Julien’s Upcoming Hero Phaser & Communicator Auction

Can I ask why we are even talking about mid-grades when the auction is about a Hero Phaser and Communicator?
 
Who remembers this ****** excuse of a midgrade phaser forgery?

Thise was the first of two supposed "Nichelle Nichols" phasers that went up for auction... WITHOUT addressing the obviously wrong physical details, the very heavy handed and unnatural weathering is an tell...

Take note of how the paint wears there is no "feathering" involved in the wear pattern where more than one layer of grey paint is....

I don't know how model makers do their grime and grease coat, yet the dirt layers don't have any of the natural characteristics one should see...

Probably the one GIANT tell ..View attachment 1845088View attachment 1845089View attachment 1845090

Of all the nonsense we've seen and heard over the past few years, this has to take the cake.

Setting aside the slim possibility that Ms. Nichols was somehow complicit, taking advantage of an elderly woman with dementia to shill forgeries is really, really low.
 
Of all the nonsense we've seen and heard over the past few years, this has to take the cake.

Setting aside the slim possibility that Ms. Nichols was somehow complicit, taking advantage of an elderly woman with dementia to shill forgeries is really, really low.
What's even odder is some have tried to convince me over the years that JPL wasn't responsible.....

I just find it amazing how a person such as myself who has examined four screen used midgrades in person and will be examining two more at the invitation of their owner I really sit back and shake my head more often than not...

I've had the misfortune of having to tell a few folks they dropped a huge chunk of change on very well crafted replicas. It's not easy to break the news at times
 
What's even odder is some have tried to convince me over the years that JPL wasn't responsible.....

I just find it amazing how a person such as myself who has examined four screen used midgrades in person and will be examining two more at the invitation of their owner I really sit back and shake my head more often than not...

I've had the misfortune of having to tell a few folks they dropped a huge chunk of change on very well crafted replicas. It's not easy to break the news at times

Greed and ego are powerful motivators. Who would want to believe they dropped hundreds of thousands on a fake? Of course, that desire to own the real thing is what scammers prey upon.

I'm reminded of Gerald Gurian and the fakes in his collection (which have appeared in books/documentaries, and in prop/costume exhibits), which he firmly refuses to acknowledge ARE fakes.

It's a blow to the ego to admit one was conned.
 
I'm reminded of Gerald Gurian and the fakes in his collection (which have appeared in books/documentaries, and in prop/costume exhibits), which he firmly refuses to acknowledge ARE fakes.

It's a blow to the ego to admit one was conned.
Quite true Mr. Gurian has been taken big time and I really feel for him because he has probably spent more time and money trying to convince others that just his TOS Tricorders are real... I admit he does have one Tricorder that's borderline to looking real, then he has a couple of ME Tricorders..

I know he really love Star Trek and that kind of situation he's in kinda breaks my heart
 
Quite true Mr. Gurian has been taken big time and I really feel for him because he has probably spent more time and money trying to convince others that just his TOS Tricorders are real... I admit he does have one Tricorder that's borderline to looking real, then he has a couple of ME Tricorders..

I know he really love Star Trek and that kind of situation he's in kinda breaks my heart

That’s the root of all this, isn’t it? Taking advantage of people with real love and passion for the show, the hobby, etc.


It takes a very special kind of sociopathy to—hypothetically, of course—conspire with your lawyer buddy to take advantage of a woman with dementia, then lie, cheat, bribe, and threaten another of your forgeries into a quarter-million-dollar payday, and then create a bogus auction house stocked expressly with fakes built specifically to con rich people and fans.


Because that would be just plain nutty. And an insult to the franchise, the fanbase, the hobby, etc.


Oh, and blatantly, defiantly…disgustingly…criminal.


It would take a very special kind of narcissist to do all of those things. And, if it were me (and it certainly never would be), I wouldn’t have the unmitigated gall to walk into a lion’s den of dedicated enthusiasts and pretend to be just one of the guys after an authentic prop is discovered and starts getting all of the attention.

But that’s just me.


Hypothetically, of course.
 
That’s the root of all this, isn’t it? Taking advantage of people with real love and passion for the show, the hobby, etc.


It takes a very special kind of sociopathy to—hypothetically, of course—conspire with your lawyer buddy to take advantage of a woman with dementia, then lie, cheat, bribe, and threaten another of your forgeries into a quarter-million-dollar payday, and then create a bogus auction house stocked expressly with fakes built specifically to con rich people and fans.


Because that would be just plain nutty. And an insult to the franchise, the fanbase, the hobby, etc.


Oh, and blatantly, defiantly…disgustingly…criminal.


It would take a very special kind of narcissist to do all of those things. And, if it were me (and it certainly never would be), I wouldn’t have the unmitigated gall to walk into a lion’s den of dedicated enthusiasts and pretend to be just one of the guys after an authentic prop is discovered and starts getting all of the attention.

But that’s just me.


Hypothetically, of course.
Yeah.... This is true..

IF I get honest I can have no issues putting a person on front street. I didn't come up in a high cultured area, shoot I'm from Long Beach, Ca..

I'm only watching my words for the sake of those I do respect, those that know me know. People like JPL get upset with me because I have been invited to various viewing, reveals and even introduced to some of the collectors (most I meet through the W.C.C.)

I love this hobby so much that once I built the screen accurate examples early on I got to the point where I'd rather build high end replicas for others that aren't in the hobby...

I'd rather redo a DST Tricorder or 3D Printed phaser than do a scratch build these days because I'd rather build in the style of the originals or a do a dedication...

I don't give a damn about the folks who are dishonest and decide to show their face... and there ain't nothing hypothetical about what I say to them.

In the end I always stand by MY statements right, wrong or indifferent cause I own what I say.

And before anyone asks.... Yes I did mainly speak on myself rather than replying because I know people wonder what motivates me.

We got lots of talented folks on here, just be honest bout what y'all do.
 
On the handle color...
I do like the Dark Bronze Metallic and it is a fine "go to" for the P2 handle. Yeah it's a little on the brown side.
However, the auction P2 photos have reinforced my plans to use this paint:
I may undercoat with black primer. Some experiments on scrap plastic are in order.

45752428102_b7a4f81d7a_c.jpg
 
On the handle color...
I do like the Dark Bronze Metallic and it is a fine "go to" for the P2 handle. Yeah it's a little on the brown side.
However, the auction P2 photos have reinforced my plans to use this paint:
I may undercoat with black primer. Some experiments on scrap plastic are in order.
I have found when I use it it's best to go with a white or grey primer as the darker the primer the darker the color will turn out.

IF the antique bronze metallic you chose sprays the same color as the cap it should be spot on.

I always recommend a person finding or mixing a color they like for the handle simply because most won't like the screen used colors and in the end, you are the one that has to look at it every day so have fun with it.

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SIDE NOTE:

IF you are going for screen accurate as a general rule of thumb once the handle is painted and dries if the color looks "brown" or "milk chocolate" then it's too brown or dark.

The result you are aiming for should look like grey metallic or a gun metal metallic with a heavy yellowing.

IF you have any questions feel free to hit me up in the DM's
 
I find myself wondering if the original handles were painted with an off the shelf color or a custom mix.
Most likely an off the shelf GM or Ford Color as they were the two largest automotive companies by the mid 60's

OR

They went with One Touch Pin striping paint as it was very easy to find in a wide range of metallic colors.

The thing about modern paints is because the way they are formulated we the prop builders resort to two options:

1. Find a rattle can color and call it close enough

or

2. Have custom colors mixed because the modern formulations for older paint codes rarely match the original colors due to various reasons.
 
I'm no expert on TOS Phasers and I'm not really sure what the discussion is about with regards to the handle color of the hero's. I have 3 hero Phasers, Dennis Stines Utlimate, the MR and the TWC. The handle color on all 3 looks to be about the same. I don't know if Dennis or MR had access to Greg's hero but we know that TWC did and they supposedly color matched it to come up with their color. Are you guys saying they got it wrong or that calling it Dark Brown Metallic is the issue?
 
I'm no expert on TOS Phasers and I'm not really sure what the discussion is about with regards to the handle color of the hero's. I have 3 hero Phasers, Dennis Stines Utlimate, the MR and the TWC. The handle color on all 3 looks to be about the same. I don't know if Dennis or MR had access to Greg's hero but we know that TWC did and they supposedly color matched it to come up with their color. Are you guys saying they got it wrong or that calling it Dark Brown Metallic is the issue?
Basically DBM is a color that was promoted by J.Long as being the closest match to the correct color yet the modern version of the color is too dark and too brown. From those who have seen the Jein Hero tend to think of it as being more of a heavily yellowed grey/gun metal metallic.
 
Basically DBM is a color that was promoted by J.Long as being the closest match to the correct color yet the modern version of the color is too dark and too brown. From those who have seen the Jein Hero tend to think of it as being more of a heavily yellowed grey/gun metal metallic.
DBM was an easy choice, but I've always felt it was just a bit too brown. I will re-paint in a heartbeat if this new paint KUROK found is better.
 
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