Factory Entertainment Tricorder

Actually, the tricorder isn't supposed be metal. In the "Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual" on page 119 it says that the case is constructed of "micromilled duranium foam". The manual was written by Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda... who had a lot to do with the technology for the show.

Lot's of real world science and engineering equipment is plastic. However, metal props are cooler. The EFX Next Generation movie tricorder is metal, which is really nice.
 
13doctorwho said:
Actually, the tricorder isn't supposed be metal. In the "Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual" on page 119 it says that the case is constructed of "micromilled duranium foam". The manual was written by Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda... who had a lot to do with the technology for the show.
Click to expand...

Isn't duranium a (fictional) metal alloy?
 
It looks like it's meant to be a metal ore. I imagine it's nothing like steel though. Aluminum and Titanium feel nothing like steel, but they are metals.

They referred to it as a foam, so I assumed it was not a metal. I assumed it was like alumina loaded resin. That's a composite material we used at work for ultrasonic sensors. It's basically a light weight resin mixed with aluminum powder, similar to cold casting. It's has some properties of the resin like being light, and some properties from the aluminum powder like strength. That would explain the tricorder's grey appearance with silver flecks. ShapeWays had a similar material in their early days.

Anyway... my bad...
 
masterjedi322 said:
I’m in the camp who would have preferred they went with a Mark VI or a Mark VII and not a hybrid of the two…

But if you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters. I hope you enjoy the hell out of it!

Sean
Click to expand...
Agree 100%. They really are much closer to a MkVI with the design. If they'd just used the later MkVI medical peripheral design instead of kinda-sorta using the MkVII, it could be considered more accurate. Obviously graphics colors would change and they'd need to use MKVI on the build plate. Count me also as not a fan of the PWR button being physical. I know I'm the only one, but I hate the illuminated EMRG button. The hinges aren't terrible for a MkVI (still wrong) and the ratchet sound seems to work quite well.

I'm not sure why they'd make the medical peripheral separate on this without adding LEDs to the base unit. That's how the replicas of the MkVI medical work, anyway. Any kind of standard science tTicorder face would protrude too far and have a seam if it were an add-on, not to mention the MkVI science had a hand scanner inset into the front. We never saw other swappable peripherals on the show. A MkVI Tricorder with a MkVII front array would look really weird, IMO.

I don't hate the look of their Cobra phaser. Depending on how the final production looks I might consider it. While I could certainly build one that does all that theirs does, I don't really have the time these days. I still have a MkVII vac-form Tric on the bench that needs completing!
 
Anyway, after cooling down a bit, I realised why the PWR LED uses a mechanical switch. This also confirms that the whole main body is metal and the internal electronics will most probably slide inside.

They could make a hole with the reed switch behind it in the main body but if they did not, it also means the flap could be metal too. The only fact that goes against my theory is the closing racthet sound in the video unless that was dubbed in.
 
It’s seems to me that their mindset is if they make an idealized prop, then the nerds can’t nitpick it to death over accuracy.
 
I bit the bullet and paid my deposit for this. FE is SSOO damn expensive, especially shipping to Australia. Sometimes these pieces appear at local sites and stores and I can save a few hundred on shipping but it's just too unpredictable if/when they'll appear. Always loved TNG and I know I'd be gutted if I missed out on this.
The only inaccuracy that's bothering me now is the F1/F2 button screw-up. Really hoping they fix that.

I'm also excited at the thought of a Science Tricorder add-on to transform this - though I'm about 90% confident if they did that, it would be a whole new prop, not just a swappable top part. At that point, I'd have to really think hard about whether it was worth another $1400 (yay for currency conversion and international shipping!!)

Been a good (if expensive) couple of years for me for hefty, quality props - so many since pieces have cropped p. Feels like the prop replica industry is really blossoming!
The hardest part is having sold our house at the start of the year and have been renting for 9 months in a temporary house, so every prop or piece I get is delivered, unwrapped and briefly admired, then boxed up and stuck in storage! We'll be moving into our new house in just a few weeks and hopefully I'll start getting my collection out and back on display by the end of the year!
 
Interview video with Factory Entertainment, showing the tricorder in action, along with the Star Trek 5 and Strange New Worlds phasers:

 
Yeah, I like it even less now. That's a lot of money, for a toy. A lot of the decisions seemed to be made for normies and not prop collectors. I get having to change the screen because of available LCDs, but I would have preferred an accurate screen with the backlit Okudagram. I know I'm alone there.

I did like the Assault Phaser though. That was pretty cool
 
TESTED: Factory Entertainment Star Trek Review

LINK: Adam Savage’s Deep Dive Into Star Trek Prop Replicas!

IMG_1882.jpeg
 
The assault phaser does look awesome. Hope they can get this into the $599-699 range, but seems doubtful based on the price of the TNG tricorder.
 
Given that their studio scale Phoenix replica very much looks like it is sourced from a 3D printable file that (used to be) available online- I'll pass on *anything* FE ever does.

I say "used to be" because I read that the modeler of the file in question reached out to FE about it and was immediately threatened with a C&D.

He's even got the records that show they bought the files from his online store, and the photo comparisons don't lie. He worked with limited reference, so he made up a lot of the details that strangely wound up in the prototype FE has been showing off.

It's really a bummer- seems like he would have gladly helped them out with it for free, he was just excited about the prospect of being involved in a project like that. Instead, he got threats of legal action.

Flies, vinegar something something. Reminds me of some of the early days of Master Replicas.

Can't stop the signal...
 
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