While there’s sure to be a lot of news as today’s Star Trek Day festivities unfold, one of the most exciting things was just revealed this morning — as Factory Entertainment unveils their third set of Star Trek prop replicas from way, way back in the beginning of The Next Generation.
Following their take on Captain Picard’s Ressikan flute and the recently-announced TNG-era hypospray medical kit — along with their scaled-down Trek weapons collection announced last month — the company is continuing deeper into the world of Star Trek: The Next Generation with two editions of the early-season Type I hand phaser — also known as the “cricket” phaser, mainly used in TNG Season 1.
First used in the series pilot episode, “Encounter at Farpoint,” followed by a few other Season 1 episodes (“Justice,” “The Last Outpost,” etc.), the small hand weapon was largely obsoleted after the first year due to its lack of visibility on screen.
The tiny phaser still made a few rare appearances later in Next Generation’s run — in episodes like “The Mind’s Eye” and “The Game” — and then one final appearance in Star Trek: Voyager’s “In the Flesh,” the only time it was used outside of TNG production.
Factory Entertainment’s new “hero” replicas — meaning they feature lighting and sound — set for 2022 are designed to replicate the two editions of the Type I phaser seen during this era of Star Trek production; a standard edition with black emitter and dark thumb panel, designed to emulate the later-season look, and a special “Season 1” design with an all-silver emitter and lighter-colored thumb panel.
Each version features integrated lighting to allow collectors to up the power level of each phaser, from ‘stun’ to ‘disrupt’ to ‘disintegrate,’ as well as sound effects to match — including what the company is calling “Crusher mode,” set to replicate the rapid-fire action that Wesley Crusher programmed into Type I phaser in “The Game.”
The phaser replicas themselves are produced from die-cast metal and ABS plastic, and like their medical set, will be packaged in a wooden display case that includes both the prop replica and a metal plaque.
Here’s a look at official photography of the prototype Type I hand phaser replicas from Factory Entertainment’s website.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Type-1 Cricket Phaser Prop Replica
Packing a hefty punch inside a compact body, this 1:1 scale replica of the iconic Type-1 Cricket Phaser prop from Star Trek: The Next Generation features a variety of electronic light and sound effects neatly encased in a heavy diecast metal frame.
Each numbered limited edition museum quality replica 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.
Dimensions:
Type 1 Cricket Phaser — 3 x 1¼ x 1” (76 x 31 x 25mm)
Display Box — 6½ x 6½ x 3” (165 x 165 x 76mm)This replica is a numbered limited edition and includes a cast metal plaque and certificate of authenticity/prop story booklet. (Requires 4 x LR44 batteries (Not Included due to shipping restrictions.)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Type-1 Cricket Phaser Prop Replica (Season 1 Version)
Factory Entertainment’s Cricket phaser replica has been copied directly from surviving resources in the CBS archives. During their long tenure, many different Cricket phaser props were made. These ranged from fairly primitive non-functioning ‘stunt’ props to quite elaborate ‘hero’ props with functioning electronics.
As is normal for productions, a number of modifications and changes were made to the different props over the course of time. This replica has been designed to capture the best elements of all of the variants in a single blended execution but with the distinctive all-grey paint scheme featured in Season 1.
Dimensions:
Type 1 Cricket Phaser — 3 x 1¼ x 1” (76 x 31 x 25mm)
Display Box — 6½ x 6½ x 3” (165 x 165 x 76mm)The body of the replica is diecast in solid metal. Other parts are formed in ABS plastic. The wooden presentation case is etched with the Starfleet delta insignia and is designed to allow you to both store and display the replica.
Each of the two phaser replicas are set to ship to collectors in the Spring of 2022 — though as a Star Trek Day debut, they’re both available now on preorder.
The standard edition is available for preorder sales today for a price of $274.99, while the all-silver, special Season 1 variant is also up for preorder today at a price of $349.99; each requires a non-refundable deposit at the time of preorder.
So, Star Trek collectors: will you be ordering one (or both) of these new phaser replicas for your own Starfleet away team? As the company makes yet another foray into “hero” Star Trek: The Next Generation prop replicas, what’s on your wish list for their future projects?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!