Review of Ghostbusters Neutrino Wand Prop Replica

Introduction

Who you gonna call? When it comes to Ghostbusters prop replicas, it's clearly Mattel. They've released their third 1:1 scale replica under the license - the Neutrino Wand! Add this to the PKE Meter and the Ghost Trap, and your ultimate Halloween costume is one step closer to completion.

This guy is still available at Matty Collector for $130, and just started shipping.

Packaging - ****
Like the Ghost Trap before it, this wand comes in a simulated crate, plenty big enough to keep the wand safe and sound. It looks great, and has some hilarious warnings on the exterior ("Warning: not effective on nimble minxes"). Even if you don't usually keep the package, this one is just too cool to throw away.

Sculpting - ****
It seems to be just about the right size - easily held in two adult hands, and you can reach all the switches and the trigger easily. The wand is about 21 inches long, end to end.

While this is almost entirely plastic (the switches and some of the screws are metal of course, along with the collar on the bottom that would be used to attach it to the pack), it looks solid and sturdy because of the realistic sculpt. The fake welds on the barrel and handle look great, and even the heat sink on the right side looks like the real deal.

Paint - ***1/2
The black is largely consistent and clean, although there was one or two spots that give away the plastic nature of the replica.

The printed labels look great, and the silver knobs are well done. The welds mentioned earlier have just the right paint application to create that perfect realistic appearance.

Articulation - ***
My only concern with this replica comes in this area. I'm calling it 'articulation' for consistency, but it's really the mechanics.

All the switches flip, and the knobs turn, and the buttons press just fine. But the tube or barrel in front that extends doesn't always work quite right. Sometimes it doesn't extend all the way, confusing the wand. When you try to retract it, it won't work. You have to manually pull it forward til it's fully extended, then the retraction works.

This is probably something that varies from wand to wand, and it's not a consistent issue even with mine. Sometimes it works just fine, other times not. I'm betting that the batteries make a difference too - it takes a lot of juice to extend the tube.

Still, it's my only real concern, and I'm hoping that it's not a consistent issue for them.

That's not all the movement either. When you press the trigger and fire the wand, the entire thing shakes in your hands. There's two settings, one with more intensity than the other. The settings also have different light schemes for the barrel, so you know which setting your on for sure.

The instructions claim that if you 'cross the beams' (hold the barrels close) on two wands, they colors change again and the vibration gets even wilder. I'd love to check this out, but sadly, no one else within my physical proximity has one of these bad boys. I just don't have enough cool friends.

Sound Feature - ****
These aren't some poorly sampled, staticky sounds - they are bright, clear and loud. They are also right from the movie, including the cool start up sound. There's a unique sound for just about every switch and function, making this a highly interactive replica.

I particularly love the sound of the wand powering down when you release the trigger. Loud, clear and realistic, the sounds really make this replica shine.

Light Feature - ****
Of course, the lights aren't bad either. As you flip each switch, each of the lights power up, bright and clean.  After extending the barrel, pressing the trigger causes it to flash with varying colors and intensity.

Fun Factor - ****
Whether you're dressing up for your next Halloween party, your next Con, or just goofing off around the house, this is one mighty fun prop. Just make sure you have plenty of extra batteries!

Value - ***
I'm not going to tell you that $130 is cheap, but you're getting a terrific replica here, with very cool lights, great sounds, and moving parts - getting all that for this price is a solid deal.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - ****
Another outstanding replica from Matty Collector. While not every one they've done has been at this level - can you say Hoverboard? - they've brought their A game to the Ghostbusters license.

We've also got the Ecto goggles, so we can keep our fingers crossed that we'll see more in 2014. We also all know just how expensive it would have been for them to produce a full scale pack, but a lot of that expense was in producing things like the trap and the wand, and Mattel may be working their way up to being able to produce a pack that doesn't seem that expensive, relatively speaking. C'mon Mattel!

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ****
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ***
Sound Feature - ****
Light Up Feature - ****
Fun Factor - ****
Value - ***
Overall - ****

Where to Buy 
Matty Collector has this bad boy for $130. You can search ebay, but I'm betting you won't get a better deal for awhile.

Related Links -
Mattel has produced two other terrific Ghostbusters props - the Trap, and the PKE Meter. They also did a number of figures, including the 12" Zeddemore, and the 12" Ray and Venkman. In the six inch scale, they have also released the SDCC exclusive Egon, Ray, Venkman, and Winston.

- I've also covered the NECA releases in the past, including Gozer, Slimer, Vinz and Zuul, as well as their large Staypuft Marshmallow Man.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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