...quote from banned member's blog removed...
*SIGH!*
Fine, no quote, I'll just PARAPHRASE the info that was given IN MY OWN WORDS... info that has now been confirmed by people that handled one of Nick Robatto's props at Dragon*Con (as you can see below)...
Over time, possibly a relatively short period of time, flicking the 11th Doctor's Sonic open (as we see Matt Smith doing ALL THE TIME in the show) can produce enough of a shearing force that it can fracture the acrylic in the prop, and can also break the prop's internal metal guide tube. Teisco has confirmed this for us...
I was allowed to examine the 11th sonic at the past Dragoncon. A sonic built by Nick himself and it was, indeed, broken by the second day of the con due to people flicking it open and closed.
People complained about the way Character Options redesigns these props for their toy replicas, often getting the dimensions wrong in turning it into a toy that can be played with and has built-in light and sound, but as I haven't heard anyone complaining about their CO 11th Doctor Sonic breaking like this, I'd say they've obviously come up with an engineering solution that solves the problem for their toy replica. It may be as simple as the materials used; the plastics they use on the toy may simply be better suited to handling the stress of being flicked open repeatedly. All of which reminds me that I really need to get around to buying one of those! :cool
There is a reason they have five of these props and they are all battered about with spares clearly seen in the storage box. They keep on breaking. The very fact that QMx in their sales blurb mention the way it must be handled speaks volumes about its delicate nature. Remember it is a prop. Even the 9/10th Docs prop kept breaking and was repaired umpteen times.
I don't know why people are up in arms about this. Most props are delicate in nature and are not supposed to be used as toys.
They're up in arms because of the SOURCE of the first independent confirmation of this flaw (at least the first confirmation that I'm aware of,) that's what it boils down to. :unsure
To use an analogy appropriate to myself... it would be like me coming into a thread about some big, huge movie news, and flaming and spewing venom solely because the info came from Harry Knowles and his site Ain't It Cool News. I HATE that site... no, hate isn't strong enough of a word... I LOATHE it! One of my earliest BAD internet experiences was being a member of the Talkback Forum there, and I'll never forget it. Not only that, but there were some fairly noteworthy people that ran other famous movie news sites, that had there fair share of issues with Knowles and his site, with the way he does things and the way he treats people. I make it a point to avoid his site like the Black Plague... but if he gets a genuine scoop and if it's legitimate news, I'm not gonna come into a topic about it and flame the topic just because the news came from him.
The same applies here for all who post in this thread. In fact, I specifically stated that this thread was
NOT to be about that. If people start using this thread for the wrong purpose, i.e. derailing the topic at hand to rant about the source of the info that started this discussion, I
WILL be reporting those posts to the mods. So
stay on topic. This thread is
NOT about the individual that posted said info. Do
NOT make this a discussion about him!
This topic is to be about discussing
THE PROP ITSELF. Period.
You have all been warned.
Now, back ON topic...
In interviews such as at the past Comicon, Nick has been asked what he does and it seems from his answers it is mainly the maintenance of the props and of the screwdrivers he made. One of the reasons I avoided buying the QMX release was the fact that the real prop is quite outspokenly fragile. When you have a prop like this screwdriver, the number of components which makes up what you see on screen is so tedious and each part almost hand produced by Nick, you have got to wonder how it is assured of staying in one piece and functioning how it is meant to. I suppose the formula or designs for this sonic would read like the assembly instructions of an engine - everything has to be precise and almost trial and error and hope :lol that it doesn't all fall apart.
I wouldn't say it is fatally flawed, but given the fact that Nick had a week to make these would add to this idea. Flawed now, but given time and good research and testing I think refining the props would weed out any major flaws.
I'm glad you brought that up. From QMx's info on their
Artisan Master Series 11th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver:
- Is made entirely by hand by Mr. Robatto himself. None of the parts is machined or CNC'd; it is constructed exactly like the screen-used hero prop.
- Consists of 148 components, most of them made of aluminum, copper, brass, resin and leather.
- Takes two weeks to assemble.
- Contains no found objects, with the exception of screws and electronic components.
- Measure 8.5 inches in the closed position; 9.5 inches in the extended position.
I knew it was complex, but I had no idea it took
148 parts to make one! Holy shnikes! No wonder it takes 2 weeks to assemble! He has to put all those small parts together by hand! And here I thought the previous model of Sonic Screwdriver was complex! :eek
I do find it curious, though, their claim of "contains no found objects" (except for screws and electronic components,) as I'm fairly certain that various people all over the interwebz were pretty confident that the ivory piece in the handle WAS a found object and that they had identified what it most likely is.
