Old Playmates TOS Communicator, is it worth improvement ?
- Thread starter Kennyd
- Start date
Dr Ho Yinsen
New Member
I have no idea what this is from???
WinstonWolf359
Master Member
The Diamond Select toys are all over eBay, they're just not anywhere near as well made as the ones from the Experience.
DrMcoy
Sr Member
Quick history lesson on licensed comm prop replicas:
MASTER REPLICAS makes a pretty spiffy comm replica for about $200 or so. They sell out and now go for $400+.
STAR TREK THE EXPERIENCE store sells a knock-off the the MR comm -- same features, but the fit and finish are not as "polished" -- but still, same sound features and spinning moire for a fraction of the price -- I think these retailed for $25 to $30 when they first came out. Some claimed they were made with same molds as MR, but I don't think this is 100% true.
DIAMOND SELECT comes out with comm replicas in the $30 price range that appear to be knock-offs of the STTE...but again, fit and finish not quite as nice...fewer metal parts. ENTERTAINMENT EARTH has an exclusive version with gold plated grid....others are flat gold painted metal. DIAMOND releases a later version with PLASTIC grid....but it has a crisper moire pattern than the first Diamond releases.
This covers out-of-the box ready-to-be-displayed-or-played replicas, not kits, like the HMS or jlong, as these have already been mentioned.
I think this info is more or less accurate -- but if someone else knows better, please post.
MASTER REPLICAS makes a pretty spiffy comm replica for about $200 or so. They sell out and now go for $400+.
STAR TREK THE EXPERIENCE store sells a knock-off the the MR comm -- same features, but the fit and finish are not as "polished" -- but still, same sound features and spinning moire for a fraction of the price -- I think these retailed for $25 to $30 when they first came out. Some claimed they were made with same molds as MR, but I don't think this is 100% true.
DIAMOND SELECT comes out with comm replicas in the $30 price range that appear to be knock-offs of the STTE...but again, fit and finish not quite as nice...fewer metal parts. ENTERTAINMENT EARTH has an exclusive version with gold plated grid....others are flat gold painted metal. DIAMOND releases a later version with PLASTIC grid....but it has a crisper moire pattern than the first Diamond releases.
This covers out-of-the box ready-to-be-displayed-or-played replicas, not kits, like the HMS or jlong, as these have already been mentioned.
I think this info is more or less accurate -- but if someone else knows better, please post.
WinstonWolf359
Master Member
The Experience comms were more like $75 new.
Also IPI made a communicator/calculator replica back in the late 90s that was very vaguely based on the HMS/Roddenberry communicator. Not a great replica out of the box but it took to modifying quite well.
I think the only plastic-lidded Diamond Select toys were the Toys R Us exclusive version, and I think of the other metal-lid releases the painted ones actually look better than the plated Entertainment Earth exclusive.
WinstonWolf359
Master Member
Yes, it is brass under the paint on the Experience ones. It's kind of a drag to strip off (especially the inside corners) but it's worth the effort.
No idea what may be lurking under the paint on the Diamond communicators, but brass seems like a longshot. Probably zinc or some other kind of pot metal.
No idea what may be lurking under the paint on the Diamond communicators, but brass seems like a longshot. Probably zinc or some other kind of pot metal.
Kennyd
Well-Known Member
I scraped a little bit on the Diamond and it's a dull grey metal, boo :sick
I would use a paint stripper and let it soak, that should get the paint off easier.
I'm toying with gold plating the dull metal, it shouldn't look like the polished gold and hopefully more brass.
But the painted finish actually isn't bad so i'll probably leave it.
I would use a paint stripper and let it soak, that should get the paint off easier.
I'm toying with gold plating the dull metal, it shouldn't look like the polished gold and hopefully more brass.
But the painted finish actually isn't bad so i'll probably leave it.
robn1
Master Member
You could pant it with brass colored paint. This would have a dull shine, like the brass has aged a bit. Or brass plate it Caswell Inc. - Plug N' Plate® Brush Plating Systems
StarTrek101
Member
There's no point in upgrading it. It would be a real pain.
Chrisisall
Master Member
Pain sometimes results in pleasure. It's the challenge. I say go for it!
:thumbsup
STpropguy76
Well-Known Member
I have seen a lot of these on Ebay recently, But with the Art Asylum ones there also I seem to have no intrest in these old Playmates.
They just seem so cheaply put togather.....(To Me)
They just seem so cheaply put togather.....(To Me)
Chrisisall
Master Member
They're cheap to buy, and fun to play with & work on IMO. But the AA ones are still the best.
I bought the kit and the hallmark comm. Is there any place online that walks you though installing the electronics?
GARMANBOZIA
New Member
This is what I did with my Playmates Comm. I totally gutted it, made a custom grill out of steel and painted it gold. Then I used my old piece of junk cell phone and covered it with thin leather grained vinyl that I attached the top of a spray paint can to for the window. For the row of 3 lights, I used simple eyelets and glued colored plastic into them, which did light up in the right colors from the cell phone. For the bottom I poked holes where the phone's numbers were, so the holes would light up.
Basically I made a cover for my cell phone, that actually worked. Sadly it eventually broke beyond repair and I've never gone back to redoing it. I have heard of bluetooths installed in DS comms, that would be the ultimate!
So, it's horribly inaccurate, but it was fun to build and I'd get some funny looks from folks when I'd use it.
Basically I made a cover for my cell phone, that actually worked. Sadly it eventually broke beyond repair and I've never gone back to redoing it. I have heard of bluetooths installed in DS comms, that would be the ultimate!
So, it's horribly inaccurate, but it was fun to build and I'd get some funny looks from folks when I'd use it.
Chrisisall
Master Member
That's COOL!
I was thinking of doing that as I have 3 of them... but I haven't.
