Star Trek TOS Season 3 Tricorder

[Anakin Starkiller]

Hello everyone,
I wanted to show off a project that I just completed. It's a replica of a season 3 tricorder from the original Star Trek (the ones made from fiberglass by the Desilu crew).
I went for a warts and all approach with this one, trying to match the original as it appears today.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Anyone want to take a guess how I went about making it?

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

 

[Captain Dunsel]

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My friend, that is a BEAUTIFUL build!

Yes, tell me more about how this was created.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Thanks!

Off an on, it took me a couple years. But that’s on me for stopping and starting here and there.
The metal face and sides were designed by me in CAD and waterjet cut years ago back when big blue saw was having a sale. The cross bars, and bottom plate were scratch-built from off-the-shelf stock. The hood was a vacuumform test pull scrap from Deck5. The back is balsawood, obviously. Anyone want to guess how I made the “fiberglass” parts?

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Thanks!

Off an on, it took me a couple years. But that’s on me for stopping and starting here and there.
The metal face and sides were designed by me in CAD and waterjet cut years ago back when big blue saw was having a sale. The cross bars, and bottom plate were scratch-built from off-the-shelf stock. The hood was a vacuumform test pull scrap from Deck5. The back is balsawood, obviously. Anyone want to guess how I made the “fiberglass” parts?

The panels almost look like Kydex vacuform pulls but with the non-hair cell side being used as the side facing out.

That’s my guess.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

Actually. they started off life as a AA/DTS toy. I reshaped all the edges to match the original. Covered the whole thing in filler primer to reduce the texture, sanded everything down, and reshaped the triangles to match the original. Then I painted them with wrinkle paint, and weathered that with various levels of black spray paint and a clear coat. The textures on the original are a mess and lack any uniformity, so I felt a ramshackle approach would work OK.
On the inside of the doors, I added some old black denim, spilled paint, jb-weld and hot glue.
Oh, and I also carved out some of the damaged corners with a Dremel.

 

[chazzychaz]

Marvelous.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Actually. they started off life as a AA/DTS toy. I reshaped all the edges to match the original. Covered the whole thing in filler primer to reduce the texture, sanded everything down, and reshaped the triangles to match the original. Then I painted them with wrinkle paint, and weathered that with various levels of black spray paint and a clear coat. The textures on the original are a mess and lack any uniformity, so I felt a ramshackle approach would work OK.
On the inside of the doors, I added some old black denim, spilled paint, jb-weld and hot glue.
Oh, and I also carved out some of the damaged corners with a Dremel.

Outstanding work—very authentic looking!

 

[Lost in Trek]

Super nice! Love it. I'm a big fan of this version of the tric.

As an FYI, this version of the Tricorder ... The fiberglass, was used in all 3 seasons. The first episode used in was Arena.

The leatherette tricorders didn't show up until season 3.

 

[Apollo]

She is a beauty, you can tell a lot of love went into it!

 

[BrooklynGuy]

So great to see. Love any TOS prop builds. Never would have guessed it was based on an AA/DST. Thanks for sharing it

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

She is a beauty, you can tell a lot of love went into it!

Surprising how much work goes into making something look so beat up

 

[Reel Fakes]

Man after my own heart. Nicely done!

 

[Kelvington]

Very nicely done! You got it done sooner than the Wand Company got theirs done.