Saber Forum

Spectacular Darth Acervus! 

Those both look really cool.   :o :o

I really like the clean lines, and how they add excellent contrast to those hilts.

Are those both Manticore pommels on there?

-1 for sure. 

Lucky friends. :P

Really love your work on this.  The attention to detail is fantastic, and I love the continuity of the stripes on the hilt with the blade color.  Those Manticore pommels really add to the overall look as well.  Very well done!  Lucky souls that got these from you.

-1 for your passion of awesome looking lightsabers

Thanks again for kind comments  ;D

It is indeed Metallic Enamel paint in the grooves.

Here are some pics I took during the project.
 I wanted to keep it fairly simple, as the sabers wont have my constant attention once gifted. So painted grooves very much along the lines of what Usabers do with there anodised(beyond my understanding tbh) LE line & a little sparkle to the pommels, seemed like it was perhaps within my very limited skills.

([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03780.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03780.jpg.html[/url])

([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03670.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03670.jpg.html[/url])

([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03769a.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03769a.jpg.html[/url])
Humbrol Green Mist Metalic Enamel.
([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03768a.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03768a.jpg.html[/url])
Most of what I used is here in these pics. I don't have the best painting skills so the model/hobby tape seemed the way to go when I started(standard masking tape is great for large areas but just doesn't cut it for detailed work)
The most expensive item here was probably the brushes & they were worth the money in my opinion.

Probably the most important thing was the preperation. Paint wont stick to dirty surfaces(pretty sure thats most paint/sprays). So cleaning with spirit/Thinners/rubbing alcohol is essential. I did this both before & after sanding the grooves(chose not to go with a primer but to physically prime the surfaces) & bases of the pommels.
I used first a pretty rough paper about 150 grit then a fine one of 1000 grit(again this is just what I did going on my personal experience)
Wrapped the paper around a small file to use it, but a small paint brush would probably do the job just the same.

([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03671.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03671.jpg.html[/url])
([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03673.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03673.jpg.html[/url])

Honestly if I did this again I wouldnlt have bothered masking off the grooves. The grooves on th V4 that were too small to mask were probably the tidiest( a rag with a little spirit while you are painting, is easier than trying to remove it after the masking).(live & learn lol)


([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03677.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03677.jpg.html[/url])

I taped up the part of the Blades that were gonna be anywhere near paint & also under the accent windows as you can see. Really helped when painting those tricky windows. It also allows you to use the the blade to hold & spin round when painting.
([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03681.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03681.jpg.html[/url])

The tape was however fantastic when I used it on the pommels with the gold spraypaint

([url]http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff432/TEHordak/NovUpload/DSC03696.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/TEHordak/media/NovUpload/DSC03696.jpg.html[/url])

I did two coats with the enamel in the grooves(it takes a long time to dry & cure, but is very solid once its done) These Metalic hobby paints really are great value, as you don't need a large amount & they cost peanuts  ;D.

The pommel's had a 5 or 6 very fine coats of gold rustoleum over an afternoon then next day a few coats of.. well clear-coat lol, also rustoleum (I have found the semi-gloss product to be a very good finish(& I have tried Matt & Gloss etc. on other projects)
 Rustoleum really is worth that extra couple of dollars & no I dont work for them its just my opinion lol

Probably missed stuff out, but if you have any questions I would be happy to answer either here, or in a Personal Message.

Thanks Again  :D

Thanks again for kind comments  ;D

It is indeed Metallic Enamel paint in the grooves.