Customer Reviews

Star Trek Gold Phaser and Communicator - EE Exclusive

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had decided to put together a comedy show to perform at TrekFest XXV in Riverside, Iowa this year. Although I enjoy Star Trek, I was far from a "trekkie" and had to do much research in order to obtain costume and props. My research led me to the Phaser and Communicator toys made by Diamond Select. From re-watching the original TV series and looking at photos on the internet, it seemed that these toys were fairly accurate to the look of the original TV show props, so I ordered this set (which saves money over buying the phaser and communicator separately).

There were various models of phasers made -- gold handle, black handle, etc. -- and I really wasn't sure of the significance, so I just ordered this set and hoped no uber-Trek-fans would give me a hard time about my choice.

The units arrived quickly. The communicator is very nice. The flip open antenna is metal, which is good. But, it also allows it to bend slightly when you flip it open, and after a few times, it has bent enough that it no longer closes solid against the body of the device. I expect if I kept bending it back, eventually it would break off. So, it looks great, but doesn't appear too rugged for intense use.

Build quality was decent. The molded buttons look like molded buttons from up close and the unit does appear like molded plastic, but it does look good when compared to the look of the Star Trek TV series units. After looking at some $$$ replica "build it" kits of these units, I'd say that Diamond Select got the details pretty accurate.

There is a nice touch -- the patterned disc spins (just like on the TV series) when the unit is opened, and the communicator noise is made. The motor that spins the disc is clearly heard, though, but what can you expect. One button plays a random sample from the TV show (fun) and another button will make the unit go in to a callback mode. A light blinks, and when you close the unit, a few moments later it will start beeping. It does this until you "answer" the unit, then after a pause, you hear a sample asking if they should beam down reinforcements. Nice touch again!

The phaser is okay. The sounds are short loops that repeat, so it's not accurate to how the TV show sounds were (but it's still close). There are four settings, which are just the same sample sped up. There is also a switch to put the communicator into overload mode, where the energy builds then it makes an explosion sound. I just had watched a Trek episode featuring this and though the TV show had a much much longer sound sequence, the toy phaser still did it quite well.

The top part detaches to make a hand phaser and it has a rotating dial to select sounds, and another dial that flips up the fake "sight." I thought this was rather cheesy until I saw the TV series using it the same way -- I guess I never noticed this thirty years ago when I was first watching Trek in re-runs.

The build quality of my phaser was poor and it would not often make all the sounds. I wrote a letter to Diamond Select and Entertainment Earth and they immediately agreed it sounded like I had a defective unit and promptly replaced it. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!

So, for my uses, these props worked quite nicely. They do not have the fit and finish of a hundred dollar replica (you can buy a $200 communicator model "kit" that is supposed to be very screen accurate), they are more than enough to satisfy the casual Trek fans.

And besides... I don't think anyone else legally sells them :)

ALWAYS WANTED ONE OF THESE PHASER COMMUNICATOR SETS SINCE I WAS A KID AND THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT, RECOMMEND IT TO ALL TREKIES YOUNG AND OLD FOR THE OLD YOU MAY FEAL JUST ALITTLE YOUNGER AS SOON AS YOU HOLD THESE PROPS IN YOUR HANDS ENJOY,LIVE LONG AND ALWAYS PROSPER

if your a trek fan these collectable markups are nice to have for the price. i puchased my own and sent one to a friend for x-mas . enjoy

If you simply can not live without these iconic props, you could do worse. Wish they could have been better quality, though. OKAY, I ADMIT IT, I AM A NERD. Happy?

First of all, I'd like to start with the statement that THIS IS A TOY!!! NOT a prop replica... there's a BIG difference... just look at the price. With that said, I'd like to let you trekkies out there know that these toys are FUN replica's of the Medical Tricorder, the Science Tricorder, the 2 part phaser, and the communicator. I had absolutely NO problem with the Science tricorder... follow instructions then it should work fine.. I'm hoping the medical tricorder works too, but haven't purchased one yet...

PROBLEMS: First of all, let's talk about the communicator... didn't make "door open" noise when opened..made door open noise after closing.. wouldn't function properly from the start... after dismantling the device, both sides of the metal antenna or door had to be bent to properly fit in housing. SMALL contacts for door open and operation needed to be bent to the right and apart from each other for proper operation. works fine now...

Now, phaser... power comes from the hand held unit clipped to the top of the phaser gun. Open the battery compartment and notice the 3 slightly raised black squares on the battery compartment lid? They are too high and will prevent the door from closing all the way when there are batteries in the compartment. File or sand these down flat. Then, you'll notice the rear dial on the phaser, when turned to the right, will raise up a plastic button to press the little rubber button on the bottom of the hand phaser. This button is supposed to activate the "Overload" sound effect when used in conjuction with the trigger. If your's doesn't work like mine didn't... I carefully drilled a small hole 1/8" deep into the button, then cut a small piece of metal coat hanger and filed the top's and bottoms and this inserted into my drilled hole and using gel superglue, was able to affix my button "riser" to the button. put it all together again and VIOLA'! Working products. Any questions, email me at [...]