Our friends at Factory Entertainment, now in their second year of bringing Star Trek prop replicas to fans, are back this week with a brand new announcement for those of you who like to wear blue uniforms aboard the Enterprise-D!
After debuting last summer with their USS Excelsior teacup set, a follow-up Enterprise-A teacup set right after, and the fancy Next Generation “Inner Light” Ressikan flute this past spring, Factory Entertainment today revealed their next Star Trek: The Next Generation prop replica: a “working” hypospray and medical scanner set, right out of Dr. Crusher’s sicbkay.
Contained in a display case with ‘Starfleet-issue’ plaque, the Next Generation-era hypospray — based upon the 24th century’s alternative to syringes — is a die-cast metal prop replica (the bodies of each replica is metal, with some components in ABS plastic or acrylic), with built-in battery-powered electronics to replicate the well-known “hsss” sound effect heard when injecting medication.
The hypospray features two buttons, each which triggers a different sound effect, and interchangeable medical vials which will be held in the replica’s handle with magnets. (Factory Entertainment’s listing also notes that the eventual product “may” come with user-fillable vials, but that’s still only just a possibility that has not yet been finalized.)
- Sound effect 1: Standard administration (the usual “hsss”)
- Sound effect 2: Wider spray pattern administration (like Picard’s usage in “Genesis”)
The medical hand scanner, usually paired with one of sickbay’s medical tricorders, is also a die-cast metal piece; this one features a battery-powered, blinking red LED light to replicate the activation light seen on the screen-used device — along with a scanning sound effect.
Unlike the hand scanner seen in the later seasons of The Next Generation — which had a set of rotating green lights around the end — the Factory Entertainment prototype images seem to mirror the early-season design, which features just the red light in the center of the scanner’s ‘business end.’
One may think the scanner cannot be used without a paired medical tricorder, however Dr. Pulaski did just that in TNG Season 2’s “Up the Long Ladder,” scanning the Mariposan clones and identifying their copied nature using just her scanner.
While the 1997 Playmates Toys play-replica medical tricorder included a plastic hand scanner, to our knowledge this is the first time a licensed replica of a Star Trek: The Next Generation-era hypospray has ever been produced — and certainly the first one to include electronic sound effects.
Here’s Factory Entertainment’s official product description:
Factory Entertainment’s TNG Medical Set Replica has been copied directly from surviving resources in the CBS archives to ensure accuracy. Our development team also spent many hours analyzing footage to fine-tune the details.
This 1:1 scale set replicates two iconic props used by 24th century physicians in Star Trek: The Next Generation. It consists of a Hypospray (with interchangeable vials) and a Hand Scanner. Both feature electronic light and/or sound effects and are crafted with heavy diecast metal bodies.
Each numbered limited edition museum quality replica set comes with a wooden presentation case, cast metal plaque and a certificate of authenticity/prop story booklet and will make a fine addition to any Star Trek collection.
The Hypospray and the Hand Scanner each operate on three LR44 batteries (included).
Projected to arrive to collectors in Spring 2022, the replica set is up for preorder now at the Factory Entertainment website, retailing at an ‘early order’ price of $374.99 — a price point that will increase to $399.99 on August 9, 2021 — requiring a $50 up-front, non-refundable deposit.
We don’t expect this to be anywhere close to the last time Factory Entertainment will visit the Star Trek universe, to keep your sensors locked here on TrekCore for all the latest news on this medical kit — and anything else they may pull out of the 24th century in the future!
In the meantime, do you plan to add this new Next Generation replica set to your own collection? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!