STAR TREK- TMP wrist communicators (...and now with more TMP goodies!)

[Gregatron]

After deciding to scratch an itch to have a replica of the STAR TREK- THE MOTION PICTURE wrist communicator, I downloaded the digital model offered online by CosplayItemsRock (although, in retrospect, I could have just modeled my own), and then went about modifying it for accuracy, to scale it down to an accurate size, and to ditch the included wristband.

I created a “blank” variant (for the dummy versions seen most often in the film) and a “hero” variant (based on the more detailed non-working and electronic versions which appear to have gone unused onscreen, with the two circular indicators and rectangular slot modeled as separate drop-in pieces to be painted black and glued in) . After having the parts 3D-printed, I JB-Welded them to 1” aluminum blank wristbands that I acquired from an online vendor, which I then bent into more of an oblong shape, and also to fit my own wrist.

Custom decals were made for the hero’s text and the dummy’s markings, and small brass brads were used for the hero control studs. I eliminated the top plate from the 3D models in favor of using chrome tape, just like the originals. 3/4” brown felt was added in as lining for the wristbands, based on auction photos of surviving original props.

 

[R5D4]

I would definitely be interested in purchasing either version!

 

[Gregatron]

I would definitely be interested in purchasing either version!

I appreciate the compliment, but I’m not keen on the idea of infringing on any copyrights for profit. Just in making stuff for my own personal use.

That being said, CosplayItemsRock’s model is widely available, and is perfectly suitable in its original form. You could ether download and tweak the model, or just sand off any printed details you wish to replace.

 

[Apollo]

Great job looks like the ones on Set!

 

[Seanpnichols]

Those look great! I'm about to start building one myself finally. What size brass nailheads did you use?

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

After deciding to scratch an itch to have a replica of the STAR TREK- THE MOTION PICTURE wrist communicator, I downloaded the digital model offered online by CosplayItemsRock (although, in retrospect, I could have just modeled my own), and then went about modifying it for accuracy, to scale it down to an accurate size, and to ditch the included wristband.

I created a “blank” variant (for the dummy versions seen most often in the film) and a “hero” variant (based on the more detailed non-working and electronic versions which appear to have gone unused onscreen, with the two circular indicators and rectangular slot modeled as separate drop-in pieces to be painted black and glued in) . After having the parts 3D-printed, I JB-Welded them to 1” aluminum blank wristbands that I acquired from an online vendor, which I then bent into more of an oblong shape, and also to fit my own wrist.

Custom decals were made for the hero’s text and the dummy’s markings, and small brass brads were used for the hero control studs. I eliminated the top plate from the 3D models in favor of using chrome tape, just like the originals. 3/4” brown felt was added in as lining for the wristbands, based on auction photos of surviving original props.


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Those look great! Can you share where you got the aluminum wrist cuff?

 

[Gregatron]

Those look great! Can you share where you got the aluminum wrist cuff?

An online vendor who produces cheap aluminum wrist cuff blanks (flat or rolled) in various widths. I'll have to check my records.

Meanwhile...

 

[Apollo]

Belly warmers and Trics!

 

[Gregatron]

Belly warmers and Trics!

...and Bingo was his name-o.

As can be seen in the images above, the Perscan buckle has already been modeled, printed, and painted. Just working on finalizing a custom decal order for the markings, and I already have the metallic trim tape ready to go.


Meanwhile, the tricorders are a much more complex job. Still in the modeling stage. A few details still need to be worked out. I'm working on two versions: the Spock hero (static), and a version of the working hero (with folding head and opening data chip door). I haven't locked anything down, yet, so we'll see. I've been taking a breather for the past few months to recharge my batteries, and will soon come back to tackle things from a fresh perspective.

Still working on pinning down the various fonts for the head markings (specifically, the "1L", "2R", etc.). The HMS kit standardized all of the text in Eurostile, but the original props had a mix of different fonts. Most of the other markings have been recreated as vector graphics. Just need to find a vendor to print them. I'm also still trying to pin down specific details of the Spock hero.

In point of fact, due to the very generous efforts of an RPF member who owns resin casts of original parts, and provided detailed images and measurements, this should be an extremely accurate representation of the TMP tricorder. Perhaps second only to the HMS version.


Anyone with useful images or information on the original props is welcome to chime in. Although I think I've learned quite a bit about them during my extensive research.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

An online vendor who produces cheap aluminum wrist cuff blanks (flat or rolled) in various widths. I'll have to check my records.

Meanwhile...

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Looks great!

The only advice I will give is related to the Tricorder scanning head. This area is actually a decal—a cut-down decal from the Stunt TMP Phaser control pad graphics.

 

[Gregatron]

Looks great!

The only advice I will give is related to the Tricorder scanning head. This area is actually a decal—a cut-down decal from the Stunt TMP Phaser control pad graphics.

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Yes, I'm certainly well aware of that! I just modeled the decal (as well as some of the others) to help work out certain body measurements and details, and to make sure everything looks right when put together. Those decal details will not be part of the final model.

Thanks for paying attention, though! Any other constructive criticism is appreciated.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Yes, I'm certainly well aware of that! I just modeled the decal (as well as some of the others) to help work out certain body measurements and details, and to make sure everything looks right when put together. Those decal details will not be part of the final model.

Thanks for paying attention, though! Any other constructive criticism is appreciated.

Copy that.

Thinking about the hero vs. the non-folding version…I wasn’t altogether sure if the hero version actually had the phaser decal as the scanning head, as well. Here’s a photo of the folding hero prop, without the folding control panel attached, unfortunately.

Greg Jein evidently had a vacuform dummy with a scanning head that was very unique.

 

[Gregatron]

Copy that.

Thinking about the hero vs. the non-folding version…I wasn’t altogether sure if the hero version actually had the phaser decal as the scanning head, as well. Here’s a photo of the folding hero prop, without the folding control panel attached, unfortunately.


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Greg Jein evidently had a vacuform dummy with a scanning head that was very unique.

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View attachment 1609867

Yes, I’m familiar with these images. Those first few are actually of a closed-head dummy, not a hero.

From what I can tell, the working hero with the folding head had scanner trench detailing similar to that seen in the blueprints, as well as different decals on the top of the head. And some of the dummy models also feature similar trench detailing.

The working hero also cheated the folding head by having the folding section vertically shorter than the main body (and the bottom edge therefore not on the same plane), so that it would look reasonably flush with the main section of the head when closed. The open- and closed-heroes and dummies featured the proper proportions, since they didn’t have to fold.

My mock-up of the working model as seen in the film. My own model (seen upthread) is a compromise version which looks proportionally better than what was actually used.

I’ve pinned down three distinct (non-working) hero props: Spock, Decker, and McCoy. Each has unique details, and it appears that the McCoy hero was the one photographed for reference, given the black decals on the sides of the body, which do not appear on the other two hero props. There are varying details on all three props, most notably in regards to the scanner trench details, and how the heads were trimmed and attached to the bodies.

Spock:

Decker:

McCoy:

Also, outside of the HMS replicas, there seems to be almost no info on the data chips. But I have included a chip rack which stores them in the door vertically (as in the film), rather than horizontally (as in the HMS version).

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Yes, I’m familiar with these images. Those first few are actually of a closed-head dummy, not a hero.

From what I can tell, the working hero with the folding head had scanner trench detailing similar to that seen in the blueprints, as well as different decals on the top of the head. And some of the dummy models also feature similar trench detailing.

View attachment 1609888

View attachment 1609894


The working hero also cheated the folding head by having the folding section vertically shorter than the main body (and the bottom edge therefore not on the same plane), so that it would look reasonably flush with the main section of the head when closed. The open- and closed-heroes and dummies featured the proper proportions, since they didn’t have to fold.

View attachment 1609890


My mock-up of the working model as seen in the film. My own model (seen upthread) is a compromise version which looks proportionally better than what was actually used.

View attachment 1609891


I’ve pinned down three distinct (non-working) hero props: Spock, Decker, and McCoy. Each has unique details, and it appears that the McCoy hero was the one photographed for reference, given the black decals on the sides of the body, which do not appear on the other two hero props. There are varying details on all three props, most notably in regards to the scanner trench details, and how the heads were trimmed and attached to the bodies.

Spock:

View attachment 1609895



Decker:

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McCoy:

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View attachment 1609889




Also, outside of the HMS replicas, there seems to be almost no info on the data chips. But I have included a chip rack which stores them in the door vertically (as in the film), rather than horizontally (as in the HMS version).

Outstanding research!

Looking forward to seeing your builds.

 

[Gregatron]

Well, hey, gee, on the very same day that I finally got a 4K TV and watched the Director’s Edition of TMP on 4K Blu-Ray (which looks nearly as good on the new TV as it did in the theater, a few months back), the custom-printed, metallic silver Perscan buckle decals that I designed also arrived in the mail.

And then there’s this highly-accurate 3D print of Admiral Kirk’s insignia pin, which arrived a few days ago. Just needs the proper finish/paint, and some butterfly-clasp pins.

 

[Gregatron]

Finally got a chance to apply the Perscan decals. They went on smooth as silk, and I just have to let them properly dry before sealing them in. Beforehand, I used my 3D model to measure out the distance between the pieces of metallic striping tape which form the grid on the face of the buckle, and cut a piece of masking tape to size, which served as a template for properly spacing the decals. This was necessary since I'd rather not just apply the tape, then the decals, then remove the tape to clearcoat the decals, then reapply the tape. I suppose I could have laid down the tape first, then the decals, then clearcoated the whole thing, but that's not how the originals appear to have been built.

Incidentally, there's a good amount of variance in how the decals and the tape were arranged and spaced on the screenused buckles. There are also variants in the decals themselves, with some of the rectangular decals including those little white squares with the arrows, and others leaving the squares open/clear, with the black of the buckle showing through. I had both styles printed up (as well as a third with no squares), just to have options. I ended up going with the white squares/arrows look, since that seems most common on the principal cast's buckles.

To place the decals, I went with reference photos of a few surviving costumes (including Kirk and Decker hero uniforms), as well as publicity photos and screencaps of the principal cast. There's really no one "correct" version, since the buckles were all handmade.

 

[Gregatron]

Perscan's nearly done. Just need to assemble the backside, with the elastic straps and spray foam filling.

Unlike the original costume pieces and their thin plastic backplates, I modeled and 3D-printed a more substantial/thicker backing piece, which gives the replica a bit of heft.

And, of course, the front shell is also 3D-printed, rather than being vacuformed. That aside, the construction technique is identical, with the metallic silver decals applied to the face, and the metallic strips of tape cut and applied just like the originals. I could have modeled a raised grid into the body of the buckle, or just masked and painted it on, but there's something neat about doing it as authentically as possible.

Looking at the finished shell, it really is a dead-ringer for the originals, and I'm very pleased.

 

[pengbuzz]

Really like the progress on the wristcom!! Looking forward to the perscan and tricorders!

 

[Gregatron]

Still a few gray areas to work out on the tricorders:


* Can’t find a font match to the “1L”, “1R”, etc. in order to create accurate decals. The HMS kit’s decals just did everything in Eurostile for consistency, rather than going for accuracy with the mismatched fonts of the original props.

Also, that little “d”(?) next to the “64” is a mystery, font-wise.

Beyond that, I’ve recreated all of the other markings (as well as variants between props) as vector graphics based on careful tracings and measurements from various sources.

* The data chips are also a mystery. They appear in exactly one shot in the film, and it’s hard to tell if they have any detail, are just solid-colored, or are transparent with colored edges. I suspect that the HMS kit’s chip designs were made up from scratch, and not based on any reference.

* Can’t determine if the brass buttons all over the number pad are a specific in-universe design detail or some kind of real-world necessity for working the prop’s electronics that’s not supposed to be on the “real” tricorder. The HMS kit omitted them.


* Still trying to work out the specific scanner trench details of the Spock hero.

 

[pengbuzz]

Still a few gray areas to work out on the tricorders:


* Can’t find a font match to the “1L”, “1R”, etc. in order to create accurate decals. The HMS kit’s decals just did everything in Eurostile for consistency, rather than going for accuracy with the mismatched fonts of the original props.

Also, that little “d”(?) next to the “64” is a mystery, font-wise.

Beyond that, I’ve recreated all of the other markings (as well as variants between props) as vector graphics based on careful tracings and measurements from various sources.

View attachment 1620127


* The data chips are also a mystery. They appear in exactly one shot in the film, and it’s hard to tell if they have any detail, are just solid-colored, or are transparent with colored edges. I suspect that the HMS kit’s chip designs were made up from scratch, and not based on any reference.

* Can’t determine if the brass buttons all over the number pad are a specific in-universe design detail or some kind of real-world necessity for working the prop’s electronics that’s not supposed to be on the “real” tricorder. The HMS kit omitted them.


* Still trying to work out the specific scanner trench details of the Spock hero.

Try the "Sense W01 Bold" font; that looks to be about the closest-

Sense W01 Bold 1.00 Fonts Free Download

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www.onlinewebfonts.com