Mobile Beam Saber – Inspired by Mobile Suit Gundam anime

Hello Everybody, today I have a fairly simple saber offering which comes as a result of me scouring the Internet and social media. I went for a virtual walk around the Internet and a few weeks ago someone on the Ultrasabers forum mentioned the classic Anime series “Mobile Suit Gundam” and the weapons used in the show. The series was created/directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1979 and featured large “battle suit Mechas” known as Gundam armours. These “robots” were piloted by human operators during a disastrous war that wiped out half of Earth’s population. The show ran for 43 (initial) episodes before various factors led to it’s partial cancellation. A few years later Gundam was re-worked and edited into three movies and a new toy line was created featuring models of Gundam suits (Gunpla I think is the toy range’s name). Well it turns out the Gundam were armed with specialised weaponry and one such weapon was the “Beam Saber”. The Beam Saber is very much like a lightsaber in appearance and function, a hilt with an extending “plasma” blade which can cut through armour plating. So knowing these details I modelled a quick Blender 3D version of the Bandia toys replica of the Beam Saber…here is the early build pictures…

I thought this was ok as a starting point for the saber and posted this to the Ultrasabers forum but I knew it wasn’t really as sharp as I’d like. However I kept working on it behind the scenes, a little detail here, another there. Then I discovered a new add-on tool that helped me greatly to add much more crisp detailing features. The add-on assisted in making cut-outs, slots/windows and recesses as well as fusing separate sections into one solid part. As I was tinkering I also ventured onto social media and one particular FB page where I discovered that a member of the group was also asking about this particular saber – i.e. “had it been made as a custom lightsaber”. Well a fellow 3D designer and “unofficial” admin for the group said “Yeah I could probably make one…if you get me more pictures”. To build my model I used one image that I found on the net of a replica Beam Saber toy made by Bandai and the toy looked like this…

Bandai Toys replica Beam Saber electronic toy ©Bandai Toys Ltd

So I don’t think my first attempt was too far off, but with the new add-on I knew I could do better and I finished adding the missing details to come up with this final version I am posting now…another gallery (check out the new switch section area!)

I finished the design off by adding my own take on the pommel as you don’t really see the speaker grill/vent on the replica toy image. I could have looked for accurate pictures of the toy from other angles but adding my own pommel just sets this hilt aside from being a straight copy. But I have to say I like the way the switch section turned out! The new add-on allowed me to create a beautiful and sharp looking recessed area complete with the three bar switch plungers. I even added a socket for a recharge cable near the pommel and the black recessed grooves along the body of the hilt.

All in all I’m happy how this model looks and it proved to me I am getting more accurate and detailed in my recreations now – and it was created from ONE reference image. And that just about wraps up this post, I could have gone into detail about the TV show but it has a history spanning 40 years and numerous re-incarnations and reboots, not to mention DVD releases and computer games, which is all covered in a large Wiki Fandom page. I will say that the 2-3 episodes of a later series I watched for reference were raw and more adult orientated than I expected so maybe not suitable for Younglings!

Thank you all for looking in on this design, it was interesting and fun building it – especially as I once again completed my version before the “big guys” in the industry finish any they may be working on. However I have a lot more original and bespoke designs firmly based in the Star Wars universe so I hope you will call back for upcoming posts featuring more saber models and starships. As always thank you for your visit and support, it’s much appreciated and till next time….stay safe!

“Mobile Beam Saber” is a For Tyeth Editions design inpsired by Mobile Suit Gundam also known as First Gundam or Gundam 0079. Gundam ’79 is a televised anime series, produced and animated by Nippon Sunrise. It was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, The Beam Saber image is Trademark and ©Copyright of Bandai Eectronic Toys ltd. The 3D model and renders were created by For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2020 and are ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2020.

Paladin Defenders Crystal Katana – for DK44 and his Younglings

Hello Everybody, and especially to DK44 and his younglings (hi guys!). Today is VERY, VERY exciting as not only do I have a completely new bespoke FT Editions design but I have learned there is going to be a new season of Star Wars – The Clone Wars which is mega news…and I may have been overdoing things a little, but more on that later. You all came to see a new saber so I had best get on with this post.

I have had a bit of a Voltron Legendary Defenders theme going after I was introduced to it by DK44. The group of five intrepid heroes lends itself to inspire new designs. I built an “inspired by” hilt (see it here) as a way to practise using Blender and I think I have the hang of it now. So here is a saber which came about through my conversation with DK44, where he asked “Are you making a Voltron Katana Tyeth?”…Er, yes I have and I have taken it step further, here is Voltron Paladin “Crystal” Katana…

Voltron Paladin Crystal Katana

Voltron Paladin Crystal Katana 2

Voltron Paladin Crystal Katana 3

Like the pommel? Lion heads!

So to tie in this design with the original Voltron saber seen in the cartoon I used the same style yellow/black handgrips for the body. I just straightened out the bend from the handgrip and added a few indents for grip and detail. The tsuba handguard is a basic hexagonal shape with faces that could have further details etched into. The activation switch sits in it’s own recessed cavity so users don’t accidently de-activate the blade during battle. And as a finishing touch I used the Robo Lion head models I previewed in earlier posts as a pommel piece! And I envisaged that each Lion Head would be colour coded to the Paladin that was using the saber, This means you could make five sabers in corresponding colours, one for each member of Voltron. (To save space I just displayed the yellow version but you can switch colours easily enough).

But I can hear you all say, “Hey Tyeth! Why is this a “Crystal” Katana? It isn’t made of crystal!”….Well no, it isn’t made of crystal but this saber does contain a “Crystal Chamber” which I made and slotted in! It is my first chamber so is basic but I know I can develop it and make it look more “techy” for use in future builds. And if you missed the crystal chamber in the above pics here is a second gallery of close-up pics…

A crystal chamber!

A crystal chamber! Closer.

A crystal chamber! Closer still.

A green crystal, support rods and vents

Because I learned how to merge two model files into one, I was able to build the saber hilt in one file and a second file for the chamber. I tweaked the chamber and when I was happy with it I imported it into the file with the saber and positioned it into the hilt. This means I have so much more control as I can create any object then merge it into whichever project I am working on. And speaking of projects…remember I mentioned above I may have been overdoing things? I have gotten a bit carried away building and I have FIVE more brand new hilts waiting to be displayed!! I have two Solo movie inspired hilts, two droid replicas and a special TLJ inspired saber  coming up!

I am afraid I’m out of time for this Crystal Katana offering, I hope you all enjoyed it. Please call back to see my five new hilts in future posts (Now I don’t usually brag or show off about my creations but I have to say I think you will be impressed by the TLJ saber – I even impressed myself). I very much appreciate your support and comments. Till next time….

“Voltron Legendary Defenders” and all names, logos and related materials are Trademark/© Copyright of DreamWorks Entertainment. “Voltron Paladin Crystal Katana” is an FT Editions saber and is © Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-18.

Paladin Defenders Revisited – FT’s New Blender Version

Hello everybody, nice to see you again – and I mean that literally…my eye has returned to normal and I can see clearly again. And as a result I have been able to work hard on this post and design. You may remember a few weeks ago I posted a design based on Voltron Legendary Defenders the cartoon anime series about a group of five intergalactic heroes who battle to keep Earth safe. The defenders, known as Paladins have a range of gadgets ranging from grappling hooks to broadswords. They also have five mechanised “Lions” that the Paladins pilot. These Lions can combine to form a large humanoid shaped robot and that robot has a bladed weapon. It is this weapon I chose to try and pay tribute to with an “inspired by” design to help me really get to grips with the 3D modelling software Blender. So to my good friend DK44 and his younglings, who are BIG Voltron fans, and to you my viewers this is my redesigned Paladin Defender…

The Original Voltron Hilt

In the workspace

Added a metallic backedge spine

Two-tone handgrip

Pommel detail

Tsuba handguard

I used this build to try out a few different techniques, the first of which was getting a grip on using different materials. Sorry if the pics don’t show it up very well but the back edge of the blade has a metallic sheen to it highlighting the acrylic blade I showcased in my last post. The second technique involves using two materials on the same object. The handgrip demonstrates this as it is two tone, with a gloss yellow and matt black colours which I think really makes the yellow details “Pop”. The main handgrip (the upper grey one) I used as a sculpting project. Using the “Subdivide” and “Loop Edge Cuts” functions I was able to create the ridges in the handle by segmenting it then scaling the segments appropriately. The same applied to the red and silver Tsuba hand guard which was an exercise in shaping the part and adding multiple materials. So I had an upper and lower handgrip, a Tsuba hand guard, a back edge spine and an acrylic blade…all I had to do was line up the parts and group them together and I had the finished hilt! The pics above were from the Blender workspace so here are a few more “beauty” shots of the hilt…

Paladin Defender Pommel

Paladin Defender lower grip and Tsuba

Paladin Defender Tsuba

Palddin Defender Handgrip

Paladin Defender Blade

Paladin Defender rear grip

The Paladin Defender (Blender Version)

That just about wraps up this post and design but I just have time to mention a conversation I had with DK44 where he thought I was making a “Voltron Katana”…well Paladin Defender is not quite a katana but is Voltron themed! However as a way to get you and DK44 to come back and see future posts, guess what?….I have also built a Voltron Katana! So please call back to see that in my next couple of posts. Your support is fantastic and much appreciated. I have to go now and begin designing my own range of hilts. Till next time.

“Voltron”, “Voltron Legendary Defenders” and all associated names, terms and material are © Copyright/Trademark of DreamWorks Entertainment. “Paladin Defenders Lightsaber” is a For Tyeth Edition and is © Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-18.

Anime Hunter Lightsaber – Inspired by Hunter x Hunter

Hello Everybody, today we venture to the Manga Universe and the world of “Hunters”. I am referring to the Manga/Anime phenomenon known as Hunter X Hunter where a young kid called Gon Freechs aspires to become a Hunter, a specialist member of the population who are expert archaeological treasure hunters and for some….Assassins! To become a Hunter you have to be licensed but there is a snag…the success rate for passing the tests is 1 in every 100,000! This doesn’t deter Gon Freechs however and after discovering that his long lost (and presumed dead) father is a Hunter, he embarks on becoming a Hunter in his father’s footsteps and tries to discover what happened to his dad. Well on a perilous mission such as this he will probably need some protection so here is my solution…Anime Hunter!….

Anime Hunter Hilt

Anime Hunter Emitter Plugged

Anime Hunter Emitter

Anime Hunter Body

Anime Hunter Pommel

Anime Hunter Emitter Blade

Anime Hunter Emitter 2 Blade

Anime Hunter Hilt Lightwhip

Anime Hunter Vertical Up

I think this would suit a Hunter and help them in their missions quite nicely. And I think this particular saber matches Gon Freech’s sense of fashion, I managed to match the colours to his outfit! The blade is a nice yellow colour to compliment the green and orange powdercoat. The blade on this hilt is based on a Lightwhip but I imagined this blade was capable of being both a flexible weapon as well as a solid fixed blade (similar to the whip/pole gadget Gon uses in the series)). You will also notice the blade projects from an emitter with three black spines which I thought looked like Gon’s hairstyle. The rest of the hilt is functional but is coated in a green powdercoat with contrasting orange banding to match his outfit.

Hunter x Hunter was created by Yoshihiro Togashi and so far there have been 370 chapters condensed into 35 volume books. There have also been animated television series, movies, ten computer games, a compilation CD of the music from the games and series….they even produced TWO musicals based on the franchise. This makes it one of the biggest selling Manga/Anime franchises in history (in Japan alone up till 2014, there were 66 million copies sold!).

Well I hope you liked this hilt (especially you ArtistByBeauty, I discovered your love of Hunter X Hunter when I watched your 20 questions video. Hopefully viewers, you’ll go and check out Capili Jiron’s blog at: Artist by Beauty) But sadly I am now running out of time and will have to bring this post to an end. I hope you will all return to see future posts, I appreciate all the support you give me. Till next time.

“Anime Hunter Lightsaber” is a For Tyeth Edition design and is ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2018.

“Hunter x Hunter” was created by Yoshihiro Togashi, and the Manga Comics are published by Shueisha and Viz Media. The animated series is produced/distributed by Viz Media and Nippon Animation. All names, logos, images and related material are ©Copyright/Trademark of their respective owners.