Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been?

Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have their been

I wish we could get more pics of Troughton's pen light sonic screwdriver. War Games shows it, but just not enough.

here here, id really like to get a good look at it. It may be hard to find that model, but to be honest to complete my doctors sonic collection i might be crazy enough to have one made for me.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have their been

here here, id really like to get a good look at it. It may be hard to find that model, but to be honest to complete my doctors sonic collection i might be crazy enough to have one made for me.

Well I'm glad I'm not the only crazy one... I've thought the same thing before. If a run of those is ever done... I will definitely jump on it.

I already have Pertwee, Baker, and Davison versions of the sonic screwdriver. Hopefully I'll have a McCoy/McGann version sometime soon. Then it would be just getting a Sonic Lance to get Colin Baker covered on that. Which would complete the classic series (+ 1996 movie) for me. Well assuming I had a Troughton sonic screwdriver that is.

As far as the new series goes... All I have is the toy version of the sonic screwdriver.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

Sorry about the delay. Here are the pics of the three sonic screwdrivers:

L1000420.jpg



Emitter "front":
L1000432.jpg


L1000434.jpg



Emitter "back":
L1000440.jpg


L1000442.jpg


L1000441.jpg



Side view while activated:
Sorry about the slight blurriness -- it's hard to activate the sonic with one hand while taking a photo with the other!
L1000444.jpg



Mid view:
L1000426.jpg


L1000437.jpg



Bottom view:

The gauge of the springs are visible in the slots.
L1000438.jpg


L1000422.jpg


L1000423.jpg



The TLP custom model made for Asp9mm [LINK] appears to be nearly identical to the standard TLP sonic, except the lengths and proportions have been changed to match Russ'.
 
Last edited:
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

Sweet! Thanks for sharing the images.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

The TLP custom model made for Asp9mm [LINK] appears to be nearly identical to the standard TLP sonic, except the lengths and proportions have been changed to match Russ'.

The bullet/emitter back and halo are all smaller on mine and the dimensions of the handle a tad narrower. I didn't change them to match Russ's version but changed them to match the dimensions of the original prop based upon revised measurements taken from screencaps and stills of the original. I had other information from a sonic guru and TLP and we put it all together in that sonic. The design and original dimensions are open to much interpretation and argument, I just put together all the info I had to make the prop more accurate to my way of thinking. The only thing I'm sure of are the emitter sizes and halo being smaller than the ones currently on offer. Russ's bullet is alot smaller than others and I'm sure the original prop was smaller than that...

DSC04716.jpg


In Ark in Space the sonic looks much shorter than has currently been offered (very much Russ's sonic size), and the halo is never larger in diameter than the cone at the top of the handle, but smaller in diameter than the handle base unit.

robot3.jpg


Crappy picture, but you get an idea of the small size of the bullet emitter in Pyramids if you compare it to the black neck bullet. This also shows the small size of the halo compared to the main body diameter.

DSC04685.jpg


Now if I could get the emitter struts machined to lose the screw thread and make them slightly narrower, I would be 100% happy with this TLP sonic. IMO he does still make THE best interpretation at the moment. His handle dimensions are great compared to the Sixteen12 version and the rear of the emitter and screw are excellent, while the others seem way off.

new1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

A TCE, I presume?

2s13abo.jpg


I'm not a collector of old series Who props, but I did photograph all the stuff they had at the Blackpool exhibition when it was open. No sonics, unfortunateley.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

The bullet/emitter back and halo are all smaller on mine and the dimensions of the handle a tad narrower. I didn't change them to match Russ's version but changed them to match the dimensions of the original prop based upon revised measurements taken from screencaps and stills of the original. I had other information from a sonic guru and TLP and we put it all together in that sonic. The design and original dimensions are open to much interpretation and argument, I just put together all the info I had to make the prop more accurate to my way of thinking. The only thing I'm sure of are the emitter sizes and halo being smaller than the ones currently on offer. Russ's bullet is alot smaller than others and I'm sure the original prop was smaller than that...

In Ark in Space the sonic looks much shorter than has currently been offered (very much Russ's sonic size), and the halo is never larger in diameter than the cone at the top of the handle, but smaller in diameter than the handle base unit.

Crappy picture, but you get an idea of the small size of the bullet emitter in Pyramids if you compare it to the black neck bullet. This also shows the small size of the halo compared to the main body diameter.

My TLP has the largest bullet of the three, and the halo is about the same size as russrep's. Your custom TLP sonic's halo diameter appears to be similar to Sixteen 12's. I agree that smaller is better.

Now if I could get the emitter struts machined to lose the screw thread and make them slightly narrower, I would be 100% happy with this TLP sonic. IMO he does still make THE best interpretation at the moment. His handle dimensions are great compared to the Sixteen12 version and the rear of the emitter and screw are excellent, while the others seem way off.

I'm not to crazy about the thick struts with exposed screw threads either, but the back of the bullet on TLP's looks the best. The weathered edges are a nice touch in keeping with Pyramids of Mars.

Overall, I believe that your TLP is the most screen accurate sonic available. I'm planning to order another from TLP with some adjustments such as non-threaded struts, but I'm waiting for TLP to to get his workshop set up to do the work. If you don't mind, I'd like to use your design as the basis for my custom order.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

Overall, I believe that your TLP is the most screen accurate sonic available. I'm planning to order another from TLP with some adjustments such as non-threaded struts, but I'm waiting for TLP to to get his workshop set up to do the work. If you don't mind, I'd like to use your design as the basis for my custom order.

Go for it, I did it for us lot. I'll be right beside you waiting for those correct struts and other stuff. IMHO it is the most accurate classic sonic I've ever seen. Keep me updated and maybe we can swap ideas and evidence to get him to produce the ultimate version.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

I found an interesting website that I thought would add nicely to the discussion:


Sonic Screwdriver Through The Years

One of the pictures at the top (sonic, scarf and key) is one I did. I always get a little thrill when I see an image I made end up someplace on the web.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

I'm a huge sonic enthusiast, and have been slowly assembling my own collection of Every Model Ever Used.

I couldn't resist pickng up the toy version of the Third Doctor's sonic recently, and I noticed something downright perplexing about it...

If you've gotten hold of one, then you've doubtless noticed that the rods between the emitter and the bullet are actually represented on it as threaded screws with hex-heads. The screw at the bottom of the grip (on the angled bit) is also shown to be a hex screw. Now, I've seen the hex-screws on TLP's sonics and on Russ's early ones, but I'm surprised to find them on this version! I have to wonder, did the designer make some reference to the fan-made props out there in creating the toy? Bearing in mind the lack of reference available, it would certainly be understandable... Or did the real prop actually use threaded screws after all? Then again, if the toy designer had no access to detailed photos not made public, how did he get the pattern on the grip when it only appears briefly on-screen?

I'd love to have the answers. The mystery's killing me.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

My guess is the toy designer(s) not only used screen caps and DVD's but the wealth of info that's on the web (possibly including here, they might hold a membership) and just used what seemed to be the general consensus of what was correct based on everyone's research into the subject.
 
Re: Doctor Who: How many different versions of the Sonic Screwdriver have there been

Very! Thanks for the link!
 
Back
Top