HOMEMADE LEGO DARKSABER

Via Starwars.com:

THE STORY OF HOW ONE FAN RECREATED THE ANCIENT MANDALORIAN WEAPON BRICK BY BRICK.

Most Impressive Fans is a feature highlighting the amazing creativity of Star Wars devotees, from cosplay to props. If there’s a fearless and inventive fan out there, we’ll highlight them here.

The first time Taylor Walker brandished his Darksaber — forged from LEGO bricks to emulate the ancient weapon created by the first Mandalorian to join the Jedi Order — the ominous black blade wobbled in its hilt.

Then it broke.

The weight had full-on snapped one of the plastic pieces holding it together, quite a feat considering the industrial-strength playthings can usually withstand a trampling. And although his creation didn’t completely fall apart, “it was bending a lot,” Taylor says, which sent him scrambling back to the drawing board. “I want to be able to pick it up, swing it around.”

With a few tweaks and some extra pieces, Taylor strengthened his 3-foot, 6-inch saber with some modifications to the hilt that make it a formidable piece ready for a dramatic flourish or some light combat with Darth Maul.

Next week he’ll debut his creation at the Emerald City Comicon, March 2-5, near his Seattle-area home, when he joins other local LEGO hobbyists from SeaLUG (Seattle LEGO Users Group) to showcase their recent builds.

First, he sat down with StarWars.com to discuss the challenges of bringing the darksaber to life, brick by brick.

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