Wesley McCue
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|  | Art Asylum Tricorder
« Thread Started on Aug 2, 2009, 2:55am » | ![[Quote]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/quote.gif) |
After cheaping out on the Master Replicas Tricorder replica- I got great less-than-retail deals on the phaser and communicator props and expected to do the same when the tricorder became available. Didn't happen. -and then watching its price climb on the secondary market, I was especially keen to have the Art Asylum prop when it was announced.
After more than a few months wait beyond the pre-order target date, it finally arrived at my local comic emporium and I picked it up this week. Like the phaser and communicator it's necessarily a little more 'plasticky' than the MR versions but at 1/6th the price who's going to complain? Not me!
Here's a look at it next to the Playmates version. My major problem with that toy was always the size and, boy, now you can see why! The Art Asylum looks like 'Big Daddy Tricorder' next to it:
![[image]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3779621899_080ec3dff8_o.jpg)
The leather strap is adjustable according to the instruction sheet but I haven't tried adjusting it yet. It's long enough as it is that I can actually can wear it whereas the Playmates with its much shorter cloth strap might have been worn by one of the smaller 'onlies' but certainly not a 'grup'.
The flip-top sensor readout is supposed to light up upon opening the display, mine doesn't. I suppose it could simply be that the batteries are nearly DOA(I'm a little concerned because the communicator prop is supposed to have something like 20 different sound clips but I've never counted more than ten on mine), we'll see what happens when I replace them with fresh ones.
Nevertheless, it's a swell looking device and pressing the first button does indeed get both the readout TV screen and three indicator light effects working. When the sequential light effect is running closing the hood is supposed to randomly operate one of two 'hailing sequence effects'... mine doesn't. Is it a battery problem? I sure hope so.
![[image]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3422/3779621895_67ee946589_o.jpg)
Pressing the middle button starts up the familiar high-pitched scanner sound effect- great fun for me, for my wife, not so much -and the spinning moire display in the data disk storage compartment. Pressing the middle button again turns the scanner and moire effects off.
The third button works a random selection of six clips of Mr. Spock's voice(I've only counted four so far...). A little strange for the device, really, but it might be fun to stand in front of a mirror and try lip-synching to them. Now, where did I put those pointed rubber ears?
![[image]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/3779621893_fc80bdf81b_o.jpg)
Finally, the bottom compartment houses the battery box, cleverly disguised as additional data disk storage, and the hand held scanner. Honesty, I can't recall Spock or anyone other than McCoy using a handheld device in conjunction with the tricorder, maybe they did. The handheld also features a changing LED light effect, kinda cool. I think it should have included its own scanning sound effect as well but, hey, nobody asked me.
The scanner just kinda sits in its little compartment and tends to rattle around noisily when handling the device so, being unable to leave well enough alone, I promptly glued a foam pad as a cushion inside the door and another loop of foam as a sort of 'holster' for the scanner to keep it from banging around loose. I'm sure I have a piece of leather in the scrap bin to make a nicer and more permanent job of it but it works for now.
![[image]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/3779621889_9c7048544c_o.jpg)
Despite the hinky operation outta the box, this really is an incredibly cool replica. So the Art Asylum 'exploration set' is now complete and soooo much of an upgrade from those AMT model kits of yesteryear, it's intensely happifying for a TOS fan. Hey, I'm ready for landing party duty!
Now, where did I put that red velour shirt???
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