****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I got into Doctor Who earlier this year at the start of the sixth series, catching up on the rest of the reboot over the summer break. As of now I'm doing my best to get into the classics, but that's proving a little harder at the moment. Time constraints and all.Regardless, since then I've gotten a little nutty about collecting Doctor Who related items, the sonic screwdriver chief among them. Mostly because I'm a sucker for replicas. The other because, well, sonics are cool. I've so far purchased the 9th/10th's Screwdriver toy, the "Future" Sonic Screwdriver and now this handy little gadget. For the price it's a pretty good deal.A good deal so long as you don't expect the best of replications. I said "little" gadget for a reason: the thing is TINY. I looked up comparison shots between it and the full-sized (over-sized?) toy replica and I was still surprised when I opened the package. It measures just shy of 15 cm/6 inches. Or, just a little shorter than the 10th's screwdriver. It's also surprisingly lightweight, having only a little heft in the top half thanks to the batteries (which came pre-installed, to my surprise). When you hold it in your hand, you get the impression that the bottom half is almost empty, filled only by a few wires too light to notice. Having said, it is easy to balance on the finger, at least for me. It's light, but it doesn't feel lopsided, nor very fragile. I've purposely dropped it a few times on my carpeted floor to test it out and no damage was done. I wouldn't risk it on harder flooring, though.As well, the details are remarkably well done for what is a relatively cheap flashlight. The black segment is a smooth, rubber-like material that has raised stitching in it; there are (plastic) bolts in the "claw" at the top and enough work done to give the impression that this thing could open up. It doesn't, sadly, nor does it make a single sound, contrary to what the listing claims.However, as I said before, it is still a fabulous piece. For $15 you get a (very bright!) flashlight made to look like an iconic piece from a favorite show. The small size also makes it much more portable compared to other replicas: I can easily fit it into an inside breast pocket to take it with me. Not that I would, of course, that'd just be silly. Ridiculous. So forth.Bottom line: If you want a nice lookalike that won't run you too much, this little flashlight is a fine choice. If you want a more screen accurate replica, I'd go with the toy (based on the one my sister has).
