Padawan Outpost “Iota” Xenopixel V2 lightsaber – For Tyeth’s New Saber!

Helloooooo Everybodies! It is almost that day again when all the ghouls and ghosts come out to play and I have a beautiful new saber to show you that I purchased recently…..AND I have a horror movie to share with you! Now you may have read in my previous posts and comments references to a new “toy” that I had ordered, well it arrived and I am over the moon with what I got. The new toy is a lightsaber from Padawan Outpost called the “Iota” and it has some very cool features. All of my sabers up till now were the type similar to a torch or flashlight with a very high powered LED in the handle that shone down a polycarbonate tube. They were also limited with what special effects they could do, but my new saber has a technology called Xenopixel installed that allows it do some incredible stuff. The blade isn’t hollow and is filled by long strips covered in small individual LEDs, and these LEDs can be triggered on/off all at once or one at a time to create different illusions. This also makes the blade appear brighter because less light energy is wasted having to travel down a hollow tube. Anyhoo, I can’t really describe the saber and do it justice….you need to SEE it….so Happy Halloween here is your horror movie for this year – For Tyeth Reviews the IOTA!…

I made a ton of mistakes in filming this. I forgot to mention certain features and I called the Xenopixel blade a “Scrolled” blade – I was thinking “Scrolling” and “LED” and managed to merge the two words together! But I was so excited getting this hilt and I filmed this by my self with no tripod – just a handheld smartphone and a laptop. Back to the saber though, as you can see it has some spectacular special effects. You can activate various effects called “Pre-Ons” before the blade ignites. These include effects that make the saber blade appear to “stutter” or appear from different sections of the blade (in one case the light appears at the base and the tip then expands to join in the middle!) Or you can just have the classic Luke or Vader in a corridor effect where the blade “grows”. The blade, because it is filled with hundreds of small LEDs can be set to any colour or as you saw in the video to a “Rainbow” – this is known as a Blade Style. The blade also has a “Fire Blade” and “Ghost Mode” where the blade is active but only lights up when it is moved (keep the blade still and the light disappears like a ghost). Another available Blade Style is “Blaster Blade” where again the blade is switched on but only lights up when the Activation Button is tapped which sends “bolts” of light along the blade and looks like a laser gun firing. I didn’t want to video those really due to how bright they are and the flashing could affect people with photosensitive Epilepsy.

But that is just the blade and lights, a lightsaber also usually has sounds and this saber has 21 built in sound fonts or themes. There are sounds from Kylo Ren’s saber, Rey, Darth Vader, General Leia and of course Luke Skywalker…not to mention Dooku, Maul, Cal Kestis from the PC game Jedi Fallen Order….way too many to list. But then on top of that you can add MORE sounds purchased or downloaded from the Internet and install them using the built in SD card! When certain sounds become unfashionable you can update with new ones.

The sounds also feature SmoothSwing technology. This is the fancy sound effect that makes a saber sound more realistic by mixing sounds triggered by sensors in real time. Hasbro toy sabers have one sound for when the saber swings whereas this saber can have up to 16 swing noises that are played continuously and correspond to your movements. Swing the hilt gently and it whispers a Vroom but swing harder and it sounds more WWHOOOSH!

That all sounds like a lot but there is still more features! The saber can be updated with new functions and settings using the SD Card and a Configuration File (instructions for the saber to operate). This means I can set the saber to detect certain movements or gestures and trigger specific effects…I can even do this with the Force….

Yep! I am most powerful…I can activate my blade without using the button! OK this is what’s known as a Gesture Function but it looks cool. I can set the saber to detect a “stabbing” motion and it will ignite the blade.

Finally, the saber even plays music tracks that you can have playing in the background as you fight your little siblings or friends. Imagine having the Phantom Menace “Duel Of The Fates” music playing while swinging your saber around with Qui-Gon Jinn sound effects! (Or Maul if you are a Sith!).

It can glow green just like Qui-Gon’s too!

All in all this lightsaber is fantastic for the price, the amount of features and tech is amazing. Xenopixel really immerses you into the Star Wars world and you can forget where you are! But I know I’m getting near the end of this review and I have a few mentions I need to make.

If you are interested in obtaining a saber like tis one you can find it and more at Padawan Outpost which can be found at: https://padawanoutpost.com/

Padawan Outpost is based in the London area of the UK but ships internationally. They have a full range of sabers available but you will have to check their site regularly as stock can sell out quickly. I MUST ALSO POINT OUT THAT I AM NOT CONNECTED TO OR EMPLOYED BY PADAWAN OUTPOST – I am just a happy customer (I also bought a basic saber from them last year).

Thanks so much for checking my review out. I am no YouTube expert reviewer but it is kinda fun now I have done one. Now I have scared you all for Halloween, I hope you will return for future posts on FTSabersite as I still have more saber designs to showcase, more LEGO creations and just maybe some more Cosplaying. I am For Tyeth, the FOR in the Force, Till next time…..

One last message to my dear friends “Mr and Mrs D” at this difficult time for them…..I light my sabers and remember…..

This For Tyeth review is independent and my own opinions. The video and photos are ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2021. Padawan Outpost and their product image and logo are ©Copyrighted and Trademarks of Padawan Outpost.com , UK.

“Electronic Core Collection” – A range of “Plug and Play” sabers

Hello Everybody, hope all of you are in good form. I know I am in a good mood as I have news of yet another “new arrival” at For Tyeth Towers and I have a new collection to showcase today. More on the new arrival later but first to my new collection of hilts which I gave a small sneak peek at (I think it was a few months back) when I did my Nerf inspire range. These sabers are a collection of basic hilts that have a modular or “Core” design where the electronics are housed in an interchangeable chassis system, a frame to hold the internal components securely). The chassis as mentioned holds the circuit board, battery, speaker and LED bulbs securely to prevent damage but the chassis also allows you to remove these parts and quickly install them in a new hilt. Sometime this type of tech is known as “Plug and Play”. Anyhoo whichever name is used a chassis looks a bit like this:

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Chassis Core with speaker and LED module

This system makes it slightly more cost effective to build up a collection of sabers because you can buy/make one Chassis Core and then mulitiple “empty hilts” or modular parts to interchange making your own distinctive style. A few custom saber companies make these “Empties” and modular parts so I decided to come up with a range of my own. So here is my FT Electronic Core Collection:

Long time viewers/readers may just remember these preview images I posted back in April! I went for a mixture of lengths from Youngling/child friendly one handed hilts to full length double hander hilts with the option for two blades! But all utilise the chassis system so one Core could be used for all the hilts (of course one hilt at a time 😀). Here are a few more close up Glamour shots with each hilt separately:

Next up the twin “Black Sun” sabers:

And finally the Silver Streak family:

I am kinda drawn to the twin “Black Suns” hilts personally but I think all of them have a charm about them. Then again, I DO have a bit of a thing for dark hilts at the moment – which brings me to my news of a new arrival….

You may remember last December I revealed my “Ultimate Works Flyte” lightsaber I purchased, well I discovered another very nice and slightly more advanced saber at a great price and….I bought one! This new saber has some very “trick” custom technology installed in it called “Xenopixel ” which means it has the ability to do some amazing effects my normal sabers can’t. This is because the “Xenopixel Blade” has 122 LEDs mounted along the inside of the blade tube and these can be triggered individually so you can program them to appear on/off at different times creating scrolling effects – sort of like the scrolling LED shop window signs. The saber I ordered came in on Wednesday (21st Oct) and I have been amazed how good it is! It also sounds awesome too with the ability to install numerous different sets of sounds to replicate different character’s hilts. I bought the saber from Padawan Outpost in the UK and here is one of their product images of the hilt named the IOTA:

Courtesy of Padawan Outpost

I tried to get a few pictures of my own but this saber is BRIGHT and my camera phone had difficulty photographing it…then I needed to charge the saber fully so I hope to have a full review and maybe a video of this beauty in action with my Flyte hilt soon – they make an awesome matching pair!

That just about wraps up this post and my “Electronic Core Collection”. Thanks so much for checking them out and I hope you will all call back to see my upcoming new saber review. I also have a few “Visions” – designs inspired by Disney/Lucasfilm’s new animated series of Anime shows…and a few more LEGO creations to showcase. But for now I’d like to thank you all whether a long time reader, or a newcomer, you are all much appreciated. If you like what you see here then please comment, like and if not already subscribe so you miss nothing and spread the word about FTSabersite! Till next time….

“Electronic Core Collection” is a collection of designs by For Tyeth/FTSabersite built and rendered in Blender 3D and are ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2021. The product image of the “IOTA” saber is from Padawan Outpost. I AM NOT IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH PADAWAN OUTPOST – I AM JUST A SATISFIED CUSTOMER – AND I HAVE RECIEVED NO REWARD OR PAYMENT FOR MENTIONING THEM HERE. (OK legal bit covered!)

Marshall Law Saber – Inspired by Cara Dune

Hello Everybody, today after all the excitement of last week’s video post (aren’t I getting technical?) I return to a new saber design. This time it is a hilt for a character from Alderaan and was a Shock Trooper who after the Battle of Endor gave up military life and became a mercenary. She didn’t like the Empire, not surprising as it was the Imperials and the Death Star that destroyed her home world and killed all the people that were dear to her…so any chance she got to “take out” any ex-Imperials she took. These Imperials became Warlords and tried to control isolated planets and systems. During this time Carasynthia used her skills to help the downtrodden. But you may know her as Cara Dune…

Cara(synthia) Dune – The Mandalorian: ©Copyright Disney/Lucasfilm.

Yes, Cara Dune. Cara was a member of the “Alliance to restore the Republic” and fought with them for a while but eventually became disillusioned with the “boring” jobs of escorting delegates, suppressing riots and eventually went mercenary. It was during this time she met with Din Djarin (the Mandalorian) and Grogu…and had a few skirmishes with the ex Imps I mentioned. In one adventure Cara and Djarin managed to destroy an AT-ST Chicken Walker that was being used to terrorise/control a village. They accomplished it by using her military know-how and guerrilla warfare tactics. Another adventure led to Dune travelling to the planet Nevarro in an attempt to overthrow another Empire remnant and Cara needed little encouragement. After helping to settle the situation on Nevarro, Djin departed and Dune stayed behind and became The Marshall….she even got a Jedi Star badge, oh and I thought she needed a saber sooo I designed this one, Marshall Law….

I thought that the saber Cara would favour would be a no-nonsense and easy to use battle ready design. So I came up with a design that had good ergonomics and grip, a tough armoured shell but I did just add a small amount of bling with the activation switch. The emitter has a grid like portion that allows Cara to grip the saber with both hands to allow powerful strikes and just below the emitter is a smaller diameter “choke point” which allows her to single handedly use the saber with spinning techniques. The handgrip has a recessed leather panelling before returning to an armoured metal finish. Around the lower hand grip is a series of black coloured bars that represent the tattoo around Cara’s upper arm -almost bar-code like. Then a vented pommel finishes the hilt. I intended to replicate the colour of Cara’s costume but some glitch turned the greenish blue I intended into a more pure blue, but I think it still looks ok. I made up for the error with the activation switch however and incorporated the Marshall’s Star emblem into the switch. The Marshall’s badge looks like this…

This is the badge of the law, and yes I made a 3D representation of it too! I altered the red and white markings a little and flattened the actual Firebird logo so that I could also use a smaller version of the badge as the activation switch but the badge is fully 3D. To be honest I don’t think Cara really needs a saber as she is highly trained in using military equipment and tactics but in the finale of Season 2 of The Mandalorian, she saw a wise Jedi Master with a green lightsaber wipe out a whole ship full of elite Dark Troopers…..so she might just want a saber after that! (And no the Jedi wasn’t me, despite the fact I wield a green saber!😎).

And that I think just about wraps up this week’s design. I have been busy entertaining myself (with Babu Frik’s arrival last week) and watching a new animated Star Wars series named “Star Wars: Visions” which is a non canon series of stories set in the Star Wars theme and produced by some of the great Anime studios. These cartoons have been awesomely beautiful and varied…and yes they have some sabers which I have worked on trying to recreate for future posts. So please stick around to see those, along with a mix of new LEGO builds, maybe some cosplaying and….maybe…..another light up unboxing! (<EDIT! There will be an unboxing – an order has been placed!)

In the meantime, thank you to everybody who checked out this post and supported my site. As always whether you are a regular visitor or a newcomer you are appreciated and keep me posting. Don’t forget you can comment, like and if you haven’t already, subscribe so you don’t miss anything. Till next time….

“Marshall Law Saber – Inspired by Cara Dune” is a For Tyeth Editions design and was 3D modelled and rendered in Blender 3D. The 3D model and renders are ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2021. “Cara(synthia) Dune”, “The Mandalorian” and all Star Wars names, logos, images and related material are Trademark/©Copyright of Disney/LucasFilm.

A Thank You To Darth Rage Reviews -An Addition to For’s Family

Hello Every body and especially to Darth Rage. Now viewers may not know who Darth Rage is or know anything about his Star Wars content channels Darth Rage Reviews but I have been following Rage for quite some time and now and then would comment on his videos. Rage is “Your source for the Force” and discusses and demonstrates all things Star Wars and lightsaber related. He also does lightsaber spinning, posting regular videos on Facebook and TikTok as well as YouTube. Rage also has cosplaying videos and “quick change short videos” too. His YouTube channel has been growing with rising subscriber numbers. To celebrate this Rage has held “Giveaway Draws” when he reached 800, 950 and 1000 subscribers….you just had to like, comment and publicly subscribe to his YT channel to enter. I was subbed, and I just commented on numerous videos and then the Force looked kindly upon me and well this happened…

Yes I won, and the sound of tiny little feet I mentioned was the feet of my own little Babu Frik! I was amazed as I was just browsing YouTube on the day of the draw when, with 2 minutes to go before it happened I got a notification pop up. So I clicked to watch and support just as Rage drew my name out! As such I want to thank him, but just typing this doesn’t seem enough so I thought I’d try something….new….

I hope I didn’t shock too many of you, I admit I am not a natural YouTuber and was nervous but I managed to stammer my thanks out – even with the uninvited “guests” 😂. I was so pleased when Babu arrived that I wasn’t thinking straight and forgot to demonstrate him talking but keep reading and I’ll include a bonus video of “Babu Quotes” down below.

I would like to ask you to check out Darth Rage’s media platforms and channels, he truly is a great member of the Lightsaber and Star Wars community – and went above and beyond to make sure Babu got to me. Here are the links to his content!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DarthRageReviews

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darthragereviews/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeyxswB3/

Ok it’s time to listen in and see if Babu seems happy in his new home….

He really is a quality toy and very chatty. He is also inquisitive and soon found my stash of sabers…

Babu has really settled in and will have a good home in For Tyeth Towers. And that just about wraps up my thank you to Darth Rage. I hope you will support him in any way you can and I wish him continued success – and I’ll be along for the ride. I only have to thank you all for your support and for checking this post out left to do, you are all very much appreciated, whether a new visitor or a regular….thank you. Oh and I have a new sign off I want to try….Till next time, I am For Tyeth….the FOR in the Force!

“Darth Rage Reviews” name, media content and materials are used with permission. “Babu Frik” is manufactured by Mattel Toys and is Trademark/©Copyright of Mattel Toys and Disney/Lucasfilm. The Babu Frik quotes played by the toy are ©Copyright of Disney/Lucasfilm.

For Tyeth’s New Condo – I built it brick by brick

Hello Everybody, today I return to the world of brick building and the Lego Digital Designer. I recently posted how I got a Jedi Interceptor made of Lego and I thought I needed a place to park it when I wasn’t out and about saving the galaxy (or visiting the local corner shop for supplies!). So I decided to build myself a landing pad and condo. I wanted it to have facilities for my Interceptor along with space for a workshop and a nice area to live in. This is what I came up with…(but be aware it is a work in progress and will be expanded soon…)…

This new complex has two “islands” as it were, one is the Interceptor “hangar” facilities area and across the bridge there is the living quarters. The landing pad has a nice raised landing cradle that supports the ship in it’s landing configuration and also allows access for maintenance. The landing pad has “runway” lighting and guidance equipment to make landing easier. There is a twin level garage and storage facility which I will soon be filling with various equipment and stores but you might be able to see one equipment rack already installed holding a spare lightsaber and a blaster rifle for defence, I will need all the space I can get soon so I decided I needed a second “wing” to my abode and so added the second “island” for habitation purposes. Here are a few more pictures of my living quarters…

In the first picture you can see a close up of the equipment rack I mentioned before, but the rest of the pics show some of the other facilities. First up is a “Home Cinema” with widescreen TV and rows of seating. This is useful in case I need to do any briefings for Jedi missions – I can use my home cinema as command centre. Don’t worry if you have realised that the walls seem to be missing, there is an “X-Ray” function in Lego’s Digital Designer software that allows a user to toggle the visibility of various parts to ease building and for taking screenshots of interiors. My father in law was a highly regarded builder and brick layer so I know how to construct a house! In the next image you can see my new lightsaber workbench where I will be assembling all my “virtual” lightsabers. I even added a soldering station and testing module (the white console on the right side of the desk….and ooh there’s another saber on the floor!). The fourth image shows a nice little sleeping chamber – and no it’s not for me…that bed is WAY too small to fit me…this is for the new addition to the Tyeth family. I will talk about the new arrival in a moment. The last image was just a picture of yours truly looking out to the horizon awaiting delivery of my new friend!

And to news about my new friend, well the little one has left the Gulf Coast of America, visited Miami and has been flown across the Atlantic and arrived in London. I am currently waiting for UK Customs to clear my friend then the postal service can deliver my new guest. And you will love the new addition….I do already and they will be very helpful when it comes to building my sabers – they are VERY tech savvy! I’m sooo excited.

Anyhoo, that just about wraps up this Lego themed post so thank you for checking it out. As I mention I will be making modifications to my Lego home in future. I am also working on some Mandalorian themed lightsabers and I am of course working on a Welcome Post for my new friend so there is still more to come in future posts. Thank you for your support today, whether you are a new caller to FTSabersite or one of my regulars you’re all very much appreciated. Till next time….

“For Tyeth’s Condo” is a Lego Digital Designer model MOC (My Own Creation) and is ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2021. Lego, “Lego Stud”, the “Lego Digital Designer” and all related names, logos, images and related materials are Trademark/©Copyright of the LEGO Group.