No more buying MR lightsabers?

[Zombie_61]

I have a couple sabers and am real happy. I got them real cheap though.

Well, there's the other issue for me--price. I live in Southern California, where we residents get raped in almost every imaginable way by the local economy and the ratio of income to cost-of-living is far lower than almost every other state. I can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on something that's just going to sit on a shelf...even if I could afford it.

 

[lonepigeon]

I'm also curious what people think is so "wrong" about them.

Most of MR's Star Wars props are still the most accurate replicas of those props ever made.

 

[Chingon]

I only ever owned a few MR pieces, but I thought they were pretty nice. The Dooku saber looked great, but it did weigh a ton. MR is pretty much the only option if you want that particular saber in your collection. Those presentation boxes the sabers came with were pretty nice, too. Sometimes I miss the Han ANH blaster I had, but soon I'll have one just as nice if not better.

 

[SaberFreak]

They could not use real parts as some where not known and the rarity of finding really parts for such large editions would be impossible to do.

But they COULD replicate the real world parts exactly like how its supposed to be.

If some individual with much less funding them MR can make 100% accurate, working replica of the Graflex 3-cell flashgun & MPP flashgun, and sell them for around $100 a piece, and still make a profit, surely MR could do the same? Even with licensing fee of $100 per piece, they can still make a profit by selling them at less then the current prices.

At the end of the day its all about integrity and passion. Guess big companies are not known for those traits...

 

[Jedi-72]

I agree completely. That's why, with the sole exception of the coming Luke V2, I've never owned an MR saber. For the already lackluster prequel sabers an MR piece would have been fine since the screen-used items were machined pieces of junk. But, for any OT saber, any OT anything, MR couldn't help but fall way short of the mark since the real world objects are available to many of us and in comparison to the pretty MR pieces...just demolish them because, well...they're the real thing.

I never understood collecting the MR things if you had real Graflexes and such sitting on your shelves. Heck, even a Parks Graflex is at least a real, working item. MR while born of hard core prop collectors, turned into more of a toy manufacturer. It stopped feeling like a prop company.

I won't miss them either. Nothing they've done has ever given me goosebumps or made me dream about owning it. The models were nice but way too expensive and badly painted for that price. But, that's the market they were going after. I'm glad they're going because it may just open the door back up to what the hobby and this place used to be like years ago. That would be a good thing.

 

[lonepigeon]

But they COULD replicate the real world parts exactly like how its supposed to be.

How is it "supposed" to be?

The MR Luke is just as nice a Graflex replica as a Parks. There's something inside so it's not a weightless empty tube and the grips are attached far more securely than Parks double sided tape.

I find it really odd that people seem to object to MR just because they're a "big company". I see very few real gripes about accuracy. Even their pricing is not that far off from fan made replicas.

 

[Ham Solo]

My entire prop collection is MR, except for my "King of the Blasters".

I really like MR's stuff.

 

[KidL]

While the rest of my sabers are custom made, I own an MR Obi TPM EE and I couldn't be happier with it. The finishing/detailing is excellent and I love the way it looks on display. And while I'm not a fan of every MR saber out there, I think they've generally done a solid job at providing quality replicas with a decent amount of variety. Granted, there are other options out there for certain sabers that are probably 'better' than their MR counterparts, but for the average consumer and prop-replica-market in general, MR has filled a huge gap.

On a side note, I also own MR's Rocketeer helmet and FC Trek phaser, both of which I'm also really happy with. :thumbsup

 

[barbatus]

Hasn´t it been said numerous times that Lucas doesn´t allow any real world markings? So I just wonder why people hope to see them on props from the next company that picks up the license...

I bought the MR Luke ANH at a ridiculously low price on Ebay. Including the display it was cheaper than building one on my own based on a replica Graflex. I for one (honestly, no offense here guys) couldn´t care less about the missing Graflex writing or the fact that I can´t take it apart and use it as a real flash.

But see, that´s why (I have to say it) I LOVE the RPF :love Thanks to this forum I learned so much about the OT sabers, about the different versions and that some are even easy and fun to build That gave me a choice and didn´t leave me with MR as the only option. So in some cases I decided against the MR product, couldn´t afford it in others and in the end bought two of their sabers.

As it´s been said before: This topic isn´t new and I think it all comes down to the point that a company can´t satisfy everyone with their product.

 

[SaberFreak]

Hasn´t it been said numerous times that Lucas doesn´t allow any real world markings?

Don't care about the markings, and I can even live with them not being functioning flashguns, but at least make it in such a way some parts/sections can be taken apart/opened up so it feels more like a saber and less like a static display piece.

I own a few MR sabers, and they're very nice for what they are. I just wish they can be more then just static displays.

 

[Darth Detroit]

How is it "supposed" to be?

The MR Luke is just as nice a Graflex replica as a Parks. There's something inside so it's not a weightless empty tube and the grips are attached far more securely than Parks double sided tape.

I find it really odd that people seem to object to MR just because they're a "big company". I see very few real gripes about accuracy. Even their pricing is not that far off from fan made replicas.

I'll comment on this.
I really dont object to MR being a big company. in fact I think thats awsome that they are. I guess it comes down to, at least for me, is personal pride. the fact that I built a Luke ANH saber orr a Vader ROTJ sabe with my own hands. AS far as accurate parts goes, I would say MR did a really good job there.
MR pricing has come down TREMENDOUSLY over the years.
It just comes down to persoanl prefrence as far as what you like.
I like the fact that I went through great lengths to buy the parts to build a prop from scratch.
Thats the only quality I dont like about an MR saber..its an off the shelf product that required no creativity from your end.
But thats just me.

 

[Pastor Jedi]

I'm also curious what people think is so "wrong" about them.

Most of MR's Star Wars props are still the most accurate replicas of those props ever made.

Your site is one of the resaons I can even defend the fact that the MR sabers are not identical to the actual prop. It's hard to go wrong on sabers that use flash guns like the Luke ANH, ESB and even the Vader ANH and ESB, but the Obi Wan sabers don't seem as accurate. You would think for what they charge that they would be "identical." The one thing that you can't get from a picture of the actual prop is weight and actual diameter, but if you hold the MR Obi wan sabers, they are so heavy, not to mention the Dooku saber that feels like lead and is so thin, and the Windu and Sidious sabers are very heavy. It seems disproportionate to me.
Look, I know it's just a matter of preference, but they also have created different versions (AP, CE, EE, LE, SE etc) of the same saber, so which one is the accurate one? When I received the Luke ROTJ EE I was so disapointed at the weight and dimensions. It was a pretty saber, but was it accurate? I think that the only reason they came out finally with the V-2 was out of a cry for authenticity, but I could be wrong, but I haven't held one of those yet.
My other issue is that if you make a saber that looks closer to the actual prop, but because it's not an "official MR" saber, your saber is somehow wrong or second class,,not to mention that you can hardly sell it. You can make an authentic Luke ANH saber and it hardly sells for $100, but an MR of the same which is not even made out of authentic parts sells for $300, where's the fairness in that?

 

[tripoli]

On the value, the MR pieces are licensed, which means they have a huge collectors value on the public market, which determines the value to the public. A fan made piece can be much more accurate yet its value is almost always going to be more intrinsic because its is not an official licensed replica.
I think MR did an incredible job on the designs. They do have to get inspected by Lucas and they have to accept recommendations from them as well. By the time it makes it from R&D to the final piece on the shelf, the designers have to make the majority happy with the design. This means there will always be someone that was not happy with some aspect of the design. Par for course of manufacturing a licensed replica. I like the earlier sabers both in design and quality. The last few that came out seem to have some shortcuts taken. Like the emitter top in the Obi RoTS cap popped out on mine. That sucked seeing the screw under the cap with no way but to glue the part back up top.
As far as the price, MR did an incredible job of giving a super display and packaging along with atop notch display piece. They gave collectors much more for much less, I applaud them for doing so. When you can look back and see no one else doing any thing any where near better for the price and quality, I think a positive nod is deserved towards them.

 

[Gytheran]

MR pricing has come down TREMENDOUSLY over the years.

Huh? Are we talking about the same company here? None of their products have gone down in price. In fact, their LE lightsaber line is more than $100 where it started in 2002. :confused

 

[tripoli]

I think he was comparing what collectors spent for the first saber replicas from Icons. Compare that to Icons original asking prices and the inflationary rates, MR did a great job with what they gave to the original pieces offered by Icons.

 

[Pastor Jedi]

I think he was comparing what collectors spent for the first saber replicas from Icons. Compare that to Icons original asking prices and the inflationary rates, MR did a great job with what they gave to the original pieces offered by Icons.

I will say that MR did a MUCh better job than Icons in their saber designs, but not better than Larbel.

 

[Darth Lars]

Re: No more buying MR lightsabers!

I'm curious to know what else is inaccurate?

- Vader saber missing a grip
- Various things on both ANH Obi sabers

It was often surface finish that was idealized. For instance, the Maul and Dooku sabers were made in shinier metal than the originals. Grooves were more evenly spaced, also.
I am disappointed with the surface finish on the Qui-Gon sabers (CE and LE) - contrary to some other replicas from MR that were idealized, this is a case where the real prop had a shiny sleeve, but where the replica did not get one.
Another recent saber, the Yoda ROTS had ugly weathering. Both of these had rounded edges and looked no better than painted resin to me.
Other replicas from MR suffer from the same thing, even the Han Solo EE blaster.

I want a "real-world" feel, to have it look and feel like real materials. I love that my fan-made Maul saber has a bead-blasted metal finish. That is a slight idealization compared to the real prop which was painted, but it looks the same as the prop while at the same time I can feel that it is metal in my hands.

 

[lonepigeon]

I think MR did better than Larbel or anyone else for that matter.
There are subtle things that are off on some pieces, but there are typically larger errors on fan made props.

The TPM Obi EE is the most accurate version out there, so is the Maul. The Maul buttons are still a little off (Roman's red ones are the best) and it still has button head screws on it (like all fan sabers, even though there were NO button head screws on the real one). I don't like the fake LED's in the Obi or purple crystal (the EE Line is "idealized"), but prefer the MR for it's dimensional accuracy.

I've held the real Dooku and I love my MR replica of it. I wouldn't want the poorly machined grooves. I also have the Windu, Sidious, Anakin AOTC, and Obi TPM EE. All awesome replicas. They are maybe a little heavier than I'd like, but they're display pieces so that doesn't bother me.

The prequel sabers are mostly dulled by use and age these days, but most were polished or chrome when first created (except TPM).

I agree with the surface finish on the Qui-Gon. It is odd. I think they have trouble getting subtle metal finishes with big factories. TPM props were all hand machined and lightly polished.

Paint and weathering are a problem on most mass produced pieces. Which is not even an issue on fan made pieces because you have to build and paint them yourself most of the time.

MR's Obi ANH saber was released before 3 of the 5 major parts were identified IIRC. Had they kept going I'm sure we would have seen a more correct ANH Obi EE.

I prefer to make what I can from original parts, but if there's a prop I want that was custom made for the movies then I usually buy the MR.

 

[franz bolo]

I will say that MR did a MUCh better job than Icons in their saber designs, but not better than Larbel.

Can you show me some side by sides? I think my MR Luke and Vader are pretty sweet. What makes the Larbel better? The Obiwan Anh is pretty damn good also.

FB

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

I still don't get why people don't like MR stuff. Is it really because some regular Star Wars (not prop) collector doesn't see why a Graflex based lightsaber is better than the MR equivalent? I could care less. The people who matter, the prop community, know so that should be enough.

As for the logos and things on real world items, personally I'd rather have my props look like the "real" blaster in the SW universe, vs. having it identically match the prop.

The only MR thing I've bought that I was unhappy, a little, with was the Boba Fett blaster paint job. It's a horrible paint job, but the gun is excellent, so I'm happy because I plan on repainting it.