Millennium FX Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver

[LeAngeSolitaire]

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

Admit it and move on? Hold your hands up and apologise? It certainly beats having to duck and avoid questions and feed the speculation all day.

Sorry but this is becoming more and more silly now RKW and you wheeling out the 'nobody ever gets it right so why should MFX' argument as Birdie said just proves it.

 

[Birdie]

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

TBH, I'm fascinated to know how this situation came to be. As I already said, I really wasn't overly bothered about the other innacuracies, but the paintjob thing - how does that happen with a company so close the source?

I doubt I'll be selling my MFX any time soon. It's a very well made piece, and like others, I actually like the gold paintjob, even if it is wrong :lol

I'm just frustrated that such basic and fundamental errors were made, and sooner or later my craving for an accurate one will overcome my financial misgivings and I'll end up dropping large on a CT. The MFX will remain a fascinating (and expensive) oddity.

 

[RKW]

Admit it and move on? Hold your hands up and apologise? It certainly beats having to duck and avoid questions and feed the speculation all day.

I've got nothing to apologise for as I'm justing a paying customer.

Sorry but this is becoming more and more silly now RKW and you wheeling out the 'nobody ever gets it right so why should MFX' argument as Birdie said just proves it.

The only thing that is silly is that a minority of WHO fans seem to expect more from MFX than any other company in the history of replicas and cry about it when their expectations were not fulfilled. I think on the whole MFX delivered on their range of replicas and I'm sad to see them leave. I get the impression that the majority of WHO fans just want cheap toys that make noises.

 

[Pastor Jedi]

I guess I missed the part about MFX closing up shop. So what happens with the licenses of the replicas? Is there another company taking over, like in the case of MR?

 

[Birdie]

I've got nothing to apologise for as I'm justing a paying customer.

I'm guessing he meant Neil

The only thing that is silly is that a minority of WHO fans seem to expect more from MFX than any other company in the history of replicas and cry about it when their expectations were not fulfilled. I think on the whole MFX delivered on their range of replicas and I'm sad to see them leave. I get the impression that the majority of WHO fans just want cheap toys that make noises.

Not silly really. One of the prime defences against MFX having made a pig's ear of the screwdriver is the 'Do you really think a company that works on the show is going to make fundamental screwups :rolleyes?' line.

You can't have it both ways.

 

[Foxmeister]

I think on the whole MFX delivered on their range of replicas and I'm sad to see them leave.

This discussion is not about the entire range of MFX replicas - just one specific piece.

Even C.T. had good things to say on his blog about the other MFX products:

When producing replicas of their own original pieces, such as the Cybermen heads, Oods and other heads and masks, they excel and their pieces would not shame any display

Purely out of morbid curiosity, I would like to hear a comment from MFX on the "HeritageGoldGate" saga, but if I were a customer who had shelled out significant cash on a product based on its screen accuracy, I would feel entitled to a response when that accuracy has been seriously called into question - but I'm not, so I don't.

Regards,

Dave

 

[LeAngeSolitaire]

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

I've got nothing to apologise for as I'm justing a paying customer.

I meant Neill/MFX

 

[mfxreplicas]

God this is getting soooooooo boring!!!!

original sonic flash and no flash on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Both shots of the same original prop sonic (check the crackle and wear pattern) as supplied by the art department and photographed in the art department by me (that's my hand and I can prove it) in both flash and daylight showing how the heritage gold goes grey under flash or cold light, blah blah blah.

In addition original prop sonic next to laser screwdriver - screwdriver is painted with cream/grey crackle and sonic with Heritage gold - you can clearly see they're different, blah blah blah.

Sonic in this case was well used and very grubby (because it was used for filming believe it or not!) and not lacquered hence the greenish tinge is quite flattened, blah blah blah.

I won't be posting anymore on the rpf about sonics because it's a complete waste of time. If you want to stand there pointing and believing the king is wearing new clothes then good luck to you. By the way, did you know; I also shot JFK, I flew the planes in to the twin towers, the Roswell spaceship is in my garden shed and I changed the sonic and painted it a different colour just for laughs :confused.

If anyone wants to return their sonic because CT says the colour is wrong then I will simply tell you to take your complaint to BBC worldwide who will check their references and check with the production props people and simply tell you it's actually the right colour and then who will you believe?

Have fun
Neill

 

[jedibugs]

God this is getting soooooooo boring!!!!

original sonic flash and no flash on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Both shots of the same original prop sonic (check the crackle and wear pattern) as supplied by the art department and photographed in the art department by me (that's my hand and I can prove it) in both flash and daylight showing how the heritage gold goes grey under flash or cold light, blah blah blah.

In addition original prop sonic next to laser screwdriver - screwdriver is painted with cream/grey crackle and sonic with Heritage gold - you can clearly see they're different, blah blah blah.

Sonic in this case was well used and very grubby (because it was used for filming believe it or not!) and not lacquered hence the greenish tinge is quite flattened, blah blah blah.

I won't be posting anymore on the rpf about sonics because it's a complete waste of time. If you want to stand there pointing and believing the king is wearing new clothes then good luck to you. By the way, did you know; I also shot JFK, I flew the planes in to the twin towers, the Roswell spaceship is in my garden shed and I changed the sonic and painted it a different colour just for laughs :confused.

If anyone wants to return their sonic because CT says the colour is wrong then I will simply tell you to take your complaint to BBC worldwide who will check their references and check with the production props people and simply tell you it's actually the right colour and then who will you believe?

Have fun
Neill

Neill, I really respect your work, but come on man. Those pictures don't show how the heritage "goes gray" in certain light. Those show damn gray sonics. And the following shot next to the Laser Screwdriver doubly so. In fact, the only new light you've shone on the subject is that your sonic CLEARLY doesn't reflect the one you had access to, because I don't see any yellow wires running through the extended bit on the pictures you just posted.

Now, I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for all this. People are reasonable, they'll understand. Honestly. You very clearly had access to the original props. I won't ever question that. But your replica FLAT-OUT does not match. The color is off, the extending column is different, the spacer at the top is unpainted... And I'm not mentioning microns. I'm talking about blatant differences that are clearly evident without even needing a side-by-side comparison. Please just tell us what happened or, if it was a BBC decision or something similar and you can't talk about it, just say concessions had to be made that you can't talk about or something. Just be man enough to admit that it's different BECAUSE WE CAN ALL SEE IT!

 

[TheNickFox]

the Roswell spaceship is in my garden shed

Then what are you doing here debating sonics? Go take that puppy for a joy ride!

Seriously this has all gotten out of hand. Let's just say: Buy whatever sonic YOU think is most accurate.

Neill has provided his proof (Which CT has not) so if you still like the CT sonic better, that's your business and no one can stop you.

Now let's all get the more important issue: can I have a ride in your spaceship?

-Nick

 

[LeAngeSolitaire]

CT didn't raise the colour issue. A fan did. It's not about CT. Neill, sorry man but your pics just proved it's gray. All the MFX versions I've seen with and without flash are very obviously gold, even moreso with flash, not less.

 

[mfxreplicas]

Take the pic of the sonic and laser and drag it in to photoshop. Put the eyedropper over the crackles and see what colour pops up. They're completely different. Sonic shows as shades of green, laser shows as shades of grey. Do it an at least ten spots to account for the variations on the surface. These are two objects in the same image that it has been said are painted with the same paint. They clearly haven't. If you think they're the same then frankly you either need a new monitor or need your eyes checking.

The wires are obscured by the fact the perspex has been bored out incorrectly which has misted the plastic. Again, do the eyedropper and you will get yellow reading through.

This is fact, and I'm showing you facts, but if you prefer the fantasy then go right ahead and believe what you want.

If you can't be bothered to do this check in photoshop (or pretty much any other photo software with a colour eyedropper) then you really shouldn't be posting.

Enjoy

 

[LeAngeSolitaire]

That color in your pictures is not Heritage Gold. That is obvious. Sorry it is quite clearly a different color to the sonic I have in my hand now, whatever light it is in. Can you post a picture of the struts so we can at least lay that myth to rest?

 

[Howard]

Check the Plastikote website and their swatches - it's clearly Heritage Gold.

 

[jedibugs]

Take the pic of the sonic and laser and drag it in to photoshop. Put the eyedropper over the crackles and see what colour pops up. They're completely different. Sonic shows as shades of green, laser shows as shades of grey. Do it an at least ten spots to account for the variations on the surface. These are two objects in the same image that it has been said are painted with the same paint. They clearly haven't. If you think they're the same then frankly you either need a new monitor or need your eyes checking.

The wires are obscured by the fact the perspex has been bored out incorrectly which has misted the plastic. Again, do the eyedropper and you will get yellow reading through.

This is fact, and I'm showing you facts, but if you prefer the fantasy then go right ahead and believe what you want.

If you can't be bothered to do this check in photoshop (or pretty much any other photo software with a colour eyedropper) then you really shouldn't be posting.

Enjoy

No one is making an argument that the Sonic and Laser were painted the same. The argument is that the sonic isn't supposed to be yellow. As for the "improperly bored" perspex.... You said in your previous post "it was used for filming believe it or not!" So how can a screen-used prop be done the wrong way, while yours is done "properly?" People paid for a prop that matched what was on screen, no? Like this:

 

[frosty]

Do you guys ever wonder why the people behind the shows and movies you love don't post on here, its because of threads like this, why would someone go out of there way to paint the sonic the wrong colour, then offer it to the most nitpickiest bunch of folks on the planet?, it makes no sense, i'm not surprised Neil is not doing replica's any more i wouldn't bother with all this either

 

[jedibugs]

Do you guys ever wonder why the people behind the shows and movies you love don't post on here, its because of threads like this, why would someone go out of there way to paint the sonic the wrong colour, then offer it to the most nitpickiest bunch of folks on the planet?, it makes no sense, i'm not surprised Neil is not doing replica's any more i wouldn't bother with all this either

The work Neill and his company do on Doctor Who is amazing. The Ood are gorgeous! The Cybermen are an incredible leap from the classic series design while still maintaining their iconic look. I could go on and on. And, though I've not seen any in person, I have heard (and will believe) that their props of those things are just as amazing and accurate.

And, when I first saw the Sonic Screwdriver, I thought it was fantastic, as well. Then I noticed the differently-colored emitter head. And the unpainted spacer. Even then, I would have bought one if they hadn't sold out before I could gather the money. But now they're the wrong color. Clearly. I personally went through all my season 3-4 stuff... both the show and Confidential. That Sonic is not gold. ANYWHERE. And this is so overwhelmingly evident that now Neill is just blatantly lying to us. I've given him the benefit of the doubt up until this very afternoon. Then it was just too much.

And now he says he'll not even honor returns. Classy.

Someone get David Tennant on the line so we can end this once and for all!

 

[Primrodo]

Cause David Tennant will care why?

On the website for PlastiKote it has:

Plasti-kote crackle touch spray paint,

So there are only 3 crackles...black, colony cream and the heritage.

Sure Cream can look yellow under lighting conditions....but would it look greeny? I do not know the paint at all, I have never used it, but applications, base coat, uneven spray all affects paint in general. Why not here?

 

[jedibugs]

Cause David Tennant will care why?

On the website for PlastiKote it has:

Plasti-kote crackle touch spray paint,

So there are only 3 crackles...black, colony cream and the heritage.

Sure Cream can look yellow under lighting conditions....but would it look greeny? I do not know the paint at all, I have never used it, but applications, base coat, uneven spray all affects paint in general. Why not here?

Never said he'd care. But he'd certainly know whether the sonic he used extensively for years were gold or cream, no?

 

[Birdie]

I'm feeling much more inclined to to sell my MFX now than during the earlier exchanges today. Just urghh :confused

What a load...