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Hero Vid-Phon on display at SDCC
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andy
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Joined: 01 Nov 2006
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Location: Rochester, NY

PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is the worldcon moment of the vidphon. Very Happy

Andy
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Noeland
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Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 8:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Indeed it is. That is incredible detail in that build.
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nickdaring
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've had Vid Phones on the brain lately.

Anybody know what process was used to lay down the black around all the "clear" lettering? Screen printed maybe?

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nickdaring
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also the areas around the buttons and the area behind the TRANSMITTING label look like they have a transparent red happening there.

Most other areas appear white.

I'm trying to figure out what kind of layering of materials and paint we are looking at here.

My best guess-

Black printed onto Clear Acrylic

Then white painted onto the back of the clear acrylic behind all the text and number areas.

Then pieces sheets of red ruby lith are cut and glued behind the open areas behind the buttons and TRANSMITTING area.

Also wonder how the buttons are mounted. Juston the surface or properly built in. Hard to tell.

DO we see if the buttons actually physically depress down into the machine or is it just "acted"?

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Pro Mod
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Joined: 13 Aug 2010
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Location: Manchester, England

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They’d have been quite limited back then as to what they could do, so I would imagine that screen printing would have been the first choice.

The problem with putting ink onto acrylic is that it’s quite thin and when you backlight it, it becomes transparent and looks a mess. Ideally you’d lay down a few coats of ink but keeping the registration with such small lettering can be difficult, and they may need to have more than one go at it.

Another method we used back then was to apply the text to the panel using Letraset. We would then sand the panel as close as possible to the lettering with fine wet and dry paper to key the surface and then we’d spray it silver to block the light and then spray the top colour.
Once dry to the touch we’d place tape over the lettering, burnish it down and then rip it off. It took a bit of practise but the results were generally good.

Today you could have the panel produced on a flatbed inkjet printer, and as long as you explain to them what you want to do with it they should be able to use the correct type of ink to withstand light penetration.
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GKvfx
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Joined: 03 Dec 2010
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The front plates were all silkscreened using a strong, opaquing fluid. I'm under the impression that the artwork was generated in-house but the silk screening was farmed out. Behind the "Transmitting" graphic is some red gel. Probably just taped in. The multi-segment LEDs are red by nature (encased in red plastic housings). While you can't really see this on film, the counter is not keeping accurate time. Mike Fink didn't have the correct timing chips to do a clock timer (60 seconds), so it counts up to 100 and then the next segment advances. On the hero version (seen at SDCC), the buttons could depress (and spring back) though they did nothing to the display. There was a little roller switch in the slot where Deckard inserts his Vid-Phon card. The switch is what lights up the keyboard. It's somewhat faded now due to time, but the hero version has crosshairs across the video screen. This was done in red Sharpie pen by Ridley on the set. One last little touch......

The background versions just light up via a fluorescent light with none of the depressing buttons or other features of the hero. A BG version sold just this past June at Profiles in History last prop auction. They were all designed to be hung on a bracket and were swapped out. It's virtually impossible to tell which Vid-Phon is which since the graffiti and stickers kept getting added.

There were also a couple of large plexi tubes that served as phone booths. Those are still around as rental items.

Hope this helps.

Gene
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joberg
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Joined: 06 Oct 2008
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2016 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

TFS with us Gene...always a trove of info Cool
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Cherno



Joined: 07 Jul 2015
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If anyone is interested, a vidphone is seen in this clip about Adam Savage meeting the owner of the real BR Blaster hero prop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITiJkdL5QEQ
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Staar
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Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 757
Location: AUSTRALIA

PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quite correct Cherno thanks for the link.

I've seen the VidPhone in Dan's collection and its downright glorious.
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