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

[Gregatron]

Looks like a good project for masking tape...

Speaking of which, I’ve been very thorough in that I replicated both an accurate and an idealized version of the black faceplate.

As noted, the faceplate was clearly molded into the body and then masked off and painted black. Which means that they certainly used straight-edge tape on the sides to mask it, and that the left and right sides of the faceplate therefore didn’t actually follow the curvature of the face of the comm body.

So, I replicated both a straight-edge version, and an idealized version that follows the curvature of the body. That being said, the difference between straight-edge (left) and curved edge (right) is so negligible—especially at this scale—that I’ll just go with the idealized version. And I’ll also do it as a separate piece, for ease of painting.

Also, based on my measurements and modeling, it’s become very obvious to me that most replicas of the comms are WAY too thick. While trimming of the resin and vacuformed bodies definitely varied, they comms are by and large very thin.

The replica I just re-decaled has a minimum thickness of around 10mm on the lower/thin half of the body. The 3D model I’ve recently built has a minimum thickness of around 6mm—nearly a 40% difference.


And, apparently due to molding and trimming variations, some of the screenused comms have sharper edges, and some very soft/blunt edges. My model has the crisp, sharper edges.


I’ve also noticed what appear to be variations in the width of the wristbands from comm to comm. Some appear rather wide—akin to the 1” bands on my own builds, and others thin (maybe 3/4”, or even slimmer).


I’m also wondering how hard it would be to actually replicate the Super Hero’s electronics and fit it into the comm body.

 

[Gregatron]

Started work on the Super Hero, with the extra lens pieces. For a theoretical electronics build, the body will have to be separated into two halves, and the lenses designed to mount from inside.

 

[Gregatron]

Shifted gears to decals. I went back to my old Railroad Gothic hero text markings (left) and created the specific text from the Dummy Hero (right).

It should also be noted that the round and rectangular lenses on the Dummy Hero appear to be decals, rather than actual physical details cut into the body of the comm, as on the Super Hero.

I also added a few extra letters and numbers from the known auctioned and onscreen models, in both white and in black (the latter for Alps printing in white).

 

[Gregatron]

A few more tweaks, along with modeling the brass brads/buttons from my previous builds in order to properly align them with the new model. That way, the holes for inserting them will already be on the model when printed, and will be the proper depth, diameter, and angles.

The next step will be to replicate the different button spacing of the Dummy Heroes.

 

[Gregatron]

And here we have the Super Hero (left) and the Dummy Hero (right). The dummy hero has the different spacing for the buttons, and the lenses are flat markings instead of physical features.

 

[Gregatron]

Working on simulating the wristband. It appears that, at least on the heroes and the resin dummies, the metal bands were quite possibly cast into the resin. As opposed to the comm bodies being laid atop the bands and glued on. They actually appear embedded in the comm bodies.

Whereas the vacuformed dummies were either glued or even riveted to plastic cuffs.

Anyway, I need to approximate the band size and shape so as to cut the appropriate slot into the rear of the comm body. That way, the actual metal band can be glued inside the resulting trench and blended in, which is the same technique I used on my prior builds. I took some measurements from those prior builds to generate a quick and dirty model of an oblong (not round) wristband.

Based on careful examination, I now think that the bulk of the screenused bands were 3/4” wide, and about 0.50mm thick, as opposed to the 1” wide and 1.0mm thick bands I’d previously used.

As it happens, I may have a bead on a vendor who offers bands in variety of sizes, including what I’m looking for. We’ll see how it goes.

 

[Borg69]

I always thought they looked like those boxes $20 watches came in from Walmart type department stores.

 

[Gregatron]

I always thought they looked like those boxes $20 watches came in from Walmart type department stores.
View attachment 1865589View attachment 1865590

Only Brick Price and his team know for sure.

They may well have modified and molded something like that as the basis for the prop, a la Wah Chang creating the TOS communicator shell buck out of a pencil box.

 

[Gregatron]

Cut the wristband slots into the comm bodies, based on a 3/4” wide, 0.50mm thick band (with a little extra width and depth for wiggle room).

 

[pengbuzz]

Cut the wristband slots into the comm bodies, based on a 3/4” wide, 0.50mm thick band (with a little extra width and depth for wiggle room).

View attachment 1865629

Nice!!!

Meantime, I got to scratching up my own from the "usual" materials:

Finished it this afternoon; I'm afraid I took some "liberties" with it though...

 

[Gregatron]

Nice!!!

Meantime, I got to scratching up my own from the "usual" materials:
View attachment 1865676 View attachment 1865677

Finished it this afternoon; I'm afraid I took some "liberties" with it though...

View attachment 1865678

Excellent! As precise and amazing as 3D modeling is, there’s nothing like hand-carving/sculpting something the old-fashioned way.



Meanwhile, I’ve been working on the decals for the Super Hero and Dummy Hero.

It can get weird and abstract with this sort of thing. The round and rectangular lenses on the Dummy hero appear to be decals (or perhaps tape, given that they seem to be glossy). Making decals to represent a detail I’ve already physically modeled is kinda weird, I know.

 

[pengbuzz]

Excellent! As precise and amazing as 3D modeling is, there’s nothing like hand-carving/sculpting something the old-fashioned way.



Meanwhile, I’ve been working on the decals for the Super Hero and Dummy Hero.

It can get weird and abstract with this sort of thing. The round and rectangular lenses on the Dummy hero appear to be decals (or perhaps tape, given that they seem to be glossy). Making decals to represent a detail I’ve already physically modeled is kinda weird, I know.

View attachment 1865778

Nice work on the signage!
BTW: on my version, did you catch the two "in-jokes"?

 

[Gregatron]

Nice work on the signage!
BTW: on my version, did you catch the two "in-jokes"?

Yep! I’m honored.

 

[Gregatron]

I decided to compare the existing model from two years ago (used to make the replicas already seen in this thread) with the current iteration. While I had some measurements and photos to use as reference, at the time, the accuracy alterations I could make to the online model I’d purchased were limited.

The new, built-from-scratch model blows it away in terms of accuracy, size, proportions, and shape. Longer, thinner, and sleeker. I’m still studying the reference images to determine the degree of filleting on the edges of the comm body. The current look is crisp and boxy, while the old model is a little rounder and softer. In terms of the screenused props, the vacuformed dummies have rather soft edges, but the resin dummies and the heroes look sharper.

Also note that the thicker/deeper and repositioned panel lines will make them much easier to paint, and also allow for an accurately-sized faceplate and round lenses.

 

[Gregatron]

Created a peg system (with two different sizes) to ensure that the faceplate attaches and aligns correctly, and not accidentally upside-down.

 

[Benjo]

Great work, very interesting thread.
I'm learning a lot about the communicator props and it even leads me to deductions about how the hero TMP phasers were dressed.
I hope to see more about the full landing party set.

 

[Gregatron]

Thanks!

I'm now working on hollowing out the Super Hero model to create a removable top half and accommodate electronics.

Electronics aren't my specialty, but I think this project kinda demands that I take it all the way and do proper hero versions of the landing party trinity.

In this case, all it requires is a small flasher circuit with five mini-LEDs, a la the Nichols NASA video. More research is required.

 

[pengbuzz]

Thanks!

I'm now working on hollowing out the Super Hero model to create a removable top half and accommodate electronics.

Electronics aren't my specialty, but I think this project kinda demands that I take it all the way and do proper hero versions of the landing party trinity.

In this case, all it requires is a small flasher circuit with five mini-LEDs, a la the Nichols NASA video. More research is required.

Looking forward to seeing that!!

Meanwhile, thinking about making my own TMP tricorder. Yeah: mix and match with WOK phaser and TMP communicator, but I HATE the WOK "communicator".

 

[Benjo]

I'm sure most of you, TMP props fellows, have already read "return to tomorrow: the filming of Star Trek: the motion picture" but just in case, there are interesting informations by Mr Price himself about TMP props.
Differences between models are justified as details have to look differents depending on how close the prop has to be shown on screen.
There's something about the wrist band on the communicator and why they choosed to not use elastic band. I don't really remember if they mention what was exactly used but it is said Nimoy complained about it for being painfull to wear.

 

[Gregatron]

I'm sure most of you, TMP props fellows, have already read "return to tomorrow: the filming of Star Trek: the motion picture" but just in case, there are interesting informations by Mr Price himself about TMP props.
Differences between models are justified as details have to look differents depending on how close the prop has to be shown on screen.
There's something about the wrist band on the communicator and why they choosed to not use elastic band. I don't really remember if they mention what was exactly used but it is said Nimoy complained about it for being painfull to wear.

It’s an amazing book. I’ll have to give it another look for the relevant quotes.

And it’s also great that Brick Price and his team finally got a screen credit in the 2022 Director’s Edition.