TOS Phaser
Active Member
STAR TREK: TOS Phaser Unit #2 (P2) and Phaser Unit #1 (P1) Props
It all began when Walter M. Jefferies (the future Art Director for Star Trek) was given the assignment to create a new hand held energy weapon that did not look like every other "ray gun" that went before. The first Star Trek "pilot" had "laser" pistols that looked like a western "six shooter".
HISTORY
I. Matt produced two working drawings for the Desilu Prop Department. One covered the "hand phaser" or "Phaser Unit 1" (P1) and the other covered the "Phaser Unit 2" (P2) and the "Phaser Unit 3" (the power pack grip/handle).
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 2 (P2) drawing:
Source of this drawing: Live Auction Group
The first working Hero P2s the Desilu Prop Department (DPD) made are very close to this drawing. In fact one member of the TPZ overlaid a photo of the Greg Jein (GJ) P2 (as it appears now) on a version of this drawing and the photo and drawing lined up almost exactly.
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1 (P1) drawing:
Source of this drawing: Live Auction Group
The DPD did not make the first working Hero P1s exactly to this drawing. For example the rising sight opens in the opposite direction and the sight screen and the "push buttons" and the "snap lock" recess were not illuminated.
These drawing are the foundation of any Star Trek TOS Phaser study.
- - For those of you who cannot visualize what a 3-D object looks like - here are some photo mosaic drawings of what the P2 and P1 would have looked like if the Desilu Props Department (DPD) had made the props exactly to Matt's drawings (Note - the "forward facing louvers" are not
shown on either P1 side view):
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 2, side view (in Wah Ming Chang colors):
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the left side view of Matt's P2 would have looked like based on the "Phaser Unit #2" drawing. (Qi Press is my company)
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 2, front view:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the front view of Matt's P2 would have looked like based on the "Phaser Unit #2" drawing by Matt Jefferies.
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, side view and top view, with sight screen fully open:
Note: Drawing error: The power push buttons are too far back - the second push button should be closer to the sight
slider control switch in the top view.
Matt incorporated several things in his original design (drawing) that were not produced by the Desilu props department (DPD):
Phaser Unit # 1:
· P1 safety – the trigger button was not operational until the sight was up
· P1 sight screen illuminated when in the [fully] open [up] position
· The power push buttons on the P1 were illuminated
· Clear sight opening on P1 (the rectangle above the nozzle in the front)
· Sight screen was rotated by rack and pinion to slider control (switch)
See Drawings: 2.1 and 2.4.
· Sight screen rotates 195 degrees to full open or full closed*
· A magnet inset into the bottom of the P1 for mounting it on a belt (the
DPD glued a piece of Velcro to the bottom half of the P1 instead.)
* Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, right side view, xray-drawing, showing initial sight screen opening process:
The sight screen was designed to move down and then revolve 195 degrees to full open. The DPD sight screen moved up.
Matt incorporated several things in his original design (drawing) that were not produced by the Desilu props department (DPD):
Phaser Unit # 2:
· Probe (emitter) on P2 would extend or retract by rotating the “range
adjustment” ring on the nozzle
· P2 Trigger unlocked when power pack (Unit #3) is rotated into position
(1/2 turn, 90 degrees) - - see my drawing reproduction on cover
· Recess on rear bottom of P2 body to receive spring lock of Unit #4 (Note: this recess was not found on the Greg Jein (GJ) P2. So the logical assumption is - this original phaser rifle ala Man From Uncle feature was not incorporated. I believe there is a thread on therpf that shows what the P2 would have looked like if the take down rifle had been built. - - I will look for the link.)
II. The second basis for studying TOS Hero Phasers is the Desilu "production memo" that "feek61" researched and compiled. The Desilu production memo entitled: "Inventory", dated 14July1966, provided by "feek61" reflects:
PHASER GUNS
4 Practical Guns - - includes #1 & #2 – Power Packs
4 Practical Power Packs (extra)
4 Power Packs to make Phaser #3
6 Wood Dummy Power Packs
5 Rubber Guns Complete #1 & #2 – Power Pack
4 #1 Guns
"PLASTIC GUNS"
10 Complete Dummy Guns #1 & #2 - Power Packs
9 #1 Dummy Guns
4 #2 Dummy Guns
4 Guns-includes #1 & #2 -- without Power Packs
===========================================
There is no doubt that 4 "practical" (or "working" or Hero) phaser unit 2s were built (P2s and P1s) in 1966.
THANK YOU FEEK61 !
III. The black and white (B&W) "practical" ("working" or "hero") Phaser Unit # 2 (P2).
The four B&W Hero P2s were filmed in episodes: 5, 6, 7 and 8. (Note: I use the production episode numbers - not the air date episode numbers or the "remastered" episode numbers.) I also nick named each B&W P2 to help me track them not only through the first 4 key first season episodes - but also after Wah Ming Chang "reworked" them into the iconic phaser pistols that every "baby boomer" recognizes.
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Kirk P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Captain Kirk fires (at Dr. Crater) in episode 6, "The Man Trap".
Captain Kirk holds this B&W P2 with sight closed in episode 5, "The Enemy Within" (standing by Spock in Engineering - while searching for the "evil Kirk".
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Spock P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Spock holds in both episode 5, "The Enemy Within" and
episode 6, "The Man Trap".
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Sulu P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Sulu holds and fires in episode 5, "The Enemy Within" (he
uses this P2 to heat the rocks).
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Scot P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Kirk wears on his gold pistol belt in episode 6, "The Man Trap"
(I think he initially wore the Sulu P2 until it fell off of his belt.) And Scotty wears this B&W Hero P2 on his gold pistol belt in episode 7, "The Naked Time".
Drawing notes: (1) The rounded push buttons instead of the flat top push buttons Matt's drawings specified.
(2) The control knob on the rear deck is taller than was specified in Matt's P2 drawing.
(3) The power pack grip was longer than the grip specified in Matt's P2 drawing.
(4) The power pack grip cross section was not exactly the same as the cross-section in the drawing.
(5) The power pack grip was not as wide.
The Spock P2 was in episodes: 5, 6 and 7. (The Enemy Within, The Man Trap and The Naked Time.)
The Kirk P2 was in episodes: 5 and 6 (The Enemy Within and The Man Trap)
The Sulu P2 was in episodes: 5 and 8 (The Enemy Within and Charlie X) - - I think the forehead on this P2 was broken in episode 6 (The Man Trap)
The Scot P2 was in episodes: 6 and 7 (The Man Trap and The Naked Time.) - - This B&W Hero P2 was worn on Kirk's gold pistol belt and then Scotty
wore it on his gold pistol belt while trying to figure out where to cut the Engineering room bulkhead.
The following drawing represents the B&W "practical" Spock P1:
Note: How the power push buttons were rounded and the sight screen slider switch control was implemented as a thumb wheel.
You can clearly see the rounded push buttons on the B&W P1 in the Kirk P2 in the Engineering scene of episode 5, The Enemy Within. And note how the shell cover is only on the bottom of the P1. Compare this drawing to the Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, side view and top view drawing.
- - B&W drawing notes - I originally had problems with loss of definition when I made the P2 and P1 bodies black. The complex curves and corners were being lost. So as in the previous case I set the drawing to a lighter shade of gray. Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, side view and top view drawing in the previous section is more correct. It was a photo mosaic rather than a "rendering".
The following Kirk P2 drawing is an example of the black body problem:
This drawing reflects one of the main reasons Gene Roddenberry did not like the B&W Hero P2s - the all black body causes a loss of detail.
I found no evidence in TMOST or in Herb Solow's books that Gene ever sent a memo regarding the color of the "phaser gun" to Matt during
the design stage. My guess - Matt or the DED team chose black - because black the color of miltary firearms in the 1960s.
The following photo mosaic represents the B&W Practical P1 - the future Greg Jein P1:
This closeup is from my B&W P1 rendering sheet for (what I labeled the Scot P1) the future Greg Jein P1. Note: It has Velcro on the left side and no jewel between the thumb wheel and force indicator "half moon". Also not how the thumb wheel and half moon are in line with sight hood cut-out.
IV. Wah Ming Chang (WMC) "reworked" the 4 black and white (B&W) "practical" ("working" or "hero") Phaser Unit # 2s (P2s). (Reference Desilu Invoice # 43977)
The following changes were made by Mr. Chang to the four B&W Hero P2s:
(1) Hand Phaser (“Phaser Unit # 1” or P1):
· The body of the P1 was painted dark grey
· Aluminum rails were added to both sides of two of the Hero hand phasers. The Hero P1s with Velcro on the left side had an aluminum rail
added to the right side only and WMC painted a silver/white line on the Velcro on the left side to match the width and length of the rail.
· Diamond textured silver foil was added to the top of the sight cover
· A watch crown with a colored jewel was added to the top of two of the Hero hand phasers (P1s) between the sight control thumb wheel and the two force indicator windows. Two P1s apparently only received a jewel. (2 blue and 2 red)
· The two force indicator windows were replaced with a single curved window (now called the “half-moon”):
(2) Pistol phaser body (“Phaser Unit 2” or P2):
· The body of the P2 was painted a light cool (blue) gray
· Aluminum fins went over the molded fins on the rear of the P2 body
· The rear control knob (aluminum bar) was changed to a “ten turn” knob,
(3) Pistol phaser power pack grip (Phaser Unit 3 or P3):
· The white power pack grip (handle) was replaced with the special power pack
grips with the base plate with Valise plug prong cut-outs for P4 assembly.
The following photo mosaic represents the B&W Hero Kirk P2 after WMC "reworked" the prop into the "Unknown" P2:
This reworked B&W Hero P2 (the "Unknown" P2) was held by a security guard in a deleted scene from episode 15, "Court-Martial". Captain Kirk is holding the Scot P2 (aka the "Riley/Lenore" P2) when Finney jabs the Spock P2 (aka the "Finney" P2) into the Captain's back in Engineering.
The following photo mosaic represents the B&W Hero Scot P1 after WMC "reworked" the prop into the "Greg Jein" P1:
Note: The alignment of the thumb wheel and force indicator with the sight screen cutout and the lack of a jewel and watch crown.
V. AutoCad drawings of the "Practical" P2 and P1 ("reworked" by Wah Ming Chang) were made by Nelson Au in 2007.
Nelson presented his work on the TPZ as "sunking69". In my opinion the lines and curves of the drawings he posted in July 2007 were "spot on". Other members at the time disagreed and gave him their preferences. His dimensions were based on the JLong P1 Kit. Fortunately robn1 was able to provide the correct dimensions - see his corrected drawing below.
The following AutoCad drawings were posted by "sunking69" on or around 10July 2007:
P2 layout:
P1 layout:
P2 sections:
P2 detail:
And the reason I preferred his original P1 drawing was because Nelson's P1 top view looks like the TMOST P1 top view :
The following drawing with corrected dimensions, added by robn1, was posted 08Aug2022 (see robn1's reply):
As you can see the length of the P2 saddle is 3.614 inches in robn1's corrected drawing compared to 3.72 inches in Nelson's 10July2007 drawing.
This difference in the length of the P2 saddle means the length of the P1 shown in Nelson's P1 drawing is also incorrect.
VI. The following Season One "black and white" (B&W) "Practical" / "working" / "Hero" - Phaser Unit # 2 (P2) trace table helped me (after going back to the key Season One episodes: 5, 6, 7 and 8) see which B&W Hero became which WMC Hero:
Summary Season One P2 trace table:
(3) The Kirk P2 = “Unknown P2” (from deleted scene from “Court-Martial” and the “reworked” B&W Hero P1 in this deleted scene was the Kirk P1 or the "Nona" P1.) Captain Kirk carries the “reworked” Scot P2 aka the "Riley/Lenore" P2 into engineering when he was searching for Finney. The P2 that Finney holds against Captain Kirk’s back, for the famous close up shot, is the “reworked” Spock P2 aka the “Finney”. A security guard held the reworked Kirk P2 ("Unknown") in a deleted scene from this episode.
(4) Two B&W Hero P1s (Sulu P1 and Scot P1) had Velcro on the left side and two B&W Hero P1s did not (Spock P1 and Kirk P1). The Sulu and Spock B&W Hero P1s were approximately the same shape and size. The Kirk and Scot B&W Hero P1s were approximately the same shape and size.
The following photo mosaic drawing reflects the nozzle emitter length and nozzle center line location “tell” and forehead slope “tell”:
The top P2 nozzle is the Finney P2 and the bottom P2 nozzle is the GJ.
NOTE Drawing Error: The bottom emitter appears to be cylindrical - however it is conical also the nozzle on the GJ is even lower than shown. See the front view drawing of the 4 "practical phaser guns" (Hero P2s) below for a more accurate representation of the GJ nozzle location.
Nelson's P2 Detail Drawing (upper right) above reflects the forehead slope tells.
The following B&W Hero P2 drawing shows the rear fin tells:
And if you cannot see the "tells" I put yellow lines on the same drawing:
These rear fin differences were seen in the Wah Ming Chang "reworked" P2s: the "Finney" (Spock P2) and the "Unknown" (Kirk P2).
The following drawing contains front views of the 4 "Practical Phaser Guns" (Hero P2s):
Greg Jein Finney Unknown Riley
Front views of the 4 Practical Phaser Guns made by the Desilu Studios Effects Department and "reworked" by Wah Ming Chang.
In the above drawing you can see how low the GJ P2 nozzle is positioned on the P2 fiberglass body. This drawing also shows how closely the cross-section of the "Nona" P1matches the Scot P1 (Hero P1 with Velcro currently on the GJ) made by the Desilu Effects Department before 14July1966 (the date of the Desilu Studios production memo).
Note: I now believe based on the photographic evidence of the Hero B&W P2s filmed in the first 8 episodes of Season One, that two of the four Hero P1s had Velcro glued to the left side. In episode 6, "The Man Trap" Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock both wear Hero P2s on their gold pistol belts in the same scene. Mr. Spock wears the same P2-P1 combination he wore in episode 5, "The Enemy Within" and Captain Kirk wears the future "Riley/Lenore" P2 with the future GJ P1! (When Mr. Scott wears the future "Riley/Lenore" P2 on his gold pistol belt in episode 7, "The Naked Time" - the GJ Hero P1 was also used. However when Mr. Scot cuts the Engineering room bulk head he held a different Hero P2 than the future "Riley/Lenore" P2 he wore.)
And there is a reason why I have drawn the GJ and TMOST P1s with the same cross-section shape. Just as I drew the Hero P1s on the "Unknown" P2 and the "Riley/Lenore" P2 with the same cross-section shape. There were two sets of Hero P1s. Each set contained one Hero P1 with Velcro on the left side and one Hero P1 without Velcro on the left side. The Hero P1s in each set were made to be interchangeable.
For example if the "Riley/Lenore" had to be worn on a gold pistol belt - no problem its Hero P1 had Velcro. You see this very P2 - P1 combination on Captain Kirk's gold pistol belt in episode 6, "The Man Trap". And then when Mr. Riley holds this same P2 in episode 13, "Conscience Of The King" - the left side of the Hero P1 was filmed - thus either the "TMOST" P1 or the "Nona" P1 could have been used. The Hero P1 in the "Riley/Lenore" P2 looks like the Hero P1 that was in the "Finney" P2 that was fired by Latimer and Guytano in episode 14, "The Galileo Seven" and of course the famous close up shot of the Finney P2-TMOST P1 in "Court-Martial".
It all began when Walter M. Jefferies (the future Art Director for Star Trek) was given the assignment to create a new hand held energy weapon that did not look like every other "ray gun" that went before. The first Star Trek "pilot" had "laser" pistols that looked like a western "six shooter".
HISTORY
I. Matt produced two working drawings for the Desilu Prop Department. One covered the "hand phaser" or "Phaser Unit 1" (P1) and the other covered the "Phaser Unit 2" (P2) and the "Phaser Unit 3" (the power pack grip/handle).
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 2 (P2) drawing:
Source of this drawing: Live Auction Group
The first working Hero P2s the Desilu Prop Department (DPD) made are very close to this drawing. In fact one member of the TPZ overlaid a photo of the Greg Jein (GJ) P2 (as it appears now) on a version of this drawing and the photo and drawing lined up almost exactly.
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1 (P1) drawing:
Source of this drawing: Live Auction Group
The DPD did not make the first working Hero P1s exactly to this drawing. For example the rising sight opens in the opposite direction and the sight screen and the "push buttons" and the "snap lock" recess were not illuminated.
These drawing are the foundation of any Star Trek TOS Phaser study.
- - For those of you who cannot visualize what a 3-D object looks like - here are some photo mosaic drawings of what the P2 and P1 would have looked like if the Desilu Props Department (DPD) had made the props exactly to Matt's drawings (Note - the "forward facing louvers" are not
shown on either P1 side view):
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 2, side view (in Wah Ming Chang colors):
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the left side view of Matt's P2 would have looked like based on the "Phaser Unit #2" drawing. (Qi Press is my company)
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 2, front view:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the front view of Matt's P2 would have looked like based on the "Phaser Unit #2" drawing by Matt Jefferies.
Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, side view and top view, with sight screen fully open:
Note: Drawing error: The power push buttons are too far back - the second push button should be closer to the sight
slider control switch in the top view.
Matt incorporated several things in his original design (drawing) that were not produced by the Desilu props department (DPD):
Phaser Unit # 1:
· P1 safety – the trigger button was not operational until the sight was up
· P1 sight screen illuminated when in the [fully] open [up] position
· The power push buttons on the P1 were illuminated
· Clear sight opening on P1 (the rectangle above the nozzle in the front)
· Sight screen was rotated by rack and pinion to slider control (switch)
See Drawings: 2.1 and 2.4.
· Sight screen rotates 195 degrees to full open or full closed*
· A magnet inset into the bottom of the P1 for mounting it on a belt (the
DPD glued a piece of Velcro to the bottom half of the P1 instead.)
* Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, right side view, xray-drawing, showing initial sight screen opening process:
The sight screen was designed to move down and then revolve 195 degrees to full open. The DPD sight screen moved up.
Matt incorporated several things in his original design (drawing) that were not produced by the Desilu props department (DPD):
Phaser Unit # 2:
· Probe (emitter) on P2 would extend or retract by rotating the “range
adjustment” ring on the nozzle
· P2 Trigger unlocked when power pack (Unit #3) is rotated into position
(1/2 turn, 90 degrees) - - see my drawing reproduction on cover
· Recess on rear bottom of P2 body to receive spring lock of Unit #4 (Note: this recess was not found on the Greg Jein (GJ) P2. So the logical assumption is - this original phaser rifle ala Man From Uncle feature was not incorporated. I believe there is a thread on therpf that shows what the P2 would have looked like if the take down rifle had been built. - - I will look for the link.)
II. The second basis for studying TOS Hero Phasers is the Desilu "production memo" that "feek61" researched and compiled. The Desilu production memo entitled: "Inventory", dated 14July1966, provided by "feek61" reflects:
PHASER GUNS
4 Practical Guns - - includes #1 & #2 – Power Packs
4 Practical Power Packs (extra)
4 Power Packs to make Phaser #3
6 Wood Dummy Power Packs
5 Rubber Guns Complete #1 & #2 – Power Pack
4 #1 Guns
"PLASTIC GUNS"
10 Complete Dummy Guns #1 & #2 - Power Packs
9 #1 Dummy Guns
4 #2 Dummy Guns
4 Guns-includes #1 & #2 -- without Power Packs
===========================================
There is no doubt that 4 "practical" (or "working" or Hero) phaser unit 2s were built (P2s and P1s) in 1966.
THANK YOU FEEK61 !
III. The black and white (B&W) "practical" ("working" or "hero") Phaser Unit # 2 (P2).
The four B&W Hero P2s were filmed in episodes: 5, 6, 7 and 8. (Note: I use the production episode numbers - not the air date episode numbers or the "remastered" episode numbers.) I also nick named each B&W P2 to help me track them not only through the first 4 key first season episodes - but also after Wah Ming Chang "reworked" them into the iconic phaser pistols that every "baby boomer" recognizes.
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Kirk P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Captain Kirk fires (at Dr. Crater) in episode 6, "The Man Trap".
Captain Kirk holds this B&W P2 with sight closed in episode 5, "The Enemy Within" (standing by Spock in Engineering - while searching for the "evil Kirk".
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Spock P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Spock holds in both episode 5, "The Enemy Within" and
episode 6, "The Man Trap".
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Sulu P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Sulu holds and fires in episode 5, "The Enemy Within" (he
uses this P2 to heat the rocks).
The following B&W "practical" P2 is the Scot P2:
Drawing Source: I drew this representation of what the right side view of the B&W Hero P2 that Kirk wears on his gold pistol belt in episode 6, "The Man Trap"
(I think he initially wore the Sulu P2 until it fell off of his belt.) And Scotty wears this B&W Hero P2 on his gold pistol belt in episode 7, "The Naked Time".
Drawing notes: (1) The rounded push buttons instead of the flat top push buttons Matt's drawings specified.
(2) The control knob on the rear deck is taller than was specified in Matt's P2 drawing.
(3) The power pack grip was longer than the grip specified in Matt's P2 drawing.
(4) The power pack grip cross section was not exactly the same as the cross-section in the drawing.
(5) The power pack grip was not as wide.
The Spock P2 was in episodes: 5, 6 and 7. (The Enemy Within, The Man Trap and The Naked Time.)
The Kirk P2 was in episodes: 5 and 6 (The Enemy Within and The Man Trap)
The Sulu P2 was in episodes: 5 and 8 (The Enemy Within and Charlie X) - - I think the forehead on this P2 was broken in episode 6 (The Man Trap)
The Scot P2 was in episodes: 6 and 7 (The Man Trap and The Naked Time.) - - This B&W Hero P2 was worn on Kirk's gold pistol belt and then Scotty
wore it on his gold pistol belt while trying to figure out where to cut the Engineering room bulkhead.
The following drawing represents the B&W "practical" Spock P1:
Note: How the power push buttons were rounded and the sight screen slider switch control was implemented as a thumb wheel.
You can clearly see the rounded push buttons on the B&W P1 in the Kirk P2 in the Engineering scene of episode 5, The Enemy Within. And note how the shell cover is only on the bottom of the P1. Compare this drawing to the Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, side view and top view drawing.
- - B&W drawing notes - I originally had problems with loss of definition when I made the P2 and P1 bodies black. The complex curves and corners were being lost. So as in the previous case I set the drawing to a lighter shade of gray. Matt Jefferies's Phaser Unit # 1, side view and top view drawing in the previous section is more correct. It was a photo mosaic rather than a "rendering".
The following Kirk P2 drawing is an example of the black body problem:
This drawing reflects one of the main reasons Gene Roddenberry did not like the B&W Hero P2s - the all black body causes a loss of detail.
I found no evidence in TMOST or in Herb Solow's books that Gene ever sent a memo regarding the color of the "phaser gun" to Matt during
the design stage. My guess - Matt or the DED team chose black - because black the color of miltary firearms in the 1960s.
The following photo mosaic represents the B&W Practical P1 - the future Greg Jein P1:
This closeup is from my B&W P1 rendering sheet for (what I labeled the Scot P1) the future Greg Jein P1. Note: It has Velcro on the left side and no jewel between the thumb wheel and force indicator "half moon". Also not how the thumb wheel and half moon are in line with sight hood cut-out.
IV. Wah Ming Chang (WMC) "reworked" the 4 black and white (B&W) "practical" ("working" or "hero") Phaser Unit # 2s (P2s). (Reference Desilu Invoice # 43977)
The following changes were made by Mr. Chang to the four B&W Hero P2s:
(1) Hand Phaser (“Phaser Unit # 1” or P1):
· The body of the P1 was painted dark grey
· Aluminum rails were added to both sides of two of the Hero hand phasers. The Hero P1s with Velcro on the left side had an aluminum rail
added to the right side only and WMC painted a silver/white line on the Velcro on the left side to match the width and length of the rail.
· Diamond textured silver foil was added to the top of the sight cover
· A watch crown with a colored jewel was added to the top of two of the Hero hand phasers (P1s) between the sight control thumb wheel and the two force indicator windows. Two P1s apparently only received a jewel. (2 blue and 2 red)
· The two force indicator windows were replaced with a single curved window (now called the “half-moon”):
(2) Pistol phaser body (“Phaser Unit 2” or P2):
· The body of the P2 was painted a light cool (blue) gray
· Aluminum fins went over the molded fins on the rear of the P2 body
· The rear control knob (aluminum bar) was changed to a “ten turn” knob,
(3) Pistol phaser power pack grip (Phaser Unit 3 or P3):
· The white power pack grip (handle) was replaced with the special power pack
grips with the base plate with Valise plug prong cut-outs for P4 assembly.
The following photo mosaic represents the B&W Hero Kirk P2 after WMC "reworked" the prop into the "Unknown" P2:
This reworked B&W Hero P2 (the "Unknown" P2) was held by a security guard in a deleted scene from episode 15, "Court-Martial". Captain Kirk is holding the Scot P2 (aka the "Riley/Lenore" P2) when Finney jabs the Spock P2 (aka the "Finney" P2) into the Captain's back in Engineering.
The following photo mosaic represents the B&W Hero Scot P1 after WMC "reworked" the prop into the "Greg Jein" P1:
Note: The alignment of the thumb wheel and force indicator with the sight screen cutout and the lack of a jewel and watch crown.
V. AutoCad drawings of the "Practical" P2 and P1 ("reworked" by Wah Ming Chang) were made by Nelson Au in 2007.
Nelson presented his work on the TPZ as "sunking69". In my opinion the lines and curves of the drawings he posted in July 2007 were "spot on". Other members at the time disagreed and gave him their preferences. His dimensions were based on the JLong P1 Kit. Fortunately robn1 was able to provide the correct dimensions - see his corrected drawing below.
The following AutoCad drawings were posted by "sunking69" on or around 10July 2007:
P2 layout:
P1 layout:
P2 sections:
P2 detail:
And the reason I preferred his original P1 drawing was because Nelson's P1 top view looks like the TMOST P1 top view :
The following drawing with corrected dimensions, added by robn1, was posted 08Aug2022 (see robn1's reply):
As you can see the length of the P2 saddle is 3.614 inches in robn1's corrected drawing compared to 3.72 inches in Nelson's 10July2007 drawing.
This difference in the length of the P2 saddle means the length of the P1 shown in Nelson's P1 drawing is also incorrect.
VI. The following Season One "black and white" (B&W) "Practical" / "working" / "Hero" - Phaser Unit # 2 (P2) trace table helped me (after going back to the key Season One episodes: 5, 6, 7 and 8) see which B&W Hero became which WMC Hero:
Summary Season One P2 trace table:
(1) The Sulu P2 was damaged in Episode 6, “The Man Trap”. It was reassembled and used in episode 8, “Charlie X” and was not seen again. (In episode 15, "Court-Martial" (Captain Kirk holds the Scot P2 when Finney jabs him in the back with the Spock P2.)
(2) The Spock P2 = “Finney P2” (scene from “Court-Martial” and the Hero P1 in this close up was the B&W Hero Spock P1 or “TMOST” P1 after WMC.) The Spock P2 was last seen in episode 46, "The Gamesters of Triskelion". I believe the End credit shot in episode 72, "The Mark of Gideon" was taken the same time the close up shot was filmed in "The Gamesters of Triskelion". You can see the watch crown on the TMOST P1 in the left side view shot used for the end credits of "The Mark of Gideon".
(3) The Kirk P2 = “Unknown P2” (from deleted scene from “Court-Martial” and the “reworked” B&W Hero P1 in this deleted scene was the Kirk P1 or the "Nona" P1.) Captain Kirk carries the “reworked” Scot P2 aka the "Riley/Lenore" P2 into engineering when he was searching for Finney. The P2 that Finney holds against Captain Kirk’s back, for the famous close up shot, is the “reworked” Spock P2 aka the “Finney”. A security guard held the reworked Kirk P2 ("Unknown") in a deleted scene from this episode.
(4) Two B&W Hero P1s (Sulu P1 and Scot P1) had Velcro on the left side and two B&W Hero P1s did not (Spock P1 and Kirk P1). The Sulu and Spock B&W Hero P1s were approximately the same shape and size. The Kirk and Scot B&W Hero P1s were approximately the same shape and size.
The following photo mosaic drawing reflects the nozzle emitter length and nozzle center line location “tell” and forehead slope “tell”:
The top P2 nozzle is the Finney P2 and the bottom P2 nozzle is the GJ.
NOTE Drawing Error: The bottom emitter appears to be cylindrical - however it is conical also the nozzle on the GJ is even lower than shown. See the front view drawing of the 4 "practical phaser guns" (Hero P2s) below for a more accurate representation of the GJ nozzle location.
Nelson's P2 Detail Drawing (upper right) above reflects the forehead slope tells.
The following B&W Hero P2 drawing shows the rear fin tells:
And if you cannot see the "tells" I put yellow lines on the same drawing:
These rear fin differences were seen in the Wah Ming Chang "reworked" P2s: the "Finney" (Spock P2) and the "Unknown" (Kirk P2).
The following drawing contains front views of the 4 "Practical Phaser Guns" (Hero P2s):
Greg Jein Finney Unknown Riley
Front views of the 4 Practical Phaser Guns made by the Desilu Studios Effects Department and "reworked" by Wah Ming Chang.
In the above drawing you can see how low the GJ P2 nozzle is positioned on the P2 fiberglass body. This drawing also shows how closely the cross-section of the "Nona" P1matches the Scot P1 (Hero P1 with Velcro currently on the GJ) made by the Desilu Effects Department before 14July1966 (the date of the Desilu Studios production memo).
Note: I now believe based on the photographic evidence of the Hero B&W P2s filmed in the first 8 episodes of Season One, that two of the four Hero P1s had Velcro glued to the left side. In episode 6, "The Man Trap" Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock both wear Hero P2s on their gold pistol belts in the same scene. Mr. Spock wears the same P2-P1 combination he wore in episode 5, "The Enemy Within" and Captain Kirk wears the future "Riley/Lenore" P2 with the future GJ P1! (When Mr. Scott wears the future "Riley/Lenore" P2 on his gold pistol belt in episode 7, "The Naked Time" - the GJ Hero P1 was also used. However when Mr. Scot cuts the Engineering room bulk head he held a different Hero P2 than the future "Riley/Lenore" P2 he wore.)
And there is a reason why I have drawn the GJ and TMOST P1s with the same cross-section shape. Just as I drew the Hero P1s on the "Unknown" P2 and the "Riley/Lenore" P2 with the same cross-section shape. There were two sets of Hero P1s. Each set contained one Hero P1 with Velcro on the left side and one Hero P1 without Velcro on the left side. The Hero P1s in each set were made to be interchangeable.
For example if the "Riley/Lenore" had to be worn on a gold pistol belt - no problem its Hero P1 had Velcro. You see this very P2 - P1 combination on Captain Kirk's gold pistol belt in episode 6, "The Man Trap". And then when Mr. Riley holds this same P2 in episode 13, "Conscience Of The King" - the left side of the Hero P1 was filmed - thus either the "TMOST" P1 or the "Nona" P1 could have been used. The Hero P1 in the "Riley/Lenore" P2 looks like the Hero P1 that was in the "Finney" P2 that was fired by Latimer and Guytano in episode 14, "The Galileo Seven" and of course the famous close up shot of the Finney P2-TMOST P1 in "Court-Martial".
Attachments
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Matts sight screen opening.png -
Matts P2 front view.png -
Kirk P2 reworked to Unknown P2.png -
Matts P2 - front view.png -
KirK P2 final.png -
Scot P2.png -
B&W Hero P2 - rear body comparisons 1.png -
B&W Hero P2 - rear body comparisons 2enh.png -
The 4 Practical Phaser Guns with the 4 Practical P1s-C-4.png -
Scot P1-1_7z-(C).png -
GJ - front view - - FN - front view.png -
Hero P2 front views C.png -
B&W Scot (GJ) P1.png -
B&W Scot (GJ) P1- -C.png
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