Unboxing my Prophecy and Dark Catalyst (video)

[Isola815]

Hey everyone,

I haven't done an unboxing video yet so I thought I'd do one today when I got home from work and opened up my delivery.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0nN0m2CC2w" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0nN0m2CC2w</a>

After I made this video I had a closer look at my sabers, and as per the forum rules I will not post further details of anything related to build quality or errors that I touched on in the video. Once I have sorted out both my sabers with customer care I will do review videos but please be aware that this may be a few weeks away depending on what the outcome is.

Thanks again to everyone for your time.

[Jeadus Teal]

Good review Isola815. The Prophecy and Dark Catalyst are very nice sabers. I was thinking of getting a Catalyst with an Obsidian Lite Soundboard. The blade color would be Adegan Silver. I would also add a yellow and an orange color disc to make a Sentinel Yellow colored blade with Orange Flash on Clash. I would of added a Yellow Illuminated Silver AV switch and a Silver Covertec Wheel to the back of the saber.  +1 point to you.

[Isola815]

Good review Isola815. The Prophecy and Dark Catalyst are very nice sabers. I was thinking of getting a Catalyst with an Obsidian Lite Soundboard. The blade color would be Adegan Silver. I would also add a yellow and an orange color disc to make a Sentinel Yellow colored blade with Orange Flash on Clash. I would of added a Yellow Illuminated Silver AV switch and a Silver Covertec Wheel to the back of the saber.  +1 point to you.

Thanks! That sounds like a really nice looking combo you've thought of, point to you for your idea. If I got a silver Catalyst I'd have to get Sunrider's. Now that I've seen it in person I'm in love with the color!

For now though a new saber is the last thing on my mind. I'm just hoping I can get my issues sorted out with both of these sabers so that I can get to enjoying them and wanting to buy more again!

[Lord Japarco]

Great sabers, nice matching covertec, just need a shock le pommel now (only a personal idea)... Thanks for sharing +1

[Zren Tobas]

Very nice. Sun Rider's Destiny is my favorite go to color at the moment =] Liking Fire Orange though but not with the Ultra Edge blades You'rs don't look half bad though. I like the Dark Catalyst even more now

[Isola815]

Very nice. Sun Rider's Destiny is my favorite go to color at the moment =] Liking Fire Orange though but not with the Ultra Edge blades You'rs don't look half bad though. I like the Dark Catalyst even more now

I have my faulty midgrade blade still here seeing as I was offered a blade replacement discount instead of a warranty replacement, so I might get a chance to play around with the two of them together and see which one I prefer, both for SD and FO. For now though... the two new sabers are repacked and back in the box while I wait to hear back from my email. I imagine that being the Thanksgiving period over there that I'll most likely be waiting until Monday to hear back about them and find out their fate/my fate.

My Dark Catalyst was supposed to make a cameo appearance in a photo shoot on the 4th of December too. I'm a bit upset about that to be honest

[Rapine]

Another great video from Isola815!

Great choices.  I have both of those hilts.

Re: Your Prophecy.  US outsources the machining on those hilts, and the covertech hole is drilled and tapped at that time.  That's one of the only hilts that you can't really request the location on unfortunately.  It's at the whim of the machinist - who does lots of 250, I believe.

This was a bit of an issue for previous buyers before - myself included.  Still one of my very favourite hilts.  So perfectly comfortable.

No idea what the sticky stuff on your Dark Catalyst may be.  I will say that they order all of the parts for those from another supplier, and assemble them once they arrive, so perhaps it's a bit of the packaging residue.

That TRI FO looks stunning!

Feel free to PM pics, if you'd like.

+1 for the excellent video, and for patience.

[Lord Sidious]

Thanks for reviewing, beautiful sabers. The Catalyst is one of the most comfortable hilts by US in my opinion, very light and sits in your palm.

[Isola815]

Another great video from Isola815!

Great choices.  I have both of those hilts.

Re: Your Prophecy.  US outsources the machining on those hilts, and the covertech hole is drilled and tapped at that time.  That's one of the only hilts that you can't really request the location on unfortunately.  It's at the whim of the machinist - who does lots of 250, I believe.

This was a bit of an issue for previous buyers before - myself included.  Still one of my very favourite hilts.  So perfectly comfortable.

No idea what the sticky stuff on your Dark Catalyst may be.  I will say that they order all of the parts for those from another supplier, and assemble them once they arrive, so perhaps it's a bit of the packaging residue.

That TRI FO looks stunning!

Feel free to PM pics, if you'd like.

+1 for the excellent video, and for patience.

Thanks for your reply Lord Rapine, your input is always most welcome.

First off: sorry, but any pictures I send will only be to US staff as I do not wish for anything negative or possibly detrimental to US/US Products to be circulated (even in a PM) unless the issues cannot be resolved. I am quite willing to let US have some time to work out how they can make things right for me before I post any details on the forum. It's only fair that with the holidays in the USA and the time zone difference of me being 18/19 hours ahead, that I not rush anything and see where it winds up.

Thank you for letting me know that the covertec wheel has been an issue in the past. As it has already been spoken about and was not a one off issue with my saber, I shall touch on it briefly. Marlena confirmed in her e-mail that there was no placement option and I had said that there should be a note about that on the site for had I known, I would have picked a different hilt. I have reiterated this in my most recent e-mail adding that if it had been an issue before then it would make quite a great deal of sense to have a note there as I suggested. It will save any future dramas.

For me personally, the wheel placement is a big deal. For one, it will face the wrong way on a belt clip, and secondly it is right where my grip point is. I know that is different for everyone and to some people it may not matter, but to me it's a big deal and that's why I would have picked a different hilt had I known that to start with. That was why I had specifically requested the wheel be put closer to the pommel.

The sticky stuff was indeed tape residue and came off with minimal effort, and dear god yes the TRI FO is gorgeous! My avatar pic is an orange filter on my AS Lib, and as soon as I did it I knew I wanted orange for my dark look saber. I've never really been a fan of red sabers and have always said "If I was a Sith I wouldn't have a red blade. Because fight me." I was even half toying with SRD as my sith blade, I decided I wanted SRD to be my characters color before he turned. But that's a story (and hopefully a photo shoot one day if I ever have the sabers for it ) for another day and another thread!

Thanks to you for the point, I have given you a -1 in return.



Important Addendum:

I said that I was disappointed that I couldn't use my DC on the 4th of December, but I know full well that even if US built a new DC and sent it to me, that I would not receive it in time. So I would like to emphasize quite sternly that I am not blaming US for not being able to use it. It is simply a case of happenstance, or "S*** happens". I'm a professional photographer, I will find a way to work around what we had planned. My Liberator is the main saber for that shoot. We will simply make it work. So PLEASE no one think I was or am complaining about this. It was simply a comment due to the fact that I had said I had packed them pack in their shipping box.

I have gotten a reply from Marlena with some requests for further photos, some steps for me to take, and I have done that. So far we are still in the same place re: resolution; we have not decided on one yet.

Thanks for reviewing, beautiful sabers. The Catalyst is one of the most comfortable hilts by US in my opinion, very light and sits in your palm.

Thanks, it did feel nice for the brief time I was holding it

[Rapine]

Hey Isola,

You're in the very best of hands.  Marlena is amazing.

You aren't wrong about a disclaimer on the Prophecy page.  It would save a lot of hassle - wouldn't it?

It's too bad that it's a big problem for you.  Hoping you get something figured out.

You didn't come across as to upset at all, Isola.  You made a sizable purchase, and waited a while for it to arrive.

You're allowed to be somewhat miffed about it not being perfect.  Good on you for not ranting though.

Cheers!