Dark Mantis Review (Video+Pictures)

[Markus]

So after a bit of delay (had to re-record the video),
here's my first ever video review (sort of) of the Dark Mantis, found at the bottom of this post.
This saber is also the 4th. in my personal collection, so (pun intended) may the 4th. be with you...or better "me" in this case.

Let's get right to it and give you a couple of close-up pictures of this saber, starting with the "claw-less"
Emitter


Here we have the neck-shroud right below the emitter,
which can either be rotated, reversed or completely taken off the saber.


The AV-Switch or Guarded Switch sits right ontop the elbow segment of the saber.


Here we have the body-shroud with these nice diagonal cutouts, which sits above the mainbody of the saber with the silver ribbing underneath.


At the bottom end sits the vented pommel some of you are already familiar with from the Scorpion, with the spiked ridges.
You can also have this pommel setup to be equiped with the squared ridges from the Guardian.


Another view of the upper half of the saber in its off/on state, with the Arctic Blue blade, red AV-Switch



Of course, here's the actual video review, with a handling-demo at the end:
(Excuse the quality of the video, but my programs setting for Youtube Videos and Youtube's own conversion kinda messed it up)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cefMbjl5EfQ" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cefMbjl5EfQ</a>

[Dauntless Seven]

Hi Markus.  This is such a well done informative video and photos.  Really your first?  That Mantis is so large and heavy, but you presented it so nicely, including the matching clothing that enhanced the visual look of the saber.  Would have liked to briefly hear some sound (with FoC ?) for that monster.  What a workout to spin that puppy.  A well earned point for you!   

[magik0012]

Very nice job! Point!

[Stephen]

Great review!

Impressive quick conversion on the inches to metric too.

Putting the Manticore pommel on was pretty cool.  A bit of a tease with mentioning the emitter but keeping your focus on the Mantis.  If you have time, throw up a picture with the Manitcore emitter and pommel on the Mantis. 

Enjoy the great sabers!

[Markus]

^^ Thanks a lot guys.
Well, I can try and make another short video sometime tomorrow, with sound set to full.
For the moment, concerning the Manticore Emitter/Pommel combination:

Added the narrow piece of the Scorpion/Mantis Pommel to the Manticore Emitter, because without it, the LED unit would stand out about halfway into the Emitter windows.
A male/female coupler would be a nice addition here, because this combination does leave a minor gap up and below the connecting piece.


Manticore hilt with the Mantis Emitter


Scorpion hilt with the Mantis Emitter and the Manticore Emitter screwed directly onto the elbow of the Mantis.
(The Scorpion kinda looks like a RPG-7 here ... Force-Rocket to tha face yo! )


Size-Comparison between the Manticore, Scorpion and Mantis

[Racona Nova]

Wow, these are awesome combos...and a massive hilt, no doubt! I love the comparison with the Manticore, that gives me a better impression of its size (I own a Manti myself).

[hazard502]

Point awarded for a great video review and all the nice pictures.  Congrats on your new Mantis!

[James Casey]

Wow, I had no idea that the Mantis was so big - really makes me wonder about buying one...

Looks fantastic, though, and I like the alternative looks with different MHS pieces. The emitter on the Scorpion looks superb.

[DelRey]

Great video!! was very helpful, thanks!  The Dark Mantis is my first saber ever.. when I first saw the pics I just had to have it so I ordered it without actually reading details on how big it was.  It is pretty big and I am 5'7 tall so not the best one to actually carry around and play with.  Still love it as it hangs in my room and I show it off every now and then.  When I first got it, it did not have any instructions or anything helpful for me about the saber so I decided to just mess with it a bit by myself but could not figure out where the batteries were.  You helped me figure out a lot about it.  The little chrome thing with the 3 arrows was loose and I was getting annoyed by that I thought I broke it but just unscrewed the emitter and tighten it more and now its still.  

One thing.. I thought the blade was the one with the color and I could buy diff colors but turns out the saber has a red light coming from it and lights up the silverishh blade.. Can I change that color on the saber from red to blue or green? Does UltraSabers sell the bulbs as well?

Where are 'Yoda' size sabers?

[Molina00]

Nice job on your first review.  Very comprehensive, some nice spinning going on and the shout out to yours truly was cool too.   

That thing looks great in blue.

[Markus]

One thing.. I thought the blade was the one with the color and I could buy diff colors but turns out the saber has a red light coming from it and lights up the silverishh blade.. Can I change that color on the saber from red to blue or green? Does UltraSabers sell the bulbs as well?

Where are 'Yoda' size sabers?

Well there are three options here.
1. It is possible to either send your saber back to US and have them change the LED module to any of the available static colors,

2. ...or they add a "Quick-Disconnect" which enables you to change the MLS-Units (Modular LED/Light System) that house the LEDs yourself,

3. ...OR the most versatile option but also a costly one (well worth the cost though), would be to have them install the Emerald Driver which depending on either RBG-W, RGB-A or a mix of just two of the RGBW/A components, pretty much lets yor change the blade color to any color you want.
Playing with the different variations and possibilities the Emerald Driver has to offer is kinda like the good old days when you were messing around with the color pallet in MS-Paint.
The possiblities are virtually endless.
Having the blade pulse between two different colors, or even being able to change the "ramp-up/down" times between the two colors to the point the blade flickers like it does in the movie sometimes.