I've been brain-stewing some potential contest ideas.
These kind of play to my strengths, so grain-of-salt and all.
Chime in, pro/con it, like/dislike, add more ideas...
Definitive saber project - make your idealized lightsaber. What elements do you think are the MOST lightsabery, the MOST indicative of a lightsaber, or the MOST iconic? Make something that, when viewed by anyone (star wars fan or not) screams,
"I AM A LIGHTSABER!" Design a movie hilt - Make something that fits the aesthetic of the star wars movies. Prequel, OT, Sequel... or possibly all ranges. Harder than it seems.
Iron Chef - Everyone has to use a certain part, e.g. an MHS booster section, a graflex clamp, an MHS pommel or blade holder, etc.
Anything but the hilt - The only rule is no pre-made hilts, outside of that, anything goes.
Themed lightaber - blend your favorite genre, franchise, character, time period, era, steampunk, cyberpunk, atompunk, dieselpunk, any-punk, post-apocalyptic, superhero, video game, music group, tv show, art style, lightsaber maker, sword, gun, axe, hammer, sportsball team, ...
literally anything!One-hand/Shoto/Padawan hilt - fully functioning, but short... e.g. not including shrouds, tip of blade holder to end of pommel no more than 6".