Franklin Mint phaser: garish, overpriced, hokey, not accurate. Apparently based on the Playmates phaser (see below)
Playmates toys phaser: not accurate, but the first "not totally ridiculous" licensed version of the phaser that was available. Used by the "Starship Exeter" fan film as a prop.
23rd Century Pistol Kit: unlicensed but "mass produced" styrene model kit of the phaser. For a long time this was the best you could get. Very close to the "dummy" or "midgrade" prop used on the show, but the p2 body is too wide in the top profile. Also the p2 heatsink fins are "squared off" in front, they should be angled. But if modified this kit can make a darn fine replica. Can still be found on ebay for $30 or so.
HMS/Roddenberry.com phaser: screen-accurate (to the prop used on Deep Space Nine's TOS tribute episode "Trials and Tribbleations", made by the HMS prop company), one of the better replicas on the "licensed" market
Rodd.com built-up kit
HMS Studios prop built for DS9
Art Asylum phaser: screen accurate (one of these unmodified toys was used as a phaser prop in the "Star Trek Enterprise" epsidode "In a Mirror Darkly"). Nearly identical to the HMS/Roddenberry.com phaser shown above, but introduces a few errors not present on that model (side ribs that curve up, side knob missing its round rim, inaccurate "popup" targeting sight). Nevertheless, the best reasonably-priced toy replica of the phaser ever made, and can be modified with metal parts to make a darn fine replica for a minimum of money)
Master Replicas phaser: Oh, so very close. The best licensed replica ever made (so far). Modeled closely on an actual surviving hero phaser prop. Introduces a few subtle errors (shape of the p1 hand phaser is wrong in the top profile, subtle errors in the p2 body shape). First licensed replica to have an accurate paint job. Includes accurate "rising sight plate" on the p1 and great digital sound and light effects. Very very nice for the money (at original price anyway).
Richard Coyle "late" version: a fan replica by a master. This was sold thru Roddenberry.com for a brief period. Includes digital sound and light effects. Styling more accurate to the prop than Coyle's early efforts (early Coyle phasers are recognizable by the large red "Radio Shack" button used as a trigger switch).
see RAC's site for a fantastic history of fan replica phasers from the early days thru the nineties.
http://www.racprops.com/issue3/copycats_photos/
Brad Nelson phaser: sold at conventions; not accurate to screenused prop, but larger and more idealized (in some ways better than the acutal prop; this is the "phaser of the mind's eye", the phaser as it should have been). Some were purchased by Gene Roddenberry and would have been used in the Star Trek Phase II TV series that was in preproduction in 1978 (only to be canceled to make way for Star Trek the Motion Picture).
There are many other fan replicas that have been made over the years, some more accurate than others.
Here's the thread on the new "white handled" version of the Art Asylum phaser. Bottom line: repaint of the earlier version, not accurate to that version of the prop, save your money).
http://www.rpf.invisionzone.com/index.php?...01589&hl=phaser
- Karl
