To those who are eagerly awaiting the Star Trek Classic Tricorder we are anxious to show off our final tool shot in a die-cut mock up packaging.

The die-cut mock up use the actual packaging die-cut on the same card stock the final product will be place in. A preliminary blister tray is created showing how the product will be displayed. Now our final product however will have the medical or science scanner placed will switch places with the coiled shoulder strap in the package. Also the second compartment will be displayed open in the final product.

Now a final tool shot is what the final product should look and feel like prior to paint. The production process goes from a first shot to this final generation where all final modifications and tolerance fittings should be completed from reviewing previous generations. One of the things to take note of is that this is the first time we are revealing the contents of the mysterious lower tricorder compartment.

Many Trek experts disagree as to what could be found in the lower compartments from Leonard Nimoy’s tootsie rolls to a wired microphone. Many rumors indicated that this lower compartment housed a communicator or a phaser 1, however this is definitely not the case and a phaser 1 could not fit in the lower compartment a natural or accessible position. Early in the design stages of the tricorder we both wanted to incorporate features that has not been showcased in any previous Tricorder product and yet still be faithful to the established technology in the Trek Universe.

In addition to from reviewing various TOS episodes featuring the tricorder, we enlisted the help of CBS Paramount’s resident Trek historian and HMS Creative know for their prop work on Star Trek The next Generation and Deep Space Nine. After numerous discussions and lengthy deliberations the answer was obvious and clear that the lower compartment would just contain Tricorder disc storage as well as a slot for a medical scanner or Science scanner. Though the discs are not removable on the tricorder the design allowed us to also hide the battery compartment in the tricorder.

Stay tuned for our next update that will feature a tube video demonstrating the various electronic features of the Star Trek Classic Tricorder.

View the Star Trek Tricorder Preproduction Gallery