Factory Entertainment Tricorder

Well…it’s up for preorder: Star Trek - TR580 Mark VII Medical Tricorder Limited Edition Prop Replica

What I like:
  • Machined aluminum hand scanner that has its own sound - included! I know some of us theorized that you would need to buy the separate medical equipment set to get the scanner, so this was good news!
  • Animated and selectable display - 3 different modes to choose from as opposed to a static image - nice!
  • Metal alloy body - depending on your point of view, this could be good or bad. I generally liked the metal bodies on the MR pieces, so we’ll see how this translates to the Mark VII
  • Rechargeable and replaceable lipo battery
What I don’t like:
  • Shape - I really hoped they were going to adjust overall shape to better match the rounder version Jimin posted above. They claim that they created a hybrid version of the various props that were seen on screen. I’m guessing they had access to either props or photos that I’ve likely never seen. I’ll just say I’ve watched TNG multiple times through, and I don’t ever recall seeing such a sharp-angled Mark VII…
  • Gasket - Looks like they have a rubber gasket or something running between the tricorder body and the medical attachment, which is sticking out in a few photos. A minor knit, but I hope it’s corrected in the final pieces.
    IMG_0021.jpeg
  • Color - looks like they went with some metallic sliver as opposed to the dove gray and misted silver the TNG props were painted with.
  • Small scanner pocket - looks like the opening for the scanner is smaller than what we see on screen. I’m guessing they did this to better secure the scanner in place.
  • Protruding PWR light - as seen on the prototype, looks like the PWR LED is protruding from the body. Don’t know if this is supposed to serve as some sort of functioning button or what, but I would have preferred one that wasn’t poking out
  • IMG_0022.jpeg
  • Lack of black decals on the hinged side of the tricorder body and flip-out door - pretty sure that was a Mark VII detail not seen on the earlier iterations, which seems to be missing from this replica. I know it’s a minor detail, but I always thought it provided a nice touch as seen on this replica:
  • IMG_0023.jpeg
  • Lack of white decals on side panels - from what I’ve seen, the side recesses on the medical attachment have a white detail going over the LEDs, which aren’t shown on the FE model:
  • IMG_0024.jpeg
  • $800 price tag - I wouldn’t have mind paying that if this looked closer to what we saw on screen, but the given the issues I’ve noted above, probably going to pass on this one, sadly, which I’m really bummed about. The Mark VII medical tricorder is my favorite prop from TNG, so I was really looking forward to FE offering one. I just think they missed the mark…
I know this is a long rant. I’ve generally been a fan of FE and their prop replicas. Clearly, I had high expectations for this replica, but I’m disappointed as I offered FE access to my Rodd.com kit that was vacuformed from the original bucks, which could have helped create a more accurate body shape, but they declined. Their call obviously, but bummed that I basically got the Indiana Jones “top men…” line to only have this replica be too far off for my tastes.

Here’s hoping future TNG replicas are more accurate…

Sean
 
masterjedi322 said:
Well…it’s up for preorder: Star Trek - TR580 Mark VII Medical Tricorder Limited Edition Prop Replica

What I like:
  • Machined aluminum hand scanner that has its own sound - included! I know some of us theorized that you would need to buy the separate medical equipment set to get the scanner, so this was good news!
  • Animated and selectable display - 3 different modes to choose from as opposed to a static image - nice!
  • Metal alloy body - depending on your point of view, this could be good or bad. I generally liked the metal bodies on the MR pieces, so we’ll see how this translates to the Mark VII
  • Rechargeable and replaceable lipo battery
What I don’t like:
  • Shape - I really hoped they were going to adjust overall shape to better match the rounder version Jimin posted above. They claim that they created a hybrid version of the various props that were seen on screen. I’m guessing they had access to either props or photos that I’ve likely never seen. I’ll just say I’ve watched TNG multiple times through, and I don’t ever recall seeing such a sharp-angled Mark VII…
  • Gasket - Looks like they have a rubber gasket or something running between the tricorder body and the medical attachment, which is sticking out in a few photos. A minor knit, but I hope it’s corrected in the final pieces. View attachment 1841767
  • Color - looks like they went with some metallic sliver as opposed to the dove gray and misted silver the TNG props were painted with.
  • Small scanner pocket - looks like the opening for the scanner is smaller than what we see on screen. I’m guessing they did this to better secure the scanner in place.
  • Protruding PWR light - as seen on the prototype, looks like the PWR LED is protruding from the body. Don’t know if this is supposed to serve as some sort of functioning button or what, but I would have preferred one that wasn’t poking out
  • View attachment 1841769
  • Lack of black decals on the hinged side of the tricorder body and flip-out door - pretty sure that was a Mark VII detail not seen on the earlier iterations, which seems to be missing from this replica. I know it’s a minor detail, but I always thought it provided a nice touch as seen on this replica:
  • View attachment 1841770
  • Lack of white decals on side panels - from what I’ve seen, the side recesses on the medical attachment have a white detail going over the LEDs, which aren’t shown on the FE model:
  • View attachment 1841771
  • $800 price tag - I wouldn’t have mind paying that if this looked closer to what we saw on screen, but the given the issues I’ve noted above, probably going to pass on this one, sadly, which I’m really bummed about. The Mark VII medical tricorder is my favorite prop from TNG, so I was really looking forward to FE offering one. I just think they missed the mark…
I know this is a long rant. I’ve generally been a fan of FE and their prop replicas. Clearly, I had high expectations for this replica, but I’m disappointed as I offered FE access to my Rodd.com kit that was vacuformed from the original bucks, which could have helped create a more accurate body shape, but they declined. Their call obviously, but bummed that I basically got the Indiana Jones “top men…” line to only have this replica be too far off for my tastes.

Here’s hoping future TNG replicas are more accurate…

Sean
Click to expand...
I've detailed all the errors in a previous post so I won't repeat them again but this Tricorder is inaccurate to the Mark VI and Mark VII so much so that it is neither one nor the other.
The sound of that peripheral hand scanner is so wrong and one that makes no sense as there are a number of episodes where you can hear what it should sound like.
Go to "The Game" from season 5 when Wesley scans Data in sickbay and you can very clearly hear the correct sound.
This is a very weird Frankenstein's monster of the Mark VI and Mark VII with a lot of weird design choices that in no way justify it's price.
A hard pass, which is a shame as the Mark VII Medical Tricorder is one of my all time favourite props in any of the Star Trek series.
 
I’d suggest waiting for a sale, I know I probably should have. But maybe I get another serial number 1 again.
 
I don't mind some of the inaccuracies... but when I compare to other higher end collectibles like Wand Company tricorder, phaser or communicator, and Tomy's Enterprise(s) the price/value just seems out of whack. I mean, the Wand Company tricorder will have tons more functionality for less. And the Tomy diecast Enterprises are much more impressive for less. This feels like a great replica for, maybe, $249.
 
This looks neat enough but I'm hoping for some more Phasers from FE.

Particularly the First Contact Phaser Rifle that they had displayed last year at SDCC and that Anovos never made.
 
renaissance_man said:
Which is likely part of the reason they don't make things that are completely accurate because people accept the stuff that FE makes and don't demand better. Especially when FE charge higher prices than more accurate fan made replicas.
Click to expand...
I don't like that approach, go big or go home
 
YenChih Lin said:
What are their rep? Anovos level? (Yeah, I dropped by long time no see)
Click to expand...
No not Anovos level they do actually deliver, just that their Next Gen offerings are way off from the originals they have examined

Good to see you back, dont be a stranger! (y)
 
YenChih Lin said:
No no no no! We are prop replica collectors and I can expect 99% accuracy, the 1% is the leeway I am willing to make concessions to the replica
Click to expand...

Oh some things gotta be right. But man if I'm holding a replica that puts me into that 'verse? That's gold. Sometimes you want what the prop master made and puts you into the studio shop, even the unique imperfections of methods of build. Some fraudsters have done some good work too. LOL They should go legit. Other times I want to feel I'm really there for two seconds to please and feed the kid still alive in me. I would put this one in that box. And boy when you have a lot of passion for one thing and not as much for another can change how you weight accuracy. I can be pleased with some commercial close enough mass produced Marvel-verse product but miserable with not good enough on something else. I still want a Raiders Idol up to snuff I need to start seeking.
 
I was watching through some of the bonus features on the TNG season 1 Blu-ray and spotted this and thought it looked mighty familiar:

vlcsnap-2024-07-21-18h31m47s598.png
 
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