1) The graflex appears to be coming with a working red switch. Please confirm. - Yes, the graflexes will come with a working on/off red button..I first thought that it wouldn't but I confirmed it.
2) Will the crossguard have any cast parts like you did with the DM1 from your last run? Which parts? - I got more information, and some of the Crossguard will be cast and some will be machined. I realized the Maul Radiators looked less than spectacular, and I'll get back to people once I know how we can make sure the quality of a cast part is better. most of the duke and sids were cast and you CAN get quality of it, so it is not a bad thing, but steps need to be taken to insure it doesn't look like garbage...also, die cast is a process that allows for this unit to be made at an affordable cost..yes, $280 is expensive, but it is better than the alternative of $425 that the price was for a total 100% machined hilt with all its parts...so I will make sure these will look authentic, with an optional aging process that makes it look old, ancient and rusted, if people want that..and even a polishing option for those who want to keep it shiney and new.
3) You said the crossguard will have more parts than the duke... can we get an exploded breakdown of the crossguard (like the graflex) so we can start planning the build? - from what I was told, it has much more "tooling" on this than the duke did. The Duke was able to be cast 2/3 as one piece, the new pics I posted show more detail...but price is determined by how detailed it is, and this will have more parts. It doesn't look like it, but according to the way its engineered, it will be more complicated, but doable.
4) In the cad drawings of the crossguard, there doesn't seem to be the slash / internal reveal that was so prominent in the model at the Celebration. Are there plans to include that feature? yes, I felt that if I put the slash in there, I am making it too close to a version that might get me into imperial entanglements, so I am leaving it out... I don't want to, but I agree with others council on this decision.
5) Will there be switches included with the crossguard? Where will they go? not sure, that might be up to the person installing the electronics
6) And most importantly, what are the IDs of the hilts? I'm especially concerned with working space in the crossguard. I'm already considering things that need more space like extra batteries, space for a larger board than just the nano, and if you're not doing the reveal, then consideration for at least making the reveal ourselves. - Cross guard is designed around 7/8 ID, just like all the others. Graflex is the same, from the inner blade bracket up. Graflex grip had a 1-5/16 ID
7) How much will the deposits be? - When I can get 40-50 people signed up, I'll begin to take money, the ONLY way, and I mean only way, I can make this happen is people need to pay for their unit in full...a deposit wont help me...as in the last two years worth of runs, I collect your funds, I pay it to whom is organizing this, it goes to China, they only start once we have a certain amount, and I have to keep paying for it until the run is done...sometimes I can contribute some of my money as I did last few runs, and recoup later by selling the extras. I've established my honesty so new saber buyers can ask others that I will deliver even if its a few months over due, but only by collecting the funds, can this happen...were dealing with a pretty substantial amount of money, and I aint no RICH boy.
8) When do you want the deposits? - I will start a list on - and if we get 40-50 people who wont back out, I'll start the payment via paypal... I could take payments now, but what would happen if only 25 people sign up, then I gotta refund everyone, and I like you would rather see this go through than not, so also China wont start until I've provided close to a $12,000 deposit crossguard and an $8000 deposit for Graflexes...so ALL funds being sent to me go right to paying to get these made.
Made some corrections to the above, after getting more clarification -