Caesar’s Spark Lightsaber – Inspired by Caesar the Ape

Hello Everybody, today I have something very different, it is still a lightsaber design but it is inspired by a movie about Apes! Ok I’m a little late getting into the Planet of the Apes franchise but my cable/satellite package doesn’t have the movie channels (I can’t afford those as lightsaber designers don’t make much money  😦  ) However I discovered that a terrestrial TV station had Rise of the Planet of the Apes on so I watched it. As most of you will know it is about a chimpanzee that is born to a mother chimp called Bright Eyes, that had been used to test a new drug on. The drug was meant as a treatment/cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and caused Bright Eyes to gain in intelligence. During a meeting at the Biotech company, Gen-Sys, to discuss the drug an incident occurred when Bright Eyes was removed from her cubicle and she went on a rampage and was shot. The reason for her actions wasn’t a side effect of the drug but because she was protecting Caesar, her new born. The drug project was terminated and the lead scientist Will Rodham adopted the baby chimp and left to care for his father, Charles, who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Years passed and Caesar grew until an incident involving Charles and a next door neighbour led to Caesar being sent to a primate animal shelter. I will explain the inspiration and why Caesar needs this saber later, but first I had better show you it. This is Caesar’s Spark Lightsaber…

Caesar’s Spark Hilt

Caesar’s Spark Emitter

Caesar’s Spark Emitter 2

Caesar’s Spark Emitter 3

Caesar’s Spark Switch

Caesar’s Spark Body

Caesar’s Spark Pommel

Caesar’s Spark Pommel 2

Caesar’s Spark Horizontal

Caesar’s Spark Vertical Up

Whilst Caesar was incarcerated in the primate shelter, he was abused by the chief guard, called Dodge Landon. Caesar learns how to unlock his cage and escapes to the Gen-Sys lab and steals a canister of a new version of the drug his mother was subjected to and releases the gas on the other apes back at the shelter. Eventually a confrontation happens and Caesar ends up fighting Dodge, who is armed with a Cattle Prod! This weapon inspired this design, as a cattle prod handle and a lightsaber hilt are very similar looking items. The confrontation leads to Caesar being pushed too far and finally, he shouts out the word “NO!” Due to a freak turn of events Dodge is killed by the cattle prod when he gets sprayed with water whilst he was about to use it. So this saber is painted in the same Candy Orange colour of the cattle prod and has an emitter with three spines that resemble the device’s electrodes. The blade is an electric cyan colour for obvious reasons. This hilt also has a “Blade Plug” which is a part inserted into the emitter when a blade isn’t attached to the hilt. This is for real life safety so you don’t accidently blind yourself if you switch the saber on by mistake while looking into the emitter. In this case though it makes the saber look more like a cattle prod with it’s evil electric glow!

NO!…This isn’t a For Tyeth Edition! (Image Copyright 20th Century Fox)

The films climaxes with an action sequence on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Again I won’t spoil the ending, you’ll have to watch the film (though by now you probably have already!)

Sadly I have overrun on time and I will have to end here but I hope you liked this design, I have said inspiration can hit me from anywhere! I still have many more hilts in the works so I hope you will return to see those in upcoming posts. But for now I want to say thank you for checking this design out and thank you for your continued support (including Kathleen of Graphic Novelty2 who has just recently started following this site,) it is very much appreciated. Till next time.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes and all names, images, logos and related material are Trademark/© Copyright of Chernin Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Big Screen Productions and Ingenious Film Partners. Distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Panther’s Claw – Inspired by Marvel’s Black Panther

Hello Everybody, today I deviate a little from my intended schedule with a new design for an upcoming film (no not The Last Jedi this time). The film is the new Marvel movie Black Panther set for release in Feb. 2018. It stars Chadwick Boseman as the titular character and Michael B. Jordan as his arch-enemy.

Wakanda is a secretive African country and T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is the appointed leader of the clans of Wakanda who is known as the “Black Panther”. He was brought up by his father T’Chaka, who was also the Panther before him. T’Challa’s mother died whilst giving birth to him and his step-mother was kidnapped so didn’t have  an easy upbringing. On top of that a meteor crashed into Wakanda and it contained a very valuable material called Vibranium. Vibranium had special properties that would benefit weapons programmes so the country was shrouded in secrecy to protect itself from outside interest and to protect the outside world from weapons that may be built out of the mineral.

T’Challa eventually becomes experienced enough to take the test to become Black Panther after his father was murdered by Ulysses Klaw, an adventurer and prospector who wanted the Vibranium. To pass the test T’Challa had to eat a special Heart Shaped Herb, and if he survived would gain superhuman reflexes, senses, strength and agility. He would also establish a connection with the Panther Gods to benefit from their collective knowledge. However, there is one thing Black Panther doesn’t seem to have, a For Tyeth Edition Lightsaber, sooo I have designed one for him and here it is. I call it Panther’s Claw….

Panther’s Claw Hilt

Panther’s Claw Emitter

Panther’s Claw Switch

Panther’s Claw Body

Panther’s Claw Pommel

Panther’s Claw Pommel 2

Panther’s Claw Vertical Up

Panther’s Claw Horizontal

This saber has an Amber coloured blade to represent the sands of Wakanda, Black Panther’s home. And the blade projects from an emitter which resembles the Black Panther’s Vibranium enhanced claw gauntlets. The emitter also displays the first pieces of Vibranium in the design, shown by the gold “powder coat” I have painted this hilt with. The switch is functional but has a nice mosquito/wasp-waisted shape to make spinning the weapon much easier. The body has the stripes of a Panther embossed into the grip (yes, Panthers have stripes but they are so dark the Panther appears to be one colour) and gives the saber outstanding handling. The pommel is similar to the one found on my Wookie Warrior Lightsaber and maybe the power crystal could be infused with the essence of the Panther Gods. Overall I think I have got the look and character of Black Panther in this design, it kinda looks like his bullet proof costume. Here’s a picture of  him to compare…

Thank you For Tyeth, Honorary Panther Cub.

Image: © Marvel (Entertainment) Studios

I have to say Wakanda is a technological country in it’s own right and one particular inhabitant, Shuri, is a technological genius who creates all kinds of gadgets and weapons (including the bullet proof suit) for Black Panther. Shuri may have come up with a saber herself one day, but in the next film due for release in Feb. 2018, I think Black Panther will need all the help he can get. Whilst T’Challa was away helping the Avengers in the last movie Avengers: Civil War, a challenger to his rule has emerged called Erik Killmonger (portrayed by Michael B. Jordan). And we will discover who emerges victorious and what happens after in time but for now here’s the trailer.

Speaking of time, I am once more out of it! But before I go I’d like to thank you all for checking out this saber. Your support is much appreciated, whether you are a long time follower or a newcomer to my site (yes hello Neil, I have made room for you here too!). I still have more designs to show you in upcoming posts, so do please call back to see those. Till next time.

“T’Challa”, “Black Panther”, “Wakanda” and all other names, images, logos and related material are Trademark/© Copyright of Marvel (Entertainment) Studios 2017. “Panther’s Claw Lightsaber” is a For Tyeth Edition design and is © Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2017.

 

 

Wookie Warrior Lightsaber – A Saber for Chewbacca

Hello Everybody, today I have a design for a BFF, or Big Furry Friend! And as you can see it is for the heroic Wookie, Chewbacca. Chewie was born 200 years before the Battle of Yavin, which he took part in, but that wasn’t his first encounter with the war or the Empire and Republic. During the Clone Wars he served in the Wookie military and fought in the battle on his homeworld of Kashyyyk where he met and served under Master Yoda. Chewie favoured his beloved Bowcaster laser rifle but got to see Yoda wield a lightsaber occaisionally. So I wondered what a hilt for a Wookie would look like, and again I came up with a design for Chewie. Here is Wookie Warrior Lightsaber….

Wookie Warrior Hilt

Wookie Warrior Emitter

Wookie Warrior Emitter 2

Wookie Warrior Body

Wookie Warrior Switch

Wookie Warrior Pommel

Wookie Warrior Pommel

Wookie Warrior Horizontal

Wookie Warrior Vertical Up

I think this might just suit Chewie nicely. I based the hilt on earthy colours, made it big and imposing and added my FTE Emitter Pommel for increased power. The blade is green to reflect the image of Chewbacca’s home planet Kashyyyk and it’s forests and jungles. The lightsaber blade is augmented by two large axe-like blades either side for cutting through vines and foliage. The grip section uses the same Coupler parts as I used in my Han Solo design to give it good handling characteristics. The switch is positioned at the bottom of the handgrip to accommodate the size of a Wookie paw and to finish the hilt off I included an FTE pommel which I imagined could have a power crystal infused with the spirits of the forest (This is why the crystal and blade are different colours). The saber is painted in a nice shade of Chewbacca Brown (It’s actually called Mocha Metallic by it’s manufacturer but I like Chewbacca Brown better 😀 ) and is accented with black. I hope Chewie likes his new saber…I’d like to keep my arms in their sockets!

Rooawrrawa ru! (I like it For, don’t worry your arms are safe!)

I am approaching the end of this post but as always I’d like to say thank you to all my viewers and followers, I am very close to 5000 views now so thank you once more. I hope you will all return to see more designs in upcoming posts. Till next time.

Chewbacca, Kashyyyk and all other Star Wars related names, images and material are Trademark/©Copyright of Disney/LucasFilm 2017. “Wookie Warrior Lightsaber” is a For Tyeth Edition and is ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2017.

Bloodstripe Lightsaber – Inspired by Han Solo

Hello Everybody, today I have a saber for a very well known hero, who had what you could say was a bit of a reluctance to embrace Lightsabers but has been known to wield one now and again. I am talking about Han Solo, the Corellian Smuggler turned Rebel Fighter, General and Hero. Han had his first close contact with Lightsabers whilst chauffeuring the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, the young Luke Skywalker and their droids from Tatooine to Alderaan. Han was slightly dismissive of “The Force” and “Lightsabers” preferring to have a good blaster by his side. Han must have learnt something though from Obi-Wan’s attempts to teach Luke, as Han had to use a Lightsaber in the Empire Strikes Back to save his young friend’s life on Hoth’s ice plains. Just for his bravery going into the blizzard to save Luke I felt Han was overdue a saber design as a reward, and so here it is, I call this design Bloodstripe Lightsaber….

Bloodstripe Lightsaber

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Emitter

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Emitter 2

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Switch

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Body

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Pommel

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Pommel 2

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Horizontal

Bloodstripe Lightsaber Vertical Up

The physical design of the saber isn’t fancy, it has an emitter, switch, a body section and a pommel. The blade is coloured Arctic Blue just like the Graflex that Luke inherited from his Father, and was later used by Han on Hoth. The emitter looks a little like the cylindrical sections of Han’s ship the Millenium Falcon, and connects to a standard switch unit. I said the design of this hilt was basic but the hand grip is a bit special as it is made of several Coupler pieces which allowed me to replicate the famous striped pattern found running down the leg of Han’s trousers. You can see what I mean in this picture..The arrow points to the marks in question which are known as “Bloodstripes”. Bloodstripes were an insignia to represent bravery in the Corellian military and to wear them the individual had to earn them. It is rumoured Han won his Bloodstripes whilst on a mission where he freed Chewbacca and saved his friend’s life. There were two tiers of Bloodstripe and Han was one of the few people in the galaxy to have won both (the other insignia consisted of yellow markings). To achieve the look I was able to paint alternate blocks of the handgrip using the blue and red “powdercoats” and hopefully recreated the insignia and look of Han’s trousers.

Han has also been known to have used a saber in the new Star Wars comics launched around the beginning of 2016. In Issue #11 Han accompanies Princess Leia and Chewie on a mission and can be seen using a Green bladed hilt. As this comic was released with Disney/LucasFilm’s permission it is said that Han now can use a Lightsaber and it is considered as Canon. However I’d like to think he may have swapped the Green one for my Bloodstripe design.

I am once more approaching the closing of this post but first I’d like to let you know of the next couple of hilts I have in the works. Having seen the new Trailers for The Last Jedi, I noticed something in them which has led me to redesign a hit I had already begun work on but I should have that one finished soon and I have a hilt for a  BFF, BIG FURRY FRIEND! I hope you will join me for those in upcoming posts and thank you so much to all the visitors (from all corners of the globe) I have received over the past couple of weeks, your support is very much appreciated. Till next time.

“Bloodstripe Lightsaber”  is a For Tyeth Edition saber and is © Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite. Han Solo, Empire Strikes Back, and all other Star Wars related names, images, logos and material are Trademark/© Copyright of Disney/LucasFilm 2017.