New props to add

My Chritsmas holiday wasn't what I expected it to be. I was ill for most of it, so spent time in bed buying things at auction and watching Trek, so not all bad ;-)

Recently, Profiles in History had an auction, and it contained quite a few Star trek props. I was really interested in the TNG Medical tool, Trois computer terminal from her room in Insurrection, as well as the phaser.

I won the medical tool and also the computer terminal.

As I previously said, the terminal was used in Insurrection (ST9) in Trois quaters. Made from plastic and looks great on display.

Here it is.

I love this piece and I feel lucky to own it. I was able to obtain it for a great price aswell which made me feel a bit better!!!

Be sure to check back soon for an update of more from collection.

Hero, Screenused fully light up Tricorder!!!

Well,

Its been a while since I last updated this blog. I have been somewhat busy the last couple of weeks, so thought I would start again with my favorite prop of them all.

I won this in the Summer at the PIH auction, the same auction where I won my cricket phaser. Both items, and indeed most of the trek props, came from one consigner who obtained the props from Paramount many many years ago. 

A link to the PIH items can be found here, look towards the end of the catalogue for all the trek props

http://www.profilesinhistory.com/items/hollywood-memorabilia-auction-40

Now, there was numerous screen used trics up for sale at this auction, and after some thought, I plumped for the one I won. Why? First, I am a great fan of the  Marks VII as they were seen in the late series of TNG, VOY and Generations. Also, its the only one I have seen which has the Crow Robot graphic as its display, which I believe was an in-shop joke by the builders. On that point, there are two things I want to state.

After speaking to Mike Moore, the creator of these great props, he confirmed that this particular tric was used in the Movie : Generations. I have yet been unable to screen link this. Perhaps when I get the HD version it might show up for me,

With the help of Jorg, I was able to screen link this to a particular scene in VOY, where it was being used by the away team.

Here is the PIH description of this prop.

Hero Illuminating Starfleet Mark VII Science Tricorder from Star Trek: Generations.  (Paramount-TV, 1994)  This hero illuminating Starfleet Mark VII Science Tricorder from Star Trek: Generations is based on Rich Sternbach’s Mk VI design and built by Ed Miarecki with electronics by Steve Horch.  It is constructed of gray vacuum-formed plastic with small printed labels to look like buttons and displays.  The graphic depicts the “crow” robot from Mystery Science Theater 3000 (an inside joke among the prop makers).  The prop comes to life when opened with an impressive display of LED lights.  Measures 6 ½ in. long when open and includes a black fabric-covered holder with Velcro backing for attachment.  $3,000 – $5,000

And, here are some pics of it for you all,

And here is a video, enjoy!!!

Video

Its not as heavy as you would expect it to be, and the back compartment comes off by the means of 4 allan screws to reveal the insides and the battery. As with all props, it makes no noises. These were added in by the production crew after filming.

And, just for completeness, I also include the PIH video with all the trics lined up. I great sight!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA_2y3yJ8nI&feature=related



Movie: Insurrection Ration Pack

These were my first ever props I received from IAW. Long with my VOY comm badge, this is what really got me hooked on prop collection.

I like these props for various reasons.

1/ I am able to pinpoint where in  the movie they were used. True, it was only for approx 20secs, by hey, they are on screen!!!

2/ As well as being a prop, I think they have also been used by the actors as a proper container of sorts. My ration box as the remains of some sort of cola stuck on the inside, which is kinda cool.

3/ As with all props, they might look futuristic when watching on screen, but in real life they are actually just everyday products. The drink container is just a plastic drinks bottle with some StarFleet stickers attached, and the ration box is just some plastic moulded box, again with some stickers attached and a hologram.

Here are the pics of the ration pack as they are in my collection.

And here is Data handing two to Bev and Troi, and notice behind his leg is a box full of them as well!

Static Tricorders

Well, you might be able to tell by now, but I love hand held props. And no other prop epitomises Star Trek more IMO, other than the tricorder. They first made an appearance in TOS, and remained. I mentioned earlier that when I was young I received a playmates phaser. Well, I also got the playmates TNG tricorder as well. I love tricorders, and want to show you my examples.

Now, the first one up is this one.

Now, as per my title, these are regarded as 'Static' or 'Dummy' props, as they don't function in any way. The door doesn't flip open, no buttons works etc, it just looks like a tricorder. These were mainly used either by background actors when detail wasn't important, or, when a stunt was taking place and the producers couldn't afford a hero version to be broken. 

This came from Screenused.com, and here is their description

"This prop is made of vacuformed plastic with no moving parts. The tricorder is detailed with several stickers that simulate buttons. The small scanner is permanently attached in place. This is an iconic prop from the show."

I believe I have found where this was used, or one very similar to it. In the episode TNG: A fistfull of Datas, there is a scene in Engineering when Data picks up a tricorder and spins it in mid-air before catching it, and placing it down like a cowboy would do with his gun. Here is a screen cap from that.

And here is a comparison shot

My other static tricorder is a medical example, and is pictured next.

And here they are together, note, I no longer own the 3rd one as I sold thisd a while ago.

Again, this does not move in anyway, and would have been used for Set/Character dressing, or when I actor was performing a stunt. Like my science example, it comes complete with the small hand scanner which doesn't separate from the tricorder itself. It is decorated with decals to simulate buttons. I believe in total, there were approx 20 static tricorders made for the show, with far less hero examples.

In a future blog, I am going to dedicate one to my hero example, so stay tuned and keep checking back.

Plasma/Spatial Charge

Well, time for some bombs!!!!

I bought this piece from a certain J B Stevens. He has, in my opinion, one of the best Trek Collections in the world, and can be found here http://startrekpropcollector.com/ A number of my pieces came from him, and I owe him a lot!!!

This piece also came with a COA from IAW, and can be seen in various episodes such as ;

(VOY: "Relativity")
(VOY: "Night")
(VOY: "Dark Frontier")
 (VOY: "Think Tank)
(TNG : High Ground)

Here is a link to all things Plasma charge http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Plasma_charge

I think there are three of these doing the rounds, I won this one, and one came up at the recent PIH auction.

Here is a pic of my charge. It fully lights up my means of a switch on top, with lights on the side and a blinking light on top. Its made of very strong material and is quite substantial.

And here it is being used in the TNG Episode: The high ground.



Phasers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everybody loves phasers, who doesn't!!!!!

Throughout the Trek Universe, there has been many different types of phasers, from Crickets, Boomerangs, Dolphins etc etc.

Well, I am the owner of two phasers.

The first is this one,

It is a rubber phaser complete with holster. As you can see from the pics, there is some cracking, and it is missing the phaser emitter tip. I have been told that this is common as the actors would slam the phaser back into the holder, thus breaking off the tip. Considering its age, its still very sturdy and keeps it shape almost like a resin example. Again, this originally came from a private collector via IAW, and I got this for a good price.

Next up, and a recent addition to my collection, is the Cricket phaser. I won this at a recent PIH auction and LOVE this prop. It fully lights up (HERO version), not only at the tip but also on the power bar as well. Here are some pictures of it.

Being used in the TNG Episode 'The Game'

And, I have also shot a video for you all, as pics really don't do this piece justice!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESGgjBuZHQs

It works by sliding down the cover to turn on a small micro switch, and then replacing the cover. Once replaced, when this is pressed, it operates the red light at the end as you can see from the video! Sound effects were added by production after filming!!!!

 From what I can gather, the two sold at PIH are the only two verified cricket phasers around. They were most commonly used in Early TNG episodes, and also some VOY episodes. I feel very privileged to own this, and owe this to several people for helping me out!!!

Red Engineering Case

Well, I purchased this from a Private collector, who in turn got it from IAW. Its actually an old cassette tape carrier, with the Star Fleet emblem attached. Here is a pic

For many months, I had no idea where this was used, Then one night, I was watching the episode "The Minds Eye", in which Geordi is kidnapped by the Romulans, brainwashed and ordered to kill a Klingon. And there it was, being used by Geordi to carry some Isolinear chips when he was trying to cover his tracks.

If that wasn't good enough, I was then made aware of other appearances throughout TNG, by Star Trek God, Jorg, over at the Star Trek Prop Forum (See links). I owe him a lot for digging these out for me!!!

So, what turned out to be an unknown prop, turned out to be a great prop used in several episodes. I lucked out on this prop, got it for a great price, and will remain in my collection for some time to come.