Star Trek Original Series Phaser Pistol by Art Asylum
by Art Asylum
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Our Price: $129.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Star Trek Original Series Phaser Pistol by Art Asylum
Customer Review: The Best TOS Phaser Look for the "Price"
Summary: 5 Stars
I own two versions of the Original Star Trek Phaser: this one made by Art Ayslum -AA and the expensive one by Master Replica -MR (with a price factor of approx. 15 times more for the MR version!). The MR Phaser is my benchmark for the most accurate & authentic replication of the actual prop.
Verdict: I am truly impressed with this phaser made by Art Asylum. Putting them side-by-side (AA vs MR), they are both almost visually identical in dimensions!(slight difference in color: MR is slightly darker blue-gray body with dark brassy color handle as opposed to black on the AA version; MR has a glossy paint work. The MR phaser is "heavy" (of course, since it is made out of metal) whereas the AA is light & hollow feeling (plastic)... but, hey, what does one expect with the price difference. The key "plus" attribute of the AA phaser (like the MR version) is the ability to separate the top Phaser-1 from the Phaser-2 body (unlike Playmates version). MR version has 3 sound settings on Phaser-1 & 9 sound settings on Phaser-2 whereas, AA has 4 same sound settings for both 1 & 2 (+ one overload effect that ends in with an "explosion"... unlike MR where you have to continually depress the trigger to maintain overload sound sequence with no explosion effect at the end). MR has multi-colored phaser light (depending on selected setting whereas AA has only red).
Operation: after pulling off the little plastic tab (demo purpose only), one needs to rotate the numbered dial on Phaser-1 to activate; the adjacent dial does nothing but raises the "Target sight". Yes, the trigger of Phaser-1 is the same for both AA & MR, ie. button underneath (bottom). Note: removal of Phaser-1 from 2 is tricky requiring the user to grasp & PULL the little brass pin (with force) & at the same time pulling Phaser-1 off (MR version is more intuitive in that the pin is PRESSED instead)...
Enough of the technical-talk, bottom-line: those who cannot afford a $400 Master Replica Phaser can still get a "very" similar looking & functioning prop by purchasing this phaser made by Art Asylum (and not have to break their budget)
Customer Review: Read these instructions befor buying, it will save you time.
Summary: 5 Stars
Great toy. Brings me back to when I was a kid and watched the original Star Trek. The sounds are pretty real. Since the documentation is aweful, here's what you need to know. It took me about an hour to figure this all out. The clear plastic tab that you pull out is only for demo mode while inside the box. The number dial on the small phaser has 5 settings (off, and power levels 1-4). I like 4 the most. As you increase the level, the sound frequency gets higher, and the frequency at which the light flashes at the point gets faster. I have no idea what the other dial on the small phaser is for. When you rotate it, a clear plastic little window pops out of the top. I have no idea what that is for. I'm not the most knowledgeable Treki so please forgive my ignorance on this. The dial on the back of the large phaser has 2 settings, normal operation (off and power levels 1-4), and another mode that I think simulates the ability of the phaser to be used as a bomb. When you press the fire button while in this mode, you hear a power build up followed by a simulated explosion. The dial on the front left side is used to turn on and off the light to the point of the phaser where the light comes out of. Also, the large ring on the front near the point can be turned. As you turn it you can increase or decrease the amount of light that makes it to the point (provided that the dial on the front left is set to let the light reach the point). The trigger is easy enough to figure out. And lastly, the yellow pin on the left rear has to be pulled outward (it is under spring tension) to remove the small phaser which lifts out from the rear first. When you remove the small phaser, the trigger is a rubber button on the bottom of the unit. Have fun!!!Customer Review: LESS THAN (STUN)NING.
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't understand Art Asylum. How is it that they can produce amazing 1:12(?) action figures and 1:1400(?) starships, but can't seem to get a handle on 1:1 hand-held props? Again, like the ENTERPRISE phase pistol, it's not a question of accuracy-it's a question of execution. The phaser, like the phase pistol, JUST LOOKS PLAIN CHEAP!!! To be fair, the phaser does look a little better than the phase pistol. However, I think it's due more to its inherently sleek and crisp design versus the bulky and amorphous styling of the ENTERPRISE weapon. Strangely enough, the best part of the phaser is its small Type 1 component. It has an excellently done intensity dial with the calibrated settings being encased in a lucite(?)wheel. It also sports a clever, retactable, low-profile targeting screen with its forward aperture being in the guns's forward faceplate, just above the emitter ring that I'm pretty sure very few to none knew existed before. So, that's how they aimed the gun!!! Problem is, this targeting system doesn't actually work, although one can clearly see that there is enough room for it to. The Type 2 component is largely made from some too light, waxy looking, grey plastic. It actually looks like they forgot to paint this section! If A.A. wanted use the "raw" plastic, they should have at least texturized it or used a darker, more accurate shade. The emitter array, mouldings, and trigger aren't actually chromed, but are merely painted in a none too durable looking silver paint. I became suspicious of the quality of the phaser when I saw that it was being offered for only 17 bucks-and like the phase pistol, looks much better on the web. It's not that it is terrible, but it should, and could be, better.Customer Review: Way Too Cool!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
It looks like Art Asylum did it again. The Phase Pistol was excellent, but this toy is truly awesome! It was smaller than I expected, but since Art Asylum casts their molds from the "real thing", It had to be the right size. Phaser 1 is a good start, it's features include: 4 different sound effects, which are the right pitch, unlike the Playmates one, the targeting sight (I really don't get it, but okay.) and the ability to completely seperate from the type 2. Some of the details on the type 1 are: The trigger on the bottom (made of rubber, not plastic), the overload button, located directly behind the trigger and the emitter is in the right spot and is painted the right color.When you combine this nifty gadget with the type 2, you get: The same sound effects, but the phaser 2 emitter lights up instead, you can "overload" the phaser, you can also change the light intensity, or turn it off altogether. Details on this include: The correctly shaped handle, which is the right length, a trigger that dosen't take more effort than it should to work, and a far cooler toy than the Playmates version. The reason I gave it 3 stars for durability is: in order to remove Phaser 1, you have to pull the release pin. This shouldn't be a problem, if your careful. The 3 stars for educational: I love all things Trek, but I don't see a toy phaser ever being very educational. Even with these concerns, I'd still recommend it to anyone who likes Trek, after all, if it breaks, you're only out $17.00, right? I'd also like to say that dealing with Amazon.com was a pleasure and I look forward to doing it again soon!
Customer Review: Finally, an accurate, fun and affordable phaser!
Summary: 5 Stars
Art Asylum has another winner in this replica of a hand phaser/phaser pistol from the original Star Trek TV series. The black phaser #1 unit is detailed, removable and can operate separately, just as originally designed by Trek art director Matt Jeffries. Its trigger is correctly located on the bottom, the thumbwheel actually raises the sighting screen from below the silver grid (!) as shown in a few episodes, and the clear wheel allows for 4 different levels of light & (recognizable) sound effects, as well as an `off' setting. And I'm not sure, but there may even be room to put Velcro on the bottom for those who want to use it with a costume.
All the phaser #1 features also operate when the unit is mounted in the equally detailed grey body/black power pack version of the phaser #2 pistol. In that setup, the pistol's silver `muzzle' ring lets you adjust the brightness of the light in the clear tip, and the knob at the back lets you switch to `overload' mode, in which pressing the trigger starts a louder and louder buildup to an `explosion' sound.
For those who have/remember the Playmates' version of the phaser, this one is more fun, has more working features and is closer to the `hero' (closeup) versions of the original prop. The only advantage of the Playmates version is that the heavier batteries make that one feel more `real'.
This replica should appeal both to kids looking for a fun science-fiction weapon and to Trek fans who want an accurate representation of the original prop that doesn't cost an arm and a leg -- and is still fun to play with.