Saber Forum

Ultra Sabers Discussion => Ultra Sabers Customization => Topic started by: sedstiskyfaller on March 06, 2016, 12:27:53 AM



Title: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: sedstiskyfaller on March 06, 2016, 12:27:53 AM
I recently purchased this Dominix LE V4 with specific intention to customize it. I ordered it will a Renegade LE Small Pommel and a Tri-cree GB LED with Li-ion setup. Here is what it looked like when I received it:

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1714/24617736803_68442891d9.jpg)

After seeing several designs online that used Krayt dragon bone on lightsaber hilts and thinking how awesome it was to combine a piece of something so unique and mystical with a Jedi's saber, as if forming a spiritual bond with the creature, I decided to attempt one of my own. Obi-Wan mimicked the sound of one to scare off the sand people in ANH. Krayt dragons are specifically known in canon for the "pearls" they produced, which were considered very valuable, as well as some legends regarding these creatures and their pearls. Here is an excerpt from Wookieepedia:

"They could be found in colors such as blue, green, red, white and black. Due to a refractive quality peculiar to the pearl, they could be used in a lightsaber if properly cleaned, prepared and installed, though it was a difficult task. The pearls were seen as exceptionally valuable by the public (easily worth upwards of a hundred thousand credits each), as well as proof a person had killed a krayt dragon (to Tusken Raiders, a sign of bravery)"

So I turned to the thing I knew best, 3D modeling, as a resource to create the pieces this customization would require. After several weeks of planning, modeling, and tweaking, I finished all the models and ordered them. Here are all the newly designed for this saber:

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1653/24886780133_6f8ae268c8_b.jpg)

These include (from left to right) a krayt bone choke sleeve in two pieces, a new two-part blade plug to resemble a claw with a pearl insert, and the krayt bone emitter shroud. A few more pics of the individual pieces are below:

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1509/25513509895_fa3a672f20_n.jpg)(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1612/24882953634_204c2d117a_n.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1477/25420713171_6deb539313_n.jpg)(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1664/25394996382_dd869c7253_n.jpg)

The bone pieces were printed in White Strong and Flexible Polished, the blade plug in Polished Metallic, and the pearl in Transparent Acrylic. The emitter shroud has windows that match those found in the saber's emitter, with a slight inward curvature.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1718/24877597069_824eafffdc.jpg)



So without further ado, I present you the Krayt Cerulean:

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1445/24911416653_0a20230597_z.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1545/25170581109_6440b04586_z.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1688/24907593884_c82bab1a54_z.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1616/25170581229_86228682e2_z.jpg)

I painted the krayt bone pieces with Krylon Ivory Satin spray paint and lightly weathered them to give it a dirtier look. I also applied Stainless Steel contact paper to the smaller diameter points of the saber and the bottom of the pommel, since this saber doesn't have sound, and scratched it to make it look like weathered metal.

The emitter shroud is held on with a 8-32 1/4" socket screw and the choke point pieces are glued to the contact paper there. The blade plug is designed to allow the light from the saber to illuminate the pearl insert.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1518/24907597614_df5b42d872_n.jpg)(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1603/25170584829_784bd49d1a_n.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1661/25538121205_bd94677244.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1638/25511993986_f5126bcccf.jpg)

I used one of my Jedi symbol switch covers printed in Blue Strong and Flexible Polished on the latching switch and painted the symbol in silver to stand out. It is also fastened with glue to the switch.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1460/24907596174_4b9488f5d6.jpg)

This project was a lot of fun and I'm happy with how it turned out :D  Below is one last shot with the blade in. Thanks for stopping by!  :)

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1703/25511995346_6b66797440_z.jpg)


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: Kham-Ryn Kurios on March 06, 2016, 12:33:35 AM
That is dope!

I absolutely love that Jeid symbol on the button.

+1 and another in an hour.


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: RevanReborn on March 06, 2016, 12:35:21 AM
Amazing Mod!  Those shrouds are SO awesome, and so is that plug!!  Switch cover is a really nice touch too.  Such a cool design :).  Great work. 


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: Drahcir on March 06, 2016, 12:36:18 AM
Mimicking bone is probably the best use of 3D printing I've come across - at least on saber pieces.
The material suits it well.

This is a great use of your skills Sedsti +1.  


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: hazard502 on March 06, 2016, 12:47:20 AM
Whaaaat? Nice vision come to reality ... well deserved point! You were right, blue is starting to look a liiiiiitle better. ;D


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: Xavius on March 06, 2016, 02:50:12 AM
Such a cool shroud , would love to see it weathered


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: sedstiskyfaller on March 06, 2016, 04:25:28 AM
Thanks guys! It was a lot of work, but I'm glad I did it.

Mimicking bone is probably the best use of 3D printing I've come across - at least on saber pieces.
The material suits it well.

This is a great use of your skills Sedsti +1. 

I agree, and that's one of the things that pushed me into doing this design. I originally was going to stain the pieces, but the test piece I did didn't turn out like I wanted, so I painted the bone pieces instead.

Such a cool shroud , would love to see it weathered

It's hard to see in the pics, but the bone pieces are lightly dirtied. Weathering really isn't my expertise like some here (cough cough Drahcir...) but I'm pleased with what I was able to do on it.


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: JediXIX on March 08, 2016, 05:52:12 AM
Really like your ideas here Sedsti . . . +1 :)

You've got me thinking a lot about what is possible with 3D printing, and I'm really looking forward to collaborating with you on some of my future project ideas maybe . . . A quick question, what type of glue did you use for the choke piece ? or, what would you use if gluing a 3D printed piece directly to the aluminium hilt ? . . . cheers :)


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: sedstiskyfaller on March 08, 2016, 12:44:06 PM
Really like your ideas here Sedsti . . . +1 :)

You've got me thinking a lot about what is possible with 3D printing, and I'm really looking forward to collaborating with you on some of my future project ideas maybe . . . A quick question, what type of glue did you use for the choke piece ? or, what would you use if gluing a 3D printed piece directly to the aluminium hilt ? . . . cheers :)

Thanks, Jed!  :)

Sounds great! I used super glue for the choke pieces and the switch cover. I try not to do customizations that are irreversible, so I have not actually glued anything directly to a hilt before. The material printed in here is a nylon plastic that is somewhat porous and should work with various types of glue. The question would be what would work on the aluminum. Super glue will probably hold, but for a better hold you might need epoxy.


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: Master Medwyn on March 08, 2016, 01:16:46 PM
That's a wonderful reminder fo how mighty Crayt Dragons are!
What a beauty!


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: Karmack on March 08, 2016, 06:23:11 PM
Nicely done!  I just received my own Dominix V4 LE, though I cannot imagine doing THIS to it...  ;-)  Maybe the Dark Initiate V4 I have, though...  Hmm....


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: sedstiskyfaller on March 08, 2016, 07:36:42 PM
That's a wonderful reminder fo how mighty Crayt Dragons are!
What a beauty!

Thank you!  :)

Nicely done!  I just received my own Dominix V4 LE, though I cannot imagine doing THIS to it...  ;-)  Maybe the Dark Initiate V4 I have, though...  Hmm....

The thing is, none of this is permanent! I could take everything off and it would look just the way it did when I got it  :)  I would be afraid to mess the saber up otherwise


Title: Re: Krayt Cerulean - Custom Dominix LE V4 (pic heavy)
Post by: MavRick on March 09, 2016, 01:15:40 AM
IMPRESSIVE, MOST IMPRESSIVE!!  :o  ;D Mad skills you have !