The Ed Miarecki Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan Phaser or how I learned to love "Yesterday's Enterprise"

Ed Miarecki Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Phaser

    Ah, the Phaser from the TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise". Originally a fan-convention special produced by fan and prop maker Ed Miarecki, it was meant to be a replica of the Phaser from Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, it was yanked for use in the TNG episode as a quick and dirty solution to the need for an anachronistic out-of-date Phaser for the crew of the Enterprise-C.

The example above is a rather poor casting of the EM (Ed Miarecki, heretofore known as EM) Phaser.  Sporting a kind of mottled paint job, a number of seam lines and a glued-on sticker-type control pad; this Phaser is quite the mess. Thankfully, it only cost me $40 dollars from a seller on ebay, who also claimed it had fan-made electronics (unfortunately for me he never claimed them functional). Despite that, this Phaser exudes sleek streamlined futurism straight out of Flash Gordon; in fact, put a "rocket style" fin on the top and it could easily pass for one of Flash's sidearms.

Unlike it's Original Series predecessor, it features long un-broken lines and a comfortable grip. It fits the hand like it was meant for it. However, it differs in some ways from it's intended on-screen counterpart (The Phaser from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan). 

One of the actual screen-used background or "dummy" Phasers. Picture taken from recent auction.

  Comparing the two images above, you will note the EM Phaser is longer and thinner, with a much simpler grip.  Not evident in the images is that the EM Phaser is also wider. This has the affect of 'streamlining' the weapon.

An artists rendering of the EM Phaser (Phasers.net)

A re-purposed vac-u-formed Ed Miarecki Phaser originally made for "Yesterday's Enterprise"

   The Phaser replicas EM sold at conventions were solid-cast resin and were quite heavy. The necessities of Television production prohibited such heavy props, so EM vac-u-formed over one of his Phasers, creating hollow replicas for use in the episode. The prop Phasers were never seen doing anything more than hanging from the actors uniforms so lighting effects were unnecessary. When antique Starfleet Phasers were needed for the episode "Final Mission", EM took one of the Phaser props he created for "Yesterday's Enterprise", re-painted it, added lights to it, a grip and sent it to the producers for approval. They instead decided to use the Phasers from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

   The Phaser seen above is from a private collection.

-The Spaced-out Blogger