Organic Mechanic
Sr Member
Yes, you read right. I have stumbled upon new, and interesting info regarding the most hotly debated Doctor Who prop ever.
Let's start with what we already know. Below is a collage image of the four widely known versions of these props.
Bottom to Top: Aztec #1, Aztec #2, the 'Wide Slider', The Robatto 'Final Revision'.
Until now, every Sonic fan knew this list, and have worked to reproduce it. But now, as Yoda famously said, 'There is...another...'
Recently, I received as a gift, a copy of 'The Secrets of the TARDIS'. An all together silly book which came with a tiny 11th Doctor Sonic for revealing hidden UV text. But on the Sonic Screwdriver page, I found the most ponderous image of the 9/10 Sonic.
What stood out most to me was the slider/activation button. While the body clearly looks like the season 3-4 Robatto Sonic, I had never seen that model with a centered button or what appears to be a square slider.
After much re-watching of of episodes and perusing of my collection of screen-caps I was at a loss. Was this just some mock up for the book? A clever photoshop job? Or was this the real deal?
So I contacted my super secret espionage team to infiltrate the BBC for answers. I guess they probably tortured a few key personnel, and broke a couple laws, but in the end, at the cost of only one life and 3 doughnuts, I got my answers.
What? You don't believe me? *Sigh* Would you believe that I just asked Nick then? :lol
Not only did Mr. Robatto confirm that it was, indeed, a production piece, but he said he actually HAD the body and slider with him, and would I like some more images of it. Would I ever?!?!?!
Below are the pictures sent to me. I post these with his blessing.
According to the info that accompanied the images, this Sonic was made prior to Series 3 by Mark Cordory. And what do you know, here is a lovely 'cap of a square slider Sonic being used on screen in 'The Runaway Bride'.
Now, it has been postulated that this Sonic was likely a modified Aztec, but a couple of details have me thinking otherwise.
So, in my opinion anyway, what we have here is a 'Stage 3' sonic design with the the dimensions of the 3-4 Robatto, but with a wide (though not as wide as the 1st Wide Slider) slider slot, and a unique activation button. It is also very likely that at least one of the Aztecs received the same treatment.
Let's start with what we already know. Below is a collage image of the four widely known versions of these props.
Bottom to Top: Aztec #1, Aztec #2, the 'Wide Slider', The Robatto 'Final Revision'.
Until now, every Sonic fan knew this list, and have worked to reproduce it. But now, as Yoda famously said, 'There is...another...'
Recently, I received as a gift, a copy of 'The Secrets of the TARDIS'. An all together silly book which came with a tiny 11th Doctor Sonic for revealing hidden UV text. But on the Sonic Screwdriver page, I found the most ponderous image of the 9/10 Sonic.
What stood out most to me was the slider/activation button. While the body clearly looks like the season 3-4 Robatto Sonic, I had never seen that model with a centered button or what appears to be a square slider.
After much re-watching of of episodes and perusing of my collection of screen-caps I was at a loss. Was this just some mock up for the book? A clever photoshop job? Or was this the real deal?
So I contacted my super secret espionage team to infiltrate the BBC for answers. I guess they probably tortured a few key personnel, and broke a couple laws, but in the end, at the cost of only one life and 3 doughnuts, I got my answers.
What? You don't believe me? *Sigh* Would you believe that I just asked Nick then? :lol
Not only did Mr. Robatto confirm that it was, indeed, a production piece, but he said he actually HAD the body and slider with him, and would I like some more images of it. Would I ever?!?!?!
Below are the pictures sent to me. I post these with his blessing.
According to the info that accompanied the images, this Sonic was made prior to Series 3 by Mark Cordory. And what do you know, here is a lovely 'cap of a square slider Sonic being used on screen in 'The Runaway Bride'.
Now, it has been postulated that this Sonic was likely a modified Aztec, but a couple of details have me thinking otherwise.
- On the Atecs, the area on the body where it meets the aluminum end piece is the same diameter as where the alu end piece attaches to the Delrin bulb. This is not the case with this Sonic.
- On this Sonic, the ridges seem to share the ramped and squared profile seen on the Robatto Sonic, and not the balanced and rounded profile of the Aztec. Though the above screen cap certainly throws some doubt on that.
So, in my opinion anyway, what we have here is a 'Stage 3' sonic design with the the dimensions of the 3-4 Robatto, but with a wide (though not as wide as the 1st Wide Slider) slider slot, and a unique activation button. It is also very likely that at least one of the Aztecs received the same treatment.