Customer Reviews

Star Trek the Original Series Tricorder

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Given the reviews posted before my tricorder arrived, I was prepared to look through the plastic, see a hideously assembled and/or painted toy, and take Amazon up on their generous return policy. So I was a bit surprised when, on inspection through the box window, everything looked pretty much OK. So I went to Phase 2 and opened up the package.

Once I actually got it deboxed and played around with it some... well, I was still pretty pleased. It wasn't as spiffy looking as the prototype pictures - one which still graces the product information at the top of the page as I'm writing. The notable differences are that the brushed metal seen in the prototype looks more like silver painted plastic and the screw just above the strap mount is absent. But those features aside, mine appeared and functioned as advertised. The silver paint finish had a few blemish spots, but nothing that I felt critically marred the appearance. Consider that the original props were less than pristine creations and the finish on this version just might be better than the originals in many respects.

I'm doubtful about "the voice of Leonard Nimoy as Spock" in the voice clips. It's possible he's been hugely downsampled and sped up, but to my ear it sounded like someone doing a poor Spock impersonation. But either way it doesn't mean much to me as I'm unlikely to look to the voice clips for entertainment. The basic tricorder scanner whine seemed to work just fine so my inner geek is happy.

The shoulder strap is a thin, low grade (probably faux) leather, but I give them credit for going that far and not just trying to simulate the material with a cheap, flexible plastic. As to the heft of the device, it wasn't as insubstantial as I was expecting from reviews. Consider a tricoder would probably be mostly electronics and plastics. Picked up a console DVD player lately? Not much heft there either.

So my bottom line is that it wasn't as ultra-cool looking as the prototype pics, but it's still pretty neat - especially after waiting so many decades to have one. If you can't accept a few compromises in materials quality and have money to burn, the go for one of those $700 deluxe versions. But to this old Trekkie, if it looks like a tricorder, sounds like a tricorder, and can be carried like a tricorder - well it's good enough for me.

I ordered this and at first I thought it was broken because all it would do was play one of the stock phrases "Most strange. Readings indicate a life form--possibly human." when any of the three buttons was pressed and flipping the top panel open/closed had no effect.

However, after reading another post on amazon, I looked at the battery compartment, and there is a switch with three settings--"Try me", "Off", and "Play". It was set to "Try me" (the in store demo setting). When I switched it to "Play" it behaved as expected and as described in the instruction sheet. The instructions don't mention these three settings at all! All they have is a picture of the battery compartment with the labels "Try me" and "Play"--but they fail to describe the switch and what any of the settings do! Bad instructions!

Anyway, once I switched it to the right mode, it is pretty fun. Definately a good toy or prop for those who are classic star trek fans. I plan to use it this halloween a lot with my Spock costume. I think it's a bit overpriced, but am more than satisfied with the features, even if the craftsmanship is only fair.

SWITCH IT TO PLAY!

There comes a time in every fan's life when they realize they really are a geek. My time has come. I admit it, that's me! I tracked the shipment online. I opened the packaging like a little kid. And behold, the holy grail of props, the one almost impossible to acquire (on any reasonable budget) - the TOS Tricorder!

I like what Diamond Select is doing with their toys. These are as close to original as can be made cheaply. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they are cheaply made but that they can be had for under $40. It's full scale (as opposed to the last mass-produced Tricorder which was MAYBE 3/4 scale). Of course, with any toy there are tiny imperfections (Nomad would hate that!). Mine arrived with a few smudges and scratches. The voice samples are likely going to be left largely unplayed (at least by me). I want reel (spelling intentional) sounds, not kitschy dialog. (There is a switch inside the battery compartment you have to throw in order to get anything other than the voice of Spock saying the same thing repeatedly.) The main panel isn't exactly accurate but it's close. You can plainly see screws on the real props but I can understand omitting them in the toy. (Interestingly, the packaging shows the screws. In fact, the pictures on the packaging aren't even of the toy. They must be of a prototype. That's metal in the pictures. This toy is all plastic.) The strap is adjustable! That's a nice touch indeed. The Moire pattern actually turns! (Sweet.) I don't remember a science scanner but I'm sure it was probably there. I wish the memory disks came out. I don't think the battery cover that is shaped like more memory disks is terribly accurate. It probably should've been shaped like electronic components but who cares. It's a Tricorder! And it's mine! Buwaha-ha-ha!!! (Sorry.)

I'm not the stereotypical Star Trek fan in that I'm married with kids (they knew I was a geek before I could admit it). But I'm the demographic this toy is aimed at and for me, this is a solid purchase. I will no doubt even order the medical tricorder as well, just to have the set (and Dr. McCoy's little scanner). I highly recommend this toy.

(Let the accurizing projects begin! I may even try to put a digital picture frame in the place of the view screen if I can find one the right size.)

And if the nice folks at Diamond Select Toys are listening...Dr. McCoy's hypo-spray and med kit would be good, and how about the comlock and laser pistol from Space:1999? You guys ROCK!

This item is of the lowest possible quality. The paint is smeared. The item does not at all operate according to the included instructions. The handle for the lower compartment broke off on first use. In short, this item is literally not worth 10 cents.

The image included on the amazon page for this product is of a detailed prop replica. it features burnished metal and the same sky-blue screen as seen on the show. What arrived in the mail was a plastic toy with an utterly different screen. If you are considering buying this product based on the picture, it is a lie -do not buy it. You will not be getting what is pictured at all.

...mine was very poorly assembled and painted. The main faceplate with the screen in it sits at a cockeyed angle so the lid barely closes. There are lots of scratches and blobs in the silver paint and there are silver paint smudges on the black sections. The whole thing feels flimsy. On top of that the voice samples are sped up and sound like one of the chipmunks. Where's the QC AA? The phaser and communicator I bought were great. This one not so much. I know these are inexpensive in comparison to the Master Replicas models but they're not cheap. I expected them to at least be assembled correctly.

On the plus side, the basic design is sound. If only they'd been put together with a little more care.

I'm amazed at how far the quality has fallen in six months at Diamond Select! As stated in other reviews, the Sciences Tricorder is far below the recent phaser and communicator in quality! In addition to the disappointments mentioned by other reviewers, my tricorder also has a problem with the switch that recognizes when the flip-top is closed. This means the power stays on after closing, and I am forced to rely on "sleep mode" taking over after a three minute wait.
I realize I could just turn off the toy entirely with the switch located in the battery compartment. However, turning it back on works only 1 out of three times!
Also, with the flip-top sensor not working, all the "tricorder hail" functions, which depend on this switch, are unable to commence.
Shoddy workmanship!!! Beware!!!
Of course, being an admitted geek, I'm sure I will have many hours of fun playing with this, even in its half-working state!

Tried three different examples of this item from two sellers, they were all defective. I finally gave up. You may have better luck than I did, but if you buy this, keep the box!

Mine had bad paint. It even had places that were obviously messed up at the factory that had been poorly touched up.. The scanner had poorly fitted coverings also. I sent it back, hopefully the next one will be worthy of more stars. I hear when you get a good one they are worth the money.

I used to watch Star Trek when I was a young boy and it was airing for the first time. Since then, I've dreamed of having those futuristic gadgets. I was disgustingly happy when I bought my replica phaser and communicator. This completes the set.

The tricorder looks the part quite well. The strap is rugged, and it looks just like the prop they used in the series. There are a few shortcomings though. While the body of the tricorder feels solid enough, there are two pull-open doors in the front that feel a bit flimsy. The tricorder, just like the TV show, has a small, hand-held, cylindrical unit to "scan" items up close. This unit is very much cheap plastic. There is an LED on the front of it that changes colors. On the TV show, that small scanner didn't light up, but made sounds instead. Here, it lights up with no sounds. Also, there is an "on/off" switch. A small button would have been more appropriate.

The bottom drawer flips open so you have a place to store the scanner. As I stated, these doors feel a little flimsy. The only other drawback is that in the photo shown of the tricorder, the screen appears to be like an old tube-style TV screen. On the replica, it has a permanent colorful display.

The top component does flip down. When it's flipped open, it makes a small beep to show it's active. The three buttons on the front do various things. One triggers a timer so that you can close the tricorder, and then after a few moments, it starts beeping so you can open it up and hear a message from Spock. The second button makes a steady "scanning" sound, and the third button cycles through various sayings. The lights above the buttons glow to add an effect of realism. Also, what appears to be a "speaker" in the picture actually creates a moving moire pattern when the tricorder is in use, like the communicator.

It's not that it's a bad unit, it's just that for the price, I expected certain components of it to be a bit more substantial. The hand-held cylindrical scanner is an actual disappointment as it is VERY cheap, flimsy, and displays seams from the mold. Parts are of high quality, but a few parts you'll have to be careful with.