Mushy Viewers

[PicardSpeedo]

Hey gang -

There's an episode of the original series - I can't remember which one - where Spock gets really really really riled up about something, and proceeds to smash the personal viewer on his desktop repeatedly with his fist. The viewer doesn't shatter, nor does it cave in. It sort of just mushes down in a way that you would expect from something that was made out of Play-Doh.

What material is Starfleet using in the 23rd century that is capable of supporting electronics, yet is apparently as pliable as rubber or clay?

 

[ZapBrannigan]

They might have sculpted a clay version of the monitor for Nimoy to use in that scene.

In "I, Mudd", when an Alice crushes Kirk's communicator, it appears to be a painted work of clay or something:
http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/2x08hd/imuddhd0304.jpg

The damaged lid might be from a real communicator prop. The metal-bending sound effect made it perfect.

 

[Redfern]

The episode in question is "Amok Time". Spock is trying to get his mind off his "urges" by playing his lyre. Uhura "pipes" him on the monitor. Frustrated, he approaches the screen and proceeds to pound it into scrap.

Clay, while malleable, is rather dense. The prop would have needed to be solid to maintain its shape and that would have likely injured Nimoy's hand unless he had martial arts training. While I have no evidence to back the following, I suspect the "stunt" monitor was actually crafted from cardboard and thickly painted to resemble the "hero" prop, hiding the seams. Loop in an appropriately metal sounding audio effect and "in the moment" we perceive it to be constructed from some kind of sheet "alloy".

 

[Kor]

Here's the scene, for reference:

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Yeah, I don't think it's made entirely from a malleable material.

Kor

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Painted and lacquered cardboard I can believe. This was made by Peter Baitz in 2007:

 

[Forbin]

I always figured it was something like thin sheet lead. It seemed to smoosh like a soft metal to me, and it held its shape.

 

[Phaser Two]

And here I thought this thread title indicated an analysis of some swooning fans or something.

 

[johnnybear]

I always thought the point of Spock smashing the viewer up was to show just how strong a Vulcan can be!
JB

 

[Phaser Two]

I always thought the point of Spock smashing the viewer up was to show just how strong a Vulcan can be!
JB

It was!

 

[dahj]

What material is Starfleet using in the 23rd century that is capable of supporting electronics, yet is apparently as pliable as rubber or clay?

Non-transparent aluminium.

 

[Maurice]

I don't think cardboard because that would have a tendency to spring back between hits, which this doesn't. It's clearly shiny-new painted so no way it's clay.

 

[Redfern]

I don't think cardboard because that would have a tendency to spring back between hits, which this doesn't.

Good point! It definitely remains collapsed after each strike. Certainly a flaw in my theory.

Maurice, you're in the entertainment industry, right? What are your thoughts?

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Just asking: I'm not the only one who can see the six images I posted above, right? Photobucket got weird at a certain point, and the images are in a locked album. So I'm wondering if I can see them and you can't.

 

[Maurice]

I wonder if it was a vacuformed shell pulled of one of the actual monitor props.

Just asking: I'm not the only one who can see the six images I posted above, right? Photobucket got weird at a certain point, and the images are in a locked album. So I'm wondering if I can see them and you can't.

I can see them.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I wonder if it was a vacuformed shell pulled of one of the actual monitor props.

Do we have an idea of what the hero monitor was made of? Was it fiberglass, or possibly "fiberglassed plywood" like parts of the bridge were said to be?

I can see them.

Thanks.

 

[bolak]

Here's the scene, for reference:

"Let me alone"? Spock won't be getting a job at the BBC with grammar like that. Maybe that's why he was angry towards Uhura's voice, she was calling with his rejection from Radio 4.

 

[mb22]

Evil Kirk in "The Enemy Within" was able to knock the monitor off pretty easily, as well (1:44).

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[alchemist]

"Let me alone"? Spock won't be getting a job at the BBC with grammar like that. Maybe that's why he was angry towards Uhura's voice, she was calling with his rejection from Radio 4.

"Let me alone" vs. "Leave me alone." See here.

 

[johnnybear]

I always thought he said leave me alone but I will accept it could be let!
JB