Hi, I am a long time hobby crafter and I have just started a new project to build none other than the mandalorian Darksaber from the star wars eu. I never settle for "prop" looking.... props.... so I really want to capture the look of a "real" Darksaber.
Darksaber:
I have already purchased plastics and what is meant to be "The world’s mattest, flattest, black art material" paint.
(The question!)
I now need the brightest possible lighting for inside the blade and that is where I have hit trouble. My original plan was to encase an LED strip inside a diffusing plastic blade, then paint the sides leaving the edges clear and scratching the pattern into the paint to give the right effect. Unfortunately, all the LED strips I have been able to find are WAY too dim for the right effect. I have seen you can get 800 lumens LED strips, but they all require 12 volt DC power supplies which to my experience will not fit in the hilt. Do any of you far more experienced folk out there know of any super compact 12 volt DC power supplies that aren't ridiculously expensive? Or, alternatively, do you have any other idea's to provide adequate brightness to the blade. I really don't want to be able to see the plastic for the light coming off it (like when you look at a super bright led household light bulb you don't see the bulb, because the light is so bright).
I realize I may be disappointed when reality slaps me in the face, but I have to ask as I really want to complete this project. Any help anyone could give would be very much appreciated.
Darksaber:
I have already purchased plastics and what is meant to be "The world’s mattest, flattest, black art material" paint.
(The question!)
I now need the brightest possible lighting for inside the blade and that is where I have hit trouble. My original plan was to encase an LED strip inside a diffusing plastic blade, then paint the sides leaving the edges clear and scratching the pattern into the paint to give the right effect. Unfortunately, all the LED strips I have been able to find are WAY too dim for the right effect. I have seen you can get 800 lumens LED strips, but they all require 12 volt DC power supplies which to my experience will not fit in the hilt. Do any of you far more experienced folk out there know of any super compact 12 volt DC power supplies that aren't ridiculously expensive? Or, alternatively, do you have any other idea's to provide adequate brightness to the blade. I really don't want to be able to see the plastic for the light coming off it (like when you look at a super bright led household light bulb you don't see the bulb, because the light is so bright).
I realize I may be disappointed when reality slaps me in the face, but I have to ask as I really want to complete this project. Any help anyone could give would be very much appreciated.
