While I was visiting the collection archives, I snatched up this little beauty. This one of my all time favorite PADDs. It is a very rare, one-of-a-kind, Star Trek TNG opening PADD. The PADD actually opens up to show the internal service configuration. I have shared photos of this prop before, but never in such detail. Wanna hear the weirdest part... I am considering actually letting it go for the right price! Im not sure what that price is, and its not cheap, but I am actually open to it...
This PADD is unlike any PADD I have ever seen. Take a step back and forget the whole "opening" part for a second... There are absolutely no printed graphics, paper decals, or tape detailing on this PADD. All detailing is either laser etched on a metal plate, chemically chromed detail on a metal plate, or laser etched plastic. Hell, there isnt even any paint. The main body is formed out of a grey plastic, that is a pretty good match to the dove grey TNG PADDs.
This PADD is a standard 4x6 PADD, as commonly seen on Star Trek TNG. This might be one of the simplest designs, but its my favorite. Many of the later season PADDs incorporated more LCARS controls or intricate tape detailing, but this one it true to its roots.
The brown body detailing is actually laster cut pieces of plastic, routed, and countersunk into the body of the PADD. Even the buttons are raised chromed pieces of metal plate. The main display screen graphic shows an image of the Enterprise-D that is laser etched with a gold finish into the countersunk black metal screen with chromed green LCARS bars.
It was difficult to photograph the heat-sink, and these pictures don't do it justice. The heat sink is actually made of of little layers of plastic to give it that "fin" look that was on the original concept drawings. While most of the PADDs on the show just had a simple plain heat-sink between the layers, many of them did have a metallic detail tape run around the center. The only other place I have seen the "fin" heat-sink was on some of the old MK-03 concept PADDs. Its a subtle detail on this PADD, but one of my favorites.
The back of the PADD features a common SNDN, but this one is a piece of laser etched plastic that is countersunk into the PADD body.
If I didnt tell you that you could open up this PADD, you would never know! It is held securely together by two sets of magnets. In the close up photos below you can see the two circular magnets down the center on both the top and bottom halves. The magnets are very strong and hold this prop together well.
Here on the front plate alone, you can see the amazing amount of detail that went into this prop. I tried to show some of the dimension in these close up pictures. More than just lots of detail, you have raised button areas and recessed circuitry areas. The center detailing and Iso-Chip areas are etched metal plate, the backside of the buttons is raised etched plastic, and the back of the main screen shows the ODN network pattern on chromed metal plate.
The inside of the back plate is no less impressive! I really cant believe all the detail areas on this. I have probably had this one for over 10 years now, but I still remember the conversations with my buddy who build this about what a pain in the butt it was, and how he would never do one again.
One of the coolest things about this PADD is that you can go one step further and remove the Iso-Chip inside. The chip itself is a laser etched piece of clear plastic, and the label is a laser etched plastic piece. It sits in a recessed cradle inside of the PADD back. The base of the compartment is a chromed metal plate, and gives really neat layer look when the chip sits inside.
The button areas are recessed with laser etched metal plate, you can see the magnets clearly in the center of the back with some other chromed detailing, and I love the really detailed etched greeble on there too.
The back of the view screen is perhaps my favorite area on this PADD. I already really like the ODN pathway image, but this one is laser etched out of plastic. I tried to take a close up so you can see the dimension and textured effects of this area.
Yea, basically its just the coolest PADD ever!
Unfortunately it also shows a little damage from its long years. Some of the layers are starting to separate on the back plate. I think its partly due to simple age, and partly from pulling the PADD apart. The magnets are really strong, so now I carefully separate the halves from the top. Although, most of the time I just leave it open. Luckily its old age marks are subtle and dont at all take away from this prop.
This PADD is unlike any PADD I have ever seen. Take a step back and forget the whole "opening" part for a second... There are absolutely no printed graphics, paper decals, or tape detailing on this PADD. All detailing is either laser etched on a metal plate, chemically chromed detail on a metal plate, or laser etched plastic. Hell, there isnt even any paint. The main body is formed out of a grey plastic, that is a pretty good match to the dove grey TNG PADDs.
This PADD is a standard 4x6 PADD, as commonly seen on Star Trek TNG. This might be one of the simplest designs, but its my favorite. Many of the later season PADDs incorporated more LCARS controls or intricate tape detailing, but this one it true to its roots.
The brown body detailing is actually laster cut pieces of plastic, routed, and countersunk into the body of the PADD. Even the buttons are raised chromed pieces of metal plate. The main display screen graphic shows an image of the Enterprise-D that is laser etched with a gold finish into the countersunk black metal screen with chromed green LCARS bars.
It was difficult to photograph the heat-sink, and these pictures don't do it justice. The heat sink is actually made of of little layers of plastic to give it that "fin" look that was on the original concept drawings. While most of the PADDs on the show just had a simple plain heat-sink between the layers, many of them did have a metallic detail tape run around the center. The only other place I have seen the "fin" heat-sink was on some of the old MK-03 concept PADDs. Its a subtle detail on this PADD, but one of my favorites.
The back of the PADD features a common SNDN, but this one is a piece of laser etched plastic that is countersunk into the PADD body.
If I didnt tell you that you could open up this PADD, you would never know! It is held securely together by two sets of magnets. In the close up photos below you can see the two circular magnets down the center on both the top and bottom halves. The magnets are very strong and hold this prop together well.
Here on the front plate alone, you can see the amazing amount of detail that went into this prop. I tried to show some of the dimension in these close up pictures. More than just lots of detail, you have raised button areas and recessed circuitry areas. The center detailing and Iso-Chip areas are etched metal plate, the backside of the buttons is raised etched plastic, and the back of the main screen shows the ODN network pattern on chromed metal plate.
The inside of the back plate is no less impressive! I really cant believe all the detail areas on this. I have probably had this one for over 10 years now, but I still remember the conversations with my buddy who build this about what a pain in the butt it was, and how he would never do one again.
One of the coolest things about this PADD is that you can go one step further and remove the Iso-Chip inside. The chip itself is a laser etched piece of clear plastic, and the label is a laser etched plastic piece. It sits in a recessed cradle inside of the PADD back. The base of the compartment is a chromed metal plate, and gives really neat layer look when the chip sits inside.
The button areas are recessed with laser etched metal plate, you can see the magnets clearly in the center of the back with some other chromed detailing, and I love the really detailed etched greeble on there too.
The back of the view screen is perhaps my favorite area on this PADD. I already really like the ODN pathway image, but this one is laser etched out of plastic. I tried to take a close up so you can see the dimension and textured effects of this area.
Yea, basically its just the coolest PADD ever!
Unfortunately it also shows a little damage from its long years. Some of the layers are starting to separate on the back plate. I think its partly due to simple age, and partly from pulling the PADD apart. The magnets are really strong, so now I carefully separate the halves from the top. Although, most of the time I just leave it open. Luckily its old age marks are subtle and dont at all take away from this prop.
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:thumbsup
