Star Trek: Mark IX TR-590 Tricorder

[Dreamscape]

With my Star Trek Nemesis phaser finished, it's time to swiftly move on to my tricorder (kit from Stapleton Productions) and electronics (on the way) from gmprops.



Further updates coming soon.

 

[Dreamscape]

So I've been working on a few things. First I've drilled the holes that will accommodate the wiring, including to the metal hinges (which will connect the bottom part to the main body). I've also stuck the back of the main body on, and blended it in with putty. A few coats of primer and sanding with a 2500 grit have got the seam almost impossible to see.



The next thing I'll be tackling is colour. I've done some tests with the back plate using a Vauxhall Astro Silver. For comparison I've place the buttons, and the raw resin next to it.





It's difficult to tell from images whether the buttons truely are lighter, darker or more blue grey than the body. While mine will be the science tricorder, here's an image of the TR-590 medical tricorder:



And one of the scientific:



What do you think? Too light, wrong saturation of colour (blue grey vs brown grey)?

 

[renaissance_man]

I use Vauxhall Smoke Grey for all of my Star Trek Starfleet props, it is by far the closest silver I could find in the UK.
Good luck with your builds.

 

[Dreamscape]

Thanks. I looked at the smoke grey but it didn't look like it was a metallic paint. Is it?

 

[renaissance_man]

Thanks. I looked at the smoke grey but it didn't look like it was a metallic paint. Is it?

It is indeed.
I've used it for years.

 

[Dreamscape]

Brilliant - I'll check out Halfords for it and compare it to the Vauxhall Astro Silver.

 

[propninja]

If you send me your address, I can send you a color sample of the original paint. I just happen to have an old can. For the record its a General motors color (which I think you know) It's sort of a warm gray metallic.. I don't know the US General Motors code but with a paint sample you might be able to match it. The only other clue I can give you is that it was a color used from the mid 90s
.

 

[AnubisGuard]

PlatiKote labelled it GM 7173, "Silver Sand Metallic." Supposedly the official GM number was 15.

 

[HMS Mike]

Yes PlatiKote 7173 is the correct color that we used on the screen used Tricorders.

 

[AnubisGuard]

Man, I loved 7173. I think I had a half dozen cans of it back in the day. It saddnes me that they don't make it any more.

 

[Dreamscape]

If that's the colour used for the later tricorders a sample would be great. I've sent you my address by email. If I have any success in matching it to a UK paint I'll post my findings here. Will be interesting to see whether either of the colours mentioned so far are a match.

On another note I've cut out some clear plastic to replace the solid inserts at the bottom of the flop out section so the light can be seen.

I don't suppose anyone has come across hinges that match the size and shape as the brass ones supplied but in zinc or other conductive silver material?

 

[Dreamscape]

So I might have found a hinge on amazon that matches the size with 1mm of the existing hinge but in a silver metal. Whether it will conduct electricity is another matter.

 

[Dreamscape]

The hinge arrived but it's a bit too small on the hinge itself. So I'm going to go with the one that Stapleton sent with the kit. Right now I can't do much more until I get the electronics from Gerry (he's been a bit busy which has meant it's taken a bit longer for him to get electronics sorted) and I've tried to match the paint colour (hopefully propninja will be able to send this to me).

 

[MangyDog]

I got these from china...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20pcs-18...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Took about 2 and a half weeks to get to me. But they match the hinge on my mark x...

Also i consider myself a die hard trek fan, but I dont know... Whats the difference between mark x and mark ix ?

 

[Dreamscape]

I think the Mark IX has always been badged as the the science version of the TR-590. The Mark X was supposedly the version with detachable scanner (so normally a medical version).

Thanks for the link - although those hinges look to match the ones that came with the kit. I was looking for one in zinc or other silver metal so not as to have the problem of having to paint them. I'll keep searching, and hoping now I have a more accurate name for them I can find a zinc variant.

 

[MangyDog]

Ahhh, yeah sorry dont know about Zinc...

 

[AnubisGuard]

I think the Mark IX has always been badged as the the science version of the TR-590. The Mark X was supposedly the version with detachable scanner (so normally a medical version).

Thanks for the link - although those hinges look to match the ones that came with the kit. I was looking for one in zinc or other silver metal so not as to have the problem of having to paint them. I'll keep searching, and hoping now I have a more accurate name for them I can find a zinc variant.

What about taking them somewhere to get them plated? A chrome plating over brass knocked back with ScotchBrite is a pretty close match to the 7173 color.

 

[Dreamscape]

What about taking them somewhere to get them plated? A chrome plating over brass knocked back with ScotchBrite is a pretty close match to the 7173 color.

That's an interesting idea - never considered that.

 

[MangyDog]

Another option is adams favourite, sticky back foil tape?

 

[ram4815162342]

Following - I have the exact same kit - and am just waiting on the electronics from Gerry - so I'll be interested to compare our progress along the way!