TOPIC: Veteran USA | Weathered w/QC DR/Y LEDs

This is Nova.
Skip ahead to the re-imagined SuperNova here.
One of the few New that formed part of the Apprentice Line’s recent expansion.

There’s a greater appreciation for the smaller hilts, light in its weight, sturdy in its construction and really very comfortable to wield. The design aesthetics held solid appeal from the symmetrical flanged emitter, the milled slots for shine through, restrained use of accent cues to promote detailing.
A well rounded saber.

Quick Connect LEDs in Deep Red and Yellow, fitting colours for the weathered finish.
Deep Red ‘cause Why Not? And ‘cause when going Red, it’s gotta be Deep.

Not a great degree of difficulty with swapping out the LED modules, any more so (including Elites) than usual when trying to strategically feed the joined connectors back into the blade holder. Takes a little getting used to (again) but as long as you don’t force it (you can gauge by feel any resistance) it reaches the point as far as it will go before needing the assistance of the provided blade plug to finish it off – to optimally align the modules position relative to the external position of the setscrew retention.

The only drawback specific to this hilt design and its chosen position for the LED retention is when it’s installed with QC LEDs. Because of the extra internal space required for the joined connectors, there’s less than optimal bite of the retention screw onto the module itself.

Picture above shows the bite mark from the retention screw and rather than biting it more centred to the heatsink of the module (as it usually would), it grazes the edge. Not the end of the world but it just makes ensuring that the resting position needs to be on-point.

With a fixed-wired LED (ie without QCs) it wouldn’t be a problem as with the absence of the joined connectors, it would enable the module to sit more centred to the retention screw. The only other presence that would add to the internal space with the wires (depending on LED colour) would be the heatshrunk resistors
(but these occupy little space by comparison).

This saber was the result of an Etsy purchase. Significantly quicker (compared to Main Site) from Order placement to received notification of Shipping Notice to actual transit and eventual delivery. But this has always been known.

Order itself was placed March 10.
Shipping Notice received March 20. USPS picked up the package from SF same day.
Item delivered (slight delay as it ran into Easter Long Weekend) April 3.
(Meanwhile, a separate Order for only parts, nothing on pre-order, placed January 01 is in oblivion)

Order Notes/Comments:
US pronged smart charger* | brass covertech | brass aluminium knurled killkey |
brass Elite blade plug | 32 inch blade.

Order comments (in my experience) has been hit and miss. All of above was correctly supplied (credit to SFCS this time) with the exception of the blade plug. What was supplied was the equal OD type (ie face cap and stock = the same aka Lazerforge type).
Not a big deal. Have enough blade plugs to choose from anyway (as pictured in first pic, a non SF blade plug).

* I specifically requested a US pronged smart charger as an exercise but also to gain inventory of spares
since I have surplus of Australian pronged smart chargers.

I opted for the weathered finish over the standard for one primary reason (other than preference), the anodising applied over the raw aluminium, eliminates any sharp edges.
It also creates a more suitable canvas for me to then strategically strip the anodising to suit my own tastes (or as directed) as the end result often varies greatly from the standard finish, regardless of whether I polish it or don’t.

For curiosity, there had been rumours that the method of application with the weathering process was changed, making it result more actual than clinically done. While there is some improvement to the weathering process on this hilt compared to others from previous V2s, it still falls short, but is what it is and remains acceptable.

This illustrates the two retention setscrews on the saber and is shared on the underside ie. The covertech side.
The upper one is retention for the blade/blade plug.
The lower one for the LED module.

Interestingly, contrary to the general consensus of Apprentice construction/assembly being one piece with the exception of the pommel, the emitter is two parts ie. Emitter shroud over the blade holder. The two retention setscrews detailed above and their respective functions also double (& share the same pilot holes) as the shroud retention.
This remains consistent to Heretic (that I illustrated in a separate thread) and with Renegade as pictured below.

Am yet to determine if the (suspected) grip body is also a two part assembly ie shroud over sub-hilt. For now, it looks to be glued and at risk of compromising the internal electronics, it will go unanswered for I am not the sabers primary handler (hence the chosen sound option).

The primary difference however is that Renegades emitter shroud is actually (female) threaded
to the (male threaded) blade holder.

The two sides of the switch section.
Black, red-lit (supplied default to match the primary LED colour chosen) AV switch &
2.1mm offset recharge port with external killkey.

Specs & Measurements:
Hilt Length: 269mm
Blade holder depth: 53mm
Primary Outer Diameter: 34.85mm
Flared Emitter flange OD: 43.21mm
Grip body length: 127.59mm
Weight: 385grams

Given the proportions and weight, my recommendation is to use no greater than a 32 inch v4 blade.
Anything greater of the heavy grade/duelling weight exaggerates top-heaviness and affects the total balance of the saber. Mid-grade or thin walled blades eliminate the top-heaviness and invites use of longer length blades.
To each their own I suppose.

The Veteran 2.5 USA Soundboard:
It combines what is known of Sabercore 2.0 together into one to contain both the flashed fonts of Viridian and Crimson. This is a non-editable font board. Set swings, motions clash audio effects, powerons and poweroffs.

User function on the interactive menu remains the same mostly.
Optical frequency 1-5: enables selection of static lit blade to varying degrees of pulse.
Sound Intensity: Low, High, Muted
Impact Sensitivity 1-9: Clash audio effects
Motion Sensitivity 1-9: Motion audio effects.

There is no shimmer/flicker/flash on Clash visual effects for this setup (or rather the Veteran USA option).
The internal adopted installation is still friction-fit with internal C-clip.
These were known going in and accepted moving forward.

Removal of the killkey (to wake up board) plays the vocal of the last font prior to previous exit.
The AV switch will be lit while saber is on and unactivated.
Quick short press and release activates the saber.
Quick (notso short) press and release will be met with 3 chirps in quick succession playing the vocal of the font differentiation ie. Crimson vs Viridian, as the menu for toggling.
Quick short press and release cycles between to the two options.
Quick long press and release confirms desired selection.
Continued long press, enables the 3 successive chirps followed by 2 lower-toned beeps
which enters the Settings Menu.
Quick press and release cycles through each sub category.
Long press confirms selection before advancing to next sub category.
Voice prompt concludes with All settings saved before returning to beginning.

The Warranty/Instructional Letter included looks to have been updated to include the Sabercore 3.0 reference and basic operation. The Veteran 2.5’s (Import & USA) have not.
Not a big deal since a link is provided to Saberforge101 anyway.

Relative size comparison to other Apprentice Lines and an Elite.

Just illustrating handling comfort (for me) as an ideal sized one-handed saber. I do like the longer hilts (either for two handed wield or for one handed with extra) but these Apprentice Lines are quick goto’s as well.

Am still theorising some visual differences that I plan to modify this hilts appearance with.
Whilst there’s certainty that it wont look like this when I’m finished, the Jury’s still out whether the Veteran board will remain as well. For the interim, it serves it’s purpose and does what it needs to.

This is SuperNova | Revealed.
The metamorphosis of an Apprentice into an Exotic Elite..

Am pretty happy with my handiwork on this one and the completed result…