Star Trek TOS Communicator from The Wand Company
- Thread starter Prop Collector
- Start date
Replacing the non-tamper screws is the only thing I can think I will want to do.
THE FAT BUTT COMM ERA IS OVER!!!!
Baby no longer got back!
THE FAT BUTT COMM ERA IS OVER!!!!
Baby no longer got back!
pielock373
Well-Known Member
Not real thrilled with the Kydex texture, not real accurate, way to rough. It looks like a muncho's potato chip surface to me. Also the back side seems to have a weird shiny spot in it? I hope they work on the texture a bit more before going into production!
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AnubisGuard
Master Member
Even with the inaccurate texture, it already looks better than every other licensed replica that's come before.
redshirt
Sr Member
There's a more detailed discussion going on at the TrekPropZone forum. The prototype shown at Comic-con may just be an early version that has many details that are still being refined. The Herocomm.com people are working with Wand Company to assist in maintaining as much accuracy as possible.
The prototype was made using 3D printed shells with a rough approximation of the original Kydex. The final production shells should be better.
pielock373
Well-Known Member
Sure hope you guys are right, kind of disappointed with the Comicon prototype. It looks like a piece of 80 grit sand paper!
I keep going back and looking at my Wand phaser and saying to myself "it will be OK, look how nice this is!!"
Steve
I keep going back and looking at my Wand phaser and saying to myself "it will be OK, look how nice this is!!"
Steve
pielock373
Well-Known Member
If anyone from The Wand Company would like to see an 8X10 inch piece of vintage Kydex to scan I would like to help.
Steve P
Steve P
Again the prototype is just that.
Here is the production plan straight from the horse's mouth.....
"- the shells will be injection moulded ABS rather than vacuum-formed Kydex, as we had to add a lot of internal mechanical details. We're planning to use 3D laser ablation texturing on the mould tools to recreate the original Kydex texture as accurately as possible. For the prototypes, the shells are 3D-printed (from our CAD files) with a hand-made texture approximating the appearance of Kydex. It looks close-ish to the casual observer, but you guys will immediately spot that the prototype's surface texture isn't accurate."
Here is the production plan straight from the horse's mouth.....
"- the shells will be injection moulded ABS rather than vacuum-formed Kydex, as we had to add a lot of internal mechanical details. We're planning to use 3D laser ablation texturing on the mould tools to recreate the original Kydex texture as accurately as possible. For the prototypes, the shells are 3D-printed (from our CAD files) with a hand-made texture approximating the appearance of Kydex. It looks close-ish to the casual observer, but you guys will immediately spot that the prototype's surface texture isn't accurate."
Communicator on the stand
Moire & pieces.
Comparison with Dennis Stines Shells. These Shells are not completed, and have not been trimmed to the correct alpha height.
Rear Shells
An antenna comparison
The antenna is made as a single piece.
Control Panel
Mind the gap
The stand(This will have the same finish as the Phaser Stand. It seperates into two pieces. The nickel slab and and the black stand.)
This prototype is entirely 3D printed.
A pouch that may be included with the communicator was displayed with a printed prototype.
Case exterior. Again, all 3D printed, with a hand-applied finish as a prototype.
Case interior.
3D printed shell. You can see the print lines in some places.
Finally, what you people have been waiting for.
A video of its sound effects.
The exhibit hall was rather noisy, so please excuse the static in the background.
In my previous post, I said that the jewels were 2012. I think now that they are 2055 or the model that comes after the 2012 version. The lights behind the jewels are not super bright.The P1 finish is hand-applied, and will be changed for the injection molded parts. The aluminum mid-band is really simply 3D printed and then painted. Again, it will be die- cast on the final model. This is why the prototype is currently so delicate. The current antenna is the wrong stamping and will be corrected. It is also brass plated, and is not steel. They might make the antenna wider on the final model, in order to incorporate the z-bend, but everything is still to be determined. The moire spacing is also currently wrong. It will be fixed on the finalized model. The speaker is hidden under the moire, and the sound will escape through the gap. The radio grill is from a real transistor radio, the version that they have currently produced was removed because the holes were the wrong size. Everything else had been produced correctly, but the small hole spacing made using the microphone difficult, so they had to switch out their grill with the vintage version. The pouch may or may not be included based on how the price counts up to be. The battery is rechargeable and the comm will use inductive charging to power up. The safety screws on the back will be painted black on the final model. At the moment, The Wand Company only has one functioning prototype, I believe the other one is a dummy for now.
For reference photos of alpha, you can find plenty on the herocomm site.
Thanks to The Wand Company for letting me take these pictures of their prototype!
Please don't repost these photos anywhere.
-Bluebox303
In anyone wants to see anymore pictures, or needs any other bit of information, just ask.
Moire & pieces.
Comparison with Dennis Stines Shells. These Shells are not completed, and have not been trimmed to the correct alpha height.
Rear Shells
An antenna comparison
The antenna is made as a single piece.
Control Panel
Mind the gap
The stand(This will have the same finish as the Phaser Stand. It seperates into two pieces. The nickel slab and and the black stand.)
This prototype is entirely 3D printed.
A pouch that may be included with the communicator was displayed with a printed prototype.
Case exterior. Again, all 3D printed, with a hand-applied finish as a prototype.
Case interior.
3D printed shell. You can see the print lines in some places.
Finally, what you people have been waiting for.
A video of its sound effects.
The exhibit hall was rather noisy, so please excuse the static in the background.
In my previous post, I said that the jewels were 2012. I think now that they are 2055 or the model that comes after the 2012 version. The lights behind the jewels are not super bright.The P1 finish is hand-applied, and will be changed for the injection molded parts. The aluminum mid-band is really simply 3D printed and then painted. Again, it will be die- cast on the final model. This is why the prototype is currently so delicate. The current antenna is the wrong stamping and will be corrected. It is also brass plated, and is not steel. They might make the antenna wider on the final model, in order to incorporate the z-bend, but everything is still to be determined. The moire spacing is also currently wrong. It will be fixed on the finalized model. The speaker is hidden under the moire, and the sound will escape through the gap. The radio grill is from a real transistor radio, the version that they have currently produced was removed because the holes were the wrong size. Everything else had been produced correctly, but the small hole spacing made using the microphone difficult, so they had to switch out their grill with the vintage version. The pouch may or may not be included based on how the price counts up to be. The battery is rechargeable and the comm will use inductive charging to power up. The safety screws on the back will be painted black on the final model. At the moment, The Wand Company only has one functioning prototype, I believe the other one is a dummy for now.
For reference photos of alpha, you can find plenty on the herocomm site.
Thanks to The Wand Company for letting me take these pictures of their prototype!
Please don't repost these photos anywhere.
-Bluebox303
In anyone wants to see anymore pictures, or needs any other bit of information, just ask.
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Can that little motor that drives the moire be found somewhere to buy on it's own?
That would be very useful!
That would be very useful!
