Ninja Turtles Communicator

[The Biggs]

Has anyone tried making a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles communicator from the cartoon? I always thought it was cool. I've collected a few photos to get an idea of what can be used. Any concepts popping to mind as to creating one?

Here is an animated picture:

Here is the toy:

And here is a High Peaks fishing box in the shape of a shell:

 

[thegreatgalling]

I WANTED ONE WHEN I WAS A KID, HOLY SMOKES. I forgot all about this. I used to make them out of paper and get in trouble for doodling in class. :lol

EDIT: Kind of looks like the original gameboy body might be a good start? I can vaguley see the screen and the a and b buttons.

 

[thegreatgalling]

Meh, on second glance the Gameboys a and b button are on the right.

 

[jackdoud]

I've thought about making one along with the Shredder's communicator for a friend of mine as a gift but haven't gotten around to it.

I'd want to work out a spring loaded system for the case and the antennas if I ever did one.

 

[Risu]

Oh man, I had that toy as a kid! I loved that thing.

 

[boba fettucini]

I had that toy!!! maybe I can find it and sort out the dimensions. that would be a fun project.

 

[The Biggs]

That would be great!

I discovered another toy version of the communicators

I really like the turtle shell fishing box. What if I cut the box in half (horizontally). That would give me the top and bottom portions. How could I connect the two, while having the opening effect? Hmmm, my brain has been mulling over this for a few weeks now.

 

[frostbolt85]

It's interesting to see how toy versions of props in television shows can be entirely unlike what you see onscreen. I wonder if there is some obscure copyright law that makes this neccesary.

The fishing box looks like it would work really well, but you would have to cut off or sand down both the hinge and the clasp, and possibly even glue the two top halves together. I suppose you could tuck in those sliders that they sell for kitchen drawers, but those might be too bulky. Plus, you'd have to find some way to spring load them...it would be really difficult. For Shredder's communicator, one could modify one of those Yak Bak toys, but it might be too small. One may be better off simply doing a scratch build.

 

[propologist]

interesting enough I'm doing some of the communicators from " Challenge of the Superfriends " now. Just gotta get them finished and decide to do a run or not. I love the " cartoon props " they seem like the best for some reason. Those are great

 

[R2Dan]

I was watching the first Turtles movie the other day... those were the days! Loved the cartoon series as a kid, and I still have my action figures somewhere (stashed away in a big box in the cellar most likely... but they're there )

 

[Macrossmaster]

No need to work too hard. The first version looked nothing like the cartoon communicator, but they put out a second one that was almost EXACTLY like the screen seen version. Just buy that one. It's tougher to come by, but splits in half, has sound and everything.

 

[jamief123]

I always wanted one of those communicators as well.I was a huge turtle fan growing up-still am,actually.

 

[Vlair]

I had that toy way back when. It was awesome......and no, this doenst actually further the conversation. lols.

 

[80sguy]

LOL I actually drew that communicator picture. It was a for a papercraft turtle com I was working on.

 

[Kylash]

random bump, just wanted to share pics of the accurate one that came out in 94. I dont have it in hand yet, but should soon. Super accurate to the shots above!

 

[Harry Bardwell]

Well actually in the show the turtles carried the split apart ones and april had the one that folded so they are both the toys are fairly accurate and I totally wish I had one

 

[Wolfie]

LOL this was probably the first prop I ever really tried to recreate when I was a kid. I made one of Aprils using this TMNT board game like thing that came with plastic shell pieces and glued construction paper together lol

ah memories

 

[punky859]

I cant wait for this to be finished i was watching the show a few days back and painted the back of my phone like a turtle shell :3

 

[MegaPrime33]

My cousin had the one that April had and I loved it, it was so awesome.

 

[jhk1982]

i had the flip open turtle comm when i was a kid and i still have it. sadly my sister lost the gray part.