Star Trek Gold Phaser and Communicator - EE Exclusive
by Diamond Select
(Click here)
Product Summary
Manufacturer: Diamond SelectToys and Games Reviews of Star Trek Gold Phaser and Communicator - EE Exclusive
Customer Review: So-so build quality, but good recreation of a classic TV show prop.
Summary: 4 Stars
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 :)
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