Okay I had to go buy the new Master replicas SW616 Force FX Construction Set saber. I bought it for $99.99 at Radio Shack. I think this was the first time I ever buy anything Star Wars at a Radio Shack.

Box it came in

I brought my tape measure with me because when i first looked at the functioning display model the blade seemed shorter than the other Force FX Sabers I own already. I was correct ... the blade is shorter by 5 inches as seen in the first picture.

Shorter length

As you can see the sabres side by side with my Anakin Episode III are about the same brightness. The sound effects are the same as the Anakin Epi III Sabre as well.

Side by side compare

Now here are my pros and cons about this item with photos afterwards ....

PROS:

1. You can make several custom sabre styles out of this sabre. I chose my own style which rules it.

2. The different colors all in one blade make for very cool options.

3. You get enough parts to make 2 full sized hilts to use as a display or perhaps use as a sabre on your belt at a con or something if you are into cosplay stuff. You will need a center tube though that is the size of the hilt supplied which has the electronics. Finding one at any hardware store should not be a problem at all.

4. You get several different pieces you can use like various different buttons and knob add-ons.

5. The biggest awesome aspect to this sabre is if you choose the green blade you get Luke's ROTJ sound effects on the blade hits, power-up and power-down, hum and all that. When you choose a red sith blade it is the vader episode V sabre as i own one and the sounds are identical. The same sabre hit sound and idle hum. The blue blade sounds just like my anakin epi iii sabre, the hit sounds are the same and everything so these sabres change sounds when you change colors. This is a HUGE plus and help to make you feel that really do you have three sabres in one .... literally.

Three way switcherooni thingie

6. The price ... they cost less than some Force FX sabres at 99.99, we have all seen some at 119.99 or 129.99 etc depending on where you go.

CONS:

1. The blade is shorter and really makes it not feel as balanced as the regular Force FX Sabres. I really dislike that this is 5 inches shorter. 5 inches shorter is a big difference.

2. The parts are not as "quality" as the regular Force FX sabres meaning there is nothing chrome plated like on the other regular sabres. Not even chrome plated plastic.

3. Too much plastic .... the only things made out of metal are the ends where the emitter is and the screw on end cap where the batteries are. This creates a very noticable difference in feel when compared to the regular sabres. the central shaft with the electronics is metal though thankfully since it does give some weight to it. It is several steps up from the cheap $30 toy sabre hilts but clearly not as good as the regular Force FX sabres quality. Acceptable but it SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER period.

4. the power-up and power-down effects are not as dramatic or as good as a regular sabre. We were used to a blade that had several led lights all the way up the blade length and on these you do not get that. The blade has one very bright led in the hilt that illuminates the blade. In the photos you can see that the blade is brighter at the base than it is at the end tip. This also bothers me because when the blade turns on or off you get a nice power-up or power-down sound but the light doesn't follow up and down the blade, it does however hesitate enough AND FADES IN to not make it look like a flashlight clicking on imediately. maybe a minor point for some but i know it will bother some others. personally i don't mind it that much but it should have been like the old ones.

maybe this will save dead spots in the blade however after it is used for a while. maybe it is a hidden plus. i am sure we all have a Force FX sabre with a dead spot or two from "use".

5. It does not come with a display stand and it should. Shame on you lolz.

You can see short videos of the powerup and power down at the bottom of this other website page http://simplytoys.blogspot.com/2007/08/preview-master-replicas-sw616-force-fx.html as well as other photos of it in this guy's blog

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Photo 7

Photo 8

Photo 9

Photo 10

Photo 11

Photo 12

This is a picture of my choice light emitting bringer of whoop***!