Darth Vader ESB Lightsaber MPP Build

intwenothor

Well-Known Hunter
Taking a little break from the Fett Man. I'm working on a pair of matching Luke and Vader ESB lightsabers from found parts (where possible) and thought this could stand to be shared here. It's not complete yet but I thought I'd show some progress. I've owned a few MPPs in my time and still have three. Only ever the one Graflex though.

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Putting together the correct clamp has been a real mission to get the correct angled side bars, sleeve and through screw. This clamp is actually a combination of parts from three clamps.

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Trimming the bubbles is far more time consuming than you'd think especially to trim the circuit board to sit underneath (which is present on the original prop). Essentially I copied this RPF thread from clutch.
http://www.therpf.com/f79/lightsaber-calc-bubbles-62238/

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I thought removing the nameplate would be a massive problem but when I was having an exploratory poke one of the rivets pinged across the room. The other side I removed with a dremmel. It was filthy under there and some cleaning was required.

Apparently Exactra calcs can be restored with replica bubbles but not this one. I destroyed the circuit board so I couls place under the bubbles in the clamp as per the surviving prop. It'll never work again but I'll keep it for posterity.
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The wires are from a 1970s projector
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Drilling a hole in the back of the shroud is not for the faint hearted.

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Still need to cut and attach my T track but you get the idea.

Live the dream

Andy
 
Hey Danzo, I hope you are well.

Although I haven't pictured it yet I also swapped out the innards for a cleaner and less corroded set (but still not perfect) and although this came with the correct 3 rings in the black circle end cap the cap was pretty beaten and dented so I swapped that with a better one too. The prop as it exists today is more consistent with the dented one but I thought I'd make it as clean as I could. This really is the amalgamation of several (original) units.
 
Awesome project. Will follow this. And really, really, really try not to be tempted to start one of my own,before I've finished some of my other projects :D
 
Thanks guys, I'll post updates when the T Track is on. In respect of the MPPs I would have to say that it was a question of hard looking and funds to get them rather than luck but being in the country of origin probably helped. I took up large format photography to make it happen with an old MPP S92 large format. In general Photog shops won't be interested in selling vintage stuff to star wars geeks even if money is no object; they just don't like what we're going to do and I can't say I blame them really. Same thing with Webleys as well as a lot of other stuff and I wouldn't even dream of bringing up found parts with companies like Michell Engineering. Those guys have had enough! I will say that large format photography was enjoyable if a little time consuming but I didn't have the time to devote to make myself good at it but it is true that my Star Wars hobby has opened up other interests and hobbies I'd never been interested in before. Searching for Michell stuff led me to renovate a 70s TT and listening to old vinyl is great.

http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f22/...e-ja-michell-sweep-arms-stylus-brushes-50592/

Live the dream.

Andy
 
That looks great...... Beautiful work...... If you ever want to part with one of those other tubes, let me know


Sent from my iPhone
 
Really nice looking there man! I'd love to get one of these built up too one day. So I'll just stare at yours until then....
 
Braver than me that's for sure, I've a few of these too but I cannot bring myself to drilling the shroud or removing the name plate on any of them, or remove the clamp arm. I'm also agonising over how to cut the bubble strip, I know it's accurate as you have it but it just looks a little tidier with the full bubble.
Would you happen to have a small length of the brown and grey wire spare?
 
You can do it Marv:)

To be honest i'm all in at this point with these old found parts and I'm considering epoxy for the t track so it sticks first time and never needs be repeated. The wires were provided me by Chaim of rpf. I have none spare.
 
Absolutely fantastic! I can't wait for the day I have the parts needed to complete one of these. Exactra bubbles down, MPP to go!
 
You are correct. Not seen the cross diamond pattern on anything (MPP, Helland, Kobold, King Sol). I suspect the original may have become lost and was simply replaced from the first thing to fit I. E. Not from a flash. Could be wrong of course.
 
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