Star Trek MidGrade Phaser, Fiberglass, 1968, Phaser Reproduction. On nominal 5 X 7 Custom Display Stand. Featuring All Metal custom-turned Aluminum and Brass trims, fins are molded into fiberglass and have a silver leaf finish.
This is a very precise reproduction of the Fiberglass Midgrade Phaser measuring the nominal size in inches of; 7" long x 6" tall x 2 wide. The aluminum nozzle was custom crafted. The nozzle was manually machined after extensive study. Custom metal also includes; a side dial, top turn flying-saucer dial, thumbwheel segment with a coarse coined edge, machined trigger stud, and, machined solid brass fixed release pin, all metal was crafted after direct consultations with old-timer-experts. Finishing Layers: ALL Fiberglass starts as black epoxy, then is finished painted after curing for one week, P1 is finished in Zylonite® that is buffed out with fine steel wool, and cured for 4 more weeks prior to high gloss lacquer application. This process was followed to achieve the proper appearance. Also, the P2 is finished in industrial Shadow Grey to match the surviving Set Used Midgrade Phasers. General Construction: Fiberglass shells, engine lathe turned acrylic emitter, CNC acrylic half moon, and a custom stamped diamond crisp on P1. All aluminum material is 6063-T5 (British HE6) aluminum alloy. The brass pin is H58 brass alloy. This finished Phaser reproduction is full museum grade.
Fiberglass Shells were handcrafted using wood-masters and molds. Some Star Trek Prop History For Inquiring Minds. Most of these Prop Makers and Technicians have passed-on. Below are old-timer accounts of convention conversations before conventions were really a fad.
Parts were made to order for each episode as in those times (the 1960's) as machining was done by hand and there was no advantage to making short runs (and no studio funding either). Each episode had a specific budget. Speaking of budgets, Bob relied on his Star Trek friend. According to Bob there was no magic drum of Phaser Nozzles and every job was a mad-dash to meet the filming deadlines.
Made the molds for hand props. He also did all the casting and forming.
This included; Vacuum form bucks, Fiberglass molds and urethane molds. Again, according to him most work is done in the normal Hollywood maddening rush. He shared with his convention friends that there were many molds made from molds when the production schedule demanded this. He also shared that when the show ended he rescued the molds from being discarded by putting them in his garage. 1919 was the director of special effects for the show. He handled and repaired many of the props on-set. When the show was canceled in season three he rescued many hand props and even some models from the scrap heap. Dick Ruben, Prop & Art Assistant on the show, got his Set-Used Klingon disruptor from James. Ruggs held on to his rather large Star Trek collection for many years. It is widely known that Greg Jein got his Holy-Grail Hero Phaser from James.
Watch some YouTube Star Trek TOS bloopers to see what he was talking about when it comes to repairs and hand props flying apart. Jonpaultrek2012 And related marks and logos are trademarks of Jonpaultrek2012 LLC. All Rights are hereby explicitly Reserved. All scanning, uploading, and distribution of the content of this web posting without permission is theft of the author's Intellectual Property. If you would like permission to use the material from this website (Other than for the intended review purposes) Please contact me for permission.