SDCC08 - Dr WHO Replicas!
- Thread starter RKW
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- doctor who
franz bolo
Sr Member
All I know is that the Master's Laser is one of the best looking pieces I've ever seen! I got to hold it and flip the switch and it was so damn cool!!
I will definitely be getting one of these!
FB
I will definitely be getting one of these!
FB
Primrodo
Sr Member
The real one is pained with a crackle paint brand over in the UK, I know a mamber here used the same stuff on his CO toy with fantastic results.
Great pics Franz! The look great!
How heavy would you saw the Laser Screwdriver was? Did it have lights/sound?
franz bolo
Sr Member
I can't say exactly but it's brass and aluminum and you saw the size in Neill Gorton's hand. It's pretty substantial! The craftsmanship is very nice! I think it was my favorite prop of the convention!
I reposted a larger crop of the image so you can see the size of it.
FB
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AnubisGuard
Master Member
Here is where it looks different. If that IS metal and looks different as a result of the milling, will it be possible for us to polish it up ourselves to look more accurate?
Having only just started on Who, I haven't seen past season 1 yet, but I had noticed when I was watching The Empty Child last night that the segment of the head with the bars did seem to be a different, less shiny metal than the rest of the sonic:
It doesn't look like the difference is as pronounced as on the replica, and admittedly, this is season one. But they may have carried that style through the rest of the show....
NakedMoleRat
Legendary Member
I was wrong. So much for thinking I was an expert!
Eccelston:
Tennant:
Tennants had the yellow.
AnubisGuard
Master Member
Sure. But at least it provides some precedent for the emitter having a duller finish...
JBReplicas
Master Member
Wow again, The Masters Laser Screwdriver looks huge!! :lol I am very glad MFX are working with EFX on US distribution, I was fortunate enough to visit Millennium FX a few years ago and had a tour of their workshop, the work that goes into these things is incredible, I remember Neill talking back then about how keen he was to get US distribution sorted for the replicas, I will definitely be picking up both screwdrivers :thumbsup
Lcars47a
Well-Known Member
Is this automatic opener goignt to be included on the next version of the prop? the name just sounds like its asking to be broken during filming! Considering how these props tend to be tret, being droped knocked etc, and they have a nice unobtrusive slider at the moment.
It sounds good, but how does it actuall operate the opening and closing of it sonic?
What ever happened to 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'!
It sounds good, but how does it actuall operate the opening and closing of it sonic?
What ever happened to 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'!
JBReplicas
Master Member
I think that refers to the Masters Laser Screwdriver, which clearly had a flip up function when it was shown on screen, don't think the sonic ever had a flip up function??
JBReplicas
Master Member
Umm......
Lcars47a
Well-Known Member
Nah RTD isn’t broken!
The auto extender being on the laser screwdriver would make sense, as it is a spring extension prop, and is only operated in the extended position, with the head and firing 'prongs' extended. The extension is controlled via the silver push trigger switch on the side of the prop. The lights on the prop are controlled via a PCB switch on the side of the prop. That’s why when the doctor tries to use the laser screwdriver in last of the time lords on the master; it doesn’t light up or ‘fire’ as he is just flicking the trigger and not the button on the side. The C.O toy has the trigger switch operate the sound and light functions though.
The sonic has never had any sort of ‘auto extension’ or spring loaded operation. Btw the sound of it extending in recent episodes of season 4 was an automatic corkscrew when it pulls the cork out of the bottle. (I recall it being mentioned in an episode of confidential)
The original extending prop used by Chris still occasionally appears, but it has that huge slot in the side to allow them to use a PCB switch as the slider. The extending version in the runaway bride had a nicer narrow slot, with the slider mounted on a thin stalk, and a small pcb switch on top, reducing how much you could see into the prop,
http://doctorwho.time-and-space.co.u...um=84&pos=1151
(i.e. in Bad wolf, you see the empty black inside, and no ‘technology’ in a close-up shot.)
http://ninthdoctor.time-and-space.co.uk/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=289
The season 4 version of the prop has a very narrow slot, with a thin curved slider. The activation switch seems to be mounted inside the sonic, or its some sort of capacitance switch on the slider itself.
This version of the prop seems to be the best version so far, and the version that I thought would be produced.
From the behind the scenes footage of the sonic props, u can see the internals of the slider, and some of the layout, as well as the new extender. The neck and internals of the moving part of the prop start narrow (looks about 12mm, then widen out to 15mm possibly to allow more space for the batteries, and also as the flattened ‘V’ in the bare aluminium part after the ceramic handle and before the black endcap, to allow the increased slider diameter and length to retract further into the prop.
They also have a series of fixed extension versions where the actual prop does not extend. I.e. fixed with the ball joint showing, partly extended or fully extended. In all of these versions the activation switch is mounted near the top.
For the prop to have an automatic extension capability, it would probably require a lot of valuable space inside, and also need some control system to decide the amount of extension desired, not just full or closed. The use of the manual slider seems to be the most sensible and least expensive alternative for the BBC to use.
The shot of a sliver/ black indent on the sonic on display I presume is the activator switch, which looks to be in an awkward position to have, surely the fixed switch would be better mounted (like the fixed extension versions of the prop) near the top of the body?
Its only a fancy penlight at the end of the day, and they don’t want to risk breaking a VERY expensive or have a delicate a prop as the Eccleston one again.
It is a cool prop which I LOVE though!
Sorry if this has seemed like a rant, it was just things which stood out.
The auto extender being on the laser screwdriver would make sense, as it is a spring extension prop, and is only operated in the extended position, with the head and firing 'prongs' extended. The extension is controlled via the silver push trigger switch on the side of the prop. The lights on the prop are controlled via a PCB switch on the side of the prop. That’s why when the doctor tries to use the laser screwdriver in last of the time lords on the master; it doesn’t light up or ‘fire’ as he is just flicking the trigger and not the button on the side. The C.O toy has the trigger switch operate the sound and light functions though.
The sonic has never had any sort of ‘auto extension’ or spring loaded operation. Btw the sound of it extending in recent episodes of season 4 was an automatic corkscrew when it pulls the cork out of the bottle. (I recall it being mentioned in an episode of confidential)
The original extending prop used by Chris still occasionally appears, but it has that huge slot in the side to allow them to use a PCB switch as the slider. The extending version in the runaway bride had a nicer narrow slot, with the slider mounted on a thin stalk, and a small pcb switch on top, reducing how much you could see into the prop,
http://doctorwho.time-and-space.co.u...um=84&pos=1151
(i.e. in Bad wolf, you see the empty black inside, and no ‘technology’ in a close-up shot.)
http://ninthdoctor.time-and-space.co.uk/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=289
The season 4 version of the prop has a very narrow slot, with a thin curved slider. The activation switch seems to be mounted inside the sonic, or its some sort of capacitance switch on the slider itself.
This version of the prop seems to be the best version so far, and the version that I thought would be produced.
From the behind the scenes footage of the sonic props, u can see the internals of the slider, and some of the layout, as well as the new extender. The neck and internals of the moving part of the prop start narrow (looks about 12mm, then widen out to 15mm possibly to allow more space for the batteries, and also as the flattened ‘V’ in the bare aluminium part after the ceramic handle and before the black endcap, to allow the increased slider diameter and length to retract further into the prop.
They also have a series of fixed extension versions where the actual prop does not extend. I.e. fixed with the ball joint showing, partly extended or fully extended. In all of these versions the activation switch is mounted near the top.
For the prop to have an automatic extension capability, it would probably require a lot of valuable space inside, and also need some control system to decide the amount of extension desired, not just full or closed. The use of the manual slider seems to be the most sensible and least expensive alternative for the BBC to use.
The shot of a sliver/ black indent on the sonic on display I presume is the activator switch, which looks to be in an awkward position to have, surely the fixed switch would be better mounted (like the fixed extension versions of the prop) near the top of the body?
Its only a fancy penlight at the end of the day, and they don’t want to risk breaking a VERY expensive or have a delicate a prop as the Eccleston one again.
It is a cool prop which I LOVE though!
Sorry if this has seemed like a rant, it was just things which stood out.
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Primrodo
Sr Member
Well I am sure eFX and MFX have their reasons and maybe they will chime in after the convention about why its a certain way, maybe its something that the BBC requested them to change, much like the way LFL has standards on the MR products of the past.
Thr prop pictures look great! Where did you get those?
Thr prop pictures look great! Where did you get those?
Lcars47a
Well-Known Member
wen i heard they were on the season 3 extras i wanted to have them, as it would help me with my sonic screwdriver construction, a borad member was kind enough to capture them for me! Hopefully i shud be ready to rework a new one and make it closer to the runaway bride version. I was lucky enough to see the 'burnt out' sonic prop and (one of) the laser screwdriver props at an exhibition recently. tbh I stil think the sonic is the same basic dimensions as the original production art floating around here, just refined details and construction methods.
It would be a shame if the BBC had made them make changes so its not the same as the prop. It looks reli cool though, but am sure Neil will explain all at some point!
It would be a shame if the BBC had made them make changes so its not the same as the prop. It looks reli cool though, but am sure Neil will explain all at some point!
JBReplicas
Master Member
I cant imagine many sacrifices being made in terms of accuracy, an example of this is the Ood heads MFX sell, they HAD to come up with a different material for the replicas as the material they used for the screen used props simply wouldn't last, it would start to degrade over time and when you pay money for an accurate replica prop you don't want it breaking down after a few years, this is probably a similar case, another point is that there are a few different versions of the sonic, now considering the time and money that has gone into producing these high quality replicas a decision probably had to be made to either pick a particular version or try to 'idealise' the product, yeah hopefully Neill can chime in :thumbsup
Birdie
Master Member
If anyone's interested I have a whole bunch of hi-res pics I took today of the hero Laser Screwdriver prop from the show. It's currently on show at an exhibition in Liverpool in the UK.
Also got a bunch of pics of the hero burnt out sonic screwdriver from the end of season three & loads of other cool Who props.
Also got a bunch of pics of the hero burnt out sonic screwdriver from the end of season three & loads of other cool Who props.
