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PADDs (Personal Access and Display Device) can be seen everywhere in “Star Trek”. They are used to transfer and read reports, write letters, view pictures from the computers database etc. A real multi usage device!

What you see here is a PADD from “Star Trek: Voyager”. To be precise, it’s the smaller one of the two common types from the show – the one that was carried around in nearly every episode. There were times when Janeways desk was completely covered with these.

While this is a relative simple and cheap prop to make and – like most of the other props – was cast from resin during production of “Voyager”, the kit of my replica was not made from resin but from laser cut acrylic plates which however have the exact dimensions of the original PADDs.

This kit was manufactured by Matt Munson and was beautifully done in terms of research work and precise production. He even did the thickness of the acrylic sheets exactly right! The self-adhesive graphics were also done by him, including a “button” cut from brushed aluminum vinyl. Thanks a lot, Matt!

Let’s get to the pictures. But first, here are two screenshots from “Voyager” episodes showing a “real” PADD:

And this is my replica:

The standard color for modern Starfleet equipment: Plasti-kote 7173.

The metallic paint creates a nice and shiny surface.

“Here is the report you requested.”

Looks good next to my isolinear chips.

Since PADDs are often used in Star Trek shows and are obviously simple to build, I’ve tried to construct appropriate replicas lots of times before. However, I wasn’t really successful in that until now that I know more of materials and procedures.

So, here’s a presentation of my personal PADD history:

Left: TNG PADD made from thick cardboard and with coloured pencil graphics.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell exactly when I did these variants anymore, but as you can see when you look at the colored pencil graphics (first try on the left), I was still a kid!

The size is one thing I always got quite right…

Center: Corrugated board strengthened with putty, printed graphics and tin foil.