Gemini Concepts Presents....Orakaa's "Septem Praesidium" Updated 06/14/09

[Master Jedye]

Hello everybody!
Forum Member Orakaa approached us a while back about making a custom saber for him.  The saber isn’t ready yet, but I thought I’d start his build log.

So here we go!

First, here is the design he sent me:



Pretty nice, I think….I like the brass and gold combo.  So we order the appropriate MHS pieces and start the prep work.  We first start with the Translucent gold.  Everything gets taped up and PC’d



Then we tape up everything we just PC’d and apply a coat of brass.  Before it goes in the oven, though…the tape needs to be removed.  If not, the underlying PC could melt and get deformed.  Once the tape is removed, everything cooks again for about 30 minutes at 400 degrees.



Now…without BORING you with the details….all that pretty PC you see there was removed.  All the MHS pieces were sanded down to remove the PC and a few microns of MHS.  Why?  Because, powdercoat (especially translucents) add thickness to the OD of a saber.  And guess what?!?  The sinktube shroud won’t slide over that.  A rookie mistake….I knew better than that and deserved having to re-do this PC for being such a knuckle-head. 

Anyway….the NEW PC job came out even better, it was evenly applied and shiny….so I can’t really complain.

Next up….the SHROUD!

Here’s what we have.



Three simple rings (that weren’t very simple).  Again, not going into long boring details, but these little guys kicked my butt!!!

Ok….so those are done.  Next think I wanted to do was highlight the gold in the rings on the MHS hilt.  It was already PC’d, but against the copper, it looked chrome, not gold.  I tested a whole bunch of things and found that the 24K gold leaf paint worked the best. It doesn’t show up well in the pic’s, but in person…it pops!



So let’s line it up and test fit it.



Alright….that works.  What?  You want to see a wide-angle shot?  Sure!


I just threw that in there because that’s my work station in our NEW shop!!!!!  Gemini Concepts has a Headquarters now!

So then, each shroud piece gets 2 6-32 screws….these are run in a straight line on the underneath of the saber.
Here’s what I have so far….pretty close?



Orakaa, do you want a Covertec knob? 

Well, for the most part…I’m done with this saber.  Time to slide it across the room to a Sith Lord who knows a few things about wiring up an RRB and a USv2.1.  Look for updates from Darth Call. 

Thanks for reading!

Master Jedye

[BEN KENOBI]

 :o :o

wow great looking saber!! :o :o

[ASAJJ VENTRESS]

sweet one guys!

Ora, you're gonna love it!  Congrats on your first GC saber!

[Master Durangus]

:o :o Looks great guys! What color LED is it going to have? MJ, you're insanely skilled at taking a render like that and making a work of art out of it!

[Master Jedye]

MJ, you're insanely skilled at taking a render like that and making a work of art out of it!

Thanks....I have my moments.  ;)

And Purple....he's getting a purple blade, that's what the RRB is for.

[Rouge Striker]

Purple? :) :) :)
Sounds good and I have to say this  saber is going to look wonderful when it's finished! Great work so far MJ!

[Orakaa]

Ahhhh, it's beautiful :D (and soon it will be mine, lol)

And yes, I wanted a covertec knob (brass one if possible).
I'll re-send you the last render I sent you

[QUI-GON JINN]

That's shaping up to be a very nice saber!  I think if it were me,  and I wanted a CT knob on it, I'd go with a brass one...but that's me!  ;)

[Master Jedye]

That's shaping up to be a very nice saber!  I think if it were me,  and I wanted a CT knob on it, I'd go with a brass one...but that's me!  ;)

That's what we're going to do....brass CT knob.  In fact, I think a know where I can get one without having to PC a silver one.  (Looks over at Darth Call's beloved Overlord with a brass covertec knob)   "We've replaced DC brass ct knob with a silver one...let's see if he notices"   :D

Also, Jay....I need your expertise on something....you have a PM.  ;)

[KNP]

WOW!! Nice work guy's. Top notch design but I wouldn't expect anything less from Gemini Concepts.  ;D
Keep up the beautiful work. It will be awesome!!!!!!!!!  ;D  ;D  ;D

P.S. You know I love the color combo  ;)  ;)

[Naast]

 Aye, that is a very beautiful piece, I may have to come to you guys next. :D

[Master Jedye]

P.S. You know I love the color combo  ;)  ;)

I know you do.   ;)

Aye, that is a very beautiful piece, I may have to come to you guys next. :D

There's always room for Naast.   ;D

Ok...so I'm not QUITE as done as I had thought. 
I want to remove the button head screws on the bottom and replace them with recessed set screws.   These will be lock-tighted (lock-tighted ????   :D  ) in place and re-enforced with some 2 ton epoxy.  (Thanks, QUI GON JINN!!!)

The switch will go on the underside of the saber and the covertec knob will be on the opposite side toward the pommel. 

New pic's tonight (hopefully)

[hullbreach]

This pic says it all. Orakaa made a smashing design and Gemini nailed it! Another great job guys, grats!

[Onli-Won Kanomi]

Simply beautiful streamlined elegance...that will look fantastic with a purple blade...

[Orakaa]

At first I wanted a CYAN blade (rather greenish : BIN 3 for instance).
But MJ and DC convinced me when they showed me a tri-rebel purple. It should mix very well with those gold and copper color mix.

While working on the design, I wanted a saber that would instantly make the words "noble", "elegance", "strength" come in mind at first sight.
As if this saber could have been created during a very prosperous era, for a small order... hence the name "Septem Praesidium" meaning it would have belonged to the "seventh guardian" (of an unknown jedi order).

So I came out with this simple design, but wanted to add some "texture" to it... which I did by adding some carvings on the 2 custom shrouds on each extremity of the hilt (see below).



The only problem is that those carvings (who seemed quite simple) seem to be much more complicated to create than I would have thought... And without this, I feel the hilt being a little bit "blank". If it's not possible, I'll have to think of something that could be added/done to it to "dress up" this hilt a little bit.
If anyone has any idea/suggestion on this... :)