SDCC Anakin has light-up lightsaber?!

[Batty]

Is this true?! JediDefender.com says that the SDCC exclusive will have a light-up lightsaber.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/570/sithanakin054xu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[QQB]

Oh, that just my custom work for this Ani.!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image0990.jpg

[Darklord Dave]

That seems like irresponsible reporting. I like that website's tag line - "Bringing balance to the Force". Resonates with another news source that uses a similar tag line that is anything but...

[Batty]

Yeah, I guess it was too good to be true. At least with QQB as a member, we were able to find out the truth before this thread went on for a while.

[bluesparrow]

Really cool custom, QQb.

[JonZ]

Excellent custom job QQB!!!! Your work is awesome!!!!:rock

[Sith Lord 0498]

That seems like irresponsible reporting. I like that website's tag line - "Bringing balance to the Force". Resonates with another news source that uses a similar tag line that is anything but...

It is irresponsible reporting. I know it may sound extreme, but reading that bogus story led me to delete Jedidefender from my bookmarks. I figure...they hardly get any breaking news as it is, and apparently they can't get it right when they do get news.

[SolidLiquidFox]

It would make for a good April's Fools that's for sure.

[hairlesswookiee]

i will admit i got a little excited when i saw this thread. but oh well maybe sideshow will get these down the line. or maybe the person who custom made this one will start producing and selling them. **hint hint**

[The Josh]

If you believe this I got some beach front porperty in Arizona for sale.

[Super Serg]

Maybe QQb could show us how he made this light up saber?

*ss*

[JonZ]

If you believe this I got some beach front porperty in Arizona for sale.

LOL!!!!:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl

[Darth Rage]

lightsabers do not ignite. :monkey1

[Jesseawilson]

If you believe this I got some beach front porperty in Arizona for sale.



ECHEEEMMM.........


I already own all the beach front property in Arizona thank you very much.



Jesse

[Batty]

That bit of news has mysteriously disappeared from the Jedi Defender site. :rolleyes:

[hairlesswookiee]

That bit of news has mysteriously disappeared from the Jedi Defender site. :rolleyes:

yeah no kidding, i spent 15 minutes looking for it after reading the post here. seriously though i would buy one of his custom made lightsabers for a reasonable price.

[nash]

If you believe this I got some beach front porperty in Arizona for sale.

LOL :lol :lol :lol

[QQB]

Just post how to do the lightsaber in Chinese Forum!
http://www.chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/viewtopic.php?t=6366&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=25
all that parts just buy in computer parts store!
don't know how to let you all understand... so see the photo!

the EL parts !
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1000.jpg

remove the outside tube!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1002.jpg

used one lightsaber to custom....!!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1003.jpg

put the EL into the llightsaber!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1004.jpg

put the line inside is the better way, but i ...:D
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1005.jpg

the cable be to a....!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1006.jpg

then
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1009.jpg

i take the photo on this way!!!:D
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1010.jpg

[pixletwin]

QQB I recognize that table... You took some awesome pics of the Medicom ROTS vader didn't you? I use that as my desktop wallpaper at work.

Didn't believe the thread title for one sec.

[QQB]

The same way work on my vader!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/vadderaa.jpg
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image0720.jpg

[pixletwin]

Holy snap, that Vader looks awesome!!!!

[Darklord Dave]

Props to jedidefender for acting quickly and taking down that article.

And thanks to QQB for the tutorial on the light-up saber - they DO ignite!

[Nataku]

Props to jedidefender for acting quickly and taking down that article.

Sorry about that. One of our reporters got a little confused with his Chinese and mis-interpreted QQB's post over at chinese-starwars.com as a real saber.

And to QQB, that saber is great!

[galactiboy]

Its funny, because I'm pretty much an idiot, but I think that even I could follow the directions to make that saber. Very cool, and not incredibly involved!

:chew Great job QQB! :chew

[hairlesswookiee]

WOW!!!! im going to radio shack this weekend to look for the parts. i hope i can find a green one for my Luke. :chew :chew

[DCFett]

If Im not mistaken, the tubes are the same ones you can find in the 'tuner' section at Murray's Auto Parts. Possibly Walmart too. Im gonna try it.
The tuner tubes come with the transformer and everything.
Anybody doing castings for the lightsabers? I'd like to keep my SS ones intact.
thx

[nash]

ohhh castings would be awesome....must have it :)

[pixletwin]

If anyone is doing castings... let us know how much $$$$$ as well. This would definately be cool. (rubs hands together)

[galactiboy]

Yeah that would be the one issue, I would not be willing to destoy my lightsaber to make one... so we need some castings, or maybe some old Hasbro ones.

[hairlesswookiee]

cool i just did a quick search and found the light kits. i will have to go into compusa to find the rest of the stuff, but this could be fairly inexpensive job. i just dont have any clue on where to find the "guinea pig" lightsabers.

Lights (http://www.krex.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=66)
and one more site that is cheaper.
Cheap Kits (http://www.directron.com/coldcathode.html)

[Alice Adrenochrome]

Even if this thread was a bit ...misleading at first, it turned out to be one of the more valuable. Thx Batty for starting it, and thx QQB for showing us "how to do it". Now let me go and see if I can get my hands on these "parts" (thx hairlesswookiee for the link).

Edit: perhaps Darth Maul is the first SSC 12" that originally comes with an lightsaber "that does ignite"? How about it, SSC?

[TOE]

cool i just did a quick search and found the light kits. i will have to go into compusa to find the rest of the stuff, but this could be fairly inexpensive job. i just dont have any clue on where to find the "guinea pig" lightsabers.

Lights (http://www.krex.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=66)
and one more site that is cheaper.
Cheap Kits (http://www.directron.com/coldcathode.html)

Awesome. You da man. And QQB also. :chew

Qestion: Is it safe to be near the clothing? Does it radiate alot of heat? :confused:

[hairlesswookiee]

just remember to post pics if you come up with anything!!! im thinking the old hasbro lightsaber hilts might work for this mod. only problem is the only one i have is the Palpatine saber. i might have to take a trip up to toys r us to see what they have in stock.

[hairlesswookiee]

Awesome. You da man. And QQB also. :chew

Qestion: Is it safe to be near the clothing? Does it radiate alot of heat? :confused:

no i just used some of these in the computer i just built. they dont generate enough heat to do any damage. the cold cathode ray tubes are the best.

[The Josh]

ECHEEEMMM.........
I already own all the beach front property in Arizona thank you very much.


I won some in a game of chance while you where drunk.:lol

[JustinLuck]

QQB is using EL wire. It does not generate any perceptible heat. The key is, you must purchase High Brightness EL wire. Don't bother with the regular stuff.

Now, QQB, how did you find EL wire that comes in a stiff tube? :confused:

[tomandshell]

From the right angle, this looks beautiful. However, with my shelf display conditions, there would be no way for me to hide the wires and power source. But it really looks great in the pictures!

[JustinLuck]

A visible power source really takes a backseat when you see the effect of EL wire in person.

[hairlesswookiee]

Now, QQB, how did you find EL wire that comes in a stiff tube? :confused:

check my links they are regular cold cathode ray led lights you can buy for comptuers.

[JesseVader08]

That seems like irresponsible reporting. I like that website's tag line - "Bringing balance to the Force". Resonates with another news source that uses a similar tag line that is anything but...

It was my mistake for reporting that and I'd like to apologize to you guys for the misleading info. We pride ourselves on accuracy of news at JediDefender.com and sadly I didn't live up to that this time. Once the error was discovered, we pulled the news down in hopes of preventing the spread of incorrect info. Hopefully you won't hold it against us.

[Mookeylama]

there's a guy named Hurricane who's figured out how to conceal all the wires and power source. he even made a hand w/ a "plug in type outlet" so u just place the saber in the hand. no wires on the saber. i saw an Asian customiser do this same thing around Christmas but nobody could really figure out how he did it. as for saber fodder. i'd imagine u could get them on Ebay (or at least cheap hasbro figs w/ them). there's some custom 1/6 metal ones on ebay sometimes too but being metal, they may be harder to take apart. great thread!!!

[Migwit]

JesseVader08, no worries, it's all good. I doubt anyone here is mad (and for anyone who is, CHILL!!!), but you know how stuff spreads like wildfire, and we fangirls and fanboys jump on ANYTHING that looks "cool"! :monkey5 :chew

Thanks for dropping in and letting us know. Welcome! (Oh, and welcome to Nataku, also!)

[Batty]

It was my mistake for reporting that and I'd like to apologize to you guys for the misleading info. We pride ourselves on accuracy of news at JediDefender.com and sadly I didn't live up to that this time. Once the error was discovered, we pulled the news down in hopes of preventing the spread of incorrect info. Hopefully you won't hold it against us.
I wouldn't worry about it. I'm always checking your site for SW info and you guys always seem to have cool news before a lot of other people. It's just that whenever we hear anything that has to do with Sideshow, we're all over it. They don't call us Freaks for nothing. :lol

[DarkArtist81]

I wouldn't worry about it. I'm always checking your site for SW info and you guys always seem to have cool news before a lot of other people. It's just that whenever we hear anything that has to do with Sideshow, we're all over it. They don't call us Freaks for nothing. :lol

:lol :lol
Exactly!

We can all wish it were true, though... It would be nice one day. :D

[the Doctor]

what a great thread to show of custom work!!!
and i was thinking ss were doing somthing special.:monkey2

[nash]

A visible power source really takes a backseat when you see the effect of EL wire in person.


How about pics that we've been waiting for? almost as long as Dave Myatt's "water treatment" lol ;P

any luck on the tubing?

[bronco1855]

anyone find them in an 8" length yet? 12" seems to big for the right scale

[hurricane]

heres some pics of lit saber, anakin/vader (at the time these were made used high power leds,(medicom ROTJ vader i added lights/saber shown to) and the powersources were within the figures, and darth maul uses the EL method, but totally cordless,just two contacts on the hand,two on the saber....:chew .http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/maulebaysaber1.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/DSCF0022.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/retouch6.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/a6e0d650.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/medicomfinal4.jpg

[Mookeylama]

yeah, that Hurricane guy^^! hi Glenn! jeez, i'm just leading u into all the 1/6 forums.
that's my beeeautiful Maul up there!!:chew

[EVILFACE]

Damn that Hasblo Anakin head sucks bad. And people are ripping SS for theirs :rotfl

[JustinLuck]

Hurricane, it doesn't look like you are using High Brightness red wire for Maul. Nash, pics will come soon! But yes, I've had trouble finding suitable tubing. I ordered some from a special acrylics company, but the wall is still too thick at 1/16".

[Cagoda]

Is that a custom Maul? He looks great, same to the Vader!

[TOE]

Damn that Hasblo Anakin head sucks bad. And people are ripping SS for theirs :rotfl

:rotfl Spoken like a true SS freak :rotfl

[captain sack]

Just post how to do the lightsaber in Chinese Forum!
http://www.chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/viewtopic.php?t=6366&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=25
all that parts just buy in computer parts store!
don't know how to let you all understand... so see the photo!

the EL parts !
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1000.jpg


did you have to splice the wire for the 9 volt battery? do you have a problem with the tubes breaking? i bought two today, one i broke, the other is defective.:monkey2

[hurricane]

The maul used the high brightness stuff, but i wanted the powersouce within the figure,so it was a compramise 'tween brightness and 'in figure' power.It looks at lot better in person,my camera skills suck.:confused:

[Mookeylama]

so my Maul had the brightest wire but now he doesn't?! i have some great glow in the dark paint that i've used on some sabers. it really does glow about that bright if put under a UV type bulb (natural light or florescent) and it comes in diff colors. i wonder if i painted a fine layer of red over the EL tubing, if the combined brightness of the paint and inner EL would make it brighter? probably just obscure the glow from the EL wire...

[captain sack]

please excuse the horrible photo, but these cold cathode tubes are freaking awesome!:chew

[DarkArtist81]

please excuse the horrible photo, but these cold cathod tubes are freaking awesome!:chew

WOW....that's bright!! I wish I had the patience to make some light up sabers... I just suck hard when it comes to electronics.. I can't get anything to work.

Hell, blowing into my old NES when I was a kid was about as close to being an electronics repair guy! Funny how accomplished you felt when the thing finally worked....:lol

[hurricane]

dont worry mookey, your maul uses the brightest EL wire.(youll be getting an email, on battery replacement etc, later)
Expect a custom Anakin with cordless EL saber within a week or so.:chew

[bronco1855]

please excuse the horrible photo, but these cold cathode tubes are freaking awesome!:chew

Hey Captain so did you have to splice the wires? if so what did you use? im going to go look for some tubes today and want to know everything i need to do this. what size tube did you get and what else do i need besides the cold cathode? thanks

[captain sack]

Hey Captain so did you have to splice the wires? if so what did you use? im going to go look for some tubes today and want to know everything i need to do this. what size tube did you get and what else do i need besides the cold cathode? thanks


yea, i had to splice the wires to allow me to hook up a nine volt battery.

here is what i got....

1. 3 inch leads for a nine volt battery.(this is the thing that plugs into a nine volt battery)
2. 6 inch cold cathode fluorescent light kit.
3. nine volt battery.

i spliced the power wires to the nine volt battery lead.

[bronco1855]

where did you get it all at? like a compusa or bestbuy?

[captain sack]

where did you get it all at? like a compusa or bestbuy?

a place called "fry's". they are a huge electronics store. http://www.frys.com/

best buy had nothing, and compUSA only had 12 inch neon black lights.

you'll need to find a store that sells all kinds of do-it-yourself electronic stuff.:chew

[Darren Carnall]

I love the idea of using these tubes as sabers, but not having seem them up close, I'm worried about how they look at the ends. Is there some kind of plastic cap at the end that would really stand out and make it look odd?

If anyone has any pics showing it that'd be great :)

[captain sack]

I love the idea of using these tubes as sabers, but not having seem them up close, I'm worried about how they look at the ends. Is there some kind of plastic cap at the end that would really stand out and make it look odd?

the tubes have a rubber tip at the end, but that can be removed. what's revealed is the clear end of the glass tube with a little wire sticking out of the top.

[Alice Adrenochrome]

Damn that Hasblo Anakin head sucks bad. And people are ripping SS for theirs :rotfl
You're so right. It's a shame we do that! Goes to show how spoiled we are. I won't start singing the "We love Sideshow" song again, but I guess they know how to take our criticism. SSC rocks. Full stop.

[Alice Adrenochrome]

did you have to splice the wire for the 9 volt battery? do you have a problem with the tubes breaking? i bought two today, one i broke, the other is defective.:monkey2 Heh, at least you got to buy the tubes! First shop I asked, they said they stoped selling them, because the adapter box blew up several times, setting peoples CPU's on fire!! But I guess this will not happen if you feed it only with a battery, will it?

[Mookeylama]

so can these tubes be made to run on something smaller than a 9Volt batt? like watch batteries so it can be stuck in the chest cavity?

yea, i had to splice the wires to allow me to hook up a nine volt battery.

here is what i got....

1. 3 inch leads for a nine volt battery.(this is the thing that plugs into a nine volt battery)
2. 6 inch cold cathode fluorescent light kit.
3. nine volt battery.

i spliced the power wires to the nine volt battery lead.

[captain sack]

so can these tubes be made to run on something smaller than a 9Volt batt? like watch batteries so it can be stuck in the chest cavity?

i don't know about that, but you've also got that blue box that's twice as big as a 9 volt battery.

i think the best way to hide the battery and the box would be to make a stand that housed this stuff.

[bronco1855]

so any more pics of your progress there captain

[captain sack]

so any more pics of your progress there captain

i hollowed out a hasbro saber hilt and put it on the light's base. no way i'm gonna destroy the sideshow hilts.:lol

when i was drilling out the hilt, it got real hot and part of it started to melt, so i wasn't able to completely drill it out. i had to cut the hilt in half, split the end with the grips and put it on the wires that way. but once assembeled it looks cool. :chew

[Darklord Dave]

That looks great, but those wires look big. Would a properly sized hilt (like SSCs) even accomodate something like that?

[bronco1855]

Thanks Capt. that looks great. i am with you on not wanting to touch my sideshow anakins saber but i got plenty of hasbro ones lying around i plan on using for this. i found a store online that sells the 6" tubes and ordered some from them. so soon i too will have some light up sabers! :chew

[captain sack]

That looks great, but those wires look big. Would a properly sized hilt (like SSCs) even accomodate something like that?

the hasbro and sideshow luke/anakin graflex type hilts are the same size, as are most of the hasbro/medicom vader saber hilts.

the only ones that are really oversized are the hasbro ROTJ luke, ANH obi wan and the two sabers that came with the female jedi.

check out the first page photos. that guy from the chinese forum used the sideshow anakin hilt.

[nash]

wow that looks awesome!

[bronco1855]

hey capt. how hard was it to remove the ends off of the cold cathode?

[captain sack]

hey capt. how hard was it to remove the ends off of the cold cathode?

easy. they are rubber. i just carefully cut them with an exacto pen knife.

just be careful because the tubes are glass and make sure you don't pull any wires out.

[hairlesswookiee]

can you post some pictures of you taking apart the lightsaber please?? i plan on doing this to my anakin and luke once i see how its done from start to finish. and before i start this project i want to see how its done so i dont ruin any sabers.

[DCFett]

Forgot about this. I believe the florescents can be purchased at Murray's Auto Parts, Meijer's, or Walmart. Ill have to go check.
I think painting the wires black will also help disguise them.
Couple passes with the ole air brush about 3" up the wire should do it. Just a suggestion. I still gotta try this myself.

[hairlesswookiee]

does anyone know what the 9V battery cable is called?? the one that is plugged into the battery and the inverter. im gonna stop by radio shak but i dont have a clue on what it is named.

[bronco1855]

just ask for 9 volt battery leads. they sell them in packs of 5 for $2 at radio shack

[hairlesswookiee]

just ask for 9 volt battery leads. they sell them in packs of 5 for $2 at radio shack

thanks.... i thought there was some fancy technical name for them.

[captain sack]

can you post some pictures of you taking apart the lightsaber please?? i plan on doing this to my anakin and luke once i see how its done from start to finish. and before i start this project i want to see how its done so i dont ruin any sabers.

look at the photos on page one by the chinese guy. it shows good photos of how he modded his sideshow anakin saber.

personally, i'd use hasbro sabers if i were you, or at least untill you are confident you can do this. just drill the saber out. if you can get the hole wide enough, the wires will just slide thru, just be careful, cause if you use a drill speed too high, the saber will start to melt.:chew

[hairlesswookiee]

just be careful, cause if you use a drill speed too high, the saber will start to melt.:chew

ouch now im starting to get scared. i would shoot myself if i melted my lightsaber.

:emperor :emperor



~~~so anyone got any extra Hasbro lightsabers sitting around??

[QQB]

@_@...chinese guy!!!
post some photo to shown how to do it!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1014.jpg
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1015.jpg
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1022.jpg
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1023.jpg

[hairlesswookiee]

cool!!! you are very brave. how did you cut apart the lightsaber?? would a dremel be recommended??

[QQB]

Just a common cutter!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1025.jpg

[DarthRamuk]

Just a common cutter!
http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image1025.jpg

That light-up lightsaber looks awesome!:monkey5

[Darren Carnall]

that looks great!

I guess you're in trouble if you want to display him without his saber though.

[bronco1855]

look at the photos on page one by the chinese guy. it shows good photos of how he modded his sideshow anakin saber.

personally, i'd use hasbro sabers if i were you, or at least untill you are confident you can do this. just drill the saber out. if you can get the hole wide enough, the wires will just slide thru, just be careful, cause if you use a drill speed too high, the saber will start to melt.:chew


So when you say the wires slide right through are you also sliding the glass blade throught the saber as well? or do you take the plulg off the wires and then slide the wires through and then put them back into the plug?

[captain sack]

So when you say the wires slide right through are you also sliding the glass blade throught the saber as well? or do you take the plug off the wires and then slide the wires through and then put them back into the plug?

everything slides thru the bottom of the saber. you may or may not have to remove the rubber parts covering the wires. it just depends how much you hollowed out the hilt.

when you say "plug", i'm assuming you mean the part that plugs into the blue box? if so, i did not remove that.

[bronco1855]

thanks capt. hey what brand are yours? i got mine yesterday and they work great! however they don't seem as bright as yours

[captain sack]

thanks capt. hey what brand are yours? i got mine yesterday and they work great! however they don't seem as bright as yours

they are made by a company called "vastech". www.vastechinc.com

i get different degrees of brightness. they aren't all the same. i don't know why, but i fiddle around with different sockets and reposition the little wire running up the tube and that helps.

[hurricane]

hi, heres my attempt thus far,the blades EL, and fitted to the sideshow hilt,it will be cordless,fully removable from the hand,just contacts on the hilt,and the hand, power source is in his chest .http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/48210e26.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/02f1fec7.jpg

[hairlesswookiee]

nice job hurricane!!! man i hope mine turns out as good as some of these. i ordered my lights from newegg and they should be here on tuesday. anyone got any extra lightsaber hilts??

[bronco1855]

here is my attempts so far! sorry they are kinda fuzzy
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/?action=view&current=anakin.jpg

http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/?action=view&current=jedi.jpg

[hairlesswookiee]

looks pretty good to me... man this is gonna be cool. has anyone tried this with a luke lightsaber yet??

[TOE]

here is my attempts so far! sorry they are kinda fuzzy
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/?action=view&current=anakin.jpg

http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/?action=view&current=jedi.jpg

looks damn good!!!

[bronco1855]

here are some more shots of my figures they are still fuzzy so i need to work on my photo skills!


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/anakinday2.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/jediday.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/anakindaywires.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h66/bronco1855/duel.jpg

[hairlesswookiee]

:monkey5 :monkey5 :monkey5 did you use your sideshow lightsaber??? im still waiting for my lights to arrive in the mail. should be here on wed. or thurs. this weekend im gonna take a crack on this project.

[TOE]

that looks amazing!!! where did you buy the accesories? I want to get them now and not wait for shipping.

[bronco1855]

:monkey5 :monkey5 :monkey5 did you use your sideshow lightsaber??? im still waiting for my lights to arrive in the mail. should be here on wed. or thurs. this weekend im gonna take a crack on this project.

no i just used one of the many hasbro ones i had laying around. they are the same size and i couldn't bring myself to do any harm to my sideshow sabers

that looks amazing!!! where did you buy the accesories? I want to get them now and not wait for shipping.

i bought the lights online since i couldn't find any store around me selling the 6" ones and the battery leads from radio shack.

[hairlesswookiee]

i ordered some 4" lights.. i guess yours will be bigger than mine. size matters not.

[bronco1855]

if nothing else it will be good for practicing. it was much easier making the blue one the cause i did the green one first and broke a red one before that. the blue came out perfect no broken wires or anything! i had to do a little repair to the wire on the green and that may be why it is not always the brightest it can be

[TOE]

Any of you guys have tried it on the Hasbro hilts?? I would like to practice on something first before commiting to the SS products. :D

[Darren Carnall]

I absolutely love the idea of this... my only worries are the white tip that seems to be on the end of the bulb/tube and how much you'd notice that when it was just standing there and not on photo... and the size of the huge blue box and where to hide it, lol

[bronco1855]

yeah you do notice the tip. you can take it off and expose the rest of the bulb but the light does not go all the way up it. it is a very bright effect and from a few feet away the tip is hard to notice. the box on the other hand........well you jusct have to display it after you pose your figure and put it in the best place to hide it! :D i am by no means a customizer in any sense of the word so it would be neat to see what some of the other people out here can do to improve on this

[hairlesswookiee]

ok i finally got my lights today. how do you take them apart without breaking them?? do you just give them a big yank or what?? i dont want to damage them before the fun starts.

[captain sack]

gently pull the glass tube out of the bigger plastic tube. you may have to use moderate force, but be careful, as the part you're using is glass or very glass like.

if you need or want, use a razor knife to cut the vinal/rubber covers off the tubes ends.

[hairlesswookiee]

ahh i see now, just from looking at the pics i though somehow the square ends had to come off first. thanks!!!!

[DCFett]

Can someone repost the link to where to order the lights?

[hairlesswookiee]

Can someone repost the link to where to order the lights?
here's where i got mine, im sure you can find them at other places.

Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16800888031)

[hairlesswookiee]

gently pull the glass tube out of the bigger plastic tube. you may have to use moderate force, but be careful, as the part you're using is glass or very glass like.

if you need or want, use a razor knife to cut the vinal/rubber covers off the tubes ends.

you werent kidding with the be careful part. while pulling out one of the tubes i pulled the wires part and now have to do surgery to try and fix it.

[Qrest Fourstar]

So which lengths do you reccomend? 4" or 6?

I was thinking about trying to modify my Action collection Obi-wan first.

[hairlesswookiee]

So which lengths do you reccomend? 4" or 6?

I was thinking about trying to modify my Action collection Obi-wan first.

definately 6" i ordered a couple 4" and after i finished removing the outer case and putting it in anakin's hand it was really short. let me know where you find the 6" ones please. none of the online stores i shop at have them-- its either 4" or 12" and bigger.

[bronco1855]

try www.coolerguys.com

[hairlesswookiee]

thanks bronco!!!

[bronco1855]

no problem enjoy!! this was the cheapest place i could find selling them and they have good customer service too.

[LordAzrael]

yea, i had to splice the wires to allow me to hook up a nine volt battery.

here is what i got....

1. 3 inch leads for a nine volt battery.(this is the thing that plugs into a nine volt battery)
2. 6 inch cold cathode fluorescent light kit.
3. nine volt battery.

i spliced the power wires to the nine volt battery lead.

Don't those tubes normally run off a 12V PC power source - so it would actually be brighter if you got the Voltage right ?

[LordAzrael]

So which lengths do you reccomend? 4" or 6?

I was thinking about trying to modify my Action collection Obi-wan first.

4" might be ok if you were trying to do offhand sabers like they had in KOTOR.

Now that would be cool - niken ryu style lightsaber fighting.

[JustinLuck]

Maybe I'm just not looking correctly, but I cannot find any 6" CCTs on the coolerguys.com website. I purchased my CCT kits from www.vibelights.com if anyone is interested.

Now I just need to figure out what AC adapter I can use and what's the best way to make the connections to it. I've had them hooked up to my PC's power supply, but they cause my computer to lock up when I turn them on and off too many times.

[melvinpelayo]

Hi there. I went to my local computer market. None of them sell any 6 inches lights, only 12"....IS it safe to cut this thing in half?

Thanks!

[melvinpelayo]

And is it safe to connect the light directly to the battery? (9v)
Thanks!

[hairlesswookiee]

no its not safe to cut it in half, the actual light tube is glass and will break if not too careful. its pretty easy to find the 6" lights on the web for about $5 so buy a couple if you can because they break pretty easy.you have to buy a 9volt battery lead that come in packs of 5 for about 5 or 6 bucks depending on where you get them.

[captain sack]

Don't those tubes normally run off a 12V PC power source - so it would actually be brighter if you got the Voltage right ?

that sounds right, but i was just following what the gentleman from the chinese forum did. they are really bright as is. i couldn't imagine them needing to be brighter, but i imagine all kinds of battery sources could be used.

[captain sack]

Hi there. I went to my local computer market. None of them sell any 6 inches lights, only 12"....IS it safe to cut this thing in half?

Thanks!

sorry, but i laughed when i read this. imagine how it would be cutting a light bulb in half and trying to make it work. these things are really just long, small lightbulbs.:rotfl

[Darren Carnall]

be nice... for all he knew they could have been long glowing string or something (like EL wire) But now he knows they are lightbulbs :)

[Qrest Fourstar]

Ok, so I got my CCL last yesterday. I tried pulling out the lights, but then got the cube cut off and got it out. I hooked up the 9 volt, but hardly got any light. I soldered the 9 volts in place tonight and tried a light still in it's casing, and it barly lit. Did I break something? Does my battery suck? Do I leave the hair thin wire in place?

Help me Obi wan kenobi, you're my only hope!

[Duckgoo]

Ok, so I got my CCL last yesterday. I tried pulling out the lights, but then got the cube cut off and got it out. I hooked up the 9 volt, but hardly got any light. I soldered the 9 volts in place tonight and tried a light still in it's casing, and it barly lit. Did I break something? Does my battery suck? Do I leave the hair thin wire in place?

Help me Obi wan kenobi, you're my only hope!


Sounds like you might have damaged your cathode. It either lights or doesn't light. If you are seeing partial lighting, I think something is damaged. Maybe you have a loose contact somewhere.

[Qrest Fourstar]

Actually, it was the battery! Bought some new energizers today and I could practically hear the SNAP HISS VMMMMMMMMM!

Dumb question, I have to leave the thin wire right? I didnt see it in any of the pictures.

[Darth Caedus]

bringing this thread back up, but from the pics, how do you connect the 9 volt lead to the blue cathod connector?

on this picture, how do you connect the 9 volt battery?

http://chinese-starwars.com/chineseforum/upload_images/image0720.jpg

[LordAzrael]

bringing this thread back up, but from the pics, how do you connect the 9 volt lead to the blue cathod connector?

on this picture, how do you connect the 9 volt battery?



I cut the wire between the connector and the inverter (i.e. not between the inverter and the cathode) and then just spliced it together. I'll get round to soldering it once I find a drill to hollow out the saber hilt.

[sunohc]

that's a VERY well done lightsaber effect.
good job

I've seen lots of tuts but I just don't have any motivation to make one hehe
and everyone should all post pics of their lightsaber lighted up in a separate thread.
it
'd be nice to marvel at

[Darth Caedus]

I cut the wire between the connector and the inverter (i.e. not between the inverter and the cathode) and then just spliced it together. I'll get round to soldering it once I find a drill to hollow out the saber hilt.

I'm going to Fry's today (Gigantic electronics store) to get a 9 volt lead....went to radio shack and they either didn't have it, or had no idea what i was talking about....so once I pick that up, I can be on my way...SO excitied.

[LordAzrael]

that's a VERY well done lightsaber effect.
good job

I've seen lots of tuts but I just don't have any motivation to make one hehe
and everyone should all post pics of their lightsaber lighted up in a separate thread.
it
'd be nice to marvel at

I'm looking forward to having a whole row of lit sabers! Anyone thinking of doing a Boc mod when Bib comes out. I'm thinking dual purple sabers would be cool. Unfortunately he has too many exposed joints... ;p

[hurricane]

this is a far as ive taken it thus far, no boxes,no wires, the power cell is in his back, along with the inverter,the saber hilt has contacts on it that meet with ones in the palm of his hand, totally cordless cathode saber :D http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/d43b9fbd.jpg

[Wor-Gar]

Wicked cool, Hurricane.

:maul

[pixletwin]

Absolute genius! Looks really great. Kicks all the other methods bummies.

[sunohc]

i would sell those customs on ebay :D
or just the light saber.
you could easily crank some benjamins.
even me, as a customizer would be too lazy to construct the such . i'd just buy LOL :D

that looks almost perfect, like the 1:1 scale replicas

[LordAzrael]

this is a far as ive taken it thus far, no boxes,no wires, the power cell is in his back, along with the inverter,the saber hilt has contacts on it that meet with ones in the palm of his hand, totally cordless cathode saber :D http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/hurricane1002/d43b9fbd.jpg

What do you use for the contacts ?

[sunohc]

maybe you just dont realize ur own strength, lol!
I would like to know about this as well :D

[dekadentdave]

Alright, after breaking two perfectly good cathodes I think I have this down. First of all, I highly recommend the Vastech CCFL's because they are easier to remove from the acrylic tubes. I bought a generic brand that had sealer around the tube itself and I destroyed it trying to remove it. To remove the Vastech bulbs, I used a dremel with a cutting disc to cut through the acrylic cube and the bulb easily slid right out. I sheathed the bulb with clear styrene tubing which helps protect the bulb and wire but I cannot stress enough how delicate these tubes are and can easily be broken so use extreme care with working with them or displaying them. I broke my second bulb trying to insert it into the hilt and it snapped like a toothpick. I used the Hasbro hilts because the emitters necks were wider to hollow out then with an exacto cut along the back seam of the flexible plastic and inserted the cathode with the wires coming out of the backside and then ran the wires up the sleeve and out of the backside of the kimono. I absolutely LOVE these cathode sabers and it makes displaying these figures 100 times more awesome! :lsvader

http://home.mho.com/decadentdave/Battle1.jpg http://home.mho.com/decadentdave/Anakin1.jpg http://home.mho.com/decadentdave/Anakin2.jpg http://home.mho.com/decadentdave/Obi-Wan2.jpg http://home.mho.com/decadentdave/Qui-Gon3.jpg

[DD_fan96]

I broke my cathone within 5 minutes of having it out of the box! I should've read this whole thread first.

I thought the tube was plastic! Didn't realize its glass. Pliers don't work very well trying to seperate the ends!:lol

[Rob]

I'd try it myself if I wasn't so afraid of breaking it myself.