Millennium FX Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver

[E-Wan]

Yea, I'm sure it's happened before, but I've never actually seen so much whining about the minute details of a prop before.

REALLY? There's this dude from Star Wars - Dark Something - and he has this helmet...

 

[Birdie]

They got the colour wrong. I'd hardly call that a minor innacuracy, especially for the money (though I know some got it a lot cheaper than those those of us who paid in advance and had to wait months on the pre-order coming through).

This is the RPF, and this is what we do. Risu, do you not strive for accuracy in the costume pieces you put together? I've seen plenty of your posts trying to to get the minutest details of that damn tie :lol

 

[RKW]

OK... So, now that a spokesman for Dorling Kindersley has confirmed that there was a printing error in the colour rendering that turned the picture of the grey Sonic yellow, & there are still no screen grabs or photo stills of a heritage gold prop, can someone please tell me what the 'official screen accurate' MFX prop is a replica of exactly?

Surely now someone will put their hands up & admit that there's been a wee bit of a deception going on? Come on its only fair to those who bought one and so adamantly defended MFX's corner!

For an alleged "fan" of the show I don't think it would hurt either the likes of you or CT to start showing a little respect to a major contributor of said show instead of continuously posting big F.U comments to the team. These aren't made in some Chinese sweat shop on behalf of a company that has no connection with the franchise they sell.

I'm not saying don't discuss accuracy but to start accusing MFX of deception is a bit much.

 

[Risu]

They got the colour wrong. I'd hardly call that a minor innacuracy, especially for the money (though I know some got it a lot cheaper than those those of us who paid in advance and had to wait months on the pre-order coming through).

This is the RPF, and this is what we do. Risu, do you not strive for accuracy in the costume pieces you put together? I've seen plenty of your posts trying to to get the minutest details of that damn tie :lol

I do love screen accuracy, to a point. I used to think that point didn't exist until this debate made me start to hate the show. Now I know where to draw the line. And that line is just about when people start throwing the word "microns" around.

Whatever reason MFX had to make the sonics gold, the fact still remains that the fix costs roughly $18, less if you use coupons, and then you'll have a lot of paint left over. I did get the MFX when it was on sale, but even if I hadn't it wouldn't have compared to the cost of the coat or either of the suits, and definitely not to the space suit. As frightening as it seems now looking back, I've put about $4000 into my Who costumes, and there'll still be another $1000 or so. The sonic was what, $300? Relatively speaking, it was a bargain. I know that's not the case for everybody, but I just have a hard time getting riled up about it.

Also, I sometimes think it just doesn't feel "right" to just buy a prop and that's that. I like to put some work into them. But that's just me.

 

[Pastor Jedi]

So what color crackle paint was used?

 

[mooneye63]

For an alleged "fan" of the show I don't think it would hurt either the likes of you or CT to start showing a little respect to a major contributor of said show instead of continuously posting big F.U comments to the team. These aren't made in some Chinese sweat shop on behalf of a company that has no connection with the franchise they sell.

I'm not saying don't discuss accuracy but to start accusing MFX of deception is a bit much.

I think that the respect should have been given to the customers who were buying the product. Don't advertise something as one thing when its not! If that had happened then there would be no debate. Being a fan of the show doesn't stop me from pointing out facts that are incorrect .

Chinese Sweat shop? Is that anotheer correct fact? Be careful there!

 

[Birdie]

Why should I have to repaint something I paid nearly £300 for? :confused

Apart from anything else, as you well know, and Neil acknowledged early in the process, the Plastikote crackle is extremeley difficult to apply to obtain the correct finish. It's hit and miss at best.

Not only that, but repainting an item like this would seriously effect resale value.

As Mooneye states, I don't think MFX have shown a great deal of respect for the customer by selling a replica prop at a high price that was basically 'not as advertised', and continued to avoid answering questions regarding certain choices that were made in building this piece that have left it far from being what they claim it was to be.

 

[Pastor Jedi]

Is Plasti-Kote Crackle paint only sold in the UK?

 

[RKW]

I think that the respect should have been given to the customers who were buying the product. Don't advertise something as one thing when its not! If that had happened then there would be no debate. Being a fan of the show doesn't stop me from pointing out facts that are incorrect .

Chinese Sweat shop? Is that anotheer correct fact? Be careful there!

You mean if MFX had not produced a sonic screw driver then there would have been no debate. Just because people can criticise accuracy doesn't mean they have to act like "prized wankers" when doing so and demand MFX does this and MFX does that.

Of course Chinese sweat shops exist, why do you think manufacturing costs are so cheap? Cheap labour and poor working conditions have been going on in China for decades.

 

[RKW]

Why should I have to repaint something I paid nearly £300 for? :confused

Apart from anything else, as you well know, and Neil acknowledged early in the process, the Plastikote crackle is extremeley difficult to apply to obtain the correct finish. It's hit and miss at best.

Not only that, but repainting an item like this would seriously effect resale value.

As Mooneye states, I don't think MFX have shown a great deal of respect for the customer by selling a replica prop at a high price that was basically 'not as advertised', and continued to avoid answering questions regarding certain choices that were made in building this piece that have left it far from being what they claim it was to be.

I've seen people repaint Master Replica items that cost nearly £1000. You don't like it then sell it and buy something you do like.

 

[Birdie]

I've seen people repaint Master Replica items that cost nearly £1000. You don't like it then sell it and buy something you do like.

Again, why should I have to?

This was sold on the basis of being an exact replica, in every detail, of the studio used prop. It blatantly isn't. How could it be so difficult to get the right colour, when the correct one is in the same range, and obviously matches the colour used from the start?

And, again, have you ever tried using the stuff to accurateley replicate the effect on the original prop? I have. It ain't easy. I've tried it a lot on home builds, and never got a result I was wholly happy with. Neil Gorton himself stated that many of the replicas were repeatedly stripped and redone, and more than a few buyers have reported not entireley satisfactory paint-jobs on their MFX.

So am I going to attempt to repaint my supposedly 100% accurate MFX replica - not a chance.

Could I sell it? - probably.

Would I get what I paid for it? - unlikeley.

Should MFX have got the paintjob, emitter windows, blue cap and *COLOUR* right in the first place? - Absoluteley.

 

[Pastor Jedi]

OK... I started this thread, so I would like some courtesy here and have some of my questions answered if possible by all of you who know so much.
1-What were they selling for in US dollars and what are they selling for now?
2-Is there any US seller who sells the Plasti-kote Crackle paint?
Thanks

 

[RKW]

I've never held the original prop so can't comment on how accurate the colour is on the MFX. I'm not so blind that I too also see the differences between screen caps and the MFX. But I spent years believing the AT-AT drivers in Star Wars were white and only recently discovered they were in fact grey. So I'm not going to sit here and criticise Neill who has actually held one and call him an idiot when i've never seen a real one. Have you?

Perhaps you could list all the accurate replicas on the market officially/unofficially sold. I don't think I could count on more than one hand. I own MFX replicas such as the Cyberman helmet and it's probably the most accurate replica ever sold and will ever be made short of someone recasting them. MFX produced replicas way more accurate than most other companies in the history of prop replicas.

 

[RKW]

OK... I started this thread, so I would like some courtesy here and have some of my questions answered if possible by all of you who know so much.
1-What were they selling for in US dollars and what are they selling for now?
2-Is there any US seller who sells the Plasti-kote Crackle paint?
Thanks

They're were about £250 plus shipping when first released so it depends on the exchange rate at the time. They were significantly reduced when MFX was closing up shop and wanted to get rid of them.

The search engine is your friend.

 

[Pastor Jedi]

I've seen some on Ebay sell for around $400 US is that good?

 

[RKW]

People from the U.S paid a bit more than $400 because of shipping & import fees.

 

[Birdie]

I don't think there's any point discussing this any more with the blind supporters of MFX. If you can't or won't see the plain evidence that they dropped the ball on this then it's futile. The 'no-one else gets it right, so why should they' argument isn't even worthy of a response, tbh.

Pastor - No, Plastikote is not available in the US. I believe Risu had to go through the wringer getting hold of his paints, as standard mailing services won't handle them.

 

[mooneye63]

Again, why should I have to?

This was sold on the basis of being an exact replica, in every detail, of the studio used prop. It blatantly isn't. How could it be so difficult to get the right colour, when the correct one is in the same range, and obviously matches the colour used from the start?

And, again, have you ever tried using the stuff to accurateley replicate the effect on the original prop? I have. It ain't easy. I've tried it a lot on home builds, and never got a result I was wholly happy with. Neil Gorton himself stated that many of the replicas were repeatedly stripped and redone, and more than a few buyers have reported not entireley satisfactory paint-jobs on their MFX.

So am I going to attempt to repaint my supposedly 100% accurate MFX replica - not a chance.

Could I sell it? - probably.

Would I get what I paid for it? - unlikeley.

Should MFX have got the paintjob, emitter windows, blue cap and *COLOUR* right in the first place? - Absoluteley.

Birdy, I have seen some sell on ebay for well over the original price depending on condition, but hurry as once CT releases his Grey Sonics the MFX may not fetch as much. No I agree you shouldn't have to paint it. You could always return it to MFX as Neill has said if anyone's not happy he'll refund depending on condition. My mate did & they were fine about it.

PJ - re your questions I'm afraid I don't know what they were selling for in the US. It was £250 in the UK if that helps. As for the paint, I think you can order it online I think CT had to for his replicas so could just be a British firm, but pop into your local DIY store they maybe able to help or source it for you.

 

[NakedMoleRat]

With the then exchange rate, I paid $443.00 including shipping. Then the credit fees were another $35.00. FedEx fees were $14.00. I know that the credit fees and FedEx are not on the 'price tag' but it was all towards THAT prop in my mind. (Had I not bought it, there would not have been those fees)
Total, $492.00 to get my sonic. The best I've seen them on eBay go for is about $395.00.

 

[RKW]

I don't think there's any point discussing this any more with the blind supporters of MFX. If you can't or won't see the plain evidence that they dropped the ball on this then it's futile. The 'no-one else gets it right, so why should they' argument isn't even worthy of a response, tbh.
won't handle them.

Ok, so MFX dropped the ball on the Sonic. Now what????