Darth Vader Funko Pop Display Stand – LED Filament Lightsaber

Here’s a custom display stand and background/diorama created for the Darth Vader Funko Pop #597.

The base is inspired by Death Star surface tiles, with the Death Star looming in the background — because if you’re displaying Vader, subtlety probably isn’t what you’re going for.

The background uses layer-based colour swaps, so even without an AMS you can still print it in multiple colours with simple manual changes.

Print it clean in grey, go metallic, or weather it up to look like it’s survived a Rebel attack. Your choice.

LED-Ready Design

This base was designed with lighting in mind.

There is a hidden wire pass-through hole in the base, positioned behind the Funko Pop’s foot, allowing you to run wiring cleanly if you choose to upgrade Vader with an LED filament lightsaber.

The base also includes:

• Internal space for a 2x AA battery holder

• Rear cutout for a toggle switch

• Screw mounts for securing the battery holder and base cover

Everything stays fully self-contained inside the stand — no visible wiring from the front, no messy exits out the side.

If you decide to light it, the layout keeps everything neat and discreet.

Supplies Used (Links in BOM)

• Toggle switch

• 2x AA battery case

• 3V LED filament (red recommended for Vader)

• 0.1mm enamel-coated wire

• Empty glowstick tube (required for blade support)

• M3 screws (3–5mm length) for battery and base covers

Installation Instructions – LED Saber Upgrade

1. Carefully remove the original red plastic saber blade from the Darth Vader Funko Pop.

2. Drill into the saber hilt using a 2mm drill bit.

Go slow and straight — you don’t need to go deep, just enough to seat the filament wiring.

3. Solder enamel-coated wire to each end of the LED filament.

Keep the solder joints small and neat.

4. Cut the glowstick to length, empty it, slide it over the LED filament, and secure with a small drop of super glue.

You can lightly sand or shave the tip to round it off for a cleaner saber look.

5. Route the wires down the back of the figure so they’re hidden from the front.

A few tiny dabs of super glue will hold them in place.

6. Feed the wires through the pass-through hole in the base.

Inside the base:

7. Solder the negative filament wire to the battery holder’s negative terminal.

8 .Solder the positive filament wire to one side of the toggle switch.

9. Solder the battery holder’s positive wire to the other side of the switch.

10. Secure the battery holder and base cover using M3 screws.

11. Install batteries, flip the switch, and enjoy Vader’s saber glowing with proper Sith energy.

Figure Info

The Vader #597 Pop is readily available new, and often easy to find out-of-box on eBay for around $5 — making this a very affordable upgrade project.