Great work! Here’s another version of this prop that I recently build from a 3D model you may have seen on Etsy and/or eBay.
It’s a bit of a mish-mash build story. I commissioned this design as a 3D model from “CosplayItemsRock” on RenderHub. The initial 3D render featured a main body with all the buttons and detail elements “molded” into the main body. I had it printed by Shapeways, with the main body printed in “Smoothest Fine Detail Plastic”, the wrist band printed in white “Premium Versatile Plastic” (as it’s highly flexible/bendable), and the top-plate printed in rhodium-plated brass (so it resembled the chrome tape used on the screen-used props).
But… unfortunately, I found that taping off and painting the silver details on the solid main body of that initial 3D print wasn’t working out. The main body details were too small to tape off effectively and I didn’t like the overall look. So, I set the entire project aside to work on others.
FAST-FORWARD a couple of months and I noticed that 3DHopShopProps on Etsy was offering a modified version of the same “CosplayItemsRock” design I had commissioned, but with the buttons and other detail parts printed separately from the main body. I purchased that 3DHopShopProps offering as a PLA-printed kit and utilized its main body (with its separate buttons/details) along the more flexible wrist band, rhodium-plated brass top-plate, and “No. 4” plate that I’d previously had printed via Shapeways.
I’m really happy with the finished result. I know the “buttons” on the screen-used versions were flat (i.e. decals or chrome tape) and the 3D printed version’s details are higher relief. Still, the higher-relief buttons/details seem right when viewed in context to the other TMP props.
Paints/Materials used:
Primer: Rustoleum Filler Primer (hi-build formulation)
Main body and wristband: Dupli-color “Wimbledon White” (w/ Tamiya TS-79 semi-gloss clear over top)
“No. 4” plate: Tamiya TS-26 “Pure White” covered by TS-14 “Gloss Black” (I then relief-sanded the “No. 4” and it’s bezel to reveal the white layer. I then sprayed with Tamiya TS-13 “Gloss Clear” and polished with automotive polish to achieve a high-gloss shine on the black.
Buttons: Tamiya TS-83 “Metallic Silver” over Tamiya gray super fine primer. The inserts of the dual-pane component were painted with TS-26 “Pure White”. I then added the (tiny) black triangles using the cut corners of black automotive pin-striping tape and then topped the inserts off with TS-79 semi-gloss clear.
I used an ultra fine (.7mm) Uni Posca black acrylic paint pen to draw in the panel line details around the two main body sections below the “No. 4” panel.
Finally, I applied color-matched adhesive-backed mohair velvet (purchased on Amazon) to the interior of the wristband.
All-in-all, a really fun and easy build. Really pleased to add this to my collection!
Now… I just need TMP Tricorder. Suggestions???
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or want more info on the build.