Help Needed: Building Lightsabres

[Hat Guy]

Hey guys, I'm looking at arming a couple of 28mm minis with lightsabre-like weapons and am looking for some advice.

I'm not keen on simply transplanting WotC sabres from old minis, should I use plastic rod or metal? And what about painting, I've seen a few techniques but what to know what else is out there? 

[Sinewgrab]

I tend to use metal rods, and I paint the middle white, and wet blend the chosen color in from the two ends.

I round the ends with files, and go from there.



I'll try and get some better pictures when I get back to that case later this week.  I didn't replace the blades on the kids swords, but the painting technique was the same.

[Inso]

I would use a standard 0.8mm pin, drilled into the hand with a 1/16" x 0.14 aluminium tube slipped over it and would fill the tip with green stuff. I have done it here:



There is also the clear acrylic rod option:

http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?category=accessories~acrylic

That would be a case of either super-gluing it on or drilling and pinning.

I haven't painted any light sabres yet but will likely go for a bright base going duller towards the tip.