Saber Forum

So, not long ago I acquired an Aeon V4.   It is a stunt, but it has windows and a silver AV switch.   A nice, basic saber.   It is Guardian Blue.

(https://i.imgur.com/7wONeFI.jpg)

I forgot how much I like the intensity of the pure blue.  :-)   So, this is a keeper.   How to make it fit in and feel at home?   You guessed it....

(https://i.imgur.com/yClfsJd.jpg)

First I masked off the bulk of the saber, leaving the choke-point rings exposed (the companion is my daughter's Apprentice V4 LE, also getting some additional color)

Above is before spray.   Below is after:

(https://i.imgur.com/v6ExDma.jpg)

and then unmasked, revealing the "black steel" rings.

(https://i.imgur.com/aJS25aX.jpg)

Now, this is a good start.   :-)   But there is more.    I've already done the two-tone black/gold/silver bit, so...   I decided to add a touch of burnished bronze to this hilt.   More masking:

(https://i.imgur.com/VhOozYc.jpg)

...and then more painting.   After removing the masking (I missed a shot of this step, sorry!) I then used a brush to hand-apply gold metallic paint to the deep grooves to create the "LE" effect over the darker grip and dark rings.

And the final touch: An Archon Classic pommel with D-ring, as found on the Archon V3 hilt.

(https://i.imgur.com/9pgstS4.jpg)

and lit:

(https://i.imgur.com/v8966IP.jpg)

And chillin' with the new 'clan': (the affore-mentioned Apprentice LE is on the far left of this group shot)

(https://i.imgur.com/8vbbkvc.jpg)

and the "blue" team:

(https://i.imgur.com/BGORYc0.jpg)

(Initiate V4 LE in Arctic Blue, TCSS extension and Malice Round pommel on the left, Aeon in the middle, and Aeon V3 in Arctic Blue on the right, just paint and AV switch on that one)

This came out great, and has become a treasured member of the Mak'Tor clan saber collection.    :-)   As always, I am amazed at what some paint and color can do.

Man Karm that is one purdy Aeon  :)

I really like the paint job that you apply for that hilt, not to mention that it fits perfectly within the Mak'Tor saber family  ;D

Can't wait to see more!

These are all beautiful.  I have to ask, though.. how well does the paint adhere to the hilt?  How do you prepare the surface before painting?  What type of paint do you use?

before painting, I cleaned the hilts to make sure they didn't have any oil or grime on them from handling.   Then I masked and sprayed them.
I actually use Rust-Oleum universal all-surface advanced spray paint. 

Yes.   Rust-Oleum.  :-)     Colors are "black stainless steel" and "flat burnished amber".  And the gold paint in the grooves on the Aeon is Testor's model paint.   The Testor's will wear off in time, but in the grooves it is pretty well protected.  The Rustoleum wears like iron, and interestingly it also provides an excellent gripping surface.  It has markedly improved the handling of the sabers I've used it on, and other than a blotch where I blotted one of them accidentally before it was dry and mucked up the finish they all look great even after much handling and use.  So far.

The colors on the Aeon are:   Black Stainless Steel for the dark choke-point rings, the Flat Burnished Amber for the grip area and the Testors gold for the rings.   The other sabers all have the Black Stainless Steel and gold paint.   The original Initiate V4 was an LE model to begin with, and its dark rings are actually Testors Model Master Gunmetal painted on with a brush.   It does not wear nearly as well as the Rustoleum.

These babies are Black Stainless Steel sprayed on and then the Gunmetal brushed into the grooves.   They also still look great despite being handled and clunked around a lot.

(https://i.imgur.com/mD60r4J.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WUPPexx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Yj5t6Un.jpg)

So I’m guessing the grade of the spray paint your using is the same type of spray paint you would use to
Do paint jobs on cars correct? Did you use any kind of finish coating? And great job btw! They look awesome! And a great addition!

Beatiful paintjobs, thanks for sharing.
Makes me want to start thinking of painting..... maybe in the future.

Actually, the paint is more like what you'd use for lawn furniture or to paint your old wagon bright red again.  :-)   I bought the two cans of it I own at Wal-Mart and Target, respectively.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rust-Oleum-Universal-Metallic-Black-Stainless-Steel-Spray-Paint-and-Primer-in-1-11-oz/813065582 (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rust-Oleum-Universal-Metallic-Black-Stainless-Steel-Spray-Paint-and-Primer-in-1-11-oz/813065582)

I did apply two coats.   And I have not put on a finish coat.   Part of the 'experiment', especially with the V3s, was to see how it would wear without any special coatings or anything.   Two observations so far:

First, this paint is designed to be used on any surface and survive wear-and-tear OUTDOORS.   It wears like iron.   And it comes in many cool colors for accenting sabers.
Second, in the places where I painted grooves a different color, it also served as an excellent primer coat, making the Testors paint also apply better and wear better over time.

So, a win-win.

And honestly, the one thing I was always a little disappointed in with regards to the Aeon or Sentinel pattern sabers, especially the V3/V4 sabers, was the plainness.   My first experiment with painting was an Aeon, several years ago, and it proved that some dark color on a silver hilt would make it pop.   I ended up putting it next to the Guardian I had at the time, and I was amazed at how much alike they looked.  :-)   Though the Guardian was still amazing and far more detailed...

(https://i.imgur.com/OAD9vcQ.jpg)

Some very nice work going on there.
Reminds me that I have a couple of Sentinels needing work

Ahhhh okay.. makes sense and very intriguing... +1 for the info! I’ll more than likely.. do a custom job or I’ll send it in for customization... depending.. but all in all great work

Really nice work. they look great. might have to think of something like this myself

While these pics just underscore why I need to get a Guardian, I'm also convinced that I should get another Aeon and copy emulate Karm's painting and mods to the saber hilt  :)

Silver and black hilts are one of my favorites

I think I can help...

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191108/983d2633a0c25951fbbc08c7f89c0a96.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191108/34a2f485e3e7a4eac56f6de3c4821a17.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191108/38d62704290b74ea8eb5eccfdd99336c.jpg)



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sweet!!!!!

Wow!! What the?? That’s epic!

Dark Apprentice LE v5


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This is PRECISELY why I need to get the v5 Apprentice/Sentinel hilts: INCREDIBLE design that marries form and function  :)

Point!

ok now I need to look into doing this myself

You have GOT to do a step by step video or something. I got two Aeons that are just screaming for this kind of project!

Well, I've never been a video kind of guy (I have a face for radio, as it were) but I'll see what I can do.   My daughter is into videography so....

Just remember the V5 line has VERY SHARP edges on the windows.

But they look SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Hmmm... beautiful and dangerous... never heard of that combination before.