Happy May The Fourth Be With You Day – A Big Shout-out to Kaiser Sosay

Hello Everybody and Happy May the Fourth to you all! I hope you all have a great day and if you’re lucky enough to have Disney+ then you’ll hopefully get to see the new show “Kenobi” soon. I have to apologise however that this post is a little bit rushed as things in For Tyeth Towers hasn’t run smoothly this past week or so and all my plans for something big to celebrate May 4th went awry. But I took the opportunity to give a big shout out to a fantastic member of the lightsaber collecting/Star Wars community. That person is a member of the Ultrasabers fan forum and is called Kaiser Sosay. I post my designs on Saberforum.com and Kaiser is a regular viewer of my work I post and sometimes commented or offered suggestions. Well just before Thanksgiving in the USA Kaiser tried to contact me but due to technical issues couldn’t reach me but eventually I managed to log onto the forum and received his message. That message was that he had admired my designs a long time but didn’t comment as much as he thought he should and wanted to make up for it. He had read my comments on the forum saying I liked Qui-Gon Jinn’s saber and I hoped one day to own one from Ultrasabers. To make up for his lack of support he wanted to gift me an Ultrasaber Qui-Gon Jinn replica he owned (he actually had two). I was speechless, as here are a few product pictures of the hilt from Ultrasabers’ website….

This is an awesome saber and of course is modelled on the hilt of my favourite character Qui-Gon….and Kaiser wanted to give me his spare one as thanks for all the effort and contributions I make to the community. I was hesitant at first to accept his gift but he was insistant that I take it as he had no use for it and it needed a good home. So I gratefully accepted his offer and he arranged to have it sent to me. And when it arrived I couldn’t have been happier…as you can see here….

The first image was the picture I posted on the forum and the second shows the saber lit up in all it’s glory, because I forgot mention above that this saber was fully installed with light and sound…worth over £200! Kaiser had even “made some modifications” himself adding the beautiful red activation switch just like it has in the Phantom Menace and inside he swapped the electronics so this saber had sound AND could change blade colours! Obviously I will keep it in green to match Qui-Gon but I have the option if I want to swap colours for display purposes. I took a few images of the hilt for you to take a closer look but as I said above things haven’t run smoothly this week and after transferring the images they seem to have become distorted but hopefully they will still show how great this hilt is….

Now you may have noticed that the end cap of this saber is different than the pictures above off the manufacturer’s website because Kaiser swapped it for the slightly longer chromed pommel so again I will at some point buy an original pommel so I can swap between this look and the canon version. And I can do this because the hilt is modular and breaks down into pieces – even the shiny silver shroud comes off so the saber is plain black!…

As this is a special Star Wars day, this generous act is also very special and actually resembles an event in Star Wars history involving Mace Windu. In-between the events of “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” there was a battle and Mace Windu and another Jedi named E’eth Koth were involved. During the battle both were caught up in an explosion and lost their lightsabers, however in the confusion they each picked up the other Jedi’s saber but instead of swapping back they used their comrade’s weapon until it was safe for them to swap back. This was a sign of utmost friendship, trust and respect known as The Concordance of Fealty. And by Kaiser gifting me this saber I feel I have performed the act of Fealty with him. He is a great member of the Star Wars community and has my heartfelt thanks. This saber has a good home forever here.

That just about wraps this post up, again sorry it is slightly rushed and not as polished but my original plans fell through….however I feel this story is important enough to be told on May 4th. I hope you will return on Saturday the 14th to see my next post (I’m gonna take this weekend off as I posted this article early) to see what else I have in store. I have more Katanas, more starfighters, and more blasters and hopefully some costuming stuff. So thanks for checking this post out and Till next time…

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU AND TO KAISER SOSAY!

This post is ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2022. The Ultrasabers Consular and it’s images are Trademark/©Copyright of Ultrasabers LLC based in Texas, USA.

Happy May the Fourth – A New Jedi Emerges…

Hello Everybody and HAPPY MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU day! Yes today is the big day for Star Wars fans and the Jedi like me living in exile in this universe. And today is a very significant day for me as I finally complete a Star Wars Bucket List accomplishment. About 18 months ago I won a battle with the Banking Clans in the UK and got some money back and bought myself a new laptop after which I had some spare credits left over. Then the COVID scourge hit and everything shut down so I knew I wouldn’t be spending that credit on going on holiday to Bal’Demnic as I usually do and on Earth there would be no social gatherings such as Comic Cons or Sci-Fi Fests, so what could I spend my cash on? The answer is….I decided to assemble a Jedi costume! I have mentioned little bits about making a “cosplay” outfit but now I have completed the base parts and could appear in public with it. So today I reveal what I bought and how I look! Ok first up, the base tunic set.

This basic Jedi Tunic Set I purchased from a well known Cosplay costume company known as CosplaySky and it is a base outfit to modify into a real nice costume. The fit was good but I did need to add a few alterations using “Hook and Loop” fasteners to hold the tunic closed and on the shoulders I sewed “Press/Snap Fasteners” so I could attach the over shoulder tabards in place more secure (they can slip down your arms when spinning/duelling with your saber). However as this was only a basic set the belt and robe weren’t quite “movie quality”. The belt was “pleather” and fastened with velcro -not very strong to hang a saber off, and the robe was made of polyester which was thin, semi-transparent up close and was too lightweight. They needed replacing and I needed an under garment to replace the dark brown “scarf collar” attached to the tunic.

Now I wanted to emulate my “spirit Jedi” that is Qui-Gon Jinn as I have been likened to him in the past and Qui-Gon had sandy coloured tunics not with a dark brown collar, so I had to buy a loose fitting under garment and eventually found this top on a fashion webstore. It had the long scrunched sleeve look and an open V-neck for the “relaxed look”. The Hummus colour went perfectly with the outer tunic. And I was ever so fortunate as I bought the last one in stock! But that was just the start, I had to replace the belt and robe…how would I do that?

The answer to my belt problem came from a fantastic online webstore I found on ETSY named Leather3DNeon, run by a young craftsperson named Eugen. He makes numerous leather costume parts like Mandalorian blaster holsters and belts but it was his Jedi Master belt I was interested in. As soon as I saw it and knew I could afford it I bought one. And I’m so pleased I did….this belt is perfection. It arrived from the Ukraine far quicker than I was expecting and when I opened the packaging (which felt ceremonial with the wrapping paper and red ribbon bow seen in the top image) I discovered a beautiful piece of unbelievably crafted leather. The belt was a nice 3mm (known as 10oz leather) thick band and had the iconic Chicago Studs which held the thinner second belt in place. The buckle on the front was also metal. But the real beauty laid at the back of the belt where I found the belt fastened using more of the metal studs which fitted into “Keyhole” shaped holes. There are six size positions too just in case I eat too many food pellets and gain weight I can let the belt out a little. Then to cover the gap the belt has a wrap-around sleeve which is embossed with the Jedi Order symbol…just awesome detailing. Then as a final touch of class, in the picture you can see an oval shaped tag with a split ring? Well that is an extra little gift of a Jedi Keyring! Thank you Eugen, you are a Master!

Now I needed some footwear as the costume I bought was only the “soft parts” and boots weren’t included. Here I had to push the boat out and spend quite a bit of money. I could have bought a “costume quality” pair of boots that might have lasted a year or two but I also have weird feet and need good shoes. So as I had just received my money back from the Clans, I was persuaded by Mrs Tyeth to purchase a pair of Qui-Gon replica boots I had seen but until then were out of my price range. The boots came from the company Gladiator-Polo, and are the closest boots you can buy to the ones worn by Liam Neeson – they are so good they automatically get approval from the Star Wars costume groups like the Rebel Legion Trooping Group and the 501st Squadron who do charity event appearances. Again I have mentioned these boots before so here is just a quick reminder…

That meant I had my tunic, under tunic, pants, belt and boots but all Jedi costumes need a robe, a great robe and I think I found a perfect robe! Again I scoured the net and I came across a webstore on ETSY once more. This time it belonged to a UK based lady named Linda Reece and her store was titled Creativesewandsew! And boy was I glad to have found this craftperson’s site. Her products are above and beyond. I mentioned I wanted to make my costume “movie quality” well the robe I purchased measured up to that level – and then some. It is a wool mix blend (wool and polyester) so it is very hard wearing yet has a soft draping feel and texture. The hood is enormous and hangs just as a Jedi hood should. The sleeves extend down to my knuckles, exactly as the guidelines say they should and when you wrap the material around yourself boy is it warm! I may suffer wearing it in summer but it looks just too good not to. Anyhoo here is the product image (of course I got a brown one not this black one!)

This robe as I say is almost beyond words, but it didn’t come without a little drama! I ordered the robe and sat happily awaiting delivery notification when I received an email from Miss Reece titled “Regards your recent purchase…” OH NO! I thought it was gonna say “Apologies Master Tyeth but….” and it was going to be delayed or worse…..cancelled but I had a major pleasant surprise. Apparently the price listed on the site was wrong and I was being given a refund to reflect the correct price! I was astounded and want to thank Miss Reece for it. Of course when the robe arrived I was blown away by it’s quality. Proper overlocked stitching, that gorgeous textured material, the absolute perfect fit (and I only stated my height regards fitting yet it felt made to measure!)…and I had to try it on. I looked terrible due to lockdown in the UK meaning I hadn’t been to the barbers’ shop so I won’t show the pics of me trying it for the first time but here is the Glamour Gallery of how all the parts come together….

May I introduce myself…I am Master For Tyeth…now a properly attired Jedi! And before I go any further I have to say thank you to Mrs Tyeth for her camera work which wasn’t easy using a mobile phone in my flat’s hallway, and I did photo edit the mess that was my hair a little but you get the picture of how I look. And even though I have the skills to make the saber look “real” the images’ blades have not been altered…the camera just makes it look like this.

So finally I want to thank all the companies and craftspeople that I bought my parts from for making my dream a reality. I’ll leave links to each vendor’s websites and stores but don’t worry I am not being paid or rewarded in any way for this if you click to check them out, I am just a grateful Jedi passing on my knowledge.

Base Jedi Tunic Set from Cossky (New CosplaySky): https://cossky.com/collections/star-wars-1/products/star-wars-kenobi-jedi-tunic-costume-custom-made

Jedi Master Leather Belt by Eugen at Leather3DNeon: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Leather3Dneon?ref=search_shop_redirect

Qui-Gon Jinn replica boots by Gladiator-Polo (USA): https://www.gladiator-polo.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=209&product_id=570

And the crowning glory the magnificent Pagan/Druid/Monk’s robe by Miss Reece of Creativesewandsew: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Creativesewandsew?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=661248773

I haven’t added the link to ASOS designer fashion store as it sold out of the top I bought so I didn’t forget them. But again I want to say a big thanks to all that contributed to my costume. I just need a few accessories now like belt pouches and food capsules but I will collect those in the next couple of months hopefully – all ready for when Star Wars get-togethers can safely resume.

Now that brings me to the end of this bumper costume reveal, I hope you enjoyed it and are enjoying May The Fourth Be With You day (ok and Revenge of the Fifth for the Sith Star Wars fans!) Thank you for visiting today and I sincerely hope you’ll call back for future posts where I’ll get back to saber designs…and maybe soon some Convention appearances! Till next time, here’s the best dressed Jedi Master….

For Tyeth/FTSabersite has received no reward or payment for this post and it’s listings. I am just a very satisfied and happy customer. I hope the info can help others build their own costumes. All images are ©Copyrighted and belong to their respective owners. Links are correct as of May 4th 2021.

Happy Star Wars Day – from For Tyeth

Hello Everybody and Happy Star Wars Day – May The Fourth Be With You! As today is a special day for Star Wars fans I felt I needed to do something to celebrate too…so I managed to transfer a classic model from my old laptop and add a bit of an animation to create a short May The Fourth e-card of sorts! I am afraid it is very short but I wasn’t sure my new laptop would handle anything more complex in it’s current state but I did manage to produce something (You know “Do or Do Not…there is no try!”)

I sincerely hope you all celebrate Star Wars in a safe and fun way (especially in today’s unique circumstances) So enjoy watching the films, or the TV shows and cartoons, take part in an online celebration – be it on YouTube, Twitch, Insta, FB or your preferred platform of choice. Thanks for your support all year round not just today. Till next time…..

May the For be With You!

3D Model and animation made in Blender 3D by For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2020 and are ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2020. Star Wars is Trademark/©Copyright of Disney/Lucasfilm.

The Destined One Saber and May The Fourth Be With You

Hello Everybody and happy “May The Fourth Be With You” day! Yes today is Star Wars day when fans of the franchise celebrate the story of a young farmboy named Luke, that lives on a desert planet called Tatooine. That is until he meets up with an old hermit wizard who is really a famous guardian warrior known as a Jedi Knight, and he sets off on a journey to save a Princess from the clutches of an evil Empire and a villain named Darth Vader.

Darth Vader, the villain of the story is a half man, half machine Dark Lord of the Sith who was once a Jedi Knight and peacekeeper of the galaxy. However he was corrupted and turned to the Darkside by events and the actions of his Master, the Emperor. Darth Vader is famous for the weapon he used, a red bladed lightsaber that instilled fear in all who saw it or faced it in combat. As Vader is the focal point of the story I felt I should concentrate on him and attempt to recreate a version of his lightsaber for this special day. Vader used three hilts in the original trilogy of films so I decided I would build a model similar to the one seen in “Star Wars A New Hope”.

Three Darth Vader replicas.

Darth Vader’s ANH hilt replica

The pictures above show the three hilt designs from the original trilogy of films and the single hilt picture shows the one I attempted to recreate from “A New Hope”. It isn’t 100% accurate as I built this from “eyeballing” the pictures above and estimating measurements but I hope I got pretty close. As always you can be the judge as I present “The Destined One Saber”…

“The Destined One” 1

“The Destined One” 2

“The Destined One” Emitter

“The Destined One” Switch and grip

“The Destined One” Pommel

“The Destined One” Switch and lever

“The Destined One” Topside

“The Destined One” Underside

I really worked hard on this hilt as there are lots of tiny details. Starting at the pommel, there are ridges around the circumference of the pommel (to help unscrew the part should you need to repair the internal components!) Then next up is the famous “T-Track” ribs on the handgrip. It was believed for a long time that these black strips were made from car windshield wiper blades but an interview with the prop designer Roger Christian explained how they were cut from runner strips used for holding sliding doors in furniture cabinets. There are also a set of accent rings that circle the hilt and sit beneath the strips. Next along is the switch section which has the lever and clamp band from a vintage camera flashgun and slotted into the clamp was a plastic strip with bubbles on. This strip is the screen from an Exactra 19 pocket calculator which magnified the LED digits. Further toward the emitter are a set of 6 lozenge shaped holes cut into the hilt which shows the brass coloured inner metal. The emitter has a few “Greeblies”, the decorative parts used to look like control knobs. In reality these were Terminal Wire Posts and Caps. Wires on old electric connections were wound onto a threaded post and a thumbscrew style cap screwed down to hold the wire in place. To finish the details there is a “D-Ring” loop to hang the saber from a hook on your belt. Oh and of course a Sith Red blade!

The Destined One Studio Wireframe

The Destined One Meditation Chamber

The Destined One Meditation Chamber Lit Up

In the above pictures you can see the wireframe display of the hilt as I built it in Blender and the last two images were my experiments to present the hilt in a more fancy manner. I attempted to build a plinth that resembled Darth Vader’s meditation chamber that we see in Empire Strikes Back. Again it’s not an exact copy but just something Sci-Fi looking. It also enabled me to try out different lighting set ups too.

Now some of you may be wondering why I named this hilt “The Destined One”? Well, it is due to the fact Darth Vader may be the one who brings balance to the Force as when he was known as Anakin he was discovered to be “The Chosen One” mentioned in the Jedi texts as the person to restore that balance. But I didn’t want to copy the name! I hope I have gotten somewhere close with this model as it is an icon of the films.

That just about wraps up this “May The Fourth” day post, but first I have to say thanks to all of you, my viewers and followers for your continued support of this site. I have noticed an increase in numbers of visitors which is nice. Whether you are a regular or one of the newcomers and this is your first visit, you are much appreciated. I’m not sure which hilt I will post next, I have a choice between the Jedi Fallen Order inspired hilt I teased recently or a remodelled weapon for a Wookie (EDIT: please see footnote below), but whichever I choose I hope you will return to check it out. May The Fourth Be With You today and always…Till next time….

EDIT: Due to the sad news of the passing of Peter Mayhew (on April 30th) the actor who portrayed Chewbacca I will be showcasing the Wookie saber “Wookie Berserker” next as my tribute to Mr Mayhew.

“The Destined One” Saber is a For Tyeth Editions design and is ©Copyright of For Tyeth/FTSabersite 2016-2019. The design is inspired by the hilt of “Darth Vader” seen in “Star Wars A New Hope”. “Star Wars”, “Darth Vader” and all related names, logos, images and material are Trademark/©Copyright of Disney/LucasFilm.