Farscape Peacekeeper Data Chips

[jackdoud]

A discussion of the various data chips started in the Junkyard so I thought I'd start a thread in the correct section.

There were 3 types of Peacekeeper datachips used in Farscape with one varient.

The Ident chip was essentially dog tags:

More pics here: http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q185/jackdoud/Farscape/Identchip/

The Vid chip was for video storage:

More pics here: http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q185/jackdoud/Farscape/Vidchip/

The Message chip was a catch-all data chip with 2 variations.
The smooth back:

and the ridged back:

More pics here: http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q185/jackdoud/Farscape/Messagechip/

Hope this helps someone. They're on my list of things to do but you know how that goes. :rolleyes

 

[jason1976]

Thanks for starting a new thread. I wasn't trying to get off topic in the other thread. I just have a really be habit of rushing into buying props, only to find out they are WAY OFF, and then I have to go through the hassle of reselling it, and looking for another better version. So in this case I just wanted to make sure what to look for, and if it's not out there and I have to make it myself, I wanted to know what kind of work was a head of me. But, your right, we can be more free to talk over here.

These are bigger then I thought. I always thought they were rather small, but at 1.5 x 2.5 there almost as big as the comm pins/badges. (well it depends on who you ask about the comms, some folks make them bigger, then others. )

I found a great little place on the web, that sells some very nice little Farscape lapel pins. I order the Comm, the PK logo, and the ident chip, I think the prices are pretty good, and they ship really fast. I hate to sound like a commercial, but I'm just happy that someone is still offering Farscape stuff, and at a far price to boot.

Anyway's, I've, been using the ident chip pin I got from them, and other reference pics to do my own graphic.

I keep debating about buy one. I mean, even if I can find one, they go for $25. to $30. now, and I know I could make something for display for much cheaper then that. Mine would be fare from as nice, but they would be much, much cheaper. And hey, I'm really cheep. :lol

I've never done Vinyl decals before, I usually just print the graphic on a sheet of window decal paper, on my home printer, and once that dries, I put another clear sheet of the same stuff on tome of that to protect the ink. Then I clean the item (usually metal) and stick the graphic on there. (it helps, if after it's on there, an it has a chance to adhere, you take a damp cloth, and wipe off the stuff they have on the outside of the "paper" so that the top piece is very shiny, and clear. ) Yeah, it's more DIY, then fancy pants stuff, like most folks around here do, and they wouldn't be anything I would sell to folks, but it's worked just fine for me on other projects. I could get a strip of aluminum for under $5. or $6. and that plus a couple of sheets of that window decal "Paper" could get me dozens of chips. (just a though.)

 

[jason1976]

Oh, yeah, and here's a link to the place with the pins, if anyone want one. (just saving myself from having toanswer a bunch of PMs. :lol)

http://www.disordered.org/Pins.html

 

[CB2001]

I know that for the episode "The Way We Weren't" from Season 2 of the show, the "vid-chip projector" device was actually a Logitech video game control that had been stripped of it's handle. I can't remember the model, but I know that someone posted about it at one of the "Farscape" forums I used to visit.

 

[Kylash]

ive got one of those half converted laying around

 

[CB2001]

ive got one of those half converted laying around

That's cool, Kylash! You should definitely finish it. For those who were wondering the model, I found it by looking at pictures. It's a Logitech
WingMan Warrior control. Here's the picture of the actual control:

Now, for anyone who decides to do the vidchip and are lucky enough to find the controller, you can do your own replica of the prop from the show.

 

[jason1976]

That's cool, Kylash! You should definitely finish it. For those who were wondering the model, I found it by looking at pictures. It's a Logitech
WingMan Warrior control. Here's the picture of the actual control:

Now, for anyone who decides to do the vidchip and are lucky enough to find the controller, you can do your own replica of the prop from the show.

Thank you so much for posting that info. (especially just when you did. ) I saw your post and did a quick search on ebay, and was just in time, to get one for $11. shipped. I don't know what the going rate is, but hey, I'll take a prop for $11. shipped to my door.

Now I just have to figure out what i have to do to fix it up like the show version.

 

[CB2001]

Thank you so much for posting that info. (especially just when you did. ) I saw your post and did a quick search on ebay, and was just in time, to get one for $11. shipped. I don't know what the going rate is, but hey, I'll take a prop for $11. shipped to my door.

Now I just have to figure out what i have to do to fix it up like the show version.

You're welcome. I don't know if Farscape Fantasy is still open with their screencaps, but it wouldn't hurt to try them and any other possible site with the words "Farscape" and "screencap".

 

[jackdoud]

It was used initially for the Padak Beacon in "Til the Blood Runs Clear" then slightly modified for the vid player later:

The thread over on Farscape Props still has most of its pics and a lot of good info on modification. Additional screencaps can be found here: http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q185/jackdoud/Farscape/Padak Beacon-Vid Viewer/

 

[jason1976]

OO! great info, and pics. My Joystick came, and I have taken off the the grip, and the other unneeded parts, and hope to get it Bondoed up, and maybe get an extra piece cut for the bottom this weekend. (fingers crossed) And then I'll just have to make the grip flat pieces, and find a grip to put on is. Oh, yeah, and find (or make) a good vid chip replica for it.

I actually think I like the beacon (or what ever they called it) version from TTBRC but I'll start with the vid chip viewer version ,first and then if I ever make that other big bit that's one the TTBRC version, can always make it so I can, but it one, and take it off. so it can be either prop.

 

[jackdoud]

The part that's on top of the beacon was used towards the end of season 1 as a fire wall grenade when they were running from the Gamak base so either way you've got a couple props. :rolleyes

 

[Kylash]

heres another chip and the reader. I never figured out the handlebar part...

 

[jason1976]

Yeah, I'm trying to figure that part out myself. I read most of the thread over the farscape props forums. I agree with most of it, but I do see a few things different.

Like I do think the added to the bottom to make it hire for the handle bar part, but not as much as some where doing. It only looks to be about 1/4" taller. If you blow up the pic with the white background you can see the seem between the top,and the bottom, pieces. The bottom piece looks just a hair shorter then the strait/vertical edge that trims the left hand side part of the controller. ( The part between the added handle frame.) at least IMO. And it could be me, but instead of the handle fram being sandwiched between the top and bottom pieces, or setting in a cut out in the added bottom piece, it almost looks to me, the files up into the original body just a bit, and put it in thetre. (in other words, it looks like the y filed up form the bottom of the original body, to accommodate, the grip frame, and then added the new bottom.)

I also think the grip isn't round. I think it is a little flatter, or shorter, on the side that would set on a table. In that pic with the white background, it just doesn't look as tall on the bottom side, as it does on the top. (IMO) probably around the same height as the added bottom. (or close to it.)

I could be round about this all of course. I'm going off of a thread that's like 6 or 7 years old, and I've only had a little time (since I decided to make one.) to obsess over the details, and pics. :lol


Do, you recall the piece that you used for the projector part on yours? I saw all through the old thread, people talking (good, and bad) about the part that you found, and used on yours but I kept missing the actual post where it said what the part was.

 

[silverskyes402]

What are the chances of someone doig a run of machines video chips, I always wanted one, I ahve a dogtag type chip, but I love the cutout look of the vid chip!

 

[jason1976]

I'd be in if someone did a run.

Nicksdad has been turning out a lot of great stuff, and at a great prices.

I've got some nice things from SD studios too.

And there is always Russ.

 

[jason1976]

Yeah, there are finally new Farscape Ident chip replicas for sail out there again.

Galron Manufacturing: IDENT CHIP NECKLACE

I've been in touch with the owner of this site for months now, about these, and he finally has the first one done (Mine. ) and they are now for sale on his site.

He told me, instead of making them in bulk, he was going to make then for each costumer, as they order them (allow 2 weeks for that) So, if you want the whole for the necklace in a different place, you can get that.

I'll be sure to post a review when I receive mine. (I just couldn't wait until then to spread the news. )

 

[Dionysus]

Very cool, I'll be keeping an eye out for that review, paypal balance in hand.

 

[jason1976]

It was used initially for the Padak Beacon in "Til the Blood Runs Clear" then slightly modified for the vid player later:

The thread over on Farscape Props still has most of its pics and a lot of good info on modification. Additional screencaps can be found here: Padak Beacon-Vid Viewer pictures by jackdoud - Photobucket

Wall, I'm waiting for my chip to come, I though I would talk about something else.

I made some progress on the chip reader/Padak Beacon. I got the joystick taken apart, all the stuff that needs to be filled in with bondo, has been. I cut out the new bottom, (that steps it up) out of wood, but it went really wrong, so I have to come up with some other option for the bottem. (still might use wood, I just need to find a better way to cut it out.) I have frame for grip cut out of aluminum, and I just have to put that part together. I have a couple different Ideas of how I might do the grip itself.

I still need to find the Male adaptor/plugy thing, that goes on the back. (I know they said what it was, or what was close, over at the FPF, but I can't find that post, or any pics of the item, over there. )

I also have to find, or make the thre pronged part for the Padak Beacon. It could be made out of cut, and assembled pieces, of sheet styrene, but it has a very could object feel to me, and I would really like to fid it, rather then making one. I do think once I make/fid it, I will attach it with magnets so I can switch tops, to make both props, out of one joystick.

The projector/coney thingy, on top of both versions, is semilar on both version, but I think they may be different. Or, it could just be the angle I'm looking at them from, since they both do have the same overall shape, it just looks like the details may be different. Do you think that, that part was a found object? (on either version.)

Again, I have waided through the very long thread over at the FPF, but a lot of the pics are down, and like so many old threads over there (and here) folks will seem to be on to somehting, they will say "pics soon", or "more info soon" and then they will never post to that thread again, even thow it has been YEARS. (what teases.)

 

[jason1976]

Ok, I got my ident chip. (well actually I got it over a week ago, but I've been a way for over a week now)

Over all I am very happy with it.

The graphic is rather crisp, and clear. I don't now for sure how it is on there though. It completely smooth. So, I don't think it's engraved, but it also doesn't look like a vinyl decal (like some other replicas out there) and it's so smooth, and shiny that it doesn't look like ti was just printed on. If anything, it almost looks like the graphic was printed, or applied some who, and then a very smooth coating of some kind was laminated on. I really have no idea how it was done, but it looks really, really good. (IMHO) So from the stand point of over all look, it think it is the best replica of this ship I have ever seen.

The size is the same as pervious replicas, and looks to be about right to me. (though I know some have said that pervious verions were a little to large, I'm happy with the size of this one.)

It I had one complaint, it would be with the thickness of the chip. It is half the thickness of previous replicas. This makes if very, very,l light wait, and (to me) makes it feel like of delicate. It is made of metal, so I'm sure it's not as delicate as it feels, but I would have like for it to have a little more weight to it. I have talked to the maker about it, and he said that he will look into making one with a thicker material, but that he has worn this for weeks now, and that it has held up perfectly. So, you may not want to worry about it, and, just go ahead and order one.

The "necklace" Is GREAT. It's leather, it has the coiled wire slide thing just above the chip, like many of the screen used version, and it has a nice necklace style clasp in the back, to make it easy to put on, and take off. I'm no expert but it looks very, accurate to me, and I am very happy with this extra little treat.

I'm sorry I don't have any pics to post yet, but I have just got back from a long, exosting trip, and it may be a few days before I get unpacked, and get my camera out. But, I will get some pics up some time this week.

 

[jason1976]

WOW! I am so sorry, gang. I took pics of the new Ident chip, back when I said I would (months ago) and I totally thought I posted them, but I see now that I didn't.

Well here they are......

The one with the lanyard is the new chip by GALRON MFG , and the other chip, is the one "Great Bizarro" offered a wile back. "Great Bizarro's" version is made of a little thick piece of aluminum, and feels a little more substantial in your hand, but the graphics on his version, are vinyl decals. (the decails tend to scratch, peal, etc. just a little) The new version offered by GALRON MFG, is thinner, and more lightweight, but it comes with what looks to be, a pretty accurate lanyard, and the graphics on this version are ........ well there just really cool. it has kind of a clear coating (or something) over the graphics, that makes the whole face of the chip, clean, and smooth, and the red triangle has almost a slight metallic look to it. (in person) So, in the pics the GALRON version, is the one with the lanyard, and the GB version is the thicker one.

And here's GALRON MFG's version next to the licensed rubber Vid chip, from the UK.