Hey there Saber Friends, please check out this custom Cargill Starkiller I put together for my friend Tim.
Tim was in such a hurry to get the saber when finished, I don't think I got any finished shots of it,
other than the Youtube video which is below. Enjoy the build progress shots...
this one was very complicated for me to accomplish due to the fact that I added
many accent Neopixel strips throughout,
and only found out from Erv on the fourth wiring attempt that more resistors were needed to keep those stable...
I had toiled for weeks and weeks and could not get it to work right up to that point.
Here is the saber in pieces:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4695/38944995514_2f25d61b9b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krhkU)Cargill_SK01 (https://flic.kr/p/22krhkU) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
This is the control box which I decided to not only put the two small tactile switches from TCSS, but also added a small strip of 4 neopixels to mirror the blade's colors and actions:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4610/38944995354_701ed11751_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krhi9)Cargill_SK02 (https://flic.kr/p/22krhi9) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
A small plastic strip is the diffuser for the LEDs, and provides an almost 'metal' look at certain angles...
which makes you think it is solid aluminum if you look from certain angles:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4705/24784835927_8a4052d618_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DL9Len)Cargill_SK03 (https://flic.kr/p/DL9Len) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Here's an example of the strip in the control box. In the end, this was not the segment used,
as I re-wired this saber many times and this was scrapped a couple different times...
in the end the strip was done a little differently, but you get the idea:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4724/38944995144_deef79d9ae_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krhew)Cargill_SK05 (https://flic.kr/p/22krhew) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Next, I set up holes for the R.I.C.E. and charge ports...
this one will become a 1.3mm charge port to save space inside the brass chassis:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4703/25781959498_144d5389de_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Fhghk5)Cargill_SK04 (https://flic.kr/p/Fhghk5) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Boring out the crystal chamber port a little bit to accept my Neopixel accent:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4752/25781959298_552560c444_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FhghgC)Cargill_SK06 (https://flic.kr/p/FhghgC) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
And the little Neopixel accent LED that will mirror the blade's color and effects will sit right above the crystal:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4768/25781958598_9027ca96a6_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Fhgh4y)Cargill_SK10 (https://flic.kr/p/Fhgh4y) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
The crystal would also be lit by a white 5mm LED, for a nice 'white core' lightsaber effect. You can see the crystal lit by the white LED here:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4745/24784835717_0e5834eb20_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DL9LaK)Cargill_SK11 (https://flic.kr/p/DL9LaK) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
To get some lights to appear on the inside of the chassis, I constructed a ring of 3mm LEDs in blue, green, and one RGB color changer along with three Neopixel LEDs:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4626/38944990874_18eaa5bddb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krfXU)Cargill_SK07 (https://flic.kr/p/22krfXU) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
The emitter needed special attention. The way a Starkiller hilt is... basically like a graflex with a windowed opening there... light needs to shine out. That is difficult with a string blade because on a string or strip blade, the LEDs do not begin right at the base like a standard 'flashlight' style LED saber. Modifications needed to be made because I began this work before the new Alex Gordon TCSS neopixel plugs became available, so I had to figure out a solution with my own coinnector plug, to make this build look right:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4711/25781958848_bb6947a0ef_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Fhgh8S)Cargill_SK08 (https://flic.kr/p/Fhgh8S) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Creating a transparent surround using one inch blade stock, I then inserted a metal ring to hold the female side of the DIN plug, its washer and nut.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4610/38944994454_d789b28b47_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krh2C)Cargill_SK09 (https://flic.kr/p/22krh2C) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
There are two 5mm white LEDs that rest below that emitter part, to illuminate the transparent ring when the saber is turned on. In addition to the white 5mm LEDs in there, I also have Neopixel LEDs that mirror the blade and blade effects. Essentially, there is a working 'internal blade plug' that lights up even without a blade inserted. When a blade is inserted, the blade plastic meets this emitter ring perfectly, and the light blends together to look like light is emitted in the same way a standard LED saber does it. This is how I solved the problem of this windowed emitter.
Making the blade:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4748/24784836197_e06a8993b2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DL9Lj2)Cargill_SK26 (https://flic.kr/p/DL9Lj2) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Multiple layers of heat shrink will provide some diffusion before the Makoto foam goes on:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4610/38944991124_0d65a6eb84_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krg3d)Cargill_SK27 (https://flic.kr/p/22krg3d) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Preparing the board:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4756/38944993494_87e3db357e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krgK5)Cargill_SK17 (https://flic.kr/p/22krgK5) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Here's a couple shots of the wiring process:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4606/38944994264_d271af1324_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krgYm)Cargill_SK12 (https://flic.kr/p/22krgYm) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4753/25781958278_a659233b08_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FhggY3)Cargill_SK13 (https://flic.kr/p/FhggY3) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4759/25781957588_2c4ff94cf3_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FhggL9)Cargill_SK18 (https://flic.kr/p/FhggL9) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4627/24784836837_f7f077a1a9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DL9Lv4)Cargill_SK19 (https://flic.kr/p/DL9Lv4) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4623/38944993914_3266eea82e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krgSj)Cargill_SK14 (https://flic.kr/p/22krgSj) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4765/25781957858_068d4f12f7_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FhggQN)Cargill_SK15 (https://flic.kr/p/FhggQN) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4712/38944992434_0e956d545d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krgqN)Cargill_SK20 (https://flic.kr/p/22krgqN) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4763/24784836597_dfb13c58cc_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DL9LqV)Cargill_SK21 (https://flic.kr/p/DL9LqV) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Testing R.I.C.E. connection:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4650/38944990624_318c977200_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krfTA)Cargill_SK16 (https://flic.kr/p/22krfTA) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4764/24784836407_0023843b8c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DL9LnD)Cargill_SK24 (https://flic.kr/p/DL9LnD) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Insulating the board:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4711/38944991444_593d449b1c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22krg8J)Cargill_SK25 (https://flic.kr/p/22krg8J) by Anthony LaGaipa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156660849@N03/), on Flickr
Lightsaber specs:
-Cargill Custom Sabers Starkiller and custom brass chassis (find him on facebook)
-Plecter Labs Prizm V5.1
-Wired for Neopixel blade and 17 accent pixels
-Onboard Recharge port 1.3mm
-Onboard R.I.C.E. 3.5mm
-2 blue accent LEDs, 2 green accent LEDs
-1 RGB accent LED 5mm
-Panasonic 3.7 Lithium Ion high drain battery from TCSS
-Blade parts from Makoto and TCSS
-Transwhite Neopixel double-adafruit strip over 250 pixels
-drilled blade tip for even illumination
-Custom lit crystal chamber
-Custom lit control box
Video:
Cargill Custom Sabers Starkiller with Plecter Labs Prizm V5.1 Neopixel for Tim - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ei77mSp0kY)
Blade test video:
Neopixel Lightsaber Blade Demo - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV5oUSCLuQ8)