Depending on their uses, plastic and metal can serve meaningful purposes in every day life. Most man-made goods available for every day use consist of plastic components. The better the quality, the more metal used in the product. So does metal always equal better product? It always depends upon the product in question.
In this thread, we will explore the differences between the two variations of Master Replica's Anakin Skywalker Revenge of the Sith Force FX Lightsaber Collectible. The first variation of this awesome weapon is the known "plastic" version of this collectible. The second is the more common "metal" version. In the following sub-categories, we will take an in-depth look at the qualities and differences, both good and bad, of both versions of this astonishing toy. ;)
HILTOne thing I'd prevously read about the plastic Anakin ROTS lightsaber, which I've had since April '05, was that it was lightweight when compared to the metal version. Metal version? I was interested in learning more, though resources were quite scarce. Various sources documenting these differences were also inconsistent upon review. With MR's recent killer deal in which one lightsaber = $99, free shipping, and a free .45 scaled replica, I decided to take advantage and finally acquire this "improved," metal version of Anakin's saber. After all, I had been wanting a double of Anakin's saber for sometime... primarily for show-and-tell and possible dueling matches. :)
The first thing I noticed when taking the metal version of Anakin's lightsaber out of the box was its weight. It felt twice as heavy as the plastic Anakin that I already owned. This was a good thing, as that saber was a bit too lightweight. This prompted an immediate comparison of both lightsabers. Upon first comparing both weapons, I immediately noticed that the metal version of the Anakin ROTS was thicker. I had previously not heard of this, but lo and behold, it is a tiny bit thicker. I believe this is what accounts for most of the added weight to this variation. I remember a thread somewhere here on FX-Sabers.com indicating that the components such as the control box, center band, and blade adjuster button were metalized. I found this to not be the case with my lightsaber. It has the exact same plastic components that the plastic version has. What was different, however, was that the buttons were more colorful. The control box, rather than being a light gold color as it was on the plastic saber, was now a dark yellow color. The same went for the ignition switch. The copper button on the underside of the saber was also darker. I'm sure some of this may be attributed to the fact that my new metal saber hasn't been handled the way my plastic one has, but after reviewing pictures of my plastic saber in its new condition, I found that the control box was never as yellow as it was on the new saber. The brass pins found in the black region near the top of the hilt are now actually made of brass, as opposed to painted metal screws as they are on the plastic saber. Another point of interest is that the plastic version of the saber is a bit taller than the metalized version. I'm not sure why this is, but perhaps it has something to do with the added thickness of the metal version.
Anakin ROTS "metal" lightsaber (left) vs. Anakin ROTS "plastic" lightsaber (right).
Metal Anakin with deep yellow detailing on control box and ignition switch, vs. light gold on plastic version.
Slightly shorter metal Anakin saber.
Noticeable differences in metal Anakin: deep yellow ignition switch and dark copper button.
BLADE The hilt of the Anakin ROTS isn't the only difference between the plastic and metal variations. The blade itself of the metal version projects a very slightly darker blue color than the plastic. It's probably unnoticeable to most, but it's definitely there. The metal saber is also a bit more defined in terms of light output. In addition, the infamous dark spot is now almost invisible. It can be seen on one side of the metal Anakin, but only very vaguely. It's not as pronounced as it is on the plastic Anakin. As far as consistency goes between the LEDs, both versions are about the same in quality. They're not identical, but not much different either. The biggest difference, as stated, is the darker blue of the metal Anakin. I'm not quite sure, though, if having a bit of a darker blade makes it less bright. Both sabers turn off when left idle at the same exact time. One odd thing in the metal lightsaber is that when turning off the saber, the blade slows down at midpoint in the blade rather than near the base, as virtually all FFXs seem to do. It doesn't always does this, but when it does I tend to be annoyed by it.
Metal Anakin (left) and plastic Anakin (right), unignited in fully lit room.
Metal Anakin (left) and plastic Anakin (right) in lowly lit room.
Metal Anakin and plastic Anakin in total darkness. Note the higher definition of metal Anakin.
Luke ESB, Anakin ROTS (metal), & Anakin ROTS (plastic)... just because. ;)
SOUNDThe sound between the metal Anakin ROTS and the plastic Anakin ROTS is considerably different. First of all, the ignition sound on the metal version is louder and more aggressive... similar to how it is on the Luke ROTJ re-issue, only more aggressive sounding. The ignition on this particular lightsaber is different than on any other FFX I've seen. It's closer to what's heard on-screen. The idle hum is somewhat louder on the metal version than the plastic. It's a bit more energetic sounding, and therefore, sounds more impressive. The clash sounds are the same on both versions of the saber.
So, does metal equal a better and more attractive product? Well, if this were a Hasbro lightsaber, then no. But it's an MR Force FX lightsaber. Metal is important here. The more metal the more "realistic" the lightsaber, if you like. Is the metal Anakin ROTS better than the plastic? It's hard to say. All-in-all, I'd have to say that yes, I prefer the metal version of this replica. It's heavier and has better sound. The dark spot is barely visible, and the blade seems to be a bit more defined. On the flipside, it's also has a tiny bit thicker hilt, the blade is a little darker, and it has an unusual gold finish on the control box and ignition switch. I am partial to the plastic Anakin ROTS for the reason being that it was the first FFX lightsaber that I ever purchased. Overall, though, I'd have to say that the metal version of the Anakin ROTS FFX is a more solid product than the plastic variation of the lightsaber by the same name. :)