11th Doctor's Sonic: "Fatally Flawed" Design? Discuss...

[Organic Mechanic]

Not sure if this will help or hurt, but...


Matt Smith breaks at least one sonic screwdriver a day - Comic-Con Doctor Who Panel 2011 - YouTube

Neither. I think that video confirms the facts about the prop. Facts being Matt throws those things around with reckless abandon. :lol :thumbsup

 

[d_jedi1]

Neither. I think that video confirms the facts about the prop. Facts being Matt throws those things around with reckless abandon. :lol :thumbsup

Agreed, look how many times he flips the thing and catches it on the show.
He HAS to fumble it from time to time.
I know my clumsy butt would. :lol

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

I've dropped my CO toy version plenty of times trying to do the flip in the air move. I can imagine the metal hero prop, with all it's complexity not doing well if it hits the ground - but maybe they give him a stunt version for when he does the flip? That's what stunt props are for anyway.

 

[VortexRunner]

I can only imagine what could've gone wrong in the scene in Flesh and Stone when he demonstrates to Amy the gravity working in the ship. One slip of the grip. BANG, TING, TING TING. Everywhere in a hundred pieces!:facepalm

 

[Usagi Pilgrim]

I did a picture search for "Matt Smith Breaking Sonic" on Google & it gave me a result from one of ElvisGump's posts here. The 2 pictures were from one of the 1st days of filming on Flesh & Stone, & Time of Angels. The 1st pic shows Smith getting the sonic repaired & the 2nd shows him "sonicing" River when he's holding it like it was probably meant to be used. Notable just for it may be the only time he used it as such.

I'll see if I can find the original post.

Here it is...post #11

http://www.therpf.com/f9/co-matt-smith-sonic-modified-repaint-84877/

 

[Jack T Chance]

I did a picture search for "Matt Smith Breaking Sonic" on Google & it gave me a result from one of ElvisGump's posts here. The 2 pictures were from one of the 1st days of filming on Flesh & Stone, & Time of Angels. The 1st pic shows Smith getting the sonic repaired & the 2nd shows him "sonicing" River when he's holding it like it was probably meant to be used. Notable just for it may be the only time he used it as such.

I'll see if I can find the original post.

Here it is...post #11

http://www.therpf.com/f9/co-matt-smith-sonic-modified-repaint-84877/

Only problem is, those pics now come up with a "403 Forbidden" error graphic instead of the actual pics. :unsure

 

[modernboy]

From what I understand, the button on the bottom is static and doesn't function. It's just a glued-in pen blank.

I've also never heard anything about the handle button having been added for Matt... It doesn't seem like that would be something you could just add in without a significant re-work of the whole prop.

I asked specifically about this when Nick showed me the prop at SDCC and he said the side switch was added later on when it was decided the sonic would be used that way. Oddly though when he handed it to me to play with he said hold on to it tight and give it a flick to extend it. So while that may have not been the original intended way of using it, it is certainly the way it is meant to be used now.

So I'd say there is no fatal flaw here just FUD

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

But was the sonic intended to originally open by pulling it open rather than flicking?

 

[greatwazoo42]

Actually it meant to be stared at lovingly and only taken down from the display rack to be carefully polished with a cloth diaper 5 or 6 times a day. Oh...wait...that's the Robatto "one of twentyfive" replicas.

 

[Usagi Pilgrim]

Only problem is, those pics now come up with a "403 Forbidden" error graphic instead of the actual pics. :unsure

Heh...That is amazing. Whenever I posted that link, early in the A.M., the pictures were up. I had looked at them on 3 different occasions yesterday & even sent the link to a few friends on AIM. Too bad I didn't save them myself. Maybe if Callu...I mean ElvisGump chimes back in, we can ask him to post them agin here.

 

[DuneMuadDib]

I asked specifically about this when Nick showed me the prop at SDCC and he said the side switch was added later on when it was decided the sonic would be used that way. Oddly though when he handed it to me to play with he said hold on to it tight and give it a flick to extend it. So while that may have not been the original intended way of using it, it is certainly the way it is meant to be used now.

So I'd say there is no fatal flaw here just FUD

I just want to echo that this is exactly what I was told as well by Nick at SDCC when he let me play with the 11 SS.

The leather section of the handle sure looked like they just cut out a small portion to accommodate a button that hadn't been there in the first place, a functional but not pretty solution. Yes it's a replica, but if that detail is an accurate reproduction of how the screen used props are build to me it supports what Nick told me.

 

[greatwazoo42]

OK...let's sum up what we've learned in this thread so far:

1) Although not fatally flawed the current incarnation of the sonic screwdriver, at 148 individual parts, is a mere 2 parts shy of earning the prestigious Rube Goldberg Commemorative.

2) Nick's manufacture of the design and attention to detail as well as experience and skill have made such a seemingly fragile object survive the rigors of use. Speaking of such use...

3) Matt Smith is attempting to break Tom Baker's record for breaking the prop and is slowly getting there despite everyone's attempts to slow him down.

4) Russian Hackers are responsible for the increase in methane over Eurasia and may be behind the hole in the Ozone Layer and Global Warming.

Did I miss anything worth mentioning?

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

A licensed replica will be sterilized in some areas I am guessing, so the added button area would be cleaned up I think.

 

[greatwazoo42]

I can't read the word "sterilized" without hearing Nomad from TOS say "Sterilize." :lol

 

[Organic Mechanic]

OK...let's sum up what we've learned in this thread so far:

1) Although not fatally flawed the current incarnation of the sonic screwdriver, at 148 individual parts, is a mere 2 parts shy of earning the prestigious Rube Goldberg Commemorative.

2) Nick's manufacture of the design and attention to detail as well as experience and skill have made such a seemingly fragile object survive the rigors of use. Speaking of such use...

3) Matt Smith is attempting to break Tom Baker's record for breaking the prop and is slowly getting there despite everyone's attempts to slow him down.

4) Russian Hackers are responsible for the increase in methane over Eurasia and may be behind the hole in the Ozone Layer and Global Warming.

Did I miss anything worth mentioning?

Somebody Rep this post for me? Apparently I must spread some love first.

 

[dbalschi]

Somebody Rep this post for me? Apparently I must spread some love first.

Gotcha covered!

 

[greatwazoo42]

Gotcha covered!

:lol Thank you. Danke. Merci. Do Jeh. Xie xie. Grazie. Gracias. Arigato. Ta! Spasibo. :thumbsup

 

[Ink]

I've dropped my CO toy version plenty of times trying to do the flip in the air move. I can imagine the metal hero prop, with all it's complexity not doing well if it hits the ground - but maybe they give him a stunt version for when he does the flip? That's what stunt props are for anyway.

Tell me about it, my CO version is already cracking from just me extending it (I only got it for Christmas).

 

[markquested]

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.

^
See above.

Several Sonic Screwdrivers in a usable condition are kept on set at all times, in case one accidentally gets broken during filming.

(And I believe that both Christopher Eccleston and Matt Smith have been known to break Sonics... and parts of sets! :facepalm :lol)

It is a delicate prop that can break through usage, like any other prop. If you have a QMX replica, treat it as a display item and instead buy one of the cheaper Character Options toy Sonics, which are not as expensive to replace!

 

[TARDISgamer99]

^
See above.

Several Sonic Screwdrivers in a usable condition are kept on set at all times, in case one accidentally gets broken during filming.

(And I believe that both Christopher Eccleston and Matt Smith have been known to break Sonics... and parts of sets! :facepalm :lol)

It is a delicate prop that can break through usage, like any other prop. If you have a QMX replica, treat it as a display item and instead buy one of the cheaper Character Options toy Sonics, which are not as expensive to replace!

Seeing as i'll never afford a QMX sonic, im gonna try and modify my CO options sonic to see how it looks (Broke the spring inside- lasted me from November 2010) then im gonna buy myself a new one from CO and modify that one as well. By modify, i mean carefully apply spray paint so it looks nicer