The only consequence I predicted has already happened here:
http://celestialtoystore.blogspot.com/
As you can see it elevated beyond product, to person quite quickly. If you don't care about that, you are a cold man.
Millennium FX Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver
- Thread starter Pastor Jedi
- Start date
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The only consequence I predicted has already happened here:
http://celestialtoystore.blogspot.com/
As you can see it elevated beyond product, to person quite quickly. If you don't care about that, you are a cold man.
karstva
Sr Member
Matt.. at the very least I provided a bit of light reading for everyone today, so I guess the post wasn't a total loss <LOL>
I hardly consider someone writing something on their blog as a "consequence". heck, I have a blog. And I assure you, nothing I write there is of any consequence!! :lol
Also CT has his info wrong on there
The actual manufacturing of SOME of the parts was done by (Cambar Engineering) Which is my Dads company which I also work for. Nothing to do with RB REPLICAS! Here is www.rbreplicas.com lol!!!
Russ
The actual manufacturing of SOME of the parts was done by (Cambar Engineering) Which is my Dads company which I also work for. Nothing to do with RB REPLICAS! Here is www.rbreplicas.com lol!!!
Russ
I agree that I don't care if it's CNC'd or die-cast or carved by Prince Phillip using only his teeth. What I do care about is the jarring and very noticeable difference in color between the head and the top collar. I'm not a super-stickler for 100% screen accuracy (something which I'm pretty certain is not even possible) but even if I had never seen or heard of the sonic screwdriver before, if I saw a picture of the MFX sonic, I would think there was something wrong with it. Hell, if the whole thing were like the head, I'd probably be okay with it. If the head and collar matched (since they fit together) but the bottom was different, I probably would live with it.
These two pieces fit together. They are interlocking. They should look the same. Period. I've done a bit of looking and couldn't find a single shot of the prop on the show with that particular two-tone effect, so I'm fairly certain that it's WRONG.
That said, if the MFX was the only game in town (and still available), I would most likely buy one and, wrong-colored emitter and all, I would probably love it. Because it seems like a great piece, despite that one issue (and the no-sound thing).
As it is, they are sold out and there IS another, better option. Is it more accurate? Seems to be, but I couldn't say for sure. Does it seem better to me? Well, the emitter matches the rest, so yeah. So, yup, I'm going to buy a CT sonic when the season 3-4 version comes out. And no one gets hurt by this at all because the official licensee sold all 500 of the only run on these they were ever going to do and couldn't sell any leftovers if they had them because their license is up.
Also: Nope, don't care about whether they used an unlicensed prop-maker to help them out. Seems maybe a little hypocritical, but I really only care about the product. CT is acerbic and crude, but his product seems to make up for it, so I don't care. From what I've heard, Russ' classic sonics are better than the official versions, too. Which would explain why people keep buying them, I guess.
A perfect, text-book, by the numbers example of shifting ethics to match what you want.
Which is totally fine by me, by the way. But for all the folks on this forum who gnash teeth over what is "right" and "wrong" in this hobby, this pretty much sums up one of the extremely naive and misinformed views of how the system works.
Which I thank you for. Because it's beautiful the way you say it. And I am TOTALLY with you bro. You just happened to be the guy to prove my point.
To summarize: "I am ok buying unlicensed, infringing replicas, because there's nothing on the market that is available at a price I'm willing to pay, and because I've created a reality in my mind where it's OK to do so"
And man, CT's blog is stellar. Fantastic read. For those of you who haven't gone there, I highly recommend it. It's like a beautifully written manifesto.
phez
Sr Member
Yet another thread where an artist who actually workes on the show and brings info to the fans is torn apart. Ah well, it is the RPF, a bull***t story about direct access to a prop via some mysterious means that can not be spoken of always seems to trump obvious soures of actual information 
lol.
I think one thing that is not being mentioned here is the fact that the licensed replica is a limited edition made by the company that does the effects for the show. It is automatically going to hold its value as a collectible. If the piece is not licensed and does not have the show tie in lets face it, the prop is worth about $150.00. The MFX set the bar for the price of the licensed version. The CT unit looks very nice and I would likely pick one up if they were a bit more reasonably priced.
lol.I think one thing that is not being mentioned here is the fact that the licensed replica is a limited edition made by the company that does the effects for the show. It is automatically going to hold its value as a collectible. If the piece is not licensed and does not have the show tie in lets face it, the prop is worth about $150.00. The MFX set the bar for the price of the licensed version. The CT unit looks very nice and I would likely pick one up if they were a bit more reasonably priced.
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No, To summarize: "I am okay buying unlicensed, infringing replicas because there's nothing on the market... PERIOD." The only licensed replica of the new series Sonic was MFX's Limited, Never-to-be-repeated edition of 500 pieces worldwide. Which is SOLD OUT. Not only did I never mention what price I would be willing to pay, I never mentioned price at all. If I felt that the MFX Sonic was 100% perfect and trumped the CT version in every way, I would still be buying a CT Sonic BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY OPTION. I didn't forego the MFX when it launched in favor of the CT... I didn't even know about the CT until after the MFX was sold out. I was saving up money to buy an MFX and, when it sold out, Googling an alternative lead me to CT.
Sure, I could probably find an aftermarket MFX inflated to a ridiculous price, but that would do MFX as much good as buying a used copy of The Shining would do for Stephen King.
So, please don't put words in my mouth and claim that the words I never said are proving your point.
mfxreplicas
Official Licensee
Hmmm, CT’s been having fun while I’ve been away.
Now that I’ve stepped back from the Replica’s game I’ve not really kept up with CT and his silliness. I think I’ve posted enough about this whole debate to wear my fingers to nubs and really couldn’t be bothered to write anymore but my attention was brought to this thread though. I had a look at some comments CT made and feel compelled to post in order to defend some individuals he’s made comments about or referred to indirectly in a derogatory manner. While CT is chucking crap at me then that’s fine, I can take it, have taken it and am really not bothered by anything an egomaniac who rants like a comedy potty mouthed Bond villain has to say about me but I don’t like to see that spread to others.
Firstly I’d like to defend an accusation made against longtime rpf member Chris Martin. CT makes this comment regarding images of our prototype sonics’;
“They have been nowhere near a prop - FACT. I have found out that their 'prototypes' were stock reference pics taken by the props department of brand new Robatto-made props built prior to Season 3!”
That's because MFX didn't make them. Nick Robatto, the original propmaker, did.
Nope. Way back on the old thread about the sonics at SDDC08 long time RPF member Chris Martin posted those images. Chris works frequently at MFX and is a model and prop maker of international repute who has worked on numerous major film and television projects as well as doing private commission work. His Eagle Transporters are the finest out there. CT’s comments suggest that Chris must have been lying about producing these pieces as he claims Nick Robatto did and that these images where of art department props. His comment also suggests that Chris, or I, never had access to the original props. This would suggest that I conspired with Chris to tell a lie about this and that Chris posted pictures of someone else’s prop work and took credit for it on this forum. A pretty nasty accusation don’t you think? He follows this accusation with the word – FACT
You want facts, here’s the facts;
Chris was engaged by me to produce two prototype sonics’ and two prototype Master’s laser screwdrivers. We both travelled up to Upper Boat studios in Cardiff on the 10th October 2007 and spent several hours photographing and measuring several props. These included the sonic, the masters, screwdriver a Judoon translator and the Toclafane. We looked at all these props as I was considering offering all of them as replicas at one time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfxreplicas/ (this is a link to a Flickr account with pics for this post – I know, I know, a chimp could upload these to TheRPF but something isn’t working for me so anyone else is welcome to do it. Hey, at least I’m not a chimp!)
I’ve posted some images I took while Chris was doing his measurements. Note the graph paper and the graph paper that the two prototypes where photographed on as well as the other props on the table. You can also see the boxes the sonics’ are kept in – mag lite boxes of which you’ll see behind the scenes footage on confidential showing the same thing and even screen grabs on CT’s own blog.
So here is Chris (I’ve obscured his face as the name he uses on RPF isn’t his real name so I’m protecting his forum anonymity – if Chris is cool about having his face shown then am happy to post images showing his face) doing his thing in a photograph taken by me so I can guarantee this image will not and cannot be found anywhere else because I took it during my time of having access to these props.
Of course anyone with half a brain can figure that it would be incredibly odd if an individual like me, who has worked on Doctor Who for six years and frequents the production facility on such a regular basis couldn’t get access to the props. Why would that happen? How could I even begin to make a replica without that access and how would the BBC allow a licensee like myself make and sell a replica without access??? Of course all these simple and obvious facts that a child could see the logic of but even these pictures won’t stop CT making his ridiculous claims because the truth doesn’t fit with his propaganda and desire to make ridiculous claims of conspiracies, but they will convince the more sensible of you.
Anyway, if those props where made by Nick Robatto and I had no access to them what was I doing at San Diego ComiCon with one of them in 2008??? There’s a number of posts on that old thread were posters state they met me, on the EFX stand, and we had the two ‘pop up’ version made by EFX AND one slider version. This was seen, handled, photographed with me, and was photographed with, and by, numerous fans at SDCC08….. Are they all part of CT’s conspiracy too? Did I pay them all off to pretend that prototype existed and that they saw it, handled it and took photos of it?
So, what happened to them. They got dismantled – that’s what a prototype is for! My good friend Barry at EFX sent one out to his factories in China for them to use as reference for the pop up prototypes and that’s why I only had one of them at SDCC08. Remember, originally we were going to produce a pop up version in association with EFX, hence the pop up proto’s being on display on the EFX stand, but eventually we went our own way with it and produced the slider version instead. All this is well documented all over forums so nothing to really add to that.
Chris also made two Master’s screwdrivers. Both of those are in LA with Barry as we’ve just not got around to getting them back over here. Here’s a picture of the Master’s screwdrivers taken by Chris as they neared completion.
So CT’s – FACT – is shown to be a complete – LIE – and fabrication and includes accusations of passing off of others work as his own against rpf. member Chris Martin.
Next up; Russ Brown. Russ knows my feelings on unlicensed replicas. He’s had his ear bent by me about it enough. My opinion on that has never changed. I’ve also not individually attacked any forum member who has bought an unlincensed CT sonic or any unlicensed prop. Not verbally abused them or called them crude names (as CT does frequently about folk who bought the MFX sonic). CT came after me, attacked me personally, hurled abuse about me, told lies about me and has tried to repeatedly damage my credibility and my business with lies and crude abuse (The guy even photoshops pictures of me – creepy!). I engaged Cambar engineering to do CNC work. This is a company owned by Russ’ father. As far as I understand Cambar engineering don’t produce unlicensed prop replicas and nor does its owner Bob Brown. Russ clearly has an association there but his business; RBReplicas was not responsible for any of the work on the sonic and Russ has confirmed this himself. So I know people who produce unlicensed replicas – so what? Do I agree with it – no, and I tell them. Do I support them and pay them to do work – No. should I disassociate myself personally from anyone who has any dealings with unlicensed replica props – I’d have to give up my membership of the RPF if I did.
Regarding some raised eyebrows at the fact that some components where machined outside of MFX. Of course they were. I don’t have a CNC machine costing tens of thousands of dollars and have never claimed I had. I also don’t own laser cutting equipment or water jet cutting gear or make and produce electronic components. This is all normal manufacturing procedure and was applied to other replicas. Before I bought a vac form machine all the vac form domes on the Cybercontrollers where done by an outside company from my patterns. The metal crown on Davros was hand made by us for the original used in the show but when it came to doing replicas is was far quicker and more cost effective and sensible to draw up the individual plates and have an outside sub contractor water jet cut components for them for us. We then cleaned up, drilled, tapped and assembled the replica ones. I use specialist companies all the time in my work. Any sensible person does and it helps keep costs down. The big animatronic robot hands pictured here for example. We made ‘a’ finger then drew up all the components and had the components for three pair laser cut by an outside firm.
Now, as anyone with a business like mine will tell you tend not to discuss details of suppliers and sub contractors for obvious reasons but as Russ has mentioned Cambar and his dad’s involvement then there’s little to add other than to note this statement from CT;
“....why a company in Buckinghamshire, near to MFX, that specialises in die casting and metal moulding, all but confirmed they were involved.!”
Well if they did then they’re lying because – as Russ has confirmed here – they were CNC’d by Cambar engineering in Hertfordshire. Give me the details and name of this company we can all check this one out? So CT is still insistent that the heads where Die cast and not CNC’d. So Russ and I are now both liars and we’ve even drawn in a respectable CNC machining firm to back up this claim………… WHY? What difference does it make. The originals were hand machined so to CNC ‘OR’ Die cast would be different from the original prop anyway. Why then lie about it? CT has just got himself wrapped up in his own lie and now can’t back down. Why? Because he’s stated it as another of his FACTS and now can’t go back on it when the truth is so clear to see to everyone. There’s even the name of the company who did the work. Blimey!!!!
My other area of concern is the repeated suggestion that CT has someone ‘close to me’ or ‘on the inside’ at MFX. Naturally this always gets my attention. Not because it concerns me but because it’s clearly nonsense and is a prime bit of conspiracy theorists buffoonery. It would suggest that members of my staff are talking to CT about business matters within my company and this paints a picture of my staff as an unpleasant tongue wagging bunch so let’s move on to defending them. I have a total of four staff. They have worked for me ranging from three years up to Millennium Fx’s co-director, Rob, who has been a friend and associate for over 15 years. All four of them are above reproach and would have no interest in or motivation or desire to discuss the inner workings or details of my business with an outsider. I mean- besides the fact that none of them as individuals have an actual interest in replica props anyway – what would motivate them to jeopardize their jobs and careers by chin wagging to CT? Seduced by his charm maybe?
So my staff are clear of any accusation of association with CT. So as far having access to any information within MFX or claims of insider knowledge this leaves only freelancers and casual visitors; Casual visitors could tell you nothing about insider information other than where the loo is maybe and how big the building is. We certainly don’t share business information with casual visitors. Freelancers – now there’s lots of these. We have about 20 people working with us on a freelance basis at any one time. Over a year up to 100 different freelancers with differing skills will pass through our doors for periods of work ranging from one day to six months. Could one of those be snooping around, ear wigging conversations and passing on info to CT. Possibly but I doubt they’d have any genuine ‘information’ or ‘facts’ to discuss but think about how he phrases these things;
“…not just my personal assessment, but the assessment of many experts in the industry including some of Gorton's chums. Oh, and the small fact I managed to track down the company that made the components for the MFX!”
To be honest, I wasn't really surprised by this. There have been murmurings from inside MFX for a while that things have not been rosy in regards the state of their licence.
Doesn’t it sound like something from the pages of a gossip mag? “murmurings from inside” or “some of his chums!” have said about Brad and Angelina, blah blah blah! All sounds terribly interesting, covert and mysterious. Fact is how often does this ‘exclusive insider info’ turn out to be just nonsense and usually some *** bit either made up or just a bit of Chinese whispers half overheard by a cleaner rather than from anyone ‘close to’ anyone with any legitimate facts.
If you try and quantify this with CT he uses the ‘protecting my source’ as an excuse for not validating his claims. Okay, CT, what if you could go some way to validating these claims without possibly compromising your source? Interested? If you can tell me some very basic facts about my business that any one of 100 freelancers, or a few facts even a casual visitor could tell you, then it will add some credibility to your claims. So ask these people ‘close’ to me and “my chums” and those with insider knowledge to answer these very simple questions that can in no way incriminate any one individual;
Where do we keep the vac form machine at MFX?
Rob and I are co-directors but do we share an office or have separate offices?
How many urinals in the gents loo (or cubicles in the ladies if the source is female)?
Describe my tea mug? Now that may sound really obscure but tea making is a major part of the British workforces’ day and everyone knows the Boss’s mug! Heaven help anyone who drinketh from the boss’s mug. Anyone who had spent even a single day working within MFX could answer this as it’s also a bit of a running joke.
Lastly, what’s my favourite soft drink. The fridge at MFX is always full of them and I’m well known amongst the crew, my ‘chums’ and any insider for being addicted to this. Again a running joke amongst absolutely anyone who knows me or knows anything about day to day business at MFX.
Ok, they’re slightly silly questions but, as I say, they are things anyone with a passing association to MFX could know so they couldn’t possibly pinpoint an individual. What they are though is such basic questions that if CT’s supposed ‘insider’ or one of my ‘chums’ can’t answer then how is it they can have any knowledge of any other more detailed aspect of my business? Inability to answer even these simple questions will rubbish his claims to have insider info don’t you think?
What will probably happen is he’ll bluff and fluster and denounce it as rubbish but it goes to expose his lies for what they are. Just like the lie that he’s had access to original props. Show your pictures then (I just did) prove it. You can doctor a picture and crop it to obscure anything incrimination what might expose your source so go on then. Show us an original picture of an original prop that no one else has. If you have that info why don’t you post it? Why did you have to go through the whole rigmarole of taking measurements from commonly available reference material and pictures of sonics, and all that photoshop jiggery pokery on your blog, when you claim to have access to original props as well as detailed measurements.
Fact is CT is just full of nonsense that he peddles as FACTS when it’s actually just propaganda and conspiracies. Just look at the writing of anyone who peddles conspiracy theories and then look at CT’s blog. They’re the same kinds of arguments. Half facts and supposition claimed as FACT. It also involves the kind of circular arguments that are impossible to prove or disprove. He hides behind his anonymity of sources and information to allow him to peddle any nonsense for his own ends. He uses bold statements that are hard to disprove, smoke and mirrors and misdirection to bamboozle and convince. Like these;
These are people who are off loading MFX's en masse on Ebay because they have bought mine. This is not fiction. This is FACT……..
So I had a little browse at ebay – search every way I could think of and guess how many I found being offloaded “en masse?”…. None. I couldn’t finds a single one. Now that’s not to say there haven’t been any or won't be any but considering they’re a sold out LE collectible and there will always be a secondary market then there’s always going to be sonics’ popping up on ebay at some time but – right now, out of the 500 sold– there are all of zero on ebay. CT needs to check the meaning of ‘en masse’ methinks. But, there’ll be people who read that and take it at face value rather than checking the available facts. He knows this so he spouts its’ like again and again.
How about this one – he uses it frequently;
“Yeah, I'll believe a SFX makeup artist (NOT a propmaker)”
This is supposed to make you question my credibility as a prop maker. Now, having made many things over the past 23 years of work in Special effects, model effects, props and make-up FX I’ve made a lot more props than CT, or many others are aware of but he drops this one in to make you think; “…. Yeah, what does this guy know about prop making or engineering - he just sticks rubber on folks faces?”
Ok – bother to look at my body of work and you’ll see pictures of props like the ones on the flickr page and things like these;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_wF5SGFFMQ
So, compared against CT’s vast experience of making props and doing engineering for film and TV……… CT’s vast experience of ????……….. Hmmmmm, Ok, what exactly does he do besides talk out of his ass? Can you show me one example other than his sonic to prove any legacy as a prop maker? Nope – thought not.
So I’m off away from all this these days as I mentioned. Crazy busy times at MFX. Exciting big projects, as well as little ‘big’ projects at home. I have a baby due in two weeks which, along with my retirement from the replica business, means I don’t bother with all the forum stuff much. To be honest it’s a relief because who needs this crap? Anyway, I hope CT can see his way to stop throwing mud and slurs at individuals who have no reason to be slandered and abused by him. By all means CT, chuck all the crap you like at me. I don’t care. I know it’s just burning jealousy :love
Now that I’ve stepped back from the Replica’s game I’ve not really kept up with CT and his silliness. I think I’ve posted enough about this whole debate to wear my fingers to nubs and really couldn’t be bothered to write anymore but my attention was brought to this thread though. I had a look at some comments CT made and feel compelled to post in order to defend some individuals he’s made comments about or referred to indirectly in a derogatory manner. While CT is chucking crap at me then that’s fine, I can take it, have taken it and am really not bothered by anything an egomaniac who rants like a comedy potty mouthed Bond villain has to say about me but I don’t like to see that spread to others.
Firstly I’d like to defend an accusation made against longtime rpf member Chris Martin. CT makes this comment regarding images of our prototype sonics’;
“They have been nowhere near a prop - FACT. I have found out that their 'prototypes' were stock reference pics taken by the props department of brand new Robatto-made props built prior to Season 3!”
That's because MFX didn't make them. Nick Robatto, the original propmaker, did.
Nope. Way back on the old thread about the sonics at SDDC08 long time RPF member Chris Martin posted those images. Chris works frequently at MFX and is a model and prop maker of international repute who has worked on numerous major film and television projects as well as doing private commission work. His Eagle Transporters are the finest out there. CT’s comments suggest that Chris must have been lying about producing these pieces as he claims Nick Robatto did and that these images where of art department props. His comment also suggests that Chris, or I, never had access to the original props. This would suggest that I conspired with Chris to tell a lie about this and that Chris posted pictures of someone else’s prop work and took credit for it on this forum. A pretty nasty accusation don’t you think? He follows this accusation with the word – FACT
You want facts, here’s the facts;
Chris was engaged by me to produce two prototype sonics’ and two prototype Master’s laser screwdrivers. We both travelled up to Upper Boat studios in Cardiff on the 10th October 2007 and spent several hours photographing and measuring several props. These included the sonic, the masters, screwdriver a Judoon translator and the Toclafane. We looked at all these props as I was considering offering all of them as replicas at one time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfxreplicas/ (this is a link to a Flickr account with pics for this post – I know, I know, a chimp could upload these to TheRPF but something isn’t working for me so anyone else is welcome to do it. Hey, at least I’m not a chimp!)
I’ve posted some images I took while Chris was doing his measurements. Note the graph paper and the graph paper that the two prototypes where photographed on as well as the other props on the table. You can also see the boxes the sonics’ are kept in – mag lite boxes of which you’ll see behind the scenes footage on confidential showing the same thing and even screen grabs on CT’s own blog.
So here is Chris (I’ve obscured his face as the name he uses on RPF isn’t his real name so I’m protecting his forum anonymity – if Chris is cool about having his face shown then am happy to post images showing his face) doing his thing in a photograph taken by me so I can guarantee this image will not and cannot be found anywhere else because I took it during my time of having access to these props.
Of course anyone with half a brain can figure that it would be incredibly odd if an individual like me, who has worked on Doctor Who for six years and frequents the production facility on such a regular basis couldn’t get access to the props. Why would that happen? How could I even begin to make a replica without that access and how would the BBC allow a licensee like myself make and sell a replica without access??? Of course all these simple and obvious facts that a child could see the logic of but even these pictures won’t stop CT making his ridiculous claims because the truth doesn’t fit with his propaganda and desire to make ridiculous claims of conspiracies, but they will convince the more sensible of you.
Anyway, if those props where made by Nick Robatto and I had no access to them what was I doing at San Diego ComiCon with one of them in 2008??? There’s a number of posts on that old thread were posters state they met me, on the EFX stand, and we had the two ‘pop up’ version made by EFX AND one slider version. This was seen, handled, photographed with me, and was photographed with, and by, numerous fans at SDCC08….. Are they all part of CT’s conspiracy too? Did I pay them all off to pretend that prototype existed and that they saw it, handled it and took photos of it?
So, what happened to them. They got dismantled – that’s what a prototype is for! My good friend Barry at EFX sent one out to his factories in China for them to use as reference for the pop up prototypes and that’s why I only had one of them at SDCC08. Remember, originally we were going to produce a pop up version in association with EFX, hence the pop up proto’s being on display on the EFX stand, but eventually we went our own way with it and produced the slider version instead. All this is well documented all over forums so nothing to really add to that.
Chris also made two Master’s screwdrivers. Both of those are in LA with Barry as we’ve just not got around to getting them back over here. Here’s a picture of the Master’s screwdrivers taken by Chris as they neared completion.
So CT’s – FACT – is shown to be a complete – LIE – and fabrication and includes accusations of passing off of others work as his own against rpf. member Chris Martin.
Next up; Russ Brown. Russ knows my feelings on unlicensed replicas. He’s had his ear bent by me about it enough. My opinion on that has never changed. I’ve also not individually attacked any forum member who has bought an unlincensed CT sonic or any unlicensed prop. Not verbally abused them or called them crude names (as CT does frequently about folk who bought the MFX sonic). CT came after me, attacked me personally, hurled abuse about me, told lies about me and has tried to repeatedly damage my credibility and my business with lies and crude abuse (The guy even photoshops pictures of me – creepy!). I engaged Cambar engineering to do CNC work. This is a company owned by Russ’ father. As far as I understand Cambar engineering don’t produce unlicensed prop replicas and nor does its owner Bob Brown. Russ clearly has an association there but his business; RBReplicas was not responsible for any of the work on the sonic and Russ has confirmed this himself. So I know people who produce unlicensed replicas – so what? Do I agree with it – no, and I tell them. Do I support them and pay them to do work – No. should I disassociate myself personally from anyone who has any dealings with unlicensed replica props – I’d have to give up my membership of the RPF if I did.
Regarding some raised eyebrows at the fact that some components where machined outside of MFX. Of course they were. I don’t have a CNC machine costing tens of thousands of dollars and have never claimed I had. I also don’t own laser cutting equipment or water jet cutting gear or make and produce electronic components. This is all normal manufacturing procedure and was applied to other replicas. Before I bought a vac form machine all the vac form domes on the Cybercontrollers where done by an outside company from my patterns. The metal crown on Davros was hand made by us for the original used in the show but when it came to doing replicas is was far quicker and more cost effective and sensible to draw up the individual plates and have an outside sub contractor water jet cut components for them for us. We then cleaned up, drilled, tapped and assembled the replica ones. I use specialist companies all the time in my work. Any sensible person does and it helps keep costs down. The big animatronic robot hands pictured here for example. We made ‘a’ finger then drew up all the components and had the components for three pair laser cut by an outside firm.
Now, as anyone with a business like mine will tell you tend not to discuss details of suppliers and sub contractors for obvious reasons but as Russ has mentioned Cambar and his dad’s involvement then there’s little to add other than to note this statement from CT;
“....why a company in Buckinghamshire, near to MFX, that specialises in die casting and metal moulding, all but confirmed they were involved.!”
Well if they did then they’re lying because – as Russ has confirmed here – they were CNC’d by Cambar engineering in Hertfordshire. Give me the details and name of this company we can all check this one out? So CT is still insistent that the heads where Die cast and not CNC’d. So Russ and I are now both liars and we’ve even drawn in a respectable CNC machining firm to back up this claim………… WHY? What difference does it make. The originals were hand machined so to CNC ‘OR’ Die cast would be different from the original prop anyway. Why then lie about it? CT has just got himself wrapped up in his own lie and now can’t back down. Why? Because he’s stated it as another of his FACTS and now can’t go back on it when the truth is so clear to see to everyone. There’s even the name of the company who did the work. Blimey!!!!
My other area of concern is the repeated suggestion that CT has someone ‘close to me’ or ‘on the inside’ at MFX. Naturally this always gets my attention. Not because it concerns me but because it’s clearly nonsense and is a prime bit of conspiracy theorists buffoonery. It would suggest that members of my staff are talking to CT about business matters within my company and this paints a picture of my staff as an unpleasant tongue wagging bunch so let’s move on to defending them. I have a total of four staff. They have worked for me ranging from three years up to Millennium Fx’s co-director, Rob, who has been a friend and associate for over 15 years. All four of them are above reproach and would have no interest in or motivation or desire to discuss the inner workings or details of my business with an outsider. I mean- besides the fact that none of them as individuals have an actual interest in replica props anyway – what would motivate them to jeopardize their jobs and careers by chin wagging to CT? Seduced by his charm maybe?
So my staff are clear of any accusation of association with CT. So as far having access to any information within MFX or claims of insider knowledge this leaves only freelancers and casual visitors; Casual visitors could tell you nothing about insider information other than where the loo is maybe and how big the building is. We certainly don’t share business information with casual visitors. Freelancers – now there’s lots of these. We have about 20 people working with us on a freelance basis at any one time. Over a year up to 100 different freelancers with differing skills will pass through our doors for periods of work ranging from one day to six months. Could one of those be snooping around, ear wigging conversations and passing on info to CT. Possibly but I doubt they’d have any genuine ‘information’ or ‘facts’ to discuss but think about how he phrases these things;
“…not just my personal assessment, but the assessment of many experts in the industry including some of Gorton's chums. Oh, and the small fact I managed to track down the company that made the components for the MFX!”
To be honest, I wasn't really surprised by this. There have been murmurings from inside MFX for a while that things have not been rosy in regards the state of their licence.
Doesn’t it sound like something from the pages of a gossip mag? “murmurings from inside” or “some of his chums!” have said about Brad and Angelina, blah blah blah! All sounds terribly interesting, covert and mysterious. Fact is how often does this ‘exclusive insider info’ turn out to be just nonsense and usually some *** bit either made up or just a bit of Chinese whispers half overheard by a cleaner rather than from anyone ‘close to’ anyone with any legitimate facts.
If you try and quantify this with CT he uses the ‘protecting my source’ as an excuse for not validating his claims. Okay, CT, what if you could go some way to validating these claims without possibly compromising your source? Interested? If you can tell me some very basic facts about my business that any one of 100 freelancers, or a few facts even a casual visitor could tell you, then it will add some credibility to your claims. So ask these people ‘close’ to me and “my chums” and those with insider knowledge to answer these very simple questions that can in no way incriminate any one individual;
Where do we keep the vac form machine at MFX?
Rob and I are co-directors but do we share an office or have separate offices?
How many urinals in the gents loo (or cubicles in the ladies if the source is female)?
Describe my tea mug? Now that may sound really obscure but tea making is a major part of the British workforces’ day and everyone knows the Boss’s mug! Heaven help anyone who drinketh from the boss’s mug. Anyone who had spent even a single day working within MFX could answer this as it’s also a bit of a running joke.
Lastly, what’s my favourite soft drink. The fridge at MFX is always full of them and I’m well known amongst the crew, my ‘chums’ and any insider for being addicted to this. Again a running joke amongst absolutely anyone who knows me or knows anything about day to day business at MFX.
Ok, they’re slightly silly questions but, as I say, they are things anyone with a passing association to MFX could know so they couldn’t possibly pinpoint an individual. What they are though is such basic questions that if CT’s supposed ‘insider’ or one of my ‘chums’ can’t answer then how is it they can have any knowledge of any other more detailed aspect of my business? Inability to answer even these simple questions will rubbish his claims to have insider info don’t you think?
What will probably happen is he’ll bluff and fluster and denounce it as rubbish but it goes to expose his lies for what they are. Just like the lie that he’s had access to original props. Show your pictures then (I just did) prove it. You can doctor a picture and crop it to obscure anything incrimination what might expose your source so go on then. Show us an original picture of an original prop that no one else has. If you have that info why don’t you post it? Why did you have to go through the whole rigmarole of taking measurements from commonly available reference material and pictures of sonics, and all that photoshop jiggery pokery on your blog, when you claim to have access to original props as well as detailed measurements.
Fact is CT is just full of nonsense that he peddles as FACTS when it’s actually just propaganda and conspiracies. Just look at the writing of anyone who peddles conspiracy theories and then look at CT’s blog. They’re the same kinds of arguments. Half facts and supposition claimed as FACT. It also involves the kind of circular arguments that are impossible to prove or disprove. He hides behind his anonymity of sources and information to allow him to peddle any nonsense for his own ends. He uses bold statements that are hard to disprove, smoke and mirrors and misdirection to bamboozle and convince. Like these;
These are people who are off loading MFX's en masse on Ebay because they have bought mine. This is not fiction. This is FACT……..
So I had a little browse at ebay – search every way I could think of and guess how many I found being offloaded “en masse?”…. None. I couldn’t finds a single one. Now that’s not to say there haven’t been any or won't be any but considering they’re a sold out LE collectible and there will always be a secondary market then there’s always going to be sonics’ popping up on ebay at some time but – right now, out of the 500 sold– there are all of zero on ebay. CT needs to check the meaning of ‘en masse’ methinks. But, there’ll be people who read that and take it at face value rather than checking the available facts. He knows this so he spouts its’ like again and again.
How about this one – he uses it frequently;
“Yeah, I'll believe a SFX makeup artist (NOT a propmaker)”
This is supposed to make you question my credibility as a prop maker. Now, having made many things over the past 23 years of work in Special effects, model effects, props and make-up FX I’ve made a lot more props than CT, or many others are aware of but he drops this one in to make you think; “…. Yeah, what does this guy know about prop making or engineering - he just sticks rubber on folks faces?”
Ok – bother to look at my body of work and you’ll see pictures of props like the ones on the flickr page and things like these;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_wF5SGFFMQ
So, compared against CT’s vast experience of making props and doing engineering for film and TV……… CT’s vast experience of ????……….. Hmmmmm, Ok, what exactly does he do besides talk out of his ass? Can you show me one example other than his sonic to prove any legacy as a prop maker? Nope – thought not.
So I’m off away from all this these days as I mentioned. Crazy busy times at MFX. Exciting big projects, as well as little ‘big’ projects at home. I have a baby due in two weeks which, along with my retirement from the replica business, means I don’t bother with all the forum stuff much. To be honest it’s a relief because who needs this crap? Anyway, I hope CT can see his way to stop throwing mud and slurs at individuals who have no reason to be slandered and abused by him. By all means CT, chuck all the crap you like at me. I don’t care. I know it’s just burning jealousy :love
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rkpetersen
Sr Member
Well after reading all this, I'll stick with my MFX. Unlike for many, how the person or company I'm buying from handles itself does make a big difference to me, and this guy 'CT' sounds like a complete flaming *******. Will he care that he gets none of my business? No, of course not. But at least I won't have contributed to his success, and that's good enough for me.
d_jedi1
Sr Member
I'm just disappointed that the MFX was SO limited and expensive.. if it was something that could be picked up at any time, I'd eventually get over myself and pay the man (so to speak) for one. If it had been less expensive, I'd have DEFINITELY bought one but as it played out, I'm stuck with my CO sonic.
Dave Ward
Sr Member
Neil, I mean this with all respect...you had the official license, and access to the kind of props and creative talent (from in front and behind the camera) that most of us would probably murder our aunties to have had. The replicas you make are pretty mouth-watering to look at. Given all this, I don't know why you let what is basically a message board troll get to you so much.
phez
Sr Member
I don't know but I bet it is cast out of something and not machined though
lol:lol.I have two of your Sonics and love them.
Well lets see how the photo proof of the prop research goes :lol.
Congratulations Neil, I have four and there is nothing in the world more exciting than that.
Now please, if you are going to post five pages on a subject instead of discussing that ****** chat about some of the exciting things you have gotten to work on doing Dr Who :love.
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VortexRunner
Well-Known Member
I own both sonic screwdrivers and love them very much :love
both companies licensed and not have produced amazing replicas.
I have the CT one and must say that it is a very high quality replica.
The MFX sonic is stunning all the same and I have no comment to the screen accuracy of either, but be rest assured I love them both the same
here are pics of the toys and high end replicas and a small project I started as I was bored
View attachment 26482
View attachment 26483
View attachment 26484
:loveboth companies licensed and not have produced amazing replicas.
I have the CT one and must say that it is a very high quality replica.
The MFX sonic is stunning all the same and I have no comment to the screen accuracy of either, but be rest assured I love them both the same
here are pics of the toys and high end replicas and a small project I started as I was bored
View attachment 26482
View attachment 26483
View attachment 26484
Interesting, i was wondering about the size of the MFX and the CT compared to the toys
Weird. I thought the hobby would have ended by now based on Karstva's post. Ah well. Give it another day or two.
NakedMoleRat
Legendary Member
I just have one question. Hopefully Neill can answer, if not, maybe Russ can chime in. Now, I want to make it clear I am NOT a machinist! I have NO idea how to do metal work. I can't tell the difference between cast, machined, CNC'ed or EIEIO'ed! :lol However, why is the lantern/head on my MFX sonic a different type/look metal? It is tarnishing and the rest of my sonic is not. It is duller than the rest of the metal on my sonic.
Can someone please answer this one question?
Neill....Russ?
Thanks.
Can someone please answer this one question?
Neill....Russ?
Thanks.
The heads were rumbeled to remove all burrs, if you get some ULTRA FINE scotch bright
some thing like this!!
http://www.cartersconsumables.co.uk/3m7448-scotch-brite-ultra-fine-grey-pieces-pack-p-707.html
That will brighen up the whole sonic! to a nice finish
Russ
some thing like this!!
http://www.cartersconsumables.co.uk/3m7448-scotch-brite-ultra-fine-grey-pieces-pack-p-707.html
That will brighen up the whole sonic! to a nice finish
Russ
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