Chick_McGeester
Lieutenant
I was wondering what is considered to be the most authentic communicator pin for TNG. Im also looking for the most authentic Voyager style pin. I have found a few on ebay and amazon, but most of them look pretty crappy.
Communicator Pin
- Thread starter Chick_McGeester
- Start date
I have the VOY one from roddenberry.com It's very realistic. I'd imagine the TNG one is too.
Chick_McGeester
Lieutenant
I had no idea I could actually buy a used prop? Cool... How much are those going for? And where would I get one of those? Off the show Hollywood Treasures with Joe Maddalena?
A thing I recall about communicator authenticity...
They are supposed to be gold, real metal, and have an attractive appearance (they are not just gadgets, but service insignia).
But the actual props used on the set were NOT that.
Real metal finish would catch glare from set lighting (see, there was no LENS FLARE on TNG). So the actual props were dulled down. Looks good on camera, in person... not so much.
However, you can get communicator replicas that ARE gold (or gold finish) that look much nicer and represent what the communicators were INTENDED to be.
So you got your choice of preference.
They are supposed to be gold, real metal, and have an attractive appearance (they are not just gadgets, but service insignia).
But the actual props used on the set were NOT that.
Real metal finish would catch glare from set lighting (see, there was no LENS FLARE on TNG). So the actual props were dulled down. Looks good on camera, in person... not so much.
However, you can get communicator replicas that ARE gold (or gold finish) that look much nicer and represent what the communicators were INTENDED to be.
So you got your choice of preference.
I have a metal TNG communicator pin somewhere that I got as a souvenier from the Las Vegas Trek thing that is/was at the Hilton. Got it probably 10 years ago. I've never used it but it's pretty and shiny. Quite neat-looking. No idea where it is, but I could probably find it eventually. I suspect there must be similar ephemera on eBay and the like.
I've got a beautiful TNG and TNG-Movie era metal pin somewhere too. Nice looking pieces.
Chick_McGeester
Lieutenant
So far I really do like the 2370 one for voyager. I like that dull finish if thats how it really looks in person. But For some reason the 2360 TNG one kist doesnt seem right. Maybe its the ridge on the outside circle/oval. And the edge on the A part seems too sharp. But After looking around on that roddenberry site I might want to get some of the rank insignia pips too.
They are a flat color. Not shiny.
I suppose it's personal tastes, but I think the shiny "genuine" silver and gold ones look awfully tacky. They also look inauthentic. The matte finish is much nicer.
Chick_McGeester
Lieutenant
Does anyone know if the 2360 TNG style pin is supposed to be smaller than the 2370's VOY pin? I recently ordered one of each from Roddenberry.com and was surprised to notice that the TNG pin was noticeably smaller. Also I was surprised to see that they are also not metal. Some type of wood or particle board just painted. They do look like the on screen ones tho from a distance. Its just that the TNG one is smaller. Dont like that...
I really liked the idea of the communicator in the insignia. That way they don't have a wallet bulge in their pants. But I wonder what people in TNG era do for ID?
Based on my observations of the shows, the TNG pins were a bit smaller (it appears to me to be about 1 cm width) than the ones used for DS9 and Voyager. It was just an oval background, not the rounded trapezoid. I really liked the ovular one until I saw the trapezoid. I disliked it at first, but it quickly grew on me. The designers of this emblem are very ingenious.
Based on my observations of the shows, the TNG pins were a bit smaller (it appears to me to be about 1 cm width) than the ones used for DS9 and Voyager. It was just an oval background, not the rounded trapezoid. I really liked the ovular one until I saw the trapezoid. I disliked it at first, but it quickly grew on me. The designers of this emblem are very ingenious.
Chick_McGeester
Lieutenant
I can post some pics if anyone wants them. I also have a metal TNG pin (it says paramount on the back) And that one is what I believe to be the correct size. Its the same size as the VOY one from Roddenberry.com.
The actual props were white resin, painted with silver and gold, and the arrowhead edge was drawn in black by a perminant marker.
Funny story, the paint never actually dried. It would rub off on the actors fingers all the time, so they had to keep repainting the things.
I have a couple of each style taken from the paramount molds that were used to make the props.
Funny story, the paint never actually dried. It would rub off on the actors fingers all the time, so they had to keep repainting the things.
I have a couple of each style taken from the paramount molds that were used to make the props.
Why would the paint never dry? Do they make the resin prop only minutes before they have to be on camera?
And can you post a few pics of what you got from the studio?
