MPC’s Space: 1999 “CommLock & Stun Gun” Model Kit

As a television show, Space: 1999 may not be a great artistic achievement.  The show could never figure out what it wanted to be, starting off leaning a bit more towards serious sci-fi in Season 1, and flipping to action-adventure-in-space for Season 2.   However, I have always been a fan of many of the design elements that went into the Space: 1999; the Eagle and Hawk spaceships with their modular-looks, the “Information Columns” at the junction of corridors on Moonbase Alpha, and, of course, the CommLock and Stun Gun props.  So, when I saw that MPC had created a model kit of the Space: 1999 Stun Gun and CommLock¹, I had to pounce of the opportunity.

Note: I ended up finding a nice shadowbox display frame for these models, and it looks fantastic!

The Portable Communication and Locking Device, or CommLock, is Space: 1999′s mash-up of the Tricorder and Communicator from Star Trek, but unified and enhanced.  For Moonbase Alpha personal, the CommLock acts as a: sensor, hand-held computer, transceiver/transmitter, security key, personal transponder, and audio/video communications unit.  As a kid, I thought the CommLock was absolutely cool; just put it on your belt and go.

As a prop, the CommLock was a bit of an engineering wonder.  The ‘killer feature’ of the CommLock was the screen for video communications, which was a substantial upgrade over your flip-phone Communicator from Star Trek.  CommLocks were the iPhones of 70’s sci-fi, and were powered by the world’s smallest television set at the time.  The 1.5 inch, or 35mm, Panasonic TR-001 black and white set.  One of the reasons you don’t see an angled shot of a CommLock conversation in Space: 1999 is that cables had to run out of the prop to power the TV and feed the video to it.

As a kid, I thought that the Space: 1999 Stun Gun was even cooler than the CommLock, although somewhat confusing.  Why does it have four barrels?  Why do some units have Stun/Kill safety switches, but most don’t seem to?  And, similar to the Phaser from Star Trek, how do you aim these things without some kind of sight?  But, these are questions for adults.  As a kid, it was a compact and power laser gun.  What could be better, except maybe a Wookie best-friend?

For the record, from top to bottom of the Stun Gun, the barrels are for:

1. Stun/Kill effect
2. Torch beam
3. Penetration beam
4. Disintegration beam

I have to confess, I’m not sure I remember the torch, penetrator or disintegrator even being used on the show.

As you can see from the photographs, there is little flashing on the part trees, and what there is is very manageable.  Altogether, this is a nice kit, but it will need some trimming and sanding to smooth some pieces down.  One thing I did notice is that the chrome barrels are a very tight fit into the slots at the front of the Stun Gun.  Since these are some of the last pieces to go on the model, be sure to check this fit before painting.  The Stun Gun kit is designed for optional lighting, where the battery and housing can act as internal support for the handle.  Without that a firmer grip can cause some flexing of the model.  Since I am not planning on adding lighting to the Stun Gun, I just trimmed off some of pieces of the tree itself as support beams.  

For those planning on adding lighting to the Stun Gun, I would note that making the trigger the on/off button for the lights will be difficult, unfortunately.  MPC did not add any tabs to the sides of the trigger, it just sets right in, so adding a spring would be a challenge.

The CommLock model also could use some support structure added.  As you can see above, I just used some trimmed parts of the tree for this.  Even still, there is plenty of space left for a battery, switch, and LED light.  Frankly, lighting effects are going to be much better, and more natural, on the CommLock, given the screen.  MPC has four different reversed decals for screen options, and a couple of the buttons are clear and would also glow.  The kit is designed to be a pretty simple prop-model, with some lighting options.  However, I’m sure there are ways to Drimmel the individual keypad buttons down, etc., where all of the buttons could have springs and the dials work.

For paints on the CommLock, I went with:

• Testors Light Aircraft Grey for the main unit.
• Tamiya Navy Blue (US Navy) AS-8 for the keypad, screen hood and a button
• Testors Red, White and Green for the other buttons

With the Stun Gun, the paints I used were:

• Testors Gloss Metallic Silver for the main unit.
• Testors Flat Black for the trigger, handle and buttons.
• Testors Red, Yellow and Green, and Tamiya Pure Blue (TS-93) for the scan strips.
• Testors Gloss Black on the inner power dial

My box for the Space: 1999 CommLock and Stun Gun arrived unboxed and in pretty rough shape.  Fortunately there was no damage to the pieces inside, although there as some light creasing on the decal sheet.  Luckily, not bad enough to affect the decals themselves.  I did not expect the Stun Gun kit to come with options for:  no Kill/Stun switch, a Season One Kill/Stun switch and a Season Two Kill/Stun switch.  So, I did what I had to do and ordered a second kit so I could make both season options.  In fact, the photo at the top of the article is the box from the second kit, which was marginally better packed by being wrapped in a tight and thin bag.  I digress, but AI and robots don’t quite understand the delicate nature of what is being packed yet.

NOTE: I’ve completed building the second kit that I ordered, and adding lighting to both CommLock models.

One problem with the Stun Gun kit is that the Season One Kill/Stun slider is very loose.  Upon reflection, I should have tried to add a strip of masking tap in the slider slots, to give it a bit more resistance.  If you are going to use this kit for cosplay, or shows, you will need to take this into account.  I will add another post for the Season Two build and report on the looseness of that Kill/Stun switch, and add a John Koenig CommLink to the collection.  For the CommLock and cosplaying, I would be wary of the long term strength of the belt clip as well.

All-in-all, this is a marvelous kit from MPC, with lighting options and the foundation to make highly realistic prop, with enough time and effort.  There is enough room in the CommLock for a lot of options and tweaks.  And, if you just want something for display – like me – and base kit looks and feels great.

MPC’s Space: 1999 CommLock and Stun Gun Model Kit² –

Pros:

1. Highly detailed kit
2. Stun Gun options for a switchless basic build, as well as Season One and Season Two
3. Opportunities for add-ons such as lighting for both models

Cons:

1. Durability concerns for cosplayers
2. Fit of the chrome barrels

Vertict = Recommended!