Note: Vintage review – this review is from an earlier version of our homepage and is correspondingly old!
First impression
Like many older FX lightsabers, the Vader ANH turned out a bit big, but it's still very accurately made.
Compared to the original, there's hardly any difference. Only the activator is designed a little differently, which is necessary for switching it on and off.
The switch is located under the D-ring on the emitter – a small black slide button. Otherwise the hilt is a great replica and the first saber with an LED strip in the blade.
Handling
The hilt is designed almost exactly like that of the Vader FX lightsaber from Episode V. However, this model needs 6 batteries instead of 3, which noticeably changes the weight and its distribution!
Overall, the hilt is a bit unwieldy; some elements like the activator box and the emitter can get in the way a little when swinging. Otherwise, the balance is spot on.
Light and sound
The red is less convincing. The color isn't particularly intense, but it's nice and even, without dark spots. The sound module is from 2003/04. It has one clash and 4 swing sounds.
Unfortunately, the sound is quite quiet and therefore not entirely convincing.
Wear
The first thing you notice with this FX is that the blade isn't attached very securely. At the lower end of the blade there are 2 large holes used to attach the blade in the sound module. But this creates a weak point: in use, the blade can break at exactly this spot and can't be repaired afterwards!
Otherwise, the plastic does pick up a few scratches, but there's no major wear.
Verdict
This Master Replicas FX lightsaber hasn't been on the market for a long time, so you can only get it on eBay or similar sites. However, you should avoid fighting with this model, since the blade breaks very easily and can't be repaired afterwards.
