T-TRACK GRIP PROJECT

I agree, the sabers up for auction recently do not count as concrete evidence. Regardless of their origin, I'd rather have grips based the on a design from sabers that remained in the lucasfilm archive since filming.

I'll drop this question again. Who has some good shots of the Ranch saber? I'd be interested to see what that edge connector looks like as well.
 
Originally posted by incrediPAUL@Jul 17 2005, 07:43 AM
I'll drop this question again. Who has some good shots of the Ranch saber? I'd be interested to see what that edge connector looks like as well.
[snapback]1035111[/snapback]​
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There must be someone who has taken a good shot of the saber at Celebration 3 ... Here is the best I have found on the 'net so far:
Sir Steeve's Guide
 
I have a pic of the saber, but the grips are pretty blurry. (I took the shot head on) here it is:
c3saber.jpg

(edited to add picture)
 
The smallest extrusion run I have been able to find is at least 800 feet as a sample, but I would still have to pay for all tooling... This project really doesnt lend itself well to manufacturing standards.

I was thinking of machinging them in aluminum. To keep machining costs down, it would be cheaper to machine them without rounded ends. It wouldnt take anything to round the ends off with a file and sandpaper....

Or my friend who owns a machine shop said he might be able to make an aluminum mold for casting them in a high grade urethane....
 
Incredible, I should have known better... if someone is taking a close-up shot of the Ranch saber it muct be one of us, right?
 
As promised:

[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo114copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo119copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo120copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo122copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo138copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo139copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo141copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo144copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo145copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo146copy.jpg[/image]
[image]http://www.wackychimp.com/uploads/Photo147copy.jpg[/image]
 
Those grip profiles look just like the various vader saber grip profiles pictured earlier in this thread. I'm beginning to believe that ALL the grips had the same profile. So far, every grip we have clear pics of is the same profile.
 
Originally posted by Trallis@Jul 28 2005, 02:19 AM
im getting really anxious for someone to pick this up and make them
[snapback]1044196[/snapback]​
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I think that saberlover's idea of machining these from aluminum may be the way to go. If they were indeed T-tracks originally used in the 60's and 70's for sliding cabinet doors, then they probably were made from aluminum in the first place. Machining them from aluminum would be much easier and infinitely less expensive than extruding them.
 
IMO there is no way they were made from aluminum. Take a look at the pics, some of the grips have slight bends in them running the length of the saber and where the screws have been put in they are squashed. This pic really shows it:
Photo145copy.jpg

Do you know how tight you'd have to put those tiny screws to do that to aluminum? The screws would break before it happened as well as strip out the threaded holes in the Graflex bottom.

Also to me the Barbican grips look like they have angled sides on the upright portion of the grip while the Ranch saber seems to have straighter sides.

Originally posted by Darkknight0667@Jul 28 2005, 05:53 AM

I think that saberlover's idea of machining these from aluminum may be the way to go.  If they were indeed T-tracks originally used in the 60's and 70's for sliding cabinet doors, then they probably were made from aluminum in the first place.  Machining them from aluminum would be much easier and infinitely less expensive than extruding them.
[snapback]1044267[/snapback]​
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If not aluminum then delrin at best. Then again, aluminum is sooo much better and you could achieve a true weathing effect on the grips with your tiny knicks and scratches.
 
[image]http://home.comcast.net/~ryu-kumon/gino/grip_ref.jpg[/image]
[snapback]1030536[/snapback]​

If you look at the shots that GINO posted at the beginning, you can see why I think that aluminum might be the better/more accurate material.

In most of these shots, you can see what appears to be a metallic material showing through the weathering (especially evident in the top right photo and in the third shot down on the left).

Just my $ 0.02.
 
He wont send me the CAD file to work from because he wants to be the only one able to make these grips.....
I am out...you guys can make these on your own.
 
g-force, you must have been the only guy to take some shots of this saber... great work.

Okay, so we think these are the same as the barbican and on the rest of props utilizing T track.

Whats the next step, I can draw up some plans in any CAD software... or will I be stepping on your toes Gino?

Are we looking at aluminum or delrin... as extruding is cost prohibitive?
 
I'm with you too 'saberlover'. He wanted me to make the grips, but refused to send the files. So I'm out too. :(
 
There's no way ANY of those grips are aluminum.
I have no interest in doing them in any way other than the way they were done for the film. PLASTIC.

Also, I spent a lot of time getting my drawing just right. I wanted to find someone to work with me so that I could ensure the part made was exact without any shortcuts or liberties taken. I still am up for having someone tool one or some up in aluminum to serve as masters for molding. I could then offer castings.

For you to take offense because I was not willing to just give away my hard work and relinquish any rights to it is just silly. It was appearant that we did not share the same vision for how we wanted these to me made (me wanting to use accurate materials). If you want to find someone else to provide a CAD drawing, I say go for it. I doubt it will be correct. However there are lots of people here not concerned with film accuracy so it might not even matter.
 
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