Pages

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Sonic Screwdriver And The Fourth Doctor

Underground Toys continues to produce outstanding toys based on the popular BBC Doctor Who TV series. What makes the Underground Toys Doctor Who toys so enjoyable is that they are taken from ALL of the Doctor Who series.

The Third Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver toy is a perfect reproduction, in scale, of the famous instrument seen so often in the Doctor Who series.

This early version reflexes the design sensibilities in the era in which it was created: the early 1970s. Its design is slightly bulky with a stacked cylindrical appearance. The bottom section looks much like one of those oversize ink pen cases prevalent in the 1970s. The second section is slightly smaller with various indents and protrusions while the third section is colored yellow with a spiraling black line around its perimeter (think of a modified barber’s pole).


The top section consists of silver and red rings with a red and silver probing device attached to its top. It reminds me of a doctor’s ear examination instrument. Two batteries come with the Sonic Screwdriver that allow you to hold down the collar to produce two electronic sounds. Instructions come with the Screwdriver along with a special prismatic Doctor Who collectable trading card.


The toy is of rugged construction so you can carry it about and not have to worry about it coming apart. Sculpting is perfect-it captures the look and feel of the actual Screwdriver. Packaging displays both the Sonic Screwdriver and trading card for easy viewing and on the back of the bubble pack is a short description of the Sonic Screwdriver and its uses and on the front of the package is a short decryption of The Third Doctor.


By far my favorite Doctor Who was Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor. His eccentric manner, odd sense of humor, outlandish dress and totally disregard for authority and tradition made him the perfect Doctor for the mid-1979s to the early 198s. His attitude fit the era the show ran.


Underground Toys has reproduced The Fourth Doctor in his burgundy outfit with accompanying long scarf. Tom Baker’s features are recreated in miniature, including his curly and unruly brown hair. Along with the articulated figure comes one of Doctor Who fandom's favorite characters: K-9, the mechanical dog.

K-9 is also a perfect match for his larger counterpart right down to the bulky blue-grey metallic body and head, radar ears, sectional tube neck, antennae tail, laser nose, control panel on its back and this version even moves-courtesy of the four wheels under its carriage.

Now that’s a cool toy!

No comments:

Post a Comment