Let's talk customized shrouds!

[Ninja-Jedi]

agree with ice will need to be a multi-peice shroud so the two big sections should be fairly easy
the problem u will have is on the choke section where it is tapered. If u really want to make a shroud
going over the choke and groove section i would recommend magic sculpt. can be shaped and molded
and once it cures it can be sanded, drilled, and tapped as well as being damage resistant just a suggestion though

[Darth Vapour]

Magic sculpt is great. I haven't used it for a shroud, but it's great for adding feature to a saber

[Volund Starfire]

If you do the math correctly, you might be able to do it with a piece of PVC.  The secret is to cut it a little longer (but not much), and heat it with a heat gun to make it soft enough to push into the groove.

[Jev Moldara]

If you do the math correctly, you might be able to do it with a piece of PVC.  The secret is to cut it a little longer (but not much), and heat it with a heat gun to make it soft enough to push into the groove.

All you need is a piece of string or paper.

Lay the string/paper along the curvature and mark the point where the curve begins and the point where it ends. Take it out, lay it flat, and measure the distance between the points. Voila... you have just measured what is known as arc length.

Cut your PVC to incorporate that same length, then use the heat gun method. If you measured properly, it will fit like a glove.

EDIT: The only problem with fitting the PVC to the choke, though, is that you'll be trying to heat-warp plastic from one single tubular shape into two tubular shapes (the main PVC tube shape, plus the higher radius tube shape of the choke. This will likely cause a bend in the PVC where the choke begins and ends, as you'll have two sections of PVC competing for space. This is a natural weak spot and can break one day. Just my opinion.

If it were me, I would forgo trying to mold PVC into that odd shape and simply create a filler that will prevent dirt and stuff from getting caught between the shroud and the choke. To help smooth this out and make it look more organic, I would round out the corners where the shroud hits the choke. I'll try and sketch out in AutoCAD what I mean and post it for you tonight.

[Jev Moldara]

Here's the idea I have for it...



As you can see (and it's not to scale), the red part is the saber hilt, the yellow is the proposed shroud, and the white part is the filler between the two. Note the curved area on the shroud over the choke. Not only does it look more aesthetically pleasing (because it fits with the curved contours of the saber itself), but using a curve instills more structural rigidity to the shroud. A hard corner, like you designed, provided a structural weak spot for the shroud, whereas without the corner, the shroud is sturdier overall.

Plus, a curved surface allows for easier cutting, grinding, and polishing than a corner.

Just my $0.02...

[ckinsey88]

Here's the idea I have for it...



As you can see (and it's not to scale), the red part is the saber hilt, the yellow is the proposed shroud, and the white part is the filler between the two. Note the curved area on the shroud over the choke. Not only does it look more aesthetically pleasing (because it fits with the curved contours of the saber itself), but using a curve instills more structural rigidity to the shroud. A hard corner, like you designed, provided a structural weak spot for the shroud, whereas without the corner, the shroud is sturdier overall.

Plus, a curved surface allows for easier cutting, grinding, and polishing than a corner.

Just my $0.02...

wow man that is a good idea and it looks great i think what program did you use to do that?

[Jev Moldara]

wow man that is a good idea and it looks great i think what program did you use to do that?

Thank you!

I used AutoCAD. That is just a quick and dirty version...


*************************************

My first saber design, the Angelic:






My second design. I call them the Twin Dragons:

[ckinsey88]

Thank you!

I used AutoCAD. That is just a quick and dirty version...


*************************************

My first saber design, the Angelic:






My second design. I call them the Twin Dragons:

Wow that is awesome and would be so useful! Want to show me what an archon v2would look with choke style 2 and blade holder 20 from tcss?

[Jev Moldara]

I will see what I can do this evening when I get home from work. You won't see the full effect due to lack of proper dimensions, but I can get you a general idea.

[Darth Dau Kho]

Not only hard, but actually impossible, unless it's a separate piece.  Even if you had the tools and know how to bend metal into that shape, there's no way you could slip it over the front of the saber to get it into place.  If you're really set on it curving in like that with a shroud piece, then you're going to have to make it a 2 or 3 part shroud.

It actualy wouldn't be that hard. The part that bends in is going to need to be slightly longer that connects the two parts that wrap around. Then slide the who piece on, and bend te long piece to the body once it's on.

[Jev Moldara]

Crap. I totally forgot about the Archon V2 with Choke2 and BH20!

I'll still try to get a quick and dirty render for you today.

[ckinsey88]

Crap. I totally forgot about the Archon V2 with Choke2 and BH20!

I'll still try to get a quick and dirty render for you today.

lol i was wondering no biggie

[Jev Moldara]

lol i was wondering no biggie

Okay, here it is. Quick and dirty, and by no means to scale.

[ckinsey88]

Okay, here it is. Quick and dirty, and by no means to scale.

I like it! thank you that is pretty cool how you do that it would definitly come in handy for customizing!

[Jev Moldara]

For a general idea, yes, but without actual dimensions, it will always be woefully out of sync.