Straker
Sr Member
Hi all!
Not too long ago, maybe about 8 or so years ago I started in earnest to collect Tardis keys of various types from Doctor Who. This has led me to buy replicas from many builders. About two years ago I had come across a company called Mooncrest Models that had released a replica of the 7th Doctors Tardis key and then shortly after, the Pertwee key. Since then, thanks to RPF members doing some digging such as Great Wazoo and Mooneye as well as the blog of Purpleblancmange seen here: Pertwee versus Baker TARDIS Key. « PurpleBlancmange , we finally all got a good look at the back of the Pertwee Tardis key AND thanks to this blog: Making My 7th Doctor Costume: Bonhams auction - 29th June 2011 -the viewing By the user Pumpkiny we were also able to see the scale of the McCoy key sitting right next to the original Mooncrest Models McCoy key and thankfully, so was Gary from Mooncrest. It was with these pieces of reference materials that Gary was able to rework his keys from scratch and release his newest incarnations of the Pertwee and McCoy keys that I will be reviewing here. These are probably the first prop accurate keys of their type to be readily available to the general public from both Mooncrest's web site as well as eBay. I deliberately waited a good week before making this review as I wanted to make sure I spent time with them in hand and in pocket on chains and stuff we prop enthusiasts like to do so I could see what sort of wear there is and really give you a bit more than Just my first impressions.
We're going to start with the Pertwee key as that's the most well known key since that's the key most companies that made keys under license have replicated or TRIED to at any rate and also because the McCoy key barely got any screen time in comparison.
First here's a shot of the front and back reference material that was found by Great Wazoo:
There are a few details much of the public was unaware of, such as the way the arms are only a part of the front of the key and the lower edge of the keys curve has a step in it. This was due to the dual layer of the keys construction. Evidence of this can be seen here:
Because of this detail being obscured both by folks that own the original prop keys and by people that own the rare keys that were cast from the screen used keys such as those from the Jon Pertwee Fan Club, so they can protect their investments (and maybe to hold it over the heads of other fans to say "I know something YOU don't know!") we haven't had much information on the back of this prop. Now however thanks to the above pictures dug up by Great Wazoo and Purpleblancmange, Mooncrest Models was able to present us with this:
It's VERY close to the original prop key and even replicates the damage currently seen on the key. This key was also rescaled from the original Mooncrest key in that thanks to the picture of the Mooncrest McCoy key sitting next to one of the original prop keys and another picture of one of the original McCoy keys sitting next to the original Pertwee key as well as both pictures being a direct head on shot, measurements could be extrapolated for both keys to be more accurately sized. This means the new Mooncrest Pertwee is a bit smaller:
And the original key is a bit bigger. Also the assumed placement of the constellation on the original Mooncrest key is a bit off based on what little reference material Gary had at the time. There's a few other differences as well. The new key has a much more crisp and hard edged finish to the sculpt:
The patterns are much cleaner and more well defined, so this isn't just an update to the accuracy, it's an update to the quality as well. On top of that the key is made in two layers of material so even though the key is smaller it's actually heavier than the previous key. This mainly has to do with the layers initial thickness before being put together. As seen here:
The screen used key is relatively thin. Now the new Mooncrest key next to their original:
And you can see the new keys individual layers are as thick as their original key. That's not to say it's bad mind you, as it will be pretty durable at that thickness and one of the fears I've heard is that if it was any thinner it may be easier to bend the arms as these keys, while made of lead-free pewter, are still made of pewter, which is a softer metal. I can assure you though that I have kept my original Mooncrest Pertwee on the same jump ring and chain for about two years. It's been in my pocket with loose change and in my back pocket with me sitting on it. It's been swung around on the chain around my hand and dropped. The MOST damage it's taken is this:
Only the hard edge of the hole at the top of the key as worn round with the roundness of the jump ring I used. Originally these didn't come with a jump ring and were strung on a bead chain. I can tell you that even though the bead chain is smooth it might as well be a chainsaw to the softer pewter metal which is why I added one and why many keys that people didn't add one to are typically ripped open. These new keys DO come with a jump ring though so you're in good shape, however I find the brass rings used by Mooncrest to be a bit too soft for my liking as they can be bent open very easily. I suggest a non-plated steel ring as the type I used on my Pertwee keys or, as I used on my McCoy key, a thicker brass wire which I bent into a ring around a 1/4" steel rod, then cut and bent closed onto my McCoy key. I also swapped my Pertwee key's chain with a stainless steel claspless curb chain though I had decided to keep my McCoy key on the provided chain which is an aged 2mm steel chain which is slightly rusted that I rather liked and is much nicer than their previous bead chain. Your mileage may vary.
Speaking of the McCoy key:
Thanks to Pumpkiny's blog as well as the work of Mooneye we were able to get a look at the back of McCoys key from last years Bonham's auction of the key. It was through Pumpkiny's blog that Mooncrest was able to get a look of his previous McCoy key next to that particular prop of the McCoy key to not only resize the key but to also make it more accurate and include the back of the key which brings us to this:
Mooncrests McCoy key is now very close to the prop key and now features the six star constellation that until the auction was known to few. Some may call it plain but I think it's beautiful. If there may be one nitpick it's that it may not be as smooth in some areas as the original prop key but I don't think it's enough to call it a point against it. Certainly the rough look of the Seal of Rassilon matches the slightly eroded look to the original painted resin prop in that it has visible air bubble details and void spots from the seal but when compared to his original McCoy key:
You can see though the seal on his original key has a smoothness that matches more to the original prop, however, between being appropriately scaled and of course being a metal rather than resin makes it well worth the price and I have to point out the roughness adds some amazing in hand detail that makes the original prop keys it's based on look more bland if anything and adds some much needed detail for the naked eye that the original prop was sorely missing IMO.
There's not much more to say on the McCoy key really. I don't have anything else to compare the McCoy key to except for the first McCoy key I bought on eBay before coming to the RPF. I had to look for it though because I basically threw it in some junk when I found it was a recast (and a BAD one) of RPF member Megatrons original McCoy key.
Recast is obviously on the left. I don't know how well it represents the actual size of Megatrons key as being a recast it probably has some serious mold degeneration going on but I just wanted to say that if it IS the same size as Megatrons key than Megatron really got the scale very close to the real key prop as well as Megatrons key being one of the first to have an all flat back with a constellation, so kudos to you Megatron. You and Mooncrest probably have made two of the best McCoy keys, especially when you consider that pretty much almost all the other McCoy keys outside of Mooncrest and a couple very limited McCoy key replicas I've seen here and there, the rest, especially the more readily available ones on eBay are all based on Megatrons McCoy key whether they know it or not. That's a story for a different thread though so that's all I'll mention here.
Final thoughts:
Buy them. That's it. No really, no matter what, they are indeed worth the money and despite some minor variations from the original props they really are some of the closest we've gotten and even if someone makes even MORE accurate keys than these I think these will be great pieces to keep in any fan collection out there especially if you're like me and like to own examples of different modellers workmanship.
If there's anything I wish could come from Mooncrest next, it's a Pertwee without the simulated damage as the original prop to be a 4th Doctor key. According to Purpleblancmange's blog post, the key used by Tom Baker was cast from the same mold as Pertwee's key making it basically the same and while I do think it's fine to use this key as Tom's key, I would like to see some variations from the Pertwee version such as more symmetrical cross arms and maybe some of the front and back parts of the keys shapes matching each other more or even if the key was cast in a single piece. Just something to say "here's a 4th Doctor key" to add to his inventory without just having this particular key be both keys.
Both keys are available on Mooncrest Models web site here:
http://www.mooncrest-models.co.uk/costume prop replicas.htm
As well as their eBay store here:
http://stores.ebay.com/Mooncrest-Models?_trksid=p4340.l2563
Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment or ask a question.
Not too long ago, maybe about 8 or so years ago I started in earnest to collect Tardis keys of various types from Doctor Who. This has led me to buy replicas from many builders. About two years ago I had come across a company called Mooncrest Models that had released a replica of the 7th Doctors Tardis key and then shortly after, the Pertwee key. Since then, thanks to RPF members doing some digging such as Great Wazoo and Mooneye as well as the blog of Purpleblancmange seen here: Pertwee versus Baker TARDIS Key. « PurpleBlancmange , we finally all got a good look at the back of the Pertwee Tardis key AND thanks to this blog: Making My 7th Doctor Costume: Bonhams auction - 29th June 2011 -the viewing By the user Pumpkiny we were also able to see the scale of the McCoy key sitting right next to the original Mooncrest Models McCoy key and thankfully, so was Gary from Mooncrest. It was with these pieces of reference materials that Gary was able to rework his keys from scratch and release his newest incarnations of the Pertwee and McCoy keys that I will be reviewing here. These are probably the first prop accurate keys of their type to be readily available to the general public from both Mooncrest's web site as well as eBay. I deliberately waited a good week before making this review as I wanted to make sure I spent time with them in hand and in pocket on chains and stuff we prop enthusiasts like to do so I could see what sort of wear there is and really give you a bit more than Just my first impressions.
We're going to start with the Pertwee key as that's the most well known key since that's the key most companies that made keys under license have replicated or TRIED to at any rate and also because the McCoy key barely got any screen time in comparison.
First here's a shot of the front and back reference material that was found by Great Wazoo:
There are a few details much of the public was unaware of, such as the way the arms are only a part of the front of the key and the lower edge of the keys curve has a step in it. This was due to the dual layer of the keys construction. Evidence of this can be seen here:
Because of this detail being obscured both by folks that own the original prop keys and by people that own the rare keys that were cast from the screen used keys such as those from the Jon Pertwee Fan Club, so they can protect their investments (and maybe to hold it over the heads of other fans to say "I know something YOU don't know!") we haven't had much information on the back of this prop. Now however thanks to the above pictures dug up by Great Wazoo and Purpleblancmange, Mooncrest Models was able to present us with this:
It's VERY close to the original prop key and even replicates the damage currently seen on the key. This key was also rescaled from the original Mooncrest key in that thanks to the picture of the Mooncrest McCoy key sitting next to one of the original prop keys and another picture of one of the original McCoy keys sitting next to the original Pertwee key as well as both pictures being a direct head on shot, measurements could be extrapolated for both keys to be more accurately sized. This means the new Mooncrest Pertwee is a bit smaller:
And the original key is a bit bigger. Also the assumed placement of the constellation on the original Mooncrest key is a bit off based on what little reference material Gary had at the time. There's a few other differences as well. The new key has a much more crisp and hard edged finish to the sculpt:
The patterns are much cleaner and more well defined, so this isn't just an update to the accuracy, it's an update to the quality as well. On top of that the key is made in two layers of material so even though the key is smaller it's actually heavier than the previous key. This mainly has to do with the layers initial thickness before being put together. As seen here:
The screen used key is relatively thin. Now the new Mooncrest key next to their original:
And you can see the new keys individual layers are as thick as their original key. That's not to say it's bad mind you, as it will be pretty durable at that thickness and one of the fears I've heard is that if it was any thinner it may be easier to bend the arms as these keys, while made of lead-free pewter, are still made of pewter, which is a softer metal. I can assure you though that I have kept my original Mooncrest Pertwee on the same jump ring and chain for about two years. It's been in my pocket with loose change and in my back pocket with me sitting on it. It's been swung around on the chain around my hand and dropped. The MOST damage it's taken is this:
Only the hard edge of the hole at the top of the key as worn round with the roundness of the jump ring I used. Originally these didn't come with a jump ring and were strung on a bead chain. I can tell you that even though the bead chain is smooth it might as well be a chainsaw to the softer pewter metal which is why I added one and why many keys that people didn't add one to are typically ripped open. These new keys DO come with a jump ring though so you're in good shape, however I find the brass rings used by Mooncrest to be a bit too soft for my liking as they can be bent open very easily. I suggest a non-plated steel ring as the type I used on my Pertwee keys or, as I used on my McCoy key, a thicker brass wire which I bent into a ring around a 1/4" steel rod, then cut and bent closed onto my McCoy key. I also swapped my Pertwee key's chain with a stainless steel claspless curb chain though I had decided to keep my McCoy key on the provided chain which is an aged 2mm steel chain which is slightly rusted that I rather liked and is much nicer than their previous bead chain. Your mileage may vary.
Speaking of the McCoy key:
Thanks to Pumpkiny's blog as well as the work of Mooneye we were able to get a look at the back of McCoys key from last years Bonham's auction of the key. It was through Pumpkiny's blog that Mooncrest was able to get a look of his previous McCoy key next to that particular prop of the McCoy key to not only resize the key but to also make it more accurate and include the back of the key which brings us to this:
Mooncrests McCoy key is now very close to the prop key and now features the six star constellation that until the auction was known to few. Some may call it plain but I think it's beautiful. If there may be one nitpick it's that it may not be as smooth in some areas as the original prop key but I don't think it's enough to call it a point against it. Certainly the rough look of the Seal of Rassilon matches the slightly eroded look to the original painted resin prop in that it has visible air bubble details and void spots from the seal but when compared to his original McCoy key:
You can see though the seal on his original key has a smoothness that matches more to the original prop, however, between being appropriately scaled and of course being a metal rather than resin makes it well worth the price and I have to point out the roughness adds some amazing in hand detail that makes the original prop keys it's based on look more bland if anything and adds some much needed detail for the naked eye that the original prop was sorely missing IMO.
There's not much more to say on the McCoy key really. I don't have anything else to compare the McCoy key to except for the first McCoy key I bought on eBay before coming to the RPF. I had to look for it though because I basically threw it in some junk when I found it was a recast (and a BAD one) of RPF member Megatrons original McCoy key.
Recast is obviously on the left. I don't know how well it represents the actual size of Megatrons key as being a recast it probably has some serious mold degeneration going on but I just wanted to say that if it IS the same size as Megatrons key than Megatron really got the scale very close to the real key prop as well as Megatrons key being one of the first to have an all flat back with a constellation, so kudos to you Megatron. You and Mooncrest probably have made two of the best McCoy keys, especially when you consider that pretty much almost all the other McCoy keys outside of Mooncrest and a couple very limited McCoy key replicas I've seen here and there, the rest, especially the more readily available ones on eBay are all based on Megatrons McCoy key whether they know it or not. That's a story for a different thread though so that's all I'll mention here.
Final thoughts:
Buy them. That's it. No really, no matter what, they are indeed worth the money and despite some minor variations from the original props they really are some of the closest we've gotten and even if someone makes even MORE accurate keys than these I think these will be great pieces to keep in any fan collection out there especially if you're like me and like to own examples of different modellers workmanship.
If there's anything I wish could come from Mooncrest next, it's a Pertwee without the simulated damage as the original prop to be a 4th Doctor key. According to Purpleblancmange's blog post, the key used by Tom Baker was cast from the same mold as Pertwee's key making it basically the same and while I do think it's fine to use this key as Tom's key, I would like to see some variations from the Pertwee version such as more symmetrical cross arms and maybe some of the front and back parts of the keys shapes matching each other more or even if the key was cast in a single piece. Just something to say "here's a 4th Doctor key" to add to his inventory without just having this particular key be both keys.
Both keys are available on Mooncrest Models web site here:
http://www.mooncrest-models.co.uk/costume prop replicas.htm
As well as their eBay store here:
http://stores.ebay.com/Mooncrest-Models?_trksid=p4340.l2563
Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment or ask a question.
Last edited:
thanks to all for the hard work & huge thanks to Mooncrest for these beautiful key. 
