TNG Desktop Monitor

Mr. Nagata

I got this piece over four years ago in pretty bad shape. It's a screen-used Picard Desktop Monitor from Star Trek: The Next Generation. It's a static prop, not the hero light up model. Specifically, it's from the 7th Season episode "Genesis," where Neanderthal Riker picks up the monitor and throws it at Picard. This is a lightweight model. The outside is made of gelcoat to preserve the details. But the inside is urethane expanding foam.

As some of you might recall, I put it to the RPF whether I should restore it or not. This is what it used to look like:



The picture actually makes it look better than it was. What looks like surface chips are actually deep gouges. And often the cracks are actually deeply depressed on one side or the other leading to some highly uneven surfaces.

It was sort of a 50/50 split to restore it. On one hand, I don't plan on ever reselling it and it was in such bad shape that I didn't even want to display it. Restoration might actually help the resale value if done well. On the other hand, it's a screen-used piece, and extremely rare. I know of only three others in collections, and one of them was repainted to be some alien computer.

Well, after four years of sitting in a box in storage, I asked myself, why do I even own this thing if I'm not going to display it? I decided to restore it in as tasteful a way as I could, making sure to preserve the original paint job and tape (yes, the white lines are tape) whenever possible, and also to preserve the damage that is seen on screen. I didn't want the thing to look brand spankin new. In the episode, the monitor splits in half and I left this crack intact, though someone before me glued it back together. I kept that crack there as well as most other cracks and scuffs. Also of note, someone before me had done some really shoddy repair work, and stuffed some sort of wax-based putty in one gouge and roughly painted over it with a high gloss paint (the actually paint is satin). I removed these repairs and did my own that are invisible.

As a general rule, I repaired only deep gouges or large chunks of removed gelcoat. I meticulously reapplied the existing tape. Sometimes it was so crumpled and subsequently petrified into that configuration what I had to soak it in warm water to regain pliability. But I'm happy to report that about 85% of the white tape is original as well as about 70% of the paintjob. I had to use a combination of semi-gloss and flat paint to match the sheen of the original paintjob. Nothing straight from the can matched, so I had to mix it myself. It's also interesting to note that the white tape was not, in fact, white paper tape like the kind used on film sets. This is what I thought originally. Upon closer inspection, the tape is actually regular tan masking tape painted white. So for the parts of tape I had to replace, I duplicated this technique.

If anyone's interested, I can post more photos of the restoration as I documented it pretty thoroughly. Otherwise, here is the finished piece which will now go into an acrylic case in my collection:

phase pistol

Without getting into the whole issue of restoration vs keeping it original, I deem this restored TNG monitor "spiffy."

Well done!

Karl

Monster Dave

Love it - always wished that I had one!

On a side note, that would be an awesome dock for an Ipad. If it had a slot at the top with a spring loaded door, the Ipad could be dropped right in and it would look nearly prop authentic!

Oh and fwiw I think restoring it was the right way to go.

apollo

Nice job on the restoration!!

The Prop Collector

Looks great now !! Great job I have the hero working one.







[QUOTE=Mr. Nagata;1915372]I got this piece over four years ago in pretty bad shape. It's a screen-used Picard Desktop Monitor from Star Trek: The Next Generation. It's a static prop, not the hero light up model. Specifically, it's from the 7th Season episode "Genesis," where Neanderthal Riker picks up the monitor and throws it at Picard. This is a lightweight model. The outside is made of gelcoat to preserve the details. But the inside is urethane expanding foam.

As some of you might recall, I put it to the RPF whether I should restore it or not. This is what it used to look like:

The picture actually makes it look better than it was. What looks like surface chips are actually deep gouges. And often the cracks are actually deeply depressed on one side or the other leading to some highly uneven surfaces.

It was sort of a 50/50 split to restore it. On one hand, I don't plan on ever reselling it and it was in such bad shape that I didn't even want to display it. Restoration might actually help the resale value if done well. On the other hand, it's a screen-used piece, and extremely rare. I know of only three others in collections, and one of them was repainted to be some alien computer.

Well, after four years of sitting in a box in storage, I asked myself, why do I even own this thing if I'm not going to display it? I decided to restore it in as tasteful a way as I could, making sure to preserve the original paint job and tape (yes, the white lines are tape) whenever possible, and also to preserve the damage that is seen on screen. I didn't want the thing to look brand spankin new. In the episode, the monitor splits in half and I left this crack intact, though someone before me glued it back together. I kept that crack there as well as most other cracks and scuffs. Also of note, someone before me had done some really shoddy repair work, and stuffed some sort of wax-based putty in one gouge and roughly painted over it with a high gloss paint (the actually paint is satin). I removed these repairs and did my own that are invisible.

As a general rule, I repaired only deep gouges or large chunks of removed gelcoat. I meticulously reapplied the existing tape. Sometimes it was so crumpled and subsequently petrified into that configuration what I had to soak it in warm water to regain pliability. But I'm happy to report that about 85% of the white tape is original as well as about 70% of the paintjob. I had to use a combination of semi-gloss and flat paint to match the sheen of the original paintjob. Nothing straight from the can matched, so I had to mix it myself. It's also interesting to note that the white tape was not, in fact, white paper tape like the kind used on film sets. This is what I thought originally. Upon closer inspection, the tape is actually regular tan masking tape painted white. So for the parts of tape I had to replace, I duplicated this technique.

If anyone's interested, I can post more photos of the restoration as I documented it pretty thoroughly. Otherwise, here is the finished piece which will now go into an acrylic case in my collection:

Mr. Nagata

Wanna trade?

Angelus Lupus

Wow, just... Wow!

The Prop Collector

No thanks I like mine to much

Skyler101

Love to know the steps you took to restore this. post them up!

TheWhiteGrail

LOVE it! Thanks for sharing!

Genesis is one of my earliest Star Trek memories besides the Original Series, a very cool piece!

bmused55

That is awesome.

Genesis is one of my all time favourite Trek episodes.

ryan3417

Love seeing screen used props. Shame the condition it was in. nice job on the restore!

bmused55

Please, post pictures and descriptions thereof of the restoration, this is fascinating.

The Prop Collector

Here is my hero working one.



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Search4

Hailing frequencies open. Great job. I understand the angst over restoring, but this looks to be a careful, complete, respectful project. Congrats!

Mr. Nagata

Thanks for posting those pictures. That's an awesome piece! It appears to be significantly taller in the base portion that mine. Since I doubt they made a different mold for a hastily produced "stunt" piece, I'm assuming they just poured less casting medium in the mold.

Out of curiosity, is the tape on yours white painted masking tape as well? I'm still not sure why they didn't just use white paper tape on mine since it's really common on film sets. It seems like more trouble to paint the tape than to just use tape that's already white.

The Prop Collector

Mine does not look like it was painted white but I guess it could have been? None of mine is peeled away to see the back.





[QUOTE=Out of curiosity, is the tape on yours white painted masking tape as well? I'm still not sure why they didn't just use white paper tape on mine since it's really common on film sets. It seems like more trouble to paint the tape than to just use tape that's already white.[/QUOTE]

Monster Dave

What powers your hero prop? Is the screen normally dim or is it just muted by the flash?

PS. Both the restored unit and the hero props are awesome! I'd love to have either one of those!! I'd be way too tempted to mod them into something usable though!

td2253

Sweet! Maybe you can use the System47 screensaver with it to make it look more authentic.

The Prop Collector

Powered by 12 double A's When I took the picture the unit was not on. The flash is showing what is on the screen. I will post some of it on later.

Quinn

Every time I check this thread, I think the same thing.

Monster Dave

Wouldn't that be sweet?! I'm glad someone else thinks so too!!

The Prop Collector

No way would I ever do that to a screen used prop! It's value would be gone forever! Make a replica to do that with.

Monster Dave

True. If I had a screen used prop in my possession, I'd feel just like that. I was just thinking outside the box....and imagining how cool it would be to have a working one on my desk at work!!


Not to thread jack, but one thing I'd be interested to know (in general) is if more people collect props for the potential 'value' or for a personal love of the props that they collect.

I'd definitely be the latter.

Quinn

I absolutely agree. I'd never do that to an actual prop! It would make a cool product, though. I'd buy it.