Replicas

Why are ‘authentics’ more expensive than some other makes of replicas?

Our authentic replicas are pretty unique as they are all hand crafted and built by the company and the artists who built the original screen used props. This is quite rare in the world of replica prop collecting. Where we can’t compete on the prices of the factory made, mass produced replicas what we can offer is the most authentic prop possible which carries an impeccable pedigree and is hand built to order for you by British craftspeople.

You have a page for ‘collectibles’. What is the difference between the collectibles and the ‘authentics’ range?

There are two main differences; the replicas in the authentics range are all of characters Millennium FX originally built for screen use. This means we’ve had access to original moulds and often the original craftspeople in order to produce the replica props we make available to you through our website.

Collectibles on the other hand are either prop items for which we didn’t produce the original versions, (such as the sonic screwdriver which was manufactured by the BBC art department’s own props department) or replicas of one of our characters which have been adapted for production by an outside manufacturer in order to reduce the price.

I’ve heard you’re making the Sonic Screwdriver and the Master’s Ring – when will they be available?

For information about the Sonic Screwdriver please click here

At this time all we can say about other products in this range is that development continues and if you’re on our mailing list, you’ll be the first to know when new collectibles will be available.

What comes with the authentics range?

Authentics each carry a unique serial number and are accompanied by a Certificate of Ownership and care instructions. The Cyber heads, Ood heads and Clockwork Droid masks also come with a unique collectors’ postcard.

My authentic replica is a present; can I have the recipient’s name put on the Certificate of Ownership?

Yes, please let us know the name you would like entered onto the Certificate in the ‘additional notes’ section of your order.

How do build windows work?

For practical and economic reasons we build authentics four times a year in seasonal build windows. You can place an order for the next scheduled build window at any time right up until the date the next build window starts. On the date the build period begins, new orders will then start to be taken for the next build window.

Orders are only taken for the next approaching window at any given time and depending on when you place your order, the time from order to delivery could be anything from a minimum of approximately 5 weeks to a maximum of approximately 20 weeks.

Your order will be dispatched after the end of its build window.

I have missed the latest order deadline and would like to buy a replica urgently as a gift; can you make it quickly as an exception to the build window schedule?

Regrettably that isn’t possible. We’re sorry about that but one of the reasons for building at allocated times only is to keep our production costs as manageable as possible and therefore our prices to our customers as reasonable as possible. This means ordering the right amount of materials and planning work schedules for the necessary number of technicians in advance.

These products are very labour intensive to make and accepting just one extra order after the order deadline can cause us a lot of manufacturing problems. We also have to draw the line somewhere so the deadlines really are deadlines and making exceptions just wouldn’t be fair to other customers.

Why does the metal paint on my replica appear tarnished in places?

Probably because you’re not looking at a paint finish as you might assume. Instead many of our replicas use a process called ‘cold cast metal’ to create a metallic finish.

Cold cast metal was created as an alternative to the expensive foundry casting of molten metal to produce statues and busts. Rather than melting metal and pouring it into a mould, cold cast metal uses the metal of choice which has been powdered and mixed with a binding agent such as a polyester or urethane resin. Once cured the cold casting is polished and the metal powder which is now bonded together, is revealed and the surface can be polished up just like real metal.

Because of the high metal content in the resin it has a thick syrupy consistency and is difficult to cast. A casting in molten metal will have surface flaws and imperfections and the results are similar with a cold cast item. These flaws and inconsistencies add to the foundry cast look of the Cyberman heads for example. In addition, any flaws in the cast are difficult to patch up retrospectively.

With a surface that will be painted afterwards it’s easy to use fillers to correct surface imperfections, rub them smooth and then spray an even coat of paint over the top to even out the surface. With a cold cast finish however this isn’t possible, and the finish reflects this.

Because the surface is in effect metal, albeit bonded together rather than melted, the surface reacts in the same way as a casting made through a foundry casting process. All metals react with the air and over time they tarnish and oxidize producing different effects. Bronze will darken to a rich colour, Zinc will go green and steel darkens and will eventually rust. Aluminium also goes through these kinds of changes and will weather in a natural way over time losing its polished sheen and dulling down. To retain the sheen a regular metal polish can be used.

The imperfections and variations in surface colouring and patination are a big part of the character of our prop replicas. For this reason no two Cyberman heads are alike, making each new casting a truly individual piece

Why don’t you just spray the Cyber heads silver?

One key feature of the design brief when we created the original Cybermen was that the finish on them should look like steel. The original Cybermen had been silver with a spray finish and subsequently some were also vacu-metalised to achieve a chrome-like look. Russell T Davis, the Exec. Producer and key writer of the new series specified this steel finish and also entitled one of the new episodes featuring the Cybermen, “The Age of Steel”.

After much experimentation with spray finishes that were rejected, we opted for a more complicated process which required the surface finish to be produced via a process called ‘cold cast metal’ which is explained above.

Why isn’t my replica perfectly symmetrical?

‘Hand crafted’ really means hand crafted and with that comes all the flaws it inherently creates. Many of our characters originate from sculptures done by hand and perfect symmetry is almost impossible to achieve in this way. Many classic sci-fi and fantasy props and masks show varying degrees of a-symmetry in their execution, which for many collectors adds to the unique quality of such replicas.

These characteristics were evident in the screen used props and have been retained for the replicas as they are elements which existed in the original moulds and patterns. To ‘correct’ any of these features would by its nature, remove the authenticity of the replica.

Can I wear my replica head or mask?

Our replicas are designed to be display items only and we recommend that you do not wear them.

Please note that if you choose to wear your replica either as it is or customised, MFX Warehouse and Millennium FX accept no responsibility for any damage caused to the wearer or the replica.

Why is my product stand blue?

It is covered in a protective plastic film which is blue – when you remove this film the stand itself is transparent underneath

The authentics are made with as many of the original moulds, materials and patters as possible. Why don’t you use all the original moulds, materials and patterns?

All the component colours, materials, suppliers and techniques are as close to those used in the originals as is possible. Made by Millennium FX crew members, the same processes developed to make the original pieces are also always used where materials allow and in some cases their entire manufacture process is identical.

Departures from original components and processes occur when the master moulds become too worn or were produced originally only to make a couple of items and wouldn’t survive a more intensive production run. In such cases they need replacing with more durable moulds. The replacement ‘second generation’ moulds are identical to the first, usually being cast from an original pattern, but they are no longer ‘original’. Also it may be that some of the original suppliers of materials no longer sell the required products so we have to source them elsewhere.

In the case of replicas of characters that were originally prosthetic make-ups applied to performers, it is not practical to reproduce the bare appliances themselves as replicas. The appliances are made from prosthetic materials that are delicate and degrade over time, making them unsuitable as replicas to be enjoyed for many years to come. As a result, we have attached the original appliances to an actual life cast of the performer and made a master pattern. From this we can then generate a copy of the character in full makeup, with every line of sculpted detail reproduced just as it was on-screen. In these cases, great care is taken to accurately reproduce matching paint schemes and finishes.

Why is the finish on my replica slightly different from that in the product picture?

Identical colours and methods are used to paint and finish every replica as were applied to the screen used pieces. The finish varies from replica to replica due to the hand made methods used, making each replica unique just as the originals were. In some cases variations on the originals were deliberate such as with the Ood. For the twelve Ood masks produced for filming, each had a slightly different paint scheme to make them unique and this theme is continued with the replicas.

What is the authentics packaging like?

Plain and practical; we use robust brown cardboard carriage boxes, bubble wrap and foam to ship these items in. This is because we do not want to increase the retail price by adding unnecessary, branded packaging. These products are hand made for each customer rather than designed to be displayed in shops so the packaging needs only to do its job properly in protecting the products during shipping – it isn’t about the packaging, it’s about the product!

What type of batteries do I need for my authentic Cybercontroller/ Deluxe Ood/ Deluxe Sycorax/Davros?

Regular AA batteries

Are the batteries included with the product?

No, you will need to purchase these separately

How do I fit the batteries?

Lay the replica down on something soft (like a bed or sofa for example) and reach inside and slip the battery case out of the elastic loop that holds it in place. There is a connector that connects from the battery holder to the internal wiring - disconnect that. Put the batteries into the holder and reverse the process i.e. reconnect the clip, slip the holder back inside the head and secure the elastic strap.

How do I clean my authentic replica?

Each replica is supplied with cleaning instructions which can be found in the accompanying paperwork folder

When will the Scarecrow and Dalek Mutant be on sale?

We have many characters ‘in the works’ and which ones actually make it onto our website for sale depends on a huge number of factors. There is a lot of development and prototyping work that has to go into making a replica practical to produce and sell to the public and this process is easier with some characters than others. The Scarecrow for example presents interesting and often frustrating problems, which are taking time to resolve and as with any of our replicas we won’t sell them until we’re absolutely positive we can deliver the best product possible.