The Final Frontier 8

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Text File | 1995-02-27 | 19.4 KB | 390 lines

TF01 3,MERCHANDISE REVIEWS 4, MERCHANDISE REVIEWS --------------------- Star Trek: The Next Generation Official Communicator Pin -------------------------------------------------------- by KoHN Incorporated, Reviewed by Simon Plumbe ---------------------------------------------- What's this? Are we really getting desperate, reviewing plain, simple pin badges? Well, not really as this fairly new release from the US is a variation on the now-common TNG communicator pin badges as it has one major difference to all of its rivals - it has a built in sound effects unit! By pressing the front of the communicator, a short chirp is heard which is very similar, although not quite identical, to the one on the show. In terms of size, it is perfect, although, because of the sound unit, it does protrude somewhat to the rear, so when the communicator is being worn it does stick out a bit. Still, considering what it does, they've managed quite admirably to fit it into such a small package. Looking briefly at the unit, there doesn't appear to be any way to open the commuicator up, so if the batteries run flat, then you're going have have to buy a new one. Also, the look of the communicator left a little to be desired. Instead of the familiar metal pin badges that most fans wear, or the matt-look that some fans are turning to which is closer to that on the series, the KoHN unit is constructed from plastic, and overly-reflective plastic at that! It looks as if the paint used is also too light in colour for the communicator. Overall, if you can live with the fact that it sticks out, then you might be tempted to get this, but it IS expensive, selling for around £10 - £15, so make sure that it's something you really want before you part with your cash. ST:TNG Transporter Playset by Playmates --------------------------------------- Sort of reviewed by Matthew Crossman! ------------------------------------- I could not believe it. After all this time waiting it was here. I had seen one in the States, but judging the way the figures were being released I was sure my money was better spent on other things. A whole year later and a solitary Transporter stands upon the shelf in front of me. I have waited so long. Then disaster strikes. Smarmy kid with Mother at two O'clock. He's seen it. He's seen me. Slowly we edge towards it. His eyes never leaving mine. Then the rush. My physical strength is just too much for him and he falls to the floor. Another casualty in Toys 'R Us. The kid begins to cry. Hastily I retrieve my phaser from my waistband and set it for stun. I'm surrounded, Mothers everywhere. I tap my oversized communicator. Nothing. Too much interference, I'll be bound. Either that or the batteries are dead. Tricorder readings suggest that the Mothers are hostile. Only one thing for it. Rapidly I unwrap my new prize and force my hand into the transporter pad. Damn it's a tight fit. Who do they think they are making these for, children? Eventually I manage to squeeze my hand in. I set co-ordinates for the car park and...nothing. Oh bloody hell, no batteries. Must make a dash for it. Rushing past them with phaser at the ready, I zig-zag down the aisles until I reach the counter. One last look over my shoulder reveals that the Mothers have given up the chase. Out of breath I make my purchase, and pick up three batteries on my way out. Safe at last. Once I return home I check the transporter for damage. None thank goodness. Then I put the batteries in place and position my Captain Picard figure in the transporter chamber. Wow! How do they do that? I'm off out now to sit in the Toys 'R Us car park until the Playmates Bridge arrives. Pass my anorak. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Bubble Gum ------------------------------------------- Reviewed by Gary Moffat ----------------------- For these are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise boldly going were no man has gone before blowing bubbles.... and chewing gum..... Well what can you expect when you see a sweet being sold with the Next Generation logo on it all wrapped up in a nice blue box with the Enterprise and its crew stuck on the side? This product is being sold by using the Star Trek name and graphic material to sell sweets to the public and is directed at the younger (should I say) Generation. The cost of the product is minimal for what you get, A piece of chewing gum (which I think tastes bloody awful!) and a sticker with a number on it. Informing you there are more to collect. (Aha. collectables, good selling point.) However I managed to obtain not one but two boxes of these sweets and could I get a full set of stickers from over a thousand sticks of chewing gum - NO. The highest number I got was 32 and the lowest 4. Seems there should be more to make a viable collection. The pictures are the products redeeming quality as they are of good quality but they cover only the first season of The Next Generation. The pictures are small about the size of two postage stamps. But where they are supposed to be stuck? To make a full set/collection is not mentioned on the product packaging. Most collectables inform of a book etc. to be obtained separately for you to place the stickers in and feel some sort of achievement in getting yet another blank space filled and not feel at all guilty of ruining your dentists good work. The cost of the sweets makes the product a good buy and it does advertise The Next Generation but in the whole it is a exercise in selling a poor product with a quality name. Star Trek - Micro Machines Collector Set ---------------------------------------- Reviewed by Sven Harvey ----------------------- Following the release of the individual Star Trek and Star Wars Micro Machines sets Galoob are expanding their range. Following on from last years sets (as detailed in one of my previous articles) the first part of this year saw the release of the second ST: The Next Generation set, a ST: Deep Space Nine set and a change in the first Next Gen set. The original versions of the Star Trek: The Next Generation set included a Romulan Warbird, a Borg vessel and a Klingon Vor'cha Battlecruiser and can be identified by coloured bands at the top of the card. The new version along with the new sets and re-releases of the Star Trek and Star Trek Movies sets have a blue grid design on the top. The major difference though is the inclusion of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, replacing the Borg vessel. The new set is in very short supply, so if you see one buy it as it was reported (by Mr Models in Bearwood, near Birmingham) to only appear twice in three assortment boxes containing a total of 150 sets! The first of the two new sets include the Borg vessel after its removal from the first Next Generation set, a Ferengi Marauder and a Starfleet shuttlecraft named Berman (of course this isn't named after anyone who worked on the show and has a big head, honest). The Deep Space Nine set includes DS9 itself, a Runabout class scout and a Cardassian Warship. As with the previous sets all the models are excellent and well painted. The only problem I had was the lack of the movie Enterprise, NCC-1701-A... Well in April Galoob did something about that when the second version of the collectors set appeared. This replaces the set that consisted of the FIRST three sets of the range (including the Borg, NOT NCC- 1701-D) which retailed at around £14.99. This new set comprises of all five of the sets in a new window display box and an exclusive model of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A. The box itself shows all of the models in front of a red to orange planet except the Enterprise-A which is in a special window of its own at the top. The actual model of the Enterprise-A is not quite as good as the others (though it is almost the right colour unlike the bright blue Excelsior and Reliant). It has some very strange flanges between the warp nacelles and the pylons which are far too oversized and the disc section is a little too thin at the edge. The new set retails at around £24.99. However there are some differences in the new collector set. The Borg vessel is painted using a black and more metallic paint rather than the rather dull grey and brown as with the carded version and there are slight colouration variances on the Enterprise-D, Deep Space Nine and other models. Unfortunately the Reliant and Excelsior are still in glorious Richter-colour (i.e. bright blue and not white and grey respectively - does anyone remember Tobias Richters brilliant original Star Trek animations with bright blue movie starships?) but all in all a VERY good buy and should be on every Trekkers Christmas list! Micro Machines 16 piece collector set; rating 82% EXTRA MICROMACHINES INFO!!!: Argos have worked out a special deal with Galoob to sell an EXCLUSIVE Argos Star Trek: The Next Generation gift set consisting of; USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701-D STARFLEET SHUTTLECRAFT 1701-D BERMAN FERENGI MARAUDER ROMULAN WARBIRD KLINGON BATTLECRUISER (VoR'chA CLASS) BORG VESSEL (ORIGINAL VERSION) USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701-A A LORRY ?!? this pack is NOT available anywhere else in the UK. Therefore this pack is likely to rocket in value as soon as it is discontinued. GET ONE NOW! Price - £9.99 Playmates Star Trek: The Next Generation Bridge Playset ------------------------------------------------------- Reviewed by Sven Harvey ----------------------- Yes the Bridge playset is now available in Britain! The set itself is absolutely enormous when fully assembled and no one will find it easy to find somewhere big enough to put it. It consists of a grey base which contains most of the electronics with Worfs console sticking out. All the walls and doors are then added alongside the viewscreen, chairs, computer consoles and the big horseshoe shaped surface which stretches from Rikers chair to Trois via the top of Worfs console. The viewscreen is a typical view of a Warbird while both ships orbit a planet. In fact the view reminds me very much of "Contagion". A switch on the pillar under Worfs console turns on the unit an lights up the viewscreen with the familiar viewscreen on sound effect. There are a further 7 sound effects which can be activated using buttons on the security console at the top of the horseshoe. The first is hailing frequency open and is perfect and is followed automatically a few moments later by a channel closed sound. Second is the "computer sound effect. Unfortunately it is nothing like the NCC-1701-D computer and is more like the sound you would expect from the NCC-1701 computer. The next effect is red alert. The claxon is excellent (and a red light under the viewscreen glows on and off) but is accompanied by the shields up sound. However BOTH are repeated several times. Of course the shields are only put up once! The next three sounds are phaser, photon torpedo and tractor beam and all three are accompanies by a red dot appearing on the viewscreen which is quite effective (though the wrong colour for the tractor beam) The final sound is the ship going into warp drive and is identical to the one on the Enterprise toy and very good. There are a lot of stickers to put on the bridge but they are easier to apply to the toy than the stickers for the shuttlecraft were. The stickers once applied are very effective including decals for all the computer panels, the wall panels, science stations and even the commissioning plaque. Everything you would expect to move on the bridge does including the conn and navigational consoles and the computer terminals by the first officer and counsellors chair. Finally the door to the main turbolift and the observation lounge open by a clever cog system by just moving a single lever. They stick a little and spring back very quickly if you're not careful, just like the real set! One noticeable thing is the set of three connections under each of the opening doors suggesting add-ons to clip onto the bridge. What's more now we know that one of them is going to be an Engineering playset. I just hope they put a turbolift between them simply because you don't simply walk off the bridge and into engineering... Bad points? There are only a couple, the first being the lack of the lights at the bottom of the viewscreen which merge together which would have provided more of a sense of the bridge. Also missing is the background hum/growl of the impulse engines and the sound effect that accompanies the below viewscreen lights, yep that sound you get when The Final Frontier loads up and you don't put any music on... I suppose you could just load TFF each time you want the set to feel right. Also it would have been nice to have an opening door to the Captains ready room and the option to buy the ready room itself... A very good piece of merchandise (can Playmates do no wrong now they have learned from the com-badge?) and is well recommended at £50 (even if it's without the blueprint) but think carefully if you want the USA version and check your toy store before spending up to £90! There is also one other thing I would like someone to do. The viewscreen is just begging to be replaced by a small TV screen, if anyone does this please send in a picture, I would love to see TFF appear on the bridge viewscreen! Or maybe Will Riker playing Zool? Data using DPaint? Or even Worf watching wrestling... Playmates Bridge Playset; Rating 89% Classic Trek Communicator by Playmates -------------------------------------- Reviewed by Simon Plumbe ------------------------ What can I say other than WOW! I've seen a lot of Star Trek toys over the years, soem good, some bad and others just average, but when it comes to replicas of equipment and props used on the show, I have got to be honest when I say that I have NEVER seen anything as good as this! What you get for your money is a life-sized hand-held communicator from the original series complete with flip-open antenna, flashing lights and three different sampled sound effects. First of the sound effects is the "paging" sound used on the show whenever a signal was being received by the communicator. Next to that on the unit is the button to activate the antenna opening effect. Finally is the sound heard when the communicators are being tuned to alternative frequencies, this time accompanied by a synchronised flashing green LED. Unfortunately, the antenna grid needs to be opened manually either by lifting it up or with a quick flick of the wrist, but to add a durable, reliable spring mechanism would have been too costly. The grid is initially a little stiff, and many people have expressed difficulties in opening the unit just by flipping it, but it's all a matter of technique! All you need to do is flip the unit forwards, and then quickly snap your wrist back to provide a "stop" motion to allow the antenna to continue moving and therefore open. I know it sounds difficult, but it's easy once you get the hang of it! Also, the sound of the antenna opening is not automatic, so while you are trying the above, you need to press the sound effect button at the same time for realism! Still, once you get the knack of it, it looks really impressive! The sounds themselves are of a very high standard, with relatively clear samples and tey are loud enough to be suitably annoying when you keep playing with your communicator all over the house! As with other Playmates replica props, there is a beltclip on the back, although this time it is unobtrusive and when the unit is being held, you won't really know it's there. One thing I was really impressed with was the build of the unit. it seems to be designed to take more than a few knocks, although at the same time looks very stylish and not designed as if its primary use is as a toy. It is quite heavier than you would expect for its size, being heavier than both the TNG phaser and tricorder combined, but this only adds to the feel of the unit and gives you the impression that you've just purchased an original prop rather than a £20 toy. One nice touch that I really liked was the inclusion of an extra red LED connected to another button - the emergency signal button as seen in the episode "Day Of The Dove". There isn't any sound to go with it, but there wasn't in the episode either. Its just touches like this that really give you a sense that a lot of care and time was taken over the production of this. Overall, this is a stunning piece of merchandise and one that should be an essential part of any Classic Trek fans collection. The only thing wrong is that, if you are like me, the batteries won't last you five minutes as you'll never stop playing with the thing!! Simply the best item Playmates have ever released. Playmates DS9 Runabout ---------------------- Reviewed by Sven Harvey ----------------------- Being the first non-figure DS9 merchandise release from Playmates this toy has been one of the most awaited of the range. The model comes in a brightly coloured box featuring some good artwork. The moment you open the box you realise that this release is up to the previous standards - externally at least - of the previous ships (Enterprise, Shuttle Goddard, Warbird and Vor'cHa attack crusier). The model is of decent build quality but really comes into its own when the outer markings are applied giving it a finished appearance that rivals the AMT/Ertl kit. The colours are correct, as are the placing of most of the external features. It is unfortunate however that an optional sensor pod, and alternative markings for each of the Runabouts we have seen were not included. The actual warp nacelles also look a bit to angular, too box like in appearance on comparison with video footage of the show and the AMT/Ertl kit. The phaser sound effect is very clear and very obvious, but the other sound effect is less impressive. It is supposed to be the wormhole opening with the background hum of the impulse engines but just doesn't convey that at all. However I must be fair and say that using this particular technology for reproducing the sounds they really could not have done any better. An alternative sound effect, such as warp speed, would, however, have made all the difference. That aside the actual buttons to activate the sound effects are not to obtrusive on the look of the model unlike on the Goddard shuttle. Unfortunately the entire model is let down by its interior. The cockpit is nothing like that in the series and involves the placing of decals in positions nearly as tricky as the Goddard shuttle. A lone figure sits in the command seat with the control panels swiveling out to give access. Not too hot from a collectors point of view, but okay for children (who are not that observant while watching the series!). The passenger seat is situated at the rear of the craft, whereas you lift up the rear of the Runabout to place a figure inside. A very dodgy idea that has not been executed too well. It would have been better to have a solid back. Overall a nice addition to the collection, but don't send your money to the importers - it's not worth that much. Wait for Bandai to decide whether or not to release it over here first.