Boomerang phaser: MR vs Rod.com

[czechplastik]

Hi all,

Can anyone give me a detailed comparison between the Master Replicas First Contact phaser and the Roddenberry.com boomerang phaser?

Pros and cons of each? I think the Rod.com version looks better but like the weight and feel of the MR version (which I currently own).

Anyone have any side by side shots or general thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[MattMunson]

I have no pics, but as a point of fact, the one available on rodd.com is a DIRECT descendent of the ones used onscreen in the show. Apart from buying a screen used piece or made for production piece, rodd.com is the closest you will get to the props used in the show.

WIth that said, the MR is an "idealized" version with a lot of things cleaned up, made symmetrical, and commercialized. It comes out of the box as a finished piece, and is darn nice. Is it 100% accurate? no. Does it share the same lineage as the ones from rodd.com? no. But for a hundred bucks, you get a finished piece that lights up, makes noises, and looks cool.

So I guess the question is, what is it that is important to you as a collector? Coolness/wow factor, or authenticity/lineage?


If it was me, I would get both

 

[czechplastik]

Thanks for the reply! I'm looking at built versions, inclusive of electronics. Watched videos etc on youtube and to me the Rodd.com version looks more accurate to what I have seen in the shows.

I guess what I'm asking is if I sell the MR version and pick up a Rodd.com piece with electronics will I regret it? It's my understanding that the Rodd.com models come with display case etc so it will still make a great display piece?

 

[darthgordon]

I'm not sure why you'd regret it. As I understand it the work HMS does is top notch.

But for a hundred bucks, you get a finished piece that lights up, makes noises, and looks cool.

Where did you find an MR boomerang phaser for 100 bucks? I want a link. I'd snatch it up faster than... well, it wouldn't be that fast. I'd snatch it up in a week... after I pay for my car tags.

 

[czechplastik]

I'm not sure why you'd regret it. As I understand it the work HMS does is top notch.

I don't believe I would regret it, I'd just like someone who owns/has owned both to give a verdict on both pieces.

 

[USS Endeav]

I'm not sure why you'd regret it. As I understand it the work HMS does is top notch.



Where did you find an MR boomerang phaser for 100 bucks? I want a link. I'd snatch it up faster than... well, it wouldn't be that fast. I'd snatch it up in a week... after I pay for my car tags.

You might find one on eBay every now and again but I have never seen one
that I would own and display sell for less than $300. Depending on what you are looking for, you can keep an eye out for listings such as this:
230502040706, it is the closest to $100 I found, albeit without any paperwork or plaque and a questionable condition.

 

[-E-]

I love my MR boomerang. I would never part with it. The all metal body just gives it such a realistic feel to it. I would, however, have no problem putting an HMS boomerang right next to it!

 

[masterjedi322]

I have some pictures of them side-by-side, and they're virtually identical as far as dimensions go. I'll see if I can dig 'em up when I get home.

Sean

 

[Apollo]

Get both if you can afford it and you will have the best of both worlds!

 

[phez]

I am thinking that HMS did the Masters for the MR didn't they?

 

[SD Studios]

Please clarify how one can look better than the other.

???

HMS made two master pattern for MR and the factory digitally scanned one, cleaned it up a bit, and transferred the pattern directly to the steel tooling for the die-casting process.

They are VERY close to each other and MR used exactly the same paint colors. (or as close as practically-possible). I have side-by-side pics somewhere, and aside from a few very minor differences (and the MR being completely symmetrical) they are almost identical. So how does the HMS "better"?

If ANYTHING, the MR is a bit straighter, with better fit tolerances, but those are only a few thousandths here and there.

Wouldn't the HMS model look "worse?" (if you could even SEE the differences in geometry; which you can't). :lol

Again...You can SEE a difference in a pic?

Please explain.

 

[czechplastik]

Wouldn't the HMS model look "worse?" (if you could even SEE the differences in geometry; which you can't). :lol

Again...You can SEE a difference in a pic?

Please explain.

Sorry I think I came across badly in the thread. Of course I couldn't see minor minor differences, I was talking about the more obvious differences such as the difference in the button colours (no FC red on the HMS) and the power display (all green on HMS) rather than details like symmetry and what not which I why I wanted a side by side shot! Don't wish to inconvenience anyone either, only if one was readily available:lol

 

[knightone]

The MR actually looks a little smaller than the HMS. It looks one generation down in size. It's slight, but noticeable.

Other than that, the MR is beautiful. The heft and feel of the metal body, the symmetry of the lines and proportions, the metal accents on the emitter. All make it just about the perfect boomerang. If only we could get a dolphin like this. Maybe EFX will decide to do it one day.

Not to say I don't like the HMS. I do very much. While there is charm in a handmade replica just like the ones they would have used on set, in real life the phaser would have been manufactured to exacting tolerances on a factory assmebly line. The MR is closer to what that would be like (although not sure about the "exacting tolerances" part on the part of a collectible).

Both have their charm and appeal. Either way, you have a cool replica with neat electronics. How can you go wrong with either.

 

[Zombie Killer]

So from what i'm hearing here, if you want the most screen accurate go with the Rodd/HMS and if you want the cleanest/symetrical boomerang or the one closest to an ideal boomerang go with MR. Is this correct? I've also been eyeing Rodd.com's phasers and this thread came at a perfect time. Thanks for the thread czechplastik!!

 

[knightone]

Yes, that's correct.

I love the MR more than the HMS for the reasons I stated above, but the flaws of the HMS actually give it character and authenticity.

 

[MattMunson]

Sorry I think I came across badly in the thread. Of course I couldn't see minor minor differences, I was talking about the more obvious differences such as the difference in the button colours (no FC red on the HMS) and the power display (all green on HMS) rather than details like symmetry and what not which I why I wanted a side by side shot! Don't wish to inconvenience anyone either, only if one was readily available:lol

Dude, you did not come across badly. Don't sweat it. This wouldn't be the first time SDS took a discussion about an MR piece seriously

As a point of fact, there were a number of different versions of that particular phaser seen on screen, with different button colors. I wouldn't sweat that part.

I personally don't think one is "better" than the other, as they are both very different. The MR phaser is an idealized, cleaned up, "perfected" version. The Rodd.com version is pretty much an exact duplicate of what was delivered to the set of the show, plus a few electronic enhancements.

Is one "better" than the other? i guess that is in the eye of the beholder, depending upon what you consider important in a replica.

 

[czechplastik]

Dude, you did not come across badly. Don't sweat it. This wouldn't be the first time SDS took a discussion about an MR piece seriously

As a point of fact, there were a number of different versions of that particular phaser seen on screen, with different button colors. I wouldn't sweat that part.

I personally don't think one is "better" than the other, as they are both very different. The MR phaser is an idealized, cleaned up, "perfected" version. The Rodd.com version is pretty much an exact duplicate of what was delivered to the set of the show, plus a few electronic enhancements.

Is one "better" than the other? i guess that is in the eye of the beholder, depending upon what you consider important in a replica.

Cheers Matt and thanks for the info.

I guess both pieces have their merits, guess I'll just have to buy them all...

Thanks bro:cool

 

[knightone]

As a point of fact, there were a number of different versions of that particular phaser seen on screen, with different button colors. I wouldn't sweat that part.

That's right. The HMS build is based on the standard phaser used throughout the movies and shows. They all had the power meter painted green (hence the green LED's on the HMS builds) and the silver trigger. The red trigger was to set apart Picard's hero phaser in the movie. The MR is based on that hero and the HMS is based on the standard phaser that was used in all but two instances (the aforementioned Picard hero phaser from FC and the DS9 "Hard Time" hero phaser).

 

[MattMunson]

That's right. The HMS build is based on the standard phaser used throughout the movies and shows. They all had the power meter painted green (hence the green LED's on the HMS builds) and the silver trigger. The red trigger was to set apart Picard's hero phaser in the movie. The MR is based on that hero and the HMS is based on the standard phaser that was used in all but two instances (the aforementioned Picard hero phaser from FC and the DS9 "Hard Time" hero phaser).

Great info knightone. I appreciate the specifics! Good stuff.

 

[AJK001]

That's right. The HMS build is based on the standard phaser used throughout the movies and shows. They all had the power meter painted green (hence the green LED's on the HMS builds) and the silver trigger. The red trigger was to set apart Picard's hero phaser in the movie. The MR is based on that hero and the HMS is based on the standard phaser that was used in all but two instances (the aforementioned Picard hero phaser from FC and the DS9 "Hard Time" hero phaser).

That is also why MR called the Phaser the First Contact Phaser and not the TNG, DS9 or Voyager Phaser.