I JUST SCORED A GRAFLEX!!!!

Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 11:20 pm Post subject: I JUST SCORED A GRAFLEX!!!!

Holy balls, I just scored a Graflex on ebay! Like, a REAL Graflex!!!

Crap, now I have no idea where to start, to turn this sucker into a Luke ESB saber. Currently researching on FX-Sabers.

Am thinking Cyan Rebel Star LED and a Nano-Biscotte card, though I may grab a Force FX card just for movie-accurate sounds. I have a Vader one, but would like to get a Jedi one if I go that route.

Blast-Tech.com seems to have the hilt parts I'd need and TCSS has an LED adapter and red button thumb screw...

Has anyone tried this out? From the looks of it, it doesn't look like too tough of a job.

I'm excited.

Except this means I may have to tackle my first face character: ESB Luke, since I'll have both the blaster and the saber...
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"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

Dacen Salu · Guest

congrats on the saber score. i would get in touch with some of the
saber smiths over on FX sabers, see what they could do. all of my sabers
are custom pieces. one of them (AOTC Obi) has the Nano in it and its
pretty sweet. i have seen some of the graflex pieces with crystal focus
sound board and they are awesome. it's all up to what you want to have
done to it. good luck.

The Force fights WITH me!!!

jin starkiller () · Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:45 am Post subject:

I have done a graflex here recently and it is not that hard to do. You just need to plan on what you want to do with it. What type of LED, soundboard, you gonna do a crystal chamber or a chassis reveal.

Plan it from start to finish it all depends on your WOW factor of what you want in the saber
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GotWookiee (Matt Pfingsten) · Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:46 am Post subject:

Awesome find! If I may ask, what did you end up paying for it?

It's always great to find original parts. I've been slowly piecing together a bowcaster from original parts. Really fun.
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Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 12:25 pm Post subject:

kwills (Kimberly Wills-Starin) · Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:03 pm Post subject:

Congrats and have fun with it Very Happy

I watch Graflexes every so often, and typically give up because they tend to soar over $120 or so, last time I looked anyway
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Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:59 pm Post subject:

Indeed--I was shocked to be able to score this for that low a price!
_________________

"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

lgtsbr () · Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 6:28 pm Post subject:

couple things to worry about on the vintage piece:

1 - the rivet holding in the rabbit ears can be a royal pain, be careful with it so you don't damage the flash. The rabbit ears, to my knowledge, have to come off in order to get the bulb holder out
2 - the brass pins have to come out. go to the graflex shop and get a pin tool, you will thank yourself later I promise
3 - the slide switch on the side will probably break off as you try to remove the bulb holder
4 - be gentle with the flash if you plan to clean it. The originals were nickel plated over brass, you scrub too much and the brass will show through

As far as conversion pieces, I have used Blast-Tech on numerous occasions, John is a great person to deal with. From a accuracy standpoint, Parks makes a more accurate Kobold piece for the end of the saber.

Good Luck on the conversion, be sure to take before and after pictures of the flash. I have a vintage ESB Graflex myself and it is by far the prize piece in my collection.

Dave
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Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 1:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips, Dave! These will be a huge help!
_________________

"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 10:53 pm Post subject:

Graflex arrived today, and I know why it was so cheap.

It's a 2-cell, not a 3-cell.

Which means that the bottom end is really short. Like, Yoda short.

However, I am thinking that I can jury rig an extension that will be invisible with a few parts from TCSS, and possibly some chrome tape and JB Weld.

Already got it disassembled and the guts removed. Was very easy to do. Looking forward to diving in!
_________________

"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:28 am Post subject:

Scored a 3-cell bottom end! Next weds will be ordering hilt parts. Electronics hopefully later in August!
_________________

"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 12:08 am Post subject:

Hilt work 95% complete. Need to affix the D-Ring and the fasteners on the grips.

_________________

"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 3:09 am Post subject:

Today I ordered the electronics from TCSS.

This is so close to being done I can taste it. Another dream come true!!!
_________________

"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

Sugar Jedi (Jason Vey) · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:23 am Post subject:

IT WORKS!!!

My phone is charging atm, so pics tomorrrow.
_________________

"A Jedi knight!? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!"
The Sugar Jedi formerly known as The Grey Elf
KJO (Blumfruit Temple)
Echo Base (Western PA)

Koda Vonnor (BillCostigan) · Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 1:37 pm Post subject:

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