TOS “Catspaw” transmuter wand

[Funky]

One of my favorite ST TOS episodes, Catspaw. With FE coming out with their “encapsulated Enterprise”, I’d like to replicate the transmuter wand. My main focus is on the glass ball head. I almost feel that if we can identify it (I think it was a found piece, I’m thinking a vintage doorknob?) if anyone has any ideas please chime in. I would love for us to make one…or many for our collections.

 

[Funky]

To get things started, I thought of this. This is for a ten pack. Though I feel it may be a bit undersized.

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[Jintosh]

If you're going to start with a clear crystal, you'll need semi-opaque spray and glitter (paint?)

Maybe there's a pearl paint that already has glitter?

 

[TheBeast]

My old man's memory suggests simple sphere, and all the screen caps appear to me to be the same.

Do you have clear images?

Definitely looks transparent/lucent, I would try one of the acrylic Xmas ornaments I have around here, maybe with the suggested spray.

Waiting with anticipation for your plans for the rest of the wand.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

To get things started, I thought of this. This is for a ten pack. Though I feel it may be a bit undersized.

Emtek 86012US15-10PACK Diamond 1-1/4 Inch Mushroom Cabinet Knob from the Glass Collection - 10 Pack | Build.com

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I’ve had a couple of replicas of the wand, in the past, and the geodesic bulb is a difficult one to match.

There has not yet been a replica produced that matches it.

The outside actually appears to be a somewhat smooth and oblong ball, with very faint facets, with a more faceted interior…if that makes sense?

I think that you may be on to something with the doorknob line of thinking…

 

[Jintosh]

Facets on the inside...so, kinda like a lighted Sankara stone.

 

[Jintosh]

That's a good screen shot. (whereas mine was someone's replica)

Do all screen shots show a GREEN color? I haven't seen this episode in decades.

Oh, google images shows CLEAR. Does it light up as green in the show? But clear otherwise?

 

[Funky]

Anyone want to take an educated guess as to the diameter of the topper?

 

[enterprise0216]

3.5 inch diameter topper?? Guessing that is.

 

[Lightning]

I think more like 2 inches, about the same distance from the end of his pinky to the second knuckle.

edit: Chandelier ball prisms are about that size, some even have the hexagonal faces.

 

[JiminSTLouis]

1.5” diameter crystal on eBay.

eBay link

 

[Jintosh]

So, two halves of an outside shell, printed in clear resin on a 3D resin printer and glued around the outside of the actual crystal.

Modeling all those tiny facets around the outside shell will be a pain.

 

[TheBeast]

Facets it is, though plastic Xmas ornaments are still worth a look. I tend to despair of the sparkles added for most projects. But might be a plus here.

I have some faceted Easter eggs, but even two rounded ends would still be merely oblate.

 

[Jintosh]

Okay, I downloaded a pineapple from thingiverse. What do you think ?

Print it in clear resin. Hmm....just realized no hole for the rod....

 

[Funky]

Hey, that looks pretty good!

 

[Jintosh]

Cool. I tried diamonds and shapes and the bumps just weren't right. Then my imagination kicked in....what does this LOOK like? A pineapple. If we use it, I'll credit the author when I post the STL. I need to know the dimensions of the final crystal, and how big a hole to cut in the bottom of the pineapple.

 

[mrwax]

I don't know how much help this would be, but here's James Cawley's version in the TOS museum / set tour in Ticonderoga.

 

[Jintosh]

I don't know how much help this would be, but here's James Cawley's version in the TOS museum / set tour in Ticonderoga.

It is just a crystal. It doesn't match the screen shots we have. The screen shots show a crystal in a crystal as far as we can tell.

 

[alensatemybuick]

Aren’t prop replicas often just approximations, esp. when sufficiently hi-res screengrabs are not available / as long as the “found” items used (like in this case) remain a mystery.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Aren’t prop replicas often just approximations, esp. when sufficiently hi-res screengrabs are not available / as long as the “found” items used (like in this case) remain a mystery.

…on other forums, maybe…not on the RPF