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Second Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver

Started by The14thDr, Apr 28, 2016, 07:59 pm

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The14thDr

Apr 28, 2016, 07:59 pm Last Edit: Apr 28, 2016, 08:10 pm by The14thDr
We don't have a reference thread for this prop yet, so for the sake of posterity I did a quick internet search to see what I could find.

As far as I know, this particular sonic was only see for a few seconds in The War Games (I may be wrong on this, feel free to correct me if I am), so there isn't much to go on as far as details are concerned.
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg

All I know is that this sonic screwdriver was a 1960's penlight that is nigh-on impossible to track down these days, especially without a specific brand name to go on. However, there are plenty of "near enough" penlights available online that would make suitable stand-ins, and no-one would be able to tell the difference.

Kind regards, The14thDr :D
"Would you like a jelly baby?"

galacticprobe

Apr 28, 2016, 08:30 pm #1 Last Edit: Apr 28, 2016, 10:25 pm by galacticprobe
Here's another image of the 2nd Doctor holding his sonic, and it gives a better view of it:
2ndDoctorSonic02(big).jpg

As for the brand name of this particular version of the 2nd Doctor's sonic (he had three during the course of his era), this one was IDed by someone on the RPF as an Ever Ready Slim Penlight (also spelled Everready and Eveready, depending on the year of their logo). And here are some images of the actual penlight:

2ndDoctorSonic03(Actual-Huge).jpg
Actual penlight used, held in the lucky RPF member's hand (open the image in a new window for some real large detail);

2ndDoctorSonic00(Actual).jpg
The penlight in its original packaging; note the spelling of "Ever Ready" - two words whereas now they use one.

I mentioned that he'd used three sonics during his run. His first was a plain, small screwdriver; his second was a lifejacket whistle (both from "Fury From The Deep" I believe; please correct me if I'm wrong), but judging from the color of the whistle he held in the B&W image I'm guessing it was the same color orange as the lifejacket he was wearing. Here are the best images I could find of those two versions:
2ndDoctorSonic-FuryDeep-01.jpg
The first: a really small, ordinary screwdriver (though as Jackson Lake as The Next Doctor in "The Next Doctor" demonstrated, if you knock it on something it makes a sound: "That's sonic."
And the second version:
2ndDoctorSonic-FuryDeep-03.jpg
The lifejacket whistle; not sure of the color, but looks to be white/off-white. In the dialogue the Doctor tells Jamie "A sonic screwdriver; never fails." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZSOvw8VVVM)

Those first two were just one-offs, and I believe were used in different episodes of the same story. This Slim Penlight is the version teh 2nd Doctor is best known for using and it appeared in several stories including "The Dominators" (the image I posted) and "The War Games" (The14thDr's images)... possibly even one of the missing stories that came between those two as well.

With a plain penlight (AAA battery-sized) and some careful tooling of some tubing or wood, one can fashion that tapered part with the beveled edge under the pocket clip. That bluish part as measured by the lucky owner has a diameter of 14mm (.55 inch, just over half-inch) on the wide end, plus that bevel; 12.5mm (.49 inch, just under half-inch) on the thin end; and is 25mm (.98 inch, just under 1 inch - in this case an even inch should be close enough) long. Anyone who's ever seen an episode of 'Deadliest Catch' will find the color of that part - and the tip - is very close to that's been referred to on 'Catch' as "Cornelia Marie blue", and with some clever paint mixing - or using the above image for color-matching - you can paint your addition and complete your 2nd Doctor's better-known sonic.

This penlight itself occasionally appears on eBay and sometimes Amazon, but with it being vintage it commands prices of $30 US and upwards. But if you're lucky enough to get hold of one of these - like that guy on the RPF that found one for a few pence at a boot sale - if you get a modern AAA battery penlight, you could probably swap out the small incandescent bulb in the vintage penlight with the LED version of the newer one and give your original 2nd Doctor sonic an upgrade! (And if there are more than one, should you happen to stumble across these for a really good boot sale-esque price, please grab one for me and then shoot me a PM!)

Dino.
"What's wrong with being childish?! I like being childish." -3rd Doctor, "Terror of the Autons"

The14thDr

Thanks for the extra reference and the identification of The War Games sonic (I never knew that there were 3 versions of this prop!) I think that the Everready penlight looks quite similar to the unbranded one I ordered the the other day.
For anyone lucky enough to own a 3D printer, I might see if I can produce models of the blue pieces for people to print and use to modify their existing penlights.

Kind regards, The14thDr :D
"Would you like a jelly baby?"

galacticprobe

Apr 30, 2016, 03:07 am #3 Last Edit: Apr 30, 2016, 03:07 am by galacticprobe
Wow. Those files would be great. The wedge-piece under the pocket clip would be easy enough to match to a penlight if it was printed as a solid piece. One could simply measure the diameter of the penlight and then drill out the appropriately-sized hole so it wouldn't be to loose or too tight.

The cap at the end, though, would be tricky as every penlight I've ever seen seems to have a different "click button" that operates it. Getting a printed "over button" to fit a certain penlight would require the measurements for that penlight's button and the housing it sits in. It's a small piece, so one could even probably get away without that bit.

The important piece is that wedge under the clip, and we know what the overall dims for it are. So that would be easy to hollow out to fit any penlight that takes AAA batteries.

Great idea, 14th, and a nice offer. Thank you!

Dino.
"What's wrong with being childish?! I like being childish." -3rd Doctor, "Terror of the Autons"

13drwho

I worked with the guy on RPF to create 3D printed parts for this sonic screwdriver. It's not perfect, but the actual penlight is very rare.

2nd Doctor Sonic Screwdriver.JPG

assembled.JPG

exploded view.JPG

sonic screwdriver with clip button detail.JPG

galacticprobe

May 02, 2016, 12:04 am #5 Last Edit: May 02, 2016, 12:05 am by galacticprobe
Yeah... When you can find the actual Slim Penlight either on Amazon or eBay it's going to be in excess of $40 US. But when you think about it, one AAA penlight should be the same diameter as the next, so the printed wedge-like piece under the pocket clip should fit. The button one could always paint if needed.

That said, I'd be happy with just the part under the clip to slip over my AAA penlight. The button? Yeah: paint.

Dino.
"What's wrong with being childish?! I like being childish." -3rd Doctor, "Terror of the Autons"

gambit410

Quote from: 13drwho on Apr 30, 2016, 02:54 pm
I worked with the guy on RPF to create 3D printed parts for this sonic screwdriver. It's not perfect, but the actual penlight is very rare.


Do you have the 3d files available for this?

13drwho

The files are on Shapeways. The barrel, clip and retainer can be printed in Stainless Steel. The rest of the parts are plastic. The hole in the barrel fits a 5 millimeter bulb or LED. You can skip printing the barrel and use a pen light if you have one. The parts are under my screen name 13DOCTORWHO.

gambit410


gambit410

Now if only we could fit in the character options sound module...

too_many_cars

With a little creative dremeling on the plastic case, you can actually fit the even better sound module from the WAND company remote in the tube... I'm planning on finding a combination white/IR LED and making mine a fully functioning remote with the 13drwho 3d printed parts.

--Brian

galacticprobe

May 03, 2016, 07:30 pm #11 Last Edit: May 03, 2016, 07:32 pm by galacticprobe
How I wish I had the talent of many of our member when it comes to things like this. As it is all I can do is sit back and admire. (Hmm... I sort of feel like the 1st Doctor stuck in his Time Eddy in that. :))

So please posts loads of photos in your diaries when you start building these?!? ;D

Dino.
"What's wrong with being childish?! I like being childish." -3rd Doctor, "Terror of the Autons"

The14thDr

My close-enough penlight arrived yesterday. It's not an exact match, but what can you expect for £1.66 with free postage?! :P I hope to begin modifications soon.
IMG_20160508_1113043_rewind.jpg
IMG_20160508_1112543_rewind.jpg

Kind regards, The14thDr :D
"Would you like a jelly baby?"

The14thDr

Following on from my sonic sunglasses sound FX, I decided to edit together the sound FX for the Second Doctor's sonic screwdriver. The sound is taken from The War Games, when the Doctor uses the sonic to unscrew a screw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mvo-lVzKD0

Kind regards, The14thDr :D
"Would you like a jelly baby?"

Volpone

I'm guilty of only scanning the thread, but of the 3 Troughton serials RetroTV shows, the Doctor makes good use of the sonic screwdriver in "The Dominators." 
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.