perfectly placed I'm surprised the FX team didn't think of using it as a saber hilt themselves. And in regards to Poe, the pommel is also modelled slightly on the engine intake of the T-70.

Thanks again and a point is on it's way (btw I used the same picture as you posted for reference - good find!)

This

Is

Cool!

Hey Tyeth, you're too kind and I'll wait and continue to work until that day comes for me.   ;D

I agree with you in regards to the design and it not being a saber on it's own right but no worries here, this is one reason why you're here!  :D 

Have a point back!

Hi Karmack, I'm glad you think so, I had to tweak a few things to get the circuitry etch but I think it worked better than I imagined. I'd still like to get the actual circuit path to be gold on a black background but so far the technique I used limits me to superimposing a black outline. Thanks as always for the kind words. Point incoming.

Wow. That's insane how you notice stuff like this. I thought I noticed tiny little details. That thing looks just like a saber hilt. Brilliant!

Hi Darth Silenoz, as I say it really started to kick in since using Blender. I have sort of stopped watching movies as entertainment and just analyse them now for inspiration.
I have been designing (or rather assembling modular hilts which I can't mention) based on characters or ships etc for around three years, however since switching to Blender I have much more creative freedom to build the mad ideas in my mind.

Again, thanks for the support and comment.
point on it's way.

That is truly unique!  I always thought Luke just kept his saber on the dashboard like a AAA map book hehe.

Hi HanSolo,

LOL, I know...all that talk about whether to use D-Rings or Covertechs on our sabers when we should have been using dashboard mounts  ;D

So glad you like Dameron , thanks for the kind words, point incoming.

Hello Everybody,

It's been a few days since I posted my Dameron hilt so I think it's time for a new...sorry breaking news coming in!!

If you have been following this thread (and thanks if you have) then you will know my hilts have had an "angular" look rather than nice cylindrical lines. In other words my hilts look octagonal or multisided. Well this has bothered me, why have something that looks like this...?
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/SI-Flat-Emitter-MK.png)

When I can make it look like this...?
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/SI-Smooth-Emitter-MK.png)

Yes the "big" news is that I have cracked the puzzle how to make my models both curved and smooth while still having sharp edges! The best part is that it is a fairly simple technique and doesn't take a long time to render/produce the images.

Hopefully my future builds will now feature this technique (where I can) and they will look a bit more sleek and shiny!

Thanks for looking in and don't forget I still have a few "old" designs plus the SWOTOR/KOTOR inspired hilts, a few staffs, a few Troopers, a Senator, a Cyborg...Oh and a new CROSSGUARD...here's a sneak peek...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/TAS-Saber-Sneak-Peek.png)

Oh, if I'd known you wanted them to be smooth (but still have sharp edges) I could have told you how to do that.

Love all of that gold and the grooves are beautiful! I’m also digging that KOTOR crossguard saber too

Hi SFD, no worries, it was part of my journey of discovery and now I am a master of Smooth Shading, Auto Sharp Edges and Loop Rings/Crease Seams!  ;D


And I'm sorry Infinit, but the Gods would not be happy if they heard you call this a KOTOR Crossguard, or at least one particular God as it belongs to him.
Thanks for the kind comment on my grooves though, you have seen them before but they were still angular in the non official pics I sent you a while back  ;)

points incoming for both of you.

Hey Tyeth, my mistake my friend, not offense to you hopefully.

Haha! No offense taken. I was just cautioning because if the new owner of my design heard you calling his new saber a KOTOR hilt he'd Hammer down all kinds of Thunder and Lightning on you.... ::)  ;)

I still have a few other hilts to show off first but the TriGuard is coming soon.

Hello Everybody,

It's time to reveal the "Silver Vision" that I have been discussing with Lady Revan and it is a hilt inspired by her Fan Fiction "Only Light Can Cast Shadow" and is for the character of Opela Moraf. Opela agrees to help a friend defend that person's home world from imminent destruction. Opela was described in the story as using a saber but I imagined that maybe she modified it in some way to demonstrate her fealty to her friend's cause. This was what I came up with...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Opela-Revanchist-Switch.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/opela-revanchist-4.png)(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/opela-revanchist-2.png)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/opela-revanchist-1.png)

And recently Lady Revan posted a picture of her Diamond Controller equipped saber with a very distinctive pink blade...well this is how that colour might look on Opela's hilt...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/opela-revanchist-blossom.png)

This hilt features a very distinctive handgrip which I created by manipulating the "Wire Frame" of the model rather than the flat faces of the hilt. As a result I ended up with this diamond-like knurled effect...just as Infinit01 had asked for in the "What do we want from Ultrasabers/Wishlist" thread. I finished building this model on 23rd Nov, I just didn't have a chance to post it earlier....but how about that for a demonstration of my "Force Premonition"?  8)

Anyhoo, I hope you all like the design and thanks for looking in on it!

I am once again.....speechless, Tyeth.  You catered to Lady Revan and my wish list when you designed this saber and it's beautiful!!!! I love the knurled design that wraps around the body, kind of reminds me of Thor's armor a bit.  I love the emitter and the pommel, makes it hard to differentiate which side is which so non-Forced beings won't be able to notice it right away that it's a saber.  I love the shape of the emitter as well and the color of the saber is classy yet elegant.  I like the location of the D ring as well, puts the saber and wielder in a higher class of sorts. 

I'm loving it and thank you for keeping me in mind as well as Lady Revan when you designed this saber, Tyeth!!!!

Hello Infinit,

Thanks so much but I have an admission to make, I did build this before you commented about knurled grips so it was bit of a coincidence...however I'm glad you still approve of it! I tried to keep it simple and sleek but still keep it interesting.

Thanks again and congrats on your Spin Wars entry for this year! Point awarded.

That is a very striking sabre indeed, the black and red accents are understated but highly effective break to the silver.  Opela has a brilliant hilt for sure.  Another thing i like is the indented pommel and symmetry to the emitter - it could easily turn a double blade look with a lengthened mid section. And great job smoothing out the gold metal features! You just raise the bar every time FT you really do, and point to Lady Revan as well for the inspiration!

I told you this before, but.... this is my favorite so far! The red accents on the silver hilt are very striking. I have to agree with Infinit001 in the description of 'classy yet elegant.' The emitter shape is also quite unique. The grip pattern is vaguely similar to that on the new V5 Dominix, but with a narrower hexagonal face. The design just seems to fit Opela's personality so well to me.

Thanks Lord_S_Gray, the colour scheme of red and black is also a nod to Opela's friend (in the form of the mask). Hmm, staff form...

The smoothed features on my last post came about when I realised that not all the modelling needs to be physical, the smoothing is an effect but you just need to be aware how to apply it and control it (using something called Loop Rings and Edge Loops to isolate sections).
Thanks for the great and positive feedback as always. Point incoming.

Hello Lady Revan,

I am so glad to have produced a hilt that matches up to your creation. Again though I have to admit the handgrip pattern is a bit of an optical illusion! The hexagons are actually INDENTED! The edges of the hexagons are raised to form ribs but the shine and angles make it look as if the hexagon faces are uppermost.

I really enjoyed making this design and it is as a result of your story so thanks again.
Point incoming.

That is a beautiful saber. I absolutely love the pink blade with it too. I wish we could see a pink blade in a SW movie sometime.

Hey there Tyeth, just as Lady Revan has mentioned, it's very striking and no worries on this hilt being created already.  I'm glad that you can take an existing hilt and make it into what we request for.  That's awesome!

Thank you for checking out my Spin Wars video, it's just to Darth Cephalus to edit it into his Spin Wars 2018 now.

Hello Taegin,

Your kind words are much appreciated. The pink blade came as a nod to Lady Revan's colour experiments with her Diamond saber and I thought it would be fun to first recreate the colour in the 3D modelling software, then second add it to the model! Opela uses an AS coloured blade in the story. You never know pink and white blades may make into a SW movie one day, they go together quite well!

point inbound.

I am sure you will make the cut!

Thank you my friend.   ;D

Keep up your great work!  I shall PM you about some things we have talked about this weekend.

Oh I gathered that was the case (It's the same in what I was comparing it to), I'm just poor with descriptors. :P

Point inbound!

Thanks Infinit, I will be a little less active over the weekend as I have a bit of celebrating to do but I will check my inbox later.

Hi LR, I am still learning geometric terminology, it gets complex sometimes trying to describe something without using overly technical terms but still get the point over.

Ok I'll get back to work on some new designs!

No worries, at your leisure my friend and enjoy celebrating

Happy Level Up Day, For!!!  ;D

:O Happy Level up day!

Hi Lady Revan and Darth Silenoz...

Thank you very much! I had a quiet day really, a few drinks at home with my new copy of SOLO!

I'm now trying to decide if I should be called "For T Three"  ;D

Happy Level up day, Tyeth!

Hello Infinit, thanks man. I had a quiet day by my usual standards but I have created my holiday season grretings e-card to post on the forum shortly!

And I've decided I'll keep the name For Tyeth, then I'll be forever "For T"!

Haha, love your play on the name

This T3?

(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/f/f0/T3-m443.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100121131618)

Hi Lady Revan,

Oh no I wouldn't insult this droid by naming myself after it, besides it looks far better than I do. I'm much more worn out.
I kinda like the colour scheme though (mine is going silvery grey!  ;D)

Damn. She beat me too it! Well, how about For T Threepio then? ;)

It was too good an opportunity to pass up....

Haha! Don't worry Silenoz, Lady Revan is very quick witted! I think" For T 3PO" might be a mouthful...I'll stick with For but thanks for the suggestion!

EDIT: Even now as I typed this Lady Revan responded to you before I could!

points inbound to everyone.

We seem to have a talent for posting at the same time. Every time I update my fanfics, you have a new saber you post XD Level Up Day points back!

Hopefully my next offering will be my Holiday Seasons greetings card, I just need to verify that it doesn't break forum rules.

Oh, I'm very well aware of that. ;)

Hey Tyeth,
 I have followed this thread from the start and I think you have the skills and designs to be on Ultra-Sabers design team.
 You have a lot of very cool designs IMO. Point to you for sharing all of your designs and MTFBWY!

Hello MavRick, that is very kind of you to say, thank you. It means a lot when I can share something and other people appreciate and enjoy what I do. I have been making designs for around three years now using the MHS module system and the "Other Guys" system that is available but felt I was hindered as I had use their pre-formed parts. However I switched to using Blender 3D in June of this year and haven't looked back. It is so much fun being able to recreate the sabers and the  shapes in my head.

So thanks again and MTFBWY also, I'll leave you all with my Season's Greetings card for everybody...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Happy-Holidays-Card-US.png)

Thank you For Tyeth for the wonderful work and you continue to do! Gold is one of my favorite hilt colors and the Standard Issue saber in gold is exquisite!!!  Thank you and Happy Holidays to you my friend!

Great picture and a Happy Holidays to you too, bro. :)

Thanks Ininit and SFD, I purposely made my "e-card" non denominational and just put Holiday Season so I think that's within forum rules!

And as I mentioned to MavRick I am just honoured you guys and gals keep supporting me and giving me great feedback.

MTFBWY to both of you and your families also!

You're welcome, Tyeth. I switched my response as well!!! MTFBWY to you and your family as well, my friend

I'm a huge bah humbug Scrooge/Grinch. But that even made me happy. How dare you spread joy and happiness!?!?!?! :D :D :D

Blast that For Tyeth....He's both joyful and triumphant!!  ;D

Hi Silenoz, well you may be Grinch like but the sentiment still extends to you and your folks, I hope you all have a happy peaceful and saber filled fun time!

(And ya gotta love a Grinch - the Jim Carrey version of course)

Yes Tyeth. DS is the Grinch when it comes to the holidays; however, he's the Jim Carey Grinch which is the one I really like. 

Hello Everybody,

Well it's about time I post a quick final offering before I hang up my "Closed for Christmas" sign on my workshop (I think I've earned a rest) and today I am going to get the drop on Darth Knox and post a movie related design for a film about to be released on Dec 26th (I think!) And I know I promised no more droids but I don't think this counts as a droid...It is the bravest little Bot about...this is Bumblebot...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/bumblebee-screen-1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/bumblebee-emitter-2.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/bumblebee-pommel-5.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/bumblebee-switches-3.png)

This is as you can probably tell an earlier design that I was going to post before I got distracted by member requests and my hilts inspired by Lady Revan's story. As such it suffers in not having smooth textures etc but I did manage to include a "power bulge"/air intake activation box - complete with Autobot and Decepticon on/off switches. It also features headlights and tail lights (hard to make out but they are there) as well as a Chevy logo speaker cover. Look really close and you'll see the Recharge Port cover is shaped as a fuel filler cap!

And I know! Bumblebee is and always should be a VW Beetle, but when I heard the news that Bee was getting his own film I made this straight away before I knew it was based on his G1 incarnation so I built the Chevy (Doh!)

Anyhoo, it is nearly time to roll down the shutters on the workshop for a few days, eat some turkey and binge on a couple of Star Wars festive films. Hope you all have a peaceful holiday and if you go and watch Bumblebee on Boxing Day I hope it's good! Thanks for looking in.

Very striking piece FT! Don't think anyone would miss that yellow on your belt! Transformers inspired lightsabers...it actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it, but it takes a creative fellow like yourself to make that first connection..the possibilities of this though...Optimus.. Megatron...
Only suggestion is perhaps a blue blade like bumblebees eyes rather than all yellow I always feel blue go W has a more 'tech' feel and would break it up a bit colour wise. But that's just me great creativity!

I like that Bumble Bee inspired hilt you designed there, Tyeth.  That hood scoop is a dead giveaway of the Chevy version of Bee

Hi Lord_S_Gray, thanks very much for the suggestion on the blade colour. I hadn't seen the new Bee so didn't realise the colour of his eyes, I think I'll try the blue out.

To be honest I did create a couple of Transformer themed hilts about 2 years ago including ones for Megatron, Optimus, BumbleBee, Shockwave and one for fellow forum member...Prowl (1701) but as I used the "other guys" app I can't post them here.

Thanks again and point incoming.

Hi Infinit,

Glad you liked him, it...er the saber! If the hood scoop hadn't given it away then I'm sure the Chevy logo would have. Hopefully now I 've learnt the technique for smooth shading I'll be able to improve on things like the "go faster" striping down the side on future hilts!

Thanks for checking it out and a point on it's way. Maybe I need to add to the Transformers collection...hmm....

You're welcome, Tyeth. I love to look at your saber designs and look at all of the details and see what I interpret before reading your inspiration. It's a bit of a game kind of like watching a movie and naming the actor/actress and what other movies there were in. So thank you for the experience and designs!!! Have a point back!

Hello Everybody,

Hope you are all enjoying the Holiday Season and as I haven't posted anything for a few days here are a couple of TOTALLY UNOFFICIAL presents....

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Battle-Standard-Smooth-MK-Twin.png)

And not forgetting the fans of the Horizontal Stripe version....

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Battle-Standard-Horiz-MK-Twin.png)

Again these are totally unofficial and UNAVAILABLE from me  ::)
Enjoy the rest of the season.

Happy Holidays, Tyeth.  I was just thinking about the all Gold one with the black accents the other day.  I like them all!

TYETH, point to you for sharing the Standard Issue LE (gold) saber w/vertical grooves.  ;D
I have long awaited Ultra Sabers to make this saber, Alas they have NOT as of yet.  :( :(
 Lucky for me or I would disobey the all mighty budget and buy one right away!  ;D

What amazing designs!

Hello MavRick and Infinit,


To MavRick, I know what you mean, I could be tempted by one of these hilts IF Ultrasabers built them too. I knew a few members were interested in more gold/accented hilts and built these a few weeks back but I only recently learnt how to make the models/graphics appear smooth. Thanks again and I hope you had a good few days over Christmas.


Hi Infinit, I figured that as I included one of the hilts on my "Christmas Card" I may as well post the updated pictures of the full set! I did of course have to add the "Not Official" watermarks as usual but you can still get a fair idea of how they would look. Thanks again for looking in.

points inbound for both of you.

Hello ArcannKnight007,

Thank you very much but I have to give full credit to Ultrasabers as The Standard Battle Issue (and Dark version) sabers are Ultrasabers creations. I just mocked up some Blender models and images to give members an indication what a gold anodized version may look like. I'm glad you liked my work so thanks, and I hope you enjoy your time on the forum as I sense you are a relative newcomer!

point incoming.

Very clean designs nice little 'what is we switched the colours on that' experiment - Thanks for sharing FT as always! I think that black with hold highlights one...oooh that is very upper class Sith Style.

You're welcome, For.  You designed those to look like the Standard Issue lightsabers from UltraSabers'?  They look exactly like it but in other colors, I really like the gold

You're correct my good man.  Tyeth is really talented in that he creates his own saber designs and also take inspiration from existing designs as well as re-creating entire sabers themselves

Thank you, Infinit01

You're welcome but the credit goes to Sir Tyeth

Thanks Lord_S_Gray, yes these came from the requests/suggestions on the US Wishlist topic. I would have posted them earlier but they weren't smoothed out and didn't look as nice so I waited till I worked out how to use smooth shading. And I have to say I am partial to the black with gold accents myself - we must have similar good taste!

Thanks again and a point incoming.

Hi ArcannKnight007,

Yes as Infinit01 stated I do take inspiration from designs I have seen and see what twists or spin I can put into new versions. These were the result of suggestions made by fellow members who made requests on the Ultrasabers Wishlist topic asking for more gold so I knocked these up as unofficial previews.

I have also made a few tribute sabers like Ezra Bridgers' green bladed hilt from Rebels Season 3 and even a hilt based on Voltron Legendary Defenders. I'm so glad you are enjoying my work. Thanks.

Hello Everybody,

It's been a while since I posted here as I was getting the Holiday Season and New Year out of the way. And as this is the start of a new year I really need to clear out my workshop and a few more designs. This was one that came out the top of my head that I call "Kaleesh"...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/kaleesh-saber-plate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/kaleesh-saber-5-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/kaleesh-saber-4-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/kaleesh-saber-3-mk.png)

Again, maybe not a practical hilt but I wanted to see what I could really make in a 3D sense. But there are still some neat details IMHO, for example I imagined the activation and possible Aux switches could be the eyes using tactile switches beneath.
Another little trick is that this hilt doesn't need a display stand as it has one built in! I built Grievous' "Ears" so that they rotate downward and form a pair of feet and the saber rests on these feet and the covertech knob to act as a stand. The "ears" are held in which ever position by using retention screws (which you can just see the holes for) I figured this would work as the hilt wouldn't be much larger than a traditional crossguard with the ears opened. (And has anybody else noticed Grievous' ears look like the fins on Jabba's Sail Barge and Sand Skiff?)

And I still have more hilts to come, I have a few staff designs and I do have that rather nice Tri-Crossguard coming soon (much better than a Hammer or an Ax -hint hint)

Thanks for looking in on this one.

Welcome back, Tyeth!  Great rendition of Grevious as a saber! I think you captured him quite well and I do agree, his ears are reminiscent of Jabba’s Sail Barge

Hi Infinit,

Thanks, I'm glad it worked - as you can tell it was designed back before I learnt smooth shading and texturing!

I might have to borrow those ears and build a barge for a new project.

This hilt wasn't meant to be useable really but my upcoming ones should be. And I will say I will crossing into other franchises....

point incoming. (Cough! Cough!)

Good work For Tyeth

Hi ArcannKnight007,

Thanks, I wanted to do a themed hilt for Grievous but the only part of him that I could see that would work as a hilt was his skull, so I had the blade come out the top of his head!

Oh, and as Grievous was previously a Kaleesh warrior then became a mechanised warrior I don't think he counts as a droid - Cyborg yes, droid no!

point incoming.

That's really cool, bro. It reminds me of some of those awesome looking fantasy sword hilts. I like how it looks like his mask too. :)

Thanks SFD, glad you liked the mask motif. You can tell this is an early design of mine because of all the "fireflies" and noise.
I am just clearing out my collection of themed hilts but I promise I have a few more "useable" designs coming soon including a few inspired by your other favourite sci-fi franchise  ::) :-X  And nice new avatar...Clone Wars original movie cartoon?


point incoming .

Heh, fireflies aren't so bad. At least you can usually get rid of them in Blender. There's a material setting in Lightwave 2018 that always generates fireflies.  ::)

Hello again SFD,

Yes I have since learnt to alter the Sample Rate for the renders and to use the Clamp setting to reduce noise now. If my computer was newer I could run version 2.79 and 8 which has DeNoiser built in. But I'm Ok with the version I'm running so far.

Thanks again!

Yeah, I hear you. I messed around with Blender for a while. Cycles takes some getting used to, but it's a fantastic render engine.

Hello SFD,

I watched a few YT tutorials before I started and quickly realised that Cycles was a better option than the internal Blender Render so I just used Cycles right off the bat.
It just continues to amaze me what it is capable of considering my machine only has a shared graphics chip and 1.4Ghz CPU!

I'm going to experiment with the Smoke and Particle System soon for added FX!

SCIFIDUDE! I've been meaning to tell you I like the new Avatar XD

---

ALSO! Glad to see you back in designs for the new year, For Tyeth

Hello Lady Revan, thanks for returning and having another look! I am slowly catching up to my newer designs but this was a fun hilt to experiment with. I thought maybe Grievous would provide more details to work with but as a mechanical skeleton the only logical part to model was his mask/skull.

I have those staff designs to post soon and the completed SWTOR hilt I previewed a few weeks back so stay tuned.

Thanks again, and point incoming.

500th point back! ^^

Oh wow, I never even saw that. Why thank you and I'll strive to earn more!

My pleasure! ^_^

Hello Everybody,

Now some of you with long memories will recall I posted a picture of a saber design I knocked up quick based on a hilt from SWToR, the first saber you get to build in the game? It looked like this:

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/swotor-one-1forum.png)

Well I haven't forgotten it and I am happy to present my final version here today. I have named it Padawn One as it's the first saber you would build in your training!

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/padawan-one-plate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/padawan-one-1.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/padawan-one-2.png)

I added a few tweaks including retention screws placed on the control box and on the main body to hold the improved leather handgrip section together. The leather now has a more realistic texture look and appears to be wound on. The pommel also has those pretty little red accent LEDs now and talking of pommels what do you get if you connect the pommels of two sabers together? Yes there is a staff version too...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/padawan-one-staff.png)

The staff still has the control boxes as I just used the original shape of the sabers rather than mess with it. The coupler is also vented for sound/heat dispersal  :D

Well I hope you like this nod to the brilliance of BioWare and LucasArts and thanks for checking this design out.

I love this design Tyeth! the accent LED's on the pommels really make the saber pop and I love the way they were built with a coupler in mind, this saber looks amazing in any form.

Keep up the good work my friend! +1 for you!

Hi Golden Fedora,

I hope you are well, I haven't chatted with you in a while! Thanks but a lot of the work was down to the producers of the game, BioWare. I just tweaked a few bits when members on the Ultrasabers Wishlist thread started chatting about this particular design.

It isn't the most ergonomic in staff form...but it would be fun if we could see how Samhain138 or Darth Cephalus got on with it if ever built!

Thanks again and a point coming your way.

Padawan one and Kaleesh...two very different sabres in terms of looks - again the sheer variety of what you can do is amazing and the creativity...turning droids, fighters, death stars now Greivous into a sabre so brilliantly...you never cease to amaze For Tyeth. In particular I liked the little glow on these...the red on Padawan's pommel and green on Kaleesh 'eyes' that add a little flair. One thing to consider for Kaleesh is a 'battle damage' version matching grevious wounds - don't have to just a thought to push it to that next level. Keep doing what you're doing FT.

Hello Lord_S_Gray and thank you once more. I am in the process of learning to layer textures onto materials (In Blender you can make a model without applying a "skin" of textures but just use computer generated materials such as Glass, Glossy, Diffused etc.) Or by layering a texture over a Glass or Glossy material you can create battle damage effects like "carbon scoring" or bullet holes. Think of the X-Wing toys from the 80's with the transparent stickers to add damage to your fighter or decals and you get the idea. I want to use this trick on Han and Lando's Falcon - I'm still working on them!

point for your excellent input.

That is a beautiful saber my friend and  gorgeous staff.  Wow, I love the yellow blade on the saber and the staff.  I like the texture on the leather wrap and the grooves under the emitter just adds character.  Are the red on the pommel LED? Or some type of illumination? 

Cool, great that you're focused on continually improving on what you can do, I love seeing that kind of passion in people in whatever they are doing, be it writing, painting, design like this or even spinning like Infinit has been doing with his spinning series, just great to see people following their passions and getting such positive feedback for it.  Look forward to seeing how you progress, but even so what you have done is amazing.

Hi Infinit, thanks to you also. I was pretty pleased with that Amber blade colour, I felt it looked like an in game colour and considering not all colours work the same on all hilts just like real life it turned out well!
The leather is quite interesting in that it isn't a texture or image file pasted onto the model, but is actually just a basic brown Material and it is passed through a filter to add the wrinkles.
The red accent LEDs are illuminated but don't show as well because of how rich/bright the blade colour is!

point incoming to you.

Hi Lord_S_Gray, that is most kind and I have to say I admire a lot of member's skills here. Infinit's video output for example has probably filled YouTube up by now but look at his results!

I felt I had some catching up to do with 3D modelling so I've  pushed hard. I did a little bit of Computer Aided Design work  back at college to design theatrical scenery and lighting - nothing like modelling a saber. I also dabbled a bit with MS Flight Simulator building 3D aircraft and scenery but again limited to what Microsoft's applications offered. Blender was the first fully usable modelling software I've used and it is amazing.

Thanks and I will continue to do my best.
point on it's way.

Hello Everybody,

As I have stated here and elsewhere on the forum I am working on getting more staffs into my collection of designs and Lord_S_Gray suggested he'd like to see my Opela Moraf (Lady Revan FanFic inspired) hilt as a staff design...well as folks are talking about staff hilts on the Wishlist thread I will grant a wish here and display Opela Moraf Staff Form...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/opela-revanchist-staff-mk-1.png)

Just the one picture but it gives an idea of how it would work. And talking of work I am just finishing  polishing and photographing a GRAND design for a MASTER even SATELE would be interested in.

Whoa, I love it!!!! Looking at it I can't help but to think about Thor's armour even though your inspiration is from LSG's fan fiction character. I like the texture, kind of chain mail like along with the grinded down portion of the V5 sabers as well.  Great job, Tyeth!

I LOVE IT!

Hi Infinit, thanks man. Regarding Thor's armour I wish I had created this effect earlier so I could have added it to my Aquaman hilt. Oh and I think Thor will have a nice saber shortly....new upcoming saber sneak peek!.....
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/thor_hero_saber-forum-edit.jpg)

point incoming.

Hi Lady Revan, I'm so glad you're pleased. Ok I had to sacrifice two of the emitters but the staff does now have a custom coupler and I repositioned the D-Ring to attach it so it can hang from one end with the switches on the outside . I did wonder whether to shorten both hilts and combine them into a single body but went with a coupler for versatility.

As always thanks for the comment and initial inspiration. point incoming.

It's okay. Technically speaking, in terms of story line that symbol is not used yet :P With Staves though, I think it's better to have at least a bit of length in the hilt for maneuvrability.

Great looking staff, For.

Interesting you guys are talking about Thor's armor, I've been watching Marvel movies lately. I watched Avengers: Age of Ultron last night.

Hi again, I took some liberties and I thought maybe this hilt was one Opela may have built as the new Faction formed to replace her regular Jedi hilt and show her allegiance. The original saber I built isn't like any Jedi weapon I've seen to be honest - a bit too flashy  :D

Hi SFD, glad you also like the design. I am quite pleased how the handgrip turned out, amazing what happens when you extrude and bevel the edges of a mesh!

I'm just watching the end of Ghost Rider before Resident Evil Retribution starts on a movie channel in my cable package!
Fun fact: I am exactly the same age as Mila Jovovich - same birthday, the same year,
though she looks better for her age  :D

point incoming

You guys are a few years older than me. (about 3 years and a couple months) I'll definitely agree that Milla looks great. :D The first thing I ever saw her in was The Fifth Element, which is a fantastic film, before she was the superstar she is now.

I think I'm younger than quite a bit minus the likes of Fedora and Taegin.  :D

Yes, I've liked Milla Jovovich ever since I first saw her on the Fifth Element too.  She's one of many reasons why that 's my favorite movie

Hi guys,

Well you can see by my avatar and signature I haven't aged well  ;D I look just like that if I let my beard grow.

Regards the films, I get confused now there are so many in the series. Fifth Element was very visually impressive I recall.

The Fifth Element had a lot going for it. Great story, great script, fantastic cast, really nice visual effects, costuming, creatures, etc. Fun fact: the animatronic heads used for the Mangalors were recycled for the Neimoidians in the prequel trilogy. When the decision was made to have the Neimoidians not be CGI to save costs, the heads were recycled.

Hi SFD,

Great fact. I knew that a lot of recycling happened in the Star Wars franchise- that's one reason continuity was an issue. Didn't realise that the Fifth Element and SW had "crossed" as it were. I do recall seeing an article saying that the vines and foliage from Dagobah were also used in the temple sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark - as both were filmed on the same film set!

Yeah, the earlier designs for the Neimoidians were drastically different. I wonder if the design was altered to fit that head better. The original design was used as a base for the Geonosians in Episode 2.

Hello Everybody,

Sorry it's been a few days since I posted anything but I got engrossed with trying out a new modelling function which would have made my life sooo much easier had I known how to use it earlier. But this is the beauty of Blender 3D, the more you use it the more secrets it reveals as bits of functionality make more sense!

However today I want to take you on a journey...."Jedi Knight (Rider). A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a saber that does not exist. Jedi Knight: a new saber on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of the Sith who operate above the law."
I'm slightly paraphrasing the show's intro but here is that saber .... Jedi Knight (Rider)...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/jedi-knight-saber-plate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/knight-riders-destiny-wip-sensor-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/jedi-knight-saber-pommel-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/jedi-knight-saber-mk.png)

Yes I have modelled a saber based on the famous Pontiac from Knight Rider. It is a hilt in a series of sabers I was challenged to build based off of famous TV and movie vehicles (and merchandise/toys). It was slightly difficult as with all solid coloured hilts getting details to stand out is tough! But hopefully you can make out the Sensor Light above the sloped emitter. The Activation controls are modelled on KITT's vocal display - I planned to use a Capactive Touch sensor panel. The handgrip area has two rectangular panels to replicate the Pontiac T-Bar roof famous for the ejector seat scenes (I may cut these panels out at a later date to form a crystal chamber). The pommel has tyre tread style knurling around the edges and is finished off with a "Knight Industries" stallion speaker cover decoration.

Oh and here is a SPOILER ALERT!!...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/studio-2-mk.png)

Sorry just kidding, this is me placing the spoiler onto the saber. I added it to give the saber more of a supercar look and match with KITT ;D

Thanks for looking in on this design and for the support.

Unbelievable...Just when I think you can't come up with anything more out of the box and perfectly suited to the subject matter...so many great details as you described, the voice box activator, tyre pommel - very sleek look overall and really fits with the original car, can see it hanging off of David Hasselhoff's belt as he steps out of KITT backlit by some flaming warehouse in the cold night.

That's really cool. If I may make a humble suggestion, a bit of gloss mixed with diffusion will make the details in your all black hilts pop a bit more in your renders.

Thanks Lord_S_Gray, I did also forget to mention the blade is yellow to replicate the headlights and there were turn indicators on the side! And seeing the Hoff wearing it on his belt would be cool...just as long as he doesn't sing "Jump In My Car"
 we'll be ok!

Again, thanks for the kind comments. +1

Hi SFD, glad you also like the design. You must have been a child of the late 80's and remember watching Knight Rider on re-runs. And thanks for the rendering tips, I've just started getting into the deeper functions of the Node Editor and using "Mix Shaders" and "Glare" nodes to create effects. Knowing a Diffusion/Glossy mix brings out detail will help a lot. Thanks man!

point incoming.

I was born in 1979, but I've mainly seen Knight Rider on DVD.

Hi again, I figured you might have seen it, you have a good knowledge of the popular shows such as Knight Rider.
And I have started messing around with the Voronin Textures and "Noise Filters" etc applying them to the blades, you get some really "Unstable" or molten Lava looks that way.

Tyeth, you out did yourself again.  Knight Rider has been one of my favorite shows as a kid and still is one of my favorite shows to this date.  I like the cowl hood design you used on the emitter and KITT's  voice box that you used as the activation switch.  The Knight industry icon pays homage to the show.  The yellow blade is awesome by the way.  (My apologies if it's supposed to be orange).

Hi Infinit,

So glad I could help you relive some of the magic of the show. And the blade is indeed yellow this time which is funny...because when I built the first version to show my friend who challenged me, the blade was BLUE! I just re-used a blade from the last build and forgot to change the colour, however it bugged me that something seemed off. Then I watched the intro to the show again and I realised the headlights should be yellowish white! I really try to find little details that tie the design to the source inspiration and the Knight Industries logo just worked as a decoration.

Thanks again.

Kudos and I like the design from emitter to the pommel.  Every little feature has a history or a counterpart to it which is really cool. Thanks again and great work once more.

Hello Everybody,

Well it's time I posted my latest design and it's about time I got back to the Star Wars Universe or the Expanded/Legends Universe at least! I have teased and mentioned a staff I was working on the last month or so and a few members started talking about staff hilts on the US Wishlist/What Do We Want thread and one particular staff belonging to Bastila Shan. Well an image of Bastila's staff was posted so how about a staff for a Grand Master?....Ok here is my tribute to Satele Shan's saberstaff....Satele-ite....
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/satele-ite-plate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/satele-twin-insp-studio-1-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/satele-insp-5-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/satele-insp-1mk.png)

This is the best hilt(s) I have built so far technically. It has improved modelling in that I have smoothed faces and sharp edges combined in the structure of the model. There is "smoothed texturing" making the hilt appear more cylindrical than a polygon.
I used Modifiers to "mirror" the hilt so I only had to build one end of the weapon...half the work!

But Satele's staff is famous for it's beautiful scroll-work etching and my staff too has a tribal inspired wing like etching on it. And there are other little details such as the emitter head support rods, the activation switches and the buttons to couple/uncouple the two hilts on the pommels. (I did search online for the Satele pattern to use but everywhere I looked folks said "You need to draw it freehand" so I used a readily available tribal pattern).

This brings me roughly up to date with my current schedule so I will now be posting designs probably once a week rather than every 3-4 days so I am in line with my site schedule. But don't worry I already have a whole bunch of new hilts including a Destroyer, a series based on Stormtroopers, a hilt for a Senator and a rather nice CrossGard for a Norse God. Oh and two hilts I think are Qapla'!

Thanks for checking this staff out and your support and comments.

That looks great. I'm a fan of both Bastilla Shan and Statele Shan. They're both great characters from those games.

Hi SFD, so glad you approve. I had fun with this build as I got to use all those new techniques we've discussed. I have used "Auto Smoothing," "Edge Split Modifier" as well as marking and creasing seams. Then I ventured further into UV Unwrapping and Texturing using Bump Mapping for the etch, so I'm really happy how it turned out!

I hope you like what I have in store. Thanks for the comment. +1

Whoa, Tyeth!  This is by far my favorite saber from you!  And I mean it.  Statele Shan is one of my favorite characters and her saber staff is such a beauty that I longed coveted owning one for quite some time; however, due to only a few companies making them, they're quite expensive to own.  The saber is gorgeous.  I love the emitter with the staggered vertical windows which reminds me of a spire in a castle.  The gold accented screws/poles that secures the emitters to the body of the saber looks great along with the matching illuminated AV switches.  Speaking of which, the illuminated blue AV switch looks great and closely matches the color of the blade. I'm a huge fan of colored AV switched myself so this is a bonus in my eyes. And now the body of the saber, what can I say?  I love the etching work and I like that you made the saber your own design by using your own etching into it will still manage to pay homage to Statele Shan.

Hi Infinit,

I am so glad I continue to impress...though I have to say I had very strong inspiration with this hilt. It meant I had to do quite a bit of work to do it justice and at the same time just tweak it slightly so it wasn't just a carbon copy.
You're eyesight is improving, the blade and the lit AV switches use the same colour! In Blender I can do this quite easily but if this was a real solid prop then RGB AV switches could probably work.

And the hilt body and etching took a lot more work than normal but worth it. Luckily having chats with SFD taught me the functions I needed to learn to smooth the model and avoid "shadowing" (thanks!) and I learnt to apply a texture to mimic the etch. It is the same trick I used to replicate the circuitry etching on my Spectre tribute hilt a few posts back.

As always thanks for the comments and I hope to continue improving. +1

Pretty! And great work on sharpening the detail. Slight correction though... Satele is "The Old Republic" not "Knights of the Old Republic." :(

On other notes, thank you for revealing your schedule so I can avoid posting at the same time as you :P You keep covering my updates lol

Hello Lady Revam, thanks for the kind feedback. I am really pleased how this turned out because the way Blender works it has the ability to make cylinders but they are more like hexagonal or octagonal (depending on how many sides you choose) This helps reduce the amount of calculations and time the computer spends displaying the model but makes the model appear blocky. Using the new techniques I've learnt retains the basic model but smoothes how the texture looks.

And don't worry I added the subtitle seen on the first picture "inspired by Knights...." because it is part of a series of hilts I posted on my site which began with hilts from that game. I explain in my article that Satele is the descendant of Revan and Bastila and so appears in SWTOR.

Again, thanks for the continued support (and I don't post at the same time as you intentionally! Honest.) point inbound

Infinit/ScifiDude and Lady Revan have all said everything i might've already, Infinit in particular - so i will keep this short but hopefully poignant. 
For Tyeth you have truly achieved what this quote expresses....

This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon... for a more civilized age

Hello Lord_S_Gray, I would gladly take a compliment of my work like this any day if the week, thanks so much.

+1

Holy crap!  My For Tyeth wish list will soon exceed my actual wish list!

Hello HanSolo, that is so nice to hear, it means I must be doing something right! I have been really busy recently and still have over a dozen new designs I have yet to show (this is why I haven't posted around the forum as much - I designed three hilts just this past week). Thanks for the kind remarks and at least MY hilt collection won't do any damage to your bank account....well, not yet!

point incoming

That is a beautiful hilt For. Nicely done.

Hello Taegin and thanks so much. It is a hilt I had for a while but when I first built it it looked "faceted" as I hadn't learnt the smoothing techniques. But once I worked out smoothing textures and defining sharp edges I put in a bit more work and revised the design to the standard you see here. I'm just really happy so many of you appreciate it - thanks guys and gals.

So much so my next design is coming up next.

point incoming.

Hello Everybody,

Firstly sorry for double posting but I was about to type this message up just before Taegin commented! I have my next design and I'll admit it is a little more simpler than my Satele-ite staff. However this is an earlier design but it checks out sir! It was also inspired by the fantastic concept art of the genius we know as Ralph MacQuarrie. The image in particular is the picture of the lightsaber wielding Stormtrooper in the corridors of a building. You can see the beautiful Adegan Silver blade (or maybe a hint of AB) but you can't see the hilt itself and I wondered what it looked like so I designed it how I thought it would look, this is TROOPER...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/trooper-saber-plate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/trooper-1-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/trooper-2-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/trooper-6-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/trooper-7-mk.png)

I figured that a Stormtrooper hilt would be a Shoto style length and only really used for things like riot control (and the shields the other troopers are carrying in the image reinforced that idea). As a result I came up with this compact, functional hilt that would sit nicely on a Trooper's utility belt. It does have a little bit of bling with the Imperial/Empire cog as the activation switch.

Sadly though George decided only the Jedi and Sith had sabers so I missed out on a business opportunity, I could have provided the sabers for the troops!

Oh well back to designing other hilts Tyeth! Thanks for all the kind comments and support that you keep sending.

I like this one too. I absolutley love looking at Ralph McQuarrie's concept art, so this one especially stands out to me. Very cool hilt Mr. Tyeth.

Hello again Mr Roan!

No need to be so formal  :) Glad you also like this hilt too. In comparison to Satele-ite it does look simple but hidden in it are a few modelling tricks. I am looking to get a copy of Ralph's book but funds are a bit short, however I recently got a magazine from Future Publications titled "The Art of Film - Star Wars" and it features a collection of other concept artists' attempts at Star Wars images. There are fantastic pictures in it from artist's like Brandon Kenner and David Seeley. There are some particularly cool "propaganda style" poster images from an artist named Cat Staggs (these include a "The Empire is listening to you - Join the Cause!" type picture)  

Thanks again Taegin point coming at top of hour!

I like the Trooper saber a lot. I've also always liked that concept art of sabers in common use.

Hi SFD, The concept art is iconic but it does divide some folks especially when it comes to "blade base flare"! These Ralph inked images show sabers with the flare at the base but some purists don't like it. The thing is in an inanimate image you have to add something to help accentuate that something is happening or different with an object. Ralph chose to add the flare to show the blade was energised a bit like the wavy lines around Spiderman's head when his "Spidey-Sense" kicks in in comics.

Another great  MacQuarrie image is the one showing "Luke Starkiller" and Darth Vader in battle, where Luke seems to be wearing scuba gear and Darth is towering over him like a Space Samurai.

Thanks for the comment, point incoming.

Nice Job FT, good call on the ergonomics of it, being able to carry easily on belt, use for occasional riot policing etc. Again impressed by the range of different hilts and style you can make!

Hello Lord_S_Gray, I try to be varied in my designs as in the past I did get in a rut doing Superhero or themed hilts. I designed hilts based on the Marvel/DC universe characters and sports teams...even a few WWE wrestlers (I sent one wrestler his design too) but they were a little gimmicky. I still base my hilts on a theme (I find it gives a saber a backstory and helps form a connection) but I can be more creative as I have the freedom to create my own parts and not rely on just painting the hilt in powdercoat colours.

Thanks once again for your comments and I'm working on adding "battle damage" to a few hilts like you suggested (found a new technique!) point incoming.

I agree with the weathering idea. I think that the white would look really nice with some battle damage and a good coating of scorch marks and the like.

Hello Lady Revan,

I am working on a newer version of this trooper hilt with a blood smeared handprint on it if that counts.

"The Trooper at the village!.....FN####!"

And maybe a nice shiny Silver and Red version too. Thanks again and stay tuned. -1.

Hey there, Tyeth. I'm digging that new Trooper saber you designed. Love the mess looking body on it and that red AV button pops out very well. 

Hi Infinit, thanks, this was a design I had in my backlog of designs and have a few versions (a bit like the Droid series I did). I tried to get a really basic functional look that would fit a Stormie's armoured style but still have a few nice details.

Funnily enough though, Rapine made a comment on Lady Revan's topic about "Levi-Sabers"...he was expecting to see a hilt made of denim.....wellll.....

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/the-501st-mk-1.png)

I knocked this up for him! All the best dressed and equipped Stormtroopers will be wielding one of these on their days off...especially the Levi 501 Legion  ;D

Thanks and a point on it's way.

I like that denim that you added to it and it's also ripped on one side. +1 for that!

I mean... one could do a denim wrap on a hilt lol

Hi Lady Revan and Infinit, thanks again. I have been known for crazy ideas, wrapping a hilt in denim is probably one of the more sane ones to be honest. And for authenticity not only are the jeans ripped but they have the "Red Tab" as well.

This is the first hilt I have managed to wrap an image texture onto and map it so it fits properly. I will have to try a few more different pictures and see what I come up with.

Gratz on your design progress then :D

Hi Lady Revan, thanks very much. It is down to my experience now I think, I have got to the point where I understand most of the "jargon" so tutorial videos make more sense to me. As a result more and more little Blender tricks reveal themselves...they are a bit like the Sith - they only reveal themselves when they are good and ready  :D

Or like a wizard ;)

Hi there Lady Revan, funny you mention Wizards - have you been rummaging through my warehouse again and seen my "Abietes Conum" Harry Potter themed hilt?

Nope! I was actually referencing Gandalf in LOTR when Frodo comments on him being "late." I saw a custom hilt somewhere recently with the theme and had it on the mind. lol

Ah ok the other Wizard franchise! I haven't done a LOTR themed hilt yet, maybe one for the future. I think I put the idea to the back of my mind as a few of the other well known Indy Installers had done LOTR.

Can't wait to see when it comes up!

I look forward to seeing a LOTR inspired saber, Tyeth.  ;)

If you only knew how excited I am for this to happen. . .  ;D

Looks like I had best get to work, I have just been working on a design for a playboy billionaire and his exosuit.

Thanks for the challenge.
points incoming

Hello Everybody,

I have had a hectic day today with visiting relatives coming to my little home but I think it is about time I post another design. This is one that came about after I was challenged to create a "Charlie's Angles" themed hilt by a friend. He wanted a hilt based on the Angels' custom transit van....Yes, that great big pink van with the Angels' silhouette logo on the side. How the heck can you make a sber out of that? Well I did, but while building it I had a movie playing as background noise and I noticed some possibilities. That movie was "Resident Evil: Retribution" so here is my "Project: Alice" as it were...

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/umbrellaplate.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/umbrella1glow2mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/umbrella1glowmk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/umbrella1glow4mk.png)

I mentioned that I built the saber based on a custom van, well the octagonal collars I imagined looked like the wheel arches and then the crystal chamber would be a sunroof. BUT I noticed the octagon was the same shape as the Umbrella logo! And with a few tweaks in colour scheme, the crystals are replaced with three vials of "T-Virus"...oh and obviously Alice has her name engraved on the handgrip, I think this is a no nonsense saber for a no nonsense kick-ass character!

And that Umbrella logo makes an appearance as the speaker grill!
Hope you all survive the zombie apocalypse and thanks for checking this hilt out!

Very nice FT! :D I like the T-Virus crystal chamber. Very unique! Point!

Thank you very much Lady Revan, you should see the "Angels" van saber...that one is in a metallic rose pink and silver and has the silhouettes on the grips. But I didn't think that one was really suited for this forum, it is a long way removed from Star Wars  ;D

point back at top of hour.

Aaaaaah! PM me? Sounds awesome! :D

Pictures sent, I think you'll find it looks totally different considering it is the same basic handle!

COMPLETELY different! :D Thanks!

Wow where did that come from! Another really out there idea that really works love the name etching and feel of this that bloody vibrant red works really well. Great job as always For!

Hi LSG, I have to come up with something now and then to surprise you all! And I think this may be the first TRIPLE crystal chambered saber design. Ok the chamber is filled with "T-Virus" but it's still as lethal. Glad I continue to impress and as always thank you for your comments.

point incoming. (p.s. The colour scheme is also the corporate colours of the Umbrella Corporation!)

Hi Everybody,

I'll just leave this here for later...  ;)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/lotr-teaser.png)

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!!!!

I'm so excited! :DDDD

Hello Lady Revan,

About 19 hours and counting down. :)

Just hope it lives up to expectation.

I'm sure it will! :D

*Getting giddy with barely uncontrolled excitement*

Ok Taegin, keep calm! Again I don't want to build expectations up too much, I just hope you all enjoy it.

point incoming. Breath in....Breathe out....Breathe in....etc!

I took one look at the saber and the T-Virus crystal chamber and new that it was a Resident Evil inspired saber.  Really cool looking, Tyeth. I like that you keep thinking outside the box and use influence and key features to build the saber as you always do. :)

I wonder how the Anti-Virus version would look.... Hmmmmmm

Hi Infinit, I'm glad this hilt was so recognisable! I do try to tie my designs to the inspiration as much as possible, so changing Kyber Crystals for T-Virus seemed a good idea. Even the octagonal shape of the "collars" on the hilt match with the Umbrella Corporation logo (which is 8-sided and can be seen on the speaker cover).

I haven't made an Anti-Virus version (yet) but I am working on "Devil's Breath" from Oscorp, but first I have the LOTR hilt I promised to show everyone later!  8)

Thanks again for the kind words, point on it's way to you.

I look forward to seeing what you'll design from Oscorp and a LOTR hilt.  Your designs are always great to look at, have a point back my friend.

Hello Everybody,

Well here goes into unknown territory...or Middle Earth. This is my LOTR hilt Barad-Dur Saber...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/barad_dur-plate-1.png)

Emitter:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/barad_dur-6-mk.png)

Emitter Claws:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/barad_dur-4-mk.png)

Pommel detail:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/barad_dur-2-mk.png)

Full Length shot:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/barad_dur-5-mk.png)

Glamour Shot:
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/barad_dur-1-mk.png)

I tried to capture the "Dark Tower" in this hilt and to accomplish that look I learnt how to manipulate the texture material to form the cracked rock "skin". Originally this was going to be a "Krayt Dragon" inspired hilt but with a bone coloured texture and appearance. However the simple change made the hilt appear to be made of Onyx or Obsidian stone. Then there are the claws which I made using a clever trick which allows a flat circular object to be stretched along a curved guideline. This formed the curves and by varying the thickness of the tube produced I was able to make the "joints" of the claw. And to finish the hilt off there is the pommel, and the "Eye". Other little details include a D-Ring attachment and nicely polished gold rings (no, not the gold ring but I was tempted). And for SFD a little technical bit of info, I used Anisotropic shading for the metal which I think works better than a Glossy and Diffuse mix.

So, OK I didn't make the entire Barad-Dur tower but it's fairly close for a lightsaber hilt! Thanks for the suggestion and hope you like.

That's AWESOME! It looks like something straight out of Mordor! :D I love the crackle effect, and the color with it makes it look like lava! Point incoming!

Hello Lady Revan, I am so pleased it worked, I had to do a good job on this design as LOTR is so highly thought of...if I did it wrong I would have a lot of LOTR fans hating me!

Thanks for the comment and point back.

That's pretty cool. I especially like the pommel.

Hi SFD, I am real happy how the pommel turned out actually and it could be machined and wired using accent LEDs in the crystal. I merged two UV spheres then used the Boolean Modifier to cut the shape into the pommel cylinder. The parts not affected by the Boolean cut formed the mount for the crystal.

Of course this wouldn't be duel-worthy but it is LOTR. Glad you like it.

+1

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

It looks great! I would buy one in a heart beat. My two favorite worlds combined into one, how much better could it get!

Wow, thank you Taegin. I'm glad the wait was worth it for you. I knew I had to get a hilt that looked a bit like a Middle Earth weapon, fortunately I had built an earlier hilt based on the Krayt Dragon but that just had a "tail" that tapered off which I could modify. The inspiration just lends itself to a saber.

Thanks again for the kind comments and a point on it's way to you also.

There's nothing wrong with a pretty shelf queen. I have a few of them. :)

Hi again, I guess if Sauron so wanted he could wave his hand and conjure up a duel-ready pommel. I had a lighted pommel on my Citadel Saber design a while back and the top of the tower just screamed pommel decoration so I added another.
And I'm really enjoying playing about with different materials and shaders in the Node Editor to create textures.

It looks great!  ;D  Point to you good Sir.
 Now you just need the one that Eragon would use to fight back with. After all the good guys need one to.  ;D

Hi MavRick, you make a great point, Balance! I guess I should make a hilt for the "good guys" too. I'll look for some inspiration and get to work on it. I did see steel edge replicas of Anduril and Glamdring while I researched this one sooo....

Anyway thanks for the support and glad you liked Barad-Dur. +1

I think Taegin is spot on!

Great hilt, the texture is brilliant looks like its been forged in the heart of mount doom, taking on the cracked rock exterior and blazing magma within, the gold rings look like Saurons attempt to harness that geological fury to his will even as he sits above it as the all seeing eye. You never disappoint For, and always push further much to everyone's delight. Have a point or two! 

Hello Lord_S_Gray,

This was a real fun but scary hilt to do. As I mention I know how much love the "Rings" fans have so I wanted to get it right and reading all the positive comments from yourself and others make me feel I was pretty close. I love your descriptions, they made me feel like I was in Middle Earth for a minute or two there! Thanks again.

p.s. The cracked rock textures were great fun to create and the best part is I don't need photographs to paste onto the model to achieve the look...the texture is totally computer generated.
+1

Hi Everybody,

With all the talk of staff shortages around here (check out the US Wishlist topic), this is one I've been working on...(not finished yet just a sneak peek)
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/bastilla-shan-jedi-1-mk.png)

(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/bastilla-shan-jedi-2-mk.png)

I'll quietly walk away whistling now....

These are all great designs! Have you ever considered doing something inspired by Gundam or Macross (Robotech)?

Nice For!   I love the lit AVs with the light rings at the base.  I'd buy some of those!   :-)

TWO PRONGED EMITTERS, DAMMIT! This is what I'm talking about XD Thank you, For! <3

Hello Randy Magnum, thanks for the compliment, glad you like the designs. I think Macross is that anime with the famous F-14 Tomcat (VF-1)  plane that transforms into a Mech right? If it is, I have had a quick look at the series...I just haven't gotten round to it yet. As soon as I finsh one hilt the kind members here suggest something else for me to tackle. I have done a couple of Voltron inspired hilts earlier in the thread.

Thanks again and a point on it's way to you.

Hi Karmack, er, not sure these AVs are available. They are actually a mistake! I added the base ring as a guide to help place the switch at the correct height but I applied the glow to the ring by mistake...it looked neat so I left it! Bob Ross would be proud of me.

Thanks and have a point instead.

Hi Lady Revan, I didn't post this to tease you but as a little bit of encouragement to Ultrasabers to come up with a decent Bastilla Staff for you. If I can make one in Blender then their talented designers should be able to make an aluminium battle ready one!

point on it's way for your pains.

That's the one! It was called Macross in Japan, then it was edited and subtitled into Robotech in America.
I saw the Voltron hilts. Very nice!
I can imagine you don't get much of break here. I guess that's the price you pay for being really good at what you do. :)

Thank you very much that's kind to say, and yes I am kept busy but I really enjoy it. The surprising thing is I have only been using Blender since June last year (so around 7 months). I will have to take another look at Macross as soon as I can, I still have about 12 more hilts I haven't posted yet.

Thanks again.

Thanks T^T It's not a difficult design by any means, but one that there's an appalling lack of across ALL saber smiths. Really, they would be doing themselves a favor by filling a niche. Only "Bastila Staff" designs by the other guys still get the emitter shape (the most distinguishing feature of an otherwise super plain design) wrong :( Point back for your efforts! <3

Hello Lady Revan, well I have just sent you a PM with some info about something that might interest you, hope it is of use.

I did see it, and it very well might be! Thank you!

Hello Everybody,

Well it's about time for my regular design post and I apologise to those that don't like "crossover" or "mashup" themed hilts but I was recently challenged by a friend to design a Superman hilt with a difference. Here is what I came up with...
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/supermobile-saber-5-mk.png)
I know what you're thinking..."That's the Supermobile!"
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/supermobile-saber-1-mk.png)
It is based on that vehicle but it is also a saber when you remove it from it's stand!
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/supermobile-saber-4-mk.png)
It has a Kryptonian Krystal to power it and don't worry the crystal chamber is lead lined so Supes isn't harmed by the Kryptonite  :D
And here is one final image to show the Corgi die-cast toy I was challenged to base the hilt on.
(https://ftsabersite.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/superman-corgi-b-1980-tvta.png)

I figured this would be a Shoto style hilt (hence the length of the handgrip) but should a two handed grip be preferred it is possible to "stretch" the fuselage section between the  crystal chamber and the activation switch.
At the end of the day this was just a bit of fun, don't worry I have a Vader inspired replica and one for his apprentice among other hilts for future posts. Thanks for looking in.

That's adorable! XD Looks like something that would be super popular for a youngling saber :)

Hello Lady Revan, I guess as it is based on a toy it does have a cute appeal! As I mention this was just a bit of fun as I currently have an on-going set of articles on my site where I attempt to design sabers based on various pop culture TV shows and Movies (and their associated merchandise/toy ranges) So far I have done Ghostbusters, Charlie's Angels, Knight Rider, Resident Evil and now Superman's hilts. It will help my future modelling projects as I have had to learn many more techniques to accomplish each challenge.

So upcoming I have a crossguard hilt for Thor, two Star Trek based hilts, a hilt inspired by Darth Vader and one for his apprentice...a double bladed Dathomirian, a Naboo Senator's hilt .....oh and two more versions of my Trooper hilt. So at least nine more to keep you entertained.
Thanks once more and a point on it's way.

Agreed, it's a bit kitschy.  Again the variety of what you can produce is amazing, from the Lord of the Rings to this is so different.



Can't wait to see that, you've done some really nice elegant designs already (notably Satele Shan) and i'm guessing this will follow in that pattern!

I love the Superman rocket, bro. Whether or not it's a usable saber is another matter, but I don't think that's really the point. As a space ship, it looks great. I love the light-up House of El emblem on top. :)

Hi Lord_S_Gray, I have always tried to look outside the box when I design stuff. It stems from my time as an amateur magician where lateral thinking was needed to devise tricks. I also studied different performance arts(such as watching dancers or listening to comedians) to improve my performances.
And regards the Naboo Senator hilt, I think I may have to do a redesign quick,  I based it on her Geonosis look  :-\

Thanks for looking in again and the kind comments.
point on it's way

Thanks SFD, and as I know you create some rather nice ships that is very kind to say. And the activation switch? It's amazing what you can do with a logo in .svg  format and the Extrude tool! (Blender can load a 2D black and white image into the software then stretch it into a 3D object) I have used that trick a few times now. But this design really helped me to work on smooth aerodynamic/sweeping geometry.

Thanks again and a point for you.

Oh please don't do that, i hadn't though of that outfit - that could be very slick and streamlined.