Back when I first saw the film, in the theater, I remember being puzzled by the big clunky communicator Kirk & Savik used to talk to the Enterprise with. I couldn't imagine why they'd have such an ugly boxy looking device. But I was quite young at the time, and convinced myself that the weird clunky boxy thing on the front of the field jackets wasn't a coincidence- They were the same prop. Now, things didn't seem so haphazard. And years later, when TNG actors were talking into their chest badges all the time, it seemed to really make sense.
Then I saw the film once more and was dismayed all over again.
Of course the truth turned out to be Nicholas Meyer wanted clunky props and had intended to have our crew use nearly off-the-shelf walkie-talkies- The wacky project box comms were the best the art and prop departments could do at the last minute when they finally talked him out of it.
Years later, with a better understanding of what happened, I still like my earlier idea better-
So here it is- a (first draft model) ST II combination communicator chest badge:
It's missing some details, but the concept is all there. The big clip on the back would allow you to wear it on the jacket and pull it off for use.
I tried to keep as many of the design elements from the original comm as I could. (Even some I didn't like...)
It might be fun to send the final files to shapeways and get a quick kit made.
It might be more fun to wait until the DST comm comes out (we've all pre-ordered like 12 each, right?) and put their electronics into it...
The obvious downsides are you'd have to carry your band-aids in a jacket pocket. And you no longer have a giant red light on the bottom, outside the communicator to let you know it's on.
So, any thoughts? Totally crazy?
Reply with Quote
You only have to take into account the paint thickness when drawing your file. 
