The Blue Army

[Venedlor]

@stevewonder Also it is Artic blue. What battery setup do you run?

[steviewonder1125]

I just have the Standard Setup. I haven't changed the batteries yet either. I'll be honest, due to being on a budget, I couldn't afford to get my Ultrasaber with sound or Li-Ion setup or an AV Switch how I wanted. Though the guarded switch ended being a Godsend for me, since my hand tends to run over top of it a lot while trying to flourish. Once I save, I'm making another video showing my Shock LE pommel and the Midgrade.

[steviewonder1125]

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with how my Ultrasaber turned out. I would have liked sound, but ultimately, I probably would have gotten annoyed having it in my ear walking around all day at a convention LOL

[Venedlor]

Well, I have found that the AAA battery setup produces a less bright blade than the lit-ion does.

[Master Venturous]

I'll chime in here and give another side to these comments. The AAA batteries do give off a less bright blade, however, they are easier to replace. One of my Trustfire Li-ion batteries (that I've only had for five months) just died on me and won't recharge. As such, I probably now have to buy a replacement battery from the site, instead of having the convenience of going out to any store and buying cheap replacements. I don't know why the battery died, given the relatively short time I've owned it, but now I have to do without lighting up one side of one of my staves until I get it replaced.

[Aurick]

In terms of wiring how hard is it to replace a standard setup for the li-on setup at home? And is there a thread for this question already? Sorry if there is. Thanks

[steviewonder1125]

Ouch. That sucks. Just a fluke possibly? That original thought of paying to upkeep the Li-Ion batteries had occurred to me. But it wasn't my deciding factor. Just simple convenience. LOL

But I may as well ask, since I'm ordering a Standard Midgrade blade soon: Does anybody have experience with both of these blade types? Since I'm going down from an UEHG to a standard Midgrade, I figure I should see a considerable difference in shine and brightness, just in doing that? Not to mention the weight difference, sooo much easier to flourish with.  

[Master Venturous]

Ouch. That sucks. Just a fluke possibly? That original thought of paying to upkeep the Li-Ion batteries had occurred to me. But it wasn't my deciding factor. Just simple convenience. LOL

But I may as well ask, since I'm ordering a Standard Midgrade blade soon: Does anybody have experience with both of these blade types? Since I'm going down from an UEHG to a standard Midgrade, I figure I should see a considerable difference in shine and brightness, just in doing that? Not to mention the weight difference, sooo much easier to flourish with. 

I can shed some light here. The first two blades I got with my first staff were both 32" UEHG blades. The next two blades I got with my second staff were both 24" initiate mid grade ultraedge blades. I did a comparison of these two blades types, the link of which can be found here: http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=13022.0

I will say here that the heavy grade blades add a "light in a tube" effect that the mid grades do not. If you get ultraedge mid grade blades, the color will come all the way out to the edges with no "light in a tube" effect at all. I do not own any of the standard blades (non-ultraedge), however they add even more of that effect to the blade. That is why many people consider the standard blades to be reminiscent of the original trilogy sabers and ultraedge blades to be like those found in the prequels. And obviously, switching to mid grades basically cuts the weight in half of the saber.

[steviewonder1125]

Thanks for the info, as well as that comparison thread. I also found your previous explanation of each blade type's pros and cons in this thread:

http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=12721.0

VERY helpful as well. I want more of a prequel look, so thanks for letting me know. I'll be getting an UltraEdge Midgrade with my Shock LE Pommel. 

[Master Bluespike74]

FYI, anyone that posts in this thread and carries the Blue Blades (Guardian, Arctic, or SRD) with pride, then they are all part of my Big Blue Army.  Exar Kun styled Sith are welcomed here as well. 

[steviewonder1125]

AWESOME! 

There is no emotion, there is peace.     There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.     There is no passion, there is serenity.     There is no chaos, there is harmony.     There is no death, there is the Force.

[RLYHYPERGUY]

Okay, blue isn't exactly my favorite color, but I do own two blue-related blades. My Emerald Green saber is actually a unique blue-green mixture that I like to call turquoise (the saber recently crapped out but I'm working on fixing it myself), but I do own a Guardian Blue saber that I'm quite proud of. I won it in a raffle, which was actually a godsend at the time because when I was told I won I had just been told that one of my grandfathers passed away (my other grandfather also died shortly after, and shortly after that I found out that I won another raffle prize; funny how things work out, huh?).

In short, blue isn't my go-to color, but I have two sabers related to it, one of them with a great personal significance to me. Can I be an honorary or part-time member? 

[Zren Tobas]

@Venturous. Point for the blue pics. Lol. They look awesome. So use like, 30 seconds, 10, 3, and 6 seconds? I might try this. Wonder how it would turn out with a green blade and my Bright Blue Lee Filtered Adegan Silver saber. =] Probably about the same effect.

[Master Venturous]

@Venturous. Point for the blue pics. Lol. They look awesome. So use like, 30 seconds, 10, 3, and 6 seconds? I might try this. Wonder how it would turn out with a green blade and my Bright Blue Lee Filtered Adegan Silver saber. =] Probably about the same effect.

If you are talking about the pics in my review of the blades, then the Shutter Speeds I used were 1/30, 1/10, 1/3, and .6 seconds for each shot, which would be 30, 10, and 3 for your camera. Not sure what the last one would be for your camera, if it even has that option. In my opinion, Guardian Blue looks better at longer Shutter Speeds because it gives off more of the white core effect and makes it look more like a real lightsaber. I'm sure the same is true with Consular Green as well or any brighter color in the spectrum. I wouldn't use anything longer than 1/3 seconds when doing pose shots with the saber though, otherwise the camera will be picking up more movement from the body and will result in a blurry image.

[steviewonder1125]

So... what would you say most people at a typical anime convention use, camera-wise? Because keep in mind, I'll be trying either a Midgrade UltraEdge, or a standard Midgrade (possibly, just to see what the difference looks like in person between the two) and regardless of the style I go with, I'm hoping that people photographing me will get awesome pictures.

I might try Consular Green next, to be honest. Though next time, I'm going all out, so it may take all of next year before I'll be able to afford it. What I was thinking was, the Nickel Plated Finish Consular hilt, in Consular Green, with Silver FOC, Obsidian Sound, and Quick Disconnect (later buying modules for Guardian Blue, Arctic Blue, and Violet Amethyst). I realize this would cost more in the long run, especially getting FOC added to each separate module, but I hate the crowded look of the RGB option. I think it detracts from how a proper lightsaber should look, but just my opinion. Then to the Consular, I'd add the Dark Shock emitter and the Guardian pommel.

But after getting my Aeon, I'm pretty sure I'm Blue For Life.