This just in from:
Timothy Leming tleming@psnw.com
Phaser details:
By the way, in the recently published book “Star Trek Sketch Book”, by Herb
Solow, the sketches by Matt Jefferies indicate the knurled wheel on the phaser
one was the sight adjustment knob, and the plate the was lifted when you turned
the knob was the sight. The button on the bottom of the phaser one was the
trigger! So you would raise the sight with your thumb and fire it with your
trigger finger in a very natural position.
As I said before, the button on the bottom of the hand phaser was the trigger.
The rectangular “ring” on the front of the phaser above the brass tube muzzle
was the sight opening and on his sketch is labeled “clear” (as in you can see
thru). The brass plate on top was simply the sight cover. The translucent
piece that raised the cover was an illuminated sight screen. I guess the idea
was you turn the knurled wheel, raised the sight, looked into the translucent
part and it was like a lens that let you see thru the rectangular opening in
front on the same line as the phaser beam would be emitted. It certainly goes
a long way in explaining how they expected you to accurately aim such a small
weapon. Evidently this is why there is a clear piece on the phaser 2 in front
of where the hand phaser mounts. That way the sight on the hand phaser, that
“looks” thru the rectangular piece on it’s front, is still usable when mounted
on the phaser 2.
As to some detail on the pistol phaser, the aluminum ring on the muzzle that
turns is the Range Adjustment Ring. The Lucite “beam emitter” on the muzzle,
or “probe” as labeled on his sketch, is supposed to extend or retract with the
adjustment of this Range Adjustment Ring.
The phaser 2 handle was definitely the power pack and the trigger was to unlock
only when the power pack was rotated into place.
Tim
I have not had a chance to check this for myself, but have also heard of it from a second person,
so I am putting this in as a foot note. ED.
