AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: modified with metal parts

[Coz]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

I have an Epson R300 (inkjet) - it prints transparencies really sharp.

I printed the herocomm.com moire on photo paper and transparency film (both at the 'transparency' setting) and it works perfectly.

Newer, better printers should walk it.

 

[phase pistol]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

Just a little preview.

 

[DrMcoy]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

I think it's cool to see people upgrading these toys -- but for those that are doing it, do you think it is worth the amount of time/effort you are putting into it when, in the end, the toy's body is not exactly accurate for texture and thickness on end (profile) and the grid wheels are thinner and have the little wank on them to activate chirp, etc etc etc.

AGAIN, not knocking people for modifying this toy, but having modified toys myself, and realizing how much effort must be put into it -- I've reached the point where I like the toy for what it is -- something to play around with and not worry if it gets a few nicks or scratches. If I'm going to invest the amount of time and money and energy into building a prop, I'll do so with a Rodd.com kit or the new John Long comm kit coming out.

Of course, I could see using this new comm and pulling motor and electronics out to install in an HMS or JL version....but it seems like this new toy comm has so many things not 100% correct, that to invest the time into correcting them -- well, seems like a LOT of work.

But maybe I'm missing the point -- maybe the fun is in seeing if one CAN modify the toy to be even more accurate.

 

[phase pistol]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

Well if an afternoon of work is too much, I don't know what to tell you. :lol

Seriously, I'm trying to mod this with a minimum of time and expense. No combining parts with a Vegas comm. No big operation.

I just had a few extra metal pieces in the parts box, some rub n buff, and curiosity to see how far I could take it.

Granted, the best uses for the AA/DST comm are probably as an "out of box" toy to play with, or as a source for sound boards to put in other comm replicas.

As far as the inaccuracy of the shape... well it's exactly as inaccurate as the MR or Vegas.

- k

 

[The Spy Boys]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

Personally, I love modifying these types of toys. They're inexpensive, fun projects that keep me off the streets at night! :lol

 

[CessnaDriver]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

I was able to quiet it up a bit, liberal use of lithium grease on all the gears, and axle holes, also not tightening up the gear box cover so much helped too. I used a little tape as washers underneath to provide cushion and a little spacing for the gear box cover.

 

[NakedMoleRat]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

Just got mine and I'm thrilled with it. Especially since I had to sell both my MR and Vegas comms last year. And the best part, I stopped into a comic shop that I have not been to in a long time. They had one left, for $14.99. Saweet! :love

 

[phase pistol]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

This represents one afternoon's work.

- shells sprayed with matte clearcoat
- moire disc removed, new moire layers and metal ring installed
- three indicator "lights" (actually just a single strip of clear plastic) removed, replaced with trainwheels and plastic rhinestones
- molded in "midplate" polished with silver Rub N Buff
- gearbox lubricated to reduce noise


Video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K154TYSUJks

 

[TOSPHASER]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

WOW! from toy to prop replica in one afternoon! job well done buddy! very nice!!.......did you paint the shell???

 

[Treadwell]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

Small phillips screwdrivers and a soldering iron.

YOu need to unscrew the PC board inside to get to the back.
No wires need be unsoldered to do this. Pretty easy.

From what we can tell so far, just unsoldering that jumper, blob of solder really, should give the extra sound of the exclusive.

Why not just snip the wire?

 

[phase pistol]

Thanks. I wasn't trying to make it the perfect replica (as has been pointed out, the AA/Vegas/MR have shape inaccuracies that can't be fixed), but I did want to see how far you could push this inexpensive toy.

- k

 

[micdavis]

Great job Karl. And fantastic job documenting the whole AA Comm thing.

 

[TOSPHASER]

I'll tinker with it.........as is is fine but a little better is way cool!!!

 

[phase pistol]

Probably the best option for the AA is "gutting" it to provide the circuit board for upgrading a Vegas STTE comm. The Vegas has a better front shell, plus all the metal parts you want (brass flipgrid, metal moire ring and midplate, much better moire than the AA).

So Frankensteining a comm out of the Vegas plus the backshell and electronics of an AA would give you near-Master Replicas quality I think (you can't do anything about the shell texture going the wrong way though... :unsure)

None of these comms, MR/Vegas/AA, will ever be able to be upgraded to "accurate replica" status because of the "fat butt" wedge shaped profile problem, which AFAIK can't be fixed.

Stiill... for a toy, or to make a cheap and fun replica comm, the AA has huge potential.

I can't wait to get my hands on the AA/DST TOS Tricorder!

- k

 

[deck5]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

Why not just snip the wire?

It's not a wire, it's a blob of solder. I managed to remove it, and indeed I now have the additional Spock phrase.

 

[phase pistol]

I note one other feature of the AA/DST, after it falls asleep (after three minutes of continuous operation with the flipgrid open), you have two ways to wake it up.

Pressing the left button wakes up ONLY the lights, and leaves the moire motor off.

Pressing the right button wakes up everything, lights and moire.

- k

 

[HouseAtreides]

Really fantastic information about this toy, thanks very much for posting all of this Phase!
I ordered mine based solely on this thread, you should get a commission!
I'm expecting mine any day now.

 

[ArtistTheGeek]

I can't wait to get one of these to use the guts from and put into my STTE comm. Finally I'll have a comm that looks good and doesn't sound like it was recorded through a phone. :thumbsup

 

[Neon Sentry]

Wow, that looks fantastic! I'm getting really antsy waiting for mine to show up...

When will my Comm arrive?!?!?!

 

[caseyatbt]

Re: AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: photos, review, autopsy, VIDEO

It's not a wire, it's a blob of solder. I managed to remove it, and indeed I now have the additional Spock phrase.

Do you have a picture of the blob to be removed?