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The Weapon MakersBy Sonny ZadyReprinted with permission of the author.Originally printed in the summer 1993 issue of Model and Toy Collector #25. Edited for this magazine.Prices given, no longer honored. In fact due to actions taken by Paramount/ViaCom, there is no one known to be making any of these, only used ones trading from fan to fan.
Star Trek prop replicas have been around since the mid 1970's and have utilized many different design interpretations and materials. One of the earliest and most favored reproductions was the phaser. Early phaser bodies were constructed of either hollow fiberglass of vac-u-form plastic and metal. Detail pieces were made from lathed aluminum and acrylic rods. Many models featured a nice electronic strobe effect from the pistol emitter. This however, especially in the early models, required the Type I hand unit to be permanently mounted to the Type II pistol body due to circuit space requirements. These early reproductions tended to be very inaccurate, but with few close up pictures and no video tapes to freeze frame and examine at the time, their overall appearance was acceptable. The most noticeable inaccuracies included a battery meter on top of the hand unit and the use of a standard black equipment knob on the back of the pistol, As the phaser reproductions move into the 1980's, designs began to get more accurate.
Over the past couple of years, reproductions have become much more accurate and true to the original props in both size and detail, Current prices for a pistol unit replica range from around $125 for a non-functional, solid cast piece, to around $225 for a top of the line light and sound Type I and II combination. Reproductions of other props, including communicators and tricorders, have been around
since the late 1970's, with their construction being predominately of vac-u-form plastic
with aluminum trim and lathed details, Shape and styling have stayed pretty consistent
over the years with slightly more accurate detailing appearing on the more current models.
Functional communicators often feature flashing LED's and 'chirp' sound when opened.
Newer, more elaborate models contain a digital chip which plays back various messages like
"Enterprise here, how many to beam up?" along with 'chirp' when activated.
Functional tricorders usually incorporate flashing LED's with a scanning sound when the
head is rotated open. Hypo reproductions are usually made of aluminum and come with 2 interchangeable glass
vials containing colored liquid. Current models have a movable plunger which produces a
'hiss' sound when depressed. The hypo is one of the nicest reproductions available and
usually sells for about $100.
Star Trek: The Next Generation prop replicas are some of the newest reproductions available to the fan market. To date, most of these solid cast reproductions have been designed from technical manual information, and while having a nice look, do tend to be a bit inaccurate, Currently the type I unit sells for around $50. The type II "dustbuster" and 'snakehead" types go for $135 and tricorders for $145. Many of the above mentioned prop replicas are available from various sources
in kit form, but their quality in sometime Whether you are looking for a finished replica or a kit, it pays to be assertive, These reproductions do not come cheap and you should get what you pay for. Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially when dealing through mail order. Ask if the replica is solid or hollow, what, if any, working features it may have, and if it has any metal parts such as nozzles of heat sinks. Most classic TV replicas should have metal details, while most movie and Next Generation reproductions do not, If you have seen a replica of a prop you would like, take note of it's features, such as paint color, detail pieces, functions, and etc. Verify that the item you are purchasing is what you expect it to be, It should be pointed out that these replicas are hand crafted and do have minor imperfections, but there is no excuse for excessively bubbled surface, warped castings, or a poor paint job, The only way to insure that these reproductions remain on a high caliber for the fan market to enjoy, is to make sure that the "make-it- for-a-quick-buck" operators are not allowed to take advantage of a fan who shells out a bundle for a poor quality item. In Louisville, Ky and Southern Indiana area for prop replica info visit: Comics America
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