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Fake Light Sabers Making Real Cash
jdedman4 writes "The fanfare over Episode II brings with it absurdist prequel theories as well as this article from the Houston Chronicle detailing one fan-enterpreneur's success. In eight years, Forney, Texas resident Jeff Parks has made himself a millionaire by making customized light sabers for collectors. "My goal is to be the best light saber designer in the world," quips Parks."
Hardly. Archagnel Gabriel wields a sword of light. That good enough for you?
"Parks is not affiliated with LucasFilms, Ltd., the maker of the Star Wars movies, but he has sought a relationship. Six months ago, he lost a contract bid to be the official licensed manufacturer of Star Wars light sabers to Master Replicas."
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html
I think he was commenting on the extreme bandwidth restrictions of geocities which mean that the linked site probably lasted approximately 5ms before being cut off..
Plus, it says he has grossed a million, which means that doesn't include materials, tools, and shipping. And he's still working out of his garage.
I'd be surprised if he makes for than $40,000 US a year.
(Before taxes. AIEEE!)
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Here's the master replica website in case you want to actually see the official replica saber, complete with a quicktime movie demo of one in action.... at least it satisfied my curiosity while the park sabers site is being slashdotted.
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The damn thing would take a LOT of energy to run.
They cut though, what looked like, at least 2 feet of dense metal.
So, the actual saber is probably as thick as a human hair. Incredibly efficient so it doesn't heat up the air around it and fry the user. Doesn't emit "Bad" radiation of any type.
I'm still not sure how you can always get it to cut though things without turning stuff into gas. You certainly wouldn't want to cut though metal walls when you're getting 2000 degree metal gas being blown back into your face.
Anyway, it's not possible. At the very least, the cable from the device to your portable nuclear reactor would be unwieldy.
Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
Master Replicas has better stuff. Including models that make the appropriate "wooom" sound when you wave them.
Parks makes the replicas to look faintly like versions used in the movies. They are typically aircraft aluminum, and are very, very tough and scratch resistant. Some are designed for a blade, others just hang on your belt and make people ask if it works.
The item I have is based on Luke's first/the Graflex design. It serves its purpose well enough for the costume during the occasional con or costume party. If you want a "lightsaber" of your own, Jeff does a good job.
Lucasfilm generally does not chase down anyone who avoids the use of trademarked names and likenesses or is otherwise obviously capitalizing on his vast empire. Otherwise, people who make costume templates and accessories, especially the stormtrooper stuff and droid parts, would be sued immediately.
Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
If he made movie replicas, yes. But he doesn't, he makes his own designs, and was one of the first to use the Electro-Luminecent acryllic-something blades (nearly indestructible blades that kind of look like a Timex Indiglo but in various colours)