QMX TNG comm badge pre-order

[czechplastik]

Mine too has an ill fitted silver plate and some roughness around the edges of the oval.

Still looks good and probably can't complain too much at that price point.

 

[joeyprats]

My silver plate doesn't look that bad. Actually I got so inspired by the QMx badge, I just had to bake some Starfleet German Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Pecan Frosting this afternoon. Sorry, I know it's off-topic, but I couldn't help it.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Mmmmmm...

Those look SO GOOD...

 

[Cristar Attevan]

I quite like the raised edge, but I'm not sure if its screen accurate - I'll need to take a closer look at the blu-rays.

I don't have the Blu-rays, unfortunately, but I tried to get some screencaps from Hulu+, which has the first few TNG seasons in what looks like hi-def. (Correct me if I'm wrong, guys). The caps didn't come out the best-- I tried to blow them up and do a bit of sharpening-- but you can pretty much see the lip on this version of the badge from "The Last Outpost."

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Yep. It's definitely got one although the black is on the sides as well. Also, the "arrow" is one piece, not two piece.

 

[stephend]

I don't have the Blu-rays, unfortunately, but I tried to get some screencaps from Hulu+, which has the first few TNG seasons in what looks like hi-def. ...you can pretty much see the lip on this version of the badge from "The Last Outpost."

Excellent screen-grab Cristar - the lip is clearly there in the early seasons. You can also see how they made it out of two parts like my replica from 1987 - including the gaps where the arrow crosses the lip of the oval. I'm tempted to do a cast of my 1987 one and repaint it and add a magnet like QMx have.

1987 Replica from a similar angle:

 

[Angelus Lupus]

I remember reading somewhere that after painting the delta (arrowhead) silver, they got the black edge simply by running a sharpie or permanent marker around the edge.

 

[Roland]

Don't know if it helps, but here are some pics of screen used comm badges (from screenused.com):

 

[PeteVenkman]

I don't have the Blu-rays, unfortunately, but I tried to get some screencaps from Hulu+, which has the first few TNG seasons in what looks like hi-def. (Correct me if I'm wrong, guys). The caps didn't come out the best-- I tried to blow them up and do a bit of sharpening-- but you can pretty much see the lip on this version of the badge from "The Last Outpost."

http://christophernavetta.com/tempart/therpf/LastOutpost_CommBadge_1a.jpg

http://christophernavetta.com/tempart/therpf/LastOutpost_CommBadge_2a.jpg

I am not 100% convinced that there is a lip in these pics. I held my Rodd Comm up a similar way to a light source and was able to get the same effect. My Rodd Comm definitely does not have a lip. The highlight is what seems to be creating the illusion.

 

[Cristar Attevan]

Don't know if it helps, but here are some pics of screen used comm badges (from screenused.com):

Great pics, Roland! It looks to me like the first image shows a completely flat face-- no lip. That third image, tho, really looks like there's a lip, like in the screencaps.

I am not 100% convinced that there is a lip in these pics. I held my Rodd Comm up a similar way to a light source and was able to get the same effect. My Rodd Comm definitely does not have a lip. The highlight is what seems to be creating the illusion.

I see exactly what you're saying, Venkman. In fact, most of the screen-used ones I've seen don't have any lip. It really looks to me like the one in this ep does, tho. That edge has got a highlight/shadow and then another highlight along where the silver begins.

I've tried to take a few more screencaps to get a better pic of it. Not sure it they help... maybe someone who has the actual blu-rays can get some better shots.

 

[Roland]

Great pics, Roland! It looks to me like the first image shows a completely flat face-- no lip. That third image, tho, really looks like there's a lip, like in the screencaps. ...

Yes, the first and the last comm badge on the pics (1, 2, 5 and 6) seem to be from the same mold and were probably used in later seasons. They have no lip. The second comm badge (pics 3 and 4) looks different and was probably from the first (or first two) season(s). There are several indications on the pic that this badge has a lip.

Personally, I prefer the version without lip from later seasons.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

What I am wondering is if the black edging was done with some sort extruded material (like the puff pen work people are doing on the Spiderman and Superman suits) and not something that is constructed into the mold.

There has got to be someone on this board who can tell us what we are looking at and clear it up.

 

[joeyprats]

I know this post belongs in another thread but since we all love combadges, I figured you all might just get excited about this news from QMx...

FROM QUANTUM MECHANIX..."Since we released our Star Trek: The Next Generation Badges, many of you have asked us which badge we'll be making next.

So as a little Friday treat, here's a preview: we've secured the original molds for the Deep Space Nine/Voyager badge and are currently in the process of restoring them to their former glory!"



Image copyright Quantum Mechanix

 

[Apollo]

Hopefully they won't bling that one out and make it out of resin

 

[Kazy]

Honestly the screen used ones look like total crap in the pictures in this thread. Give me stylized any day.

 

[joeyprats]

The QMx Voyager Badges will be just like the TNG combadges they produced.

- - - Updated - - -

Honestly the screen used ones look like total crap in the pictures in this thread. Give me stylized any day.

I agree with you Kazy! I'm happy with my QMx TNG Badge.

 

[Risu]

They got the original molds for those ones but not the TNG badges? Or did they just throw the TNG molds out and start over?

 

[Roland]

Honestly the screen used ones look like total crap in the pictures in this thread. Give me stylized any day.

Yes, they are crap like most of the props from old TV shows when looked at from close up. Look at that screen used phaser. My IPI phaser laser pointer looks much better.

 

[Mara Jade's Father]

They got the original molds for those ones but not the TNG badges? Or did they just throw the TNG molds out and start over?

The product description says https://store.qmxonline.com/Star-Trek-TNG-Communicator-Badge_p_192.html::

Our TNG communicator badge was crafted using one of the only remaining sets of original molds, which was painstakingly restored in our artisan model shop. With the restored molds we were able to replicate the prop's size and shape exactly.

Maybe they will have better luck coming up combining accuracy with idealized with this style badge since it does nor have or deal with black edging around the delta. I also hope they can come up with a better gold shade/tone to match the original.

All in all, I am happy QMX is doing projects like this. At least they are trying and offering interesting items on a regular basis at very reasonable prices. I wish someone was doing this for Star Wars items.

Regarding the badge available now, has anyone been able to pry off/remove the faceplate? Seems like since they made it the way they did, they missed an opportunity to create a reveal version (see the internal workings) like the diagrams in the tech manuals.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Not so into the DS9/Voyager comm badge. Never really liked the design.

My biggest issue with the QMx TNG badge is the gap between the faceplate & badge and the sides of the arrow not being black like on screen.