FanSets vs. Quantum Mechanix (QMX) badges

[TJ Sinclair]

Having just seen the article on TrekCore, I got all excited, then realized I'd never bought anything from FanSets before. I've gotten several of the QMX magnetic badges, and the quality is quite good.

How do the FanSets badges compare to what QMX puts out? Which do people prefer? Is there a significant difference in look/feel -- like, if I were wearing a QMX Voyager badge, and my friend was wearing a FanSets Voyager badge, would you be able to notice a big difference?

 

[PT109]

I think both companies are great and I try to support both when I can. While QMX's output has dropped significantly, they did great work for a while. FanSets seems to treasure their Trek license and I've been really impressed by the quality of the items I've purchased from them but neither company is in the business of producing screen-accurate replicas.

For example, QMX's Voyager badge is very close to the right size and shape but it is highly idealized. The props on the 90s-era shows were resin sprayed with automotive paint and the original molds were sculpted by hand. If I recall, QMX had access to the original prop mold for the GEN/DS9/VOY badge but their final product was machined metal and super shiny. Still a lovely piece. I don't have a FanSets Voyager badge but from the pictures, the shape is pretty off but they seem to have nailed a more accurate color scheme.

All that said, FanSets seems to be moving toward releasing more accurate deltas. Their Picard badge is made beautifully but still has some significant differences from the screen-used props. Still happy to have it in my collection. Their new Pike badge looks really good and I pre-ordered the moment I saw the TrekCore article. It feels like they're pivoting to fill the QMX void and the quality (and accuracy) of their badge offerings is improving rapidly.

Bottom line? You asked about quality, not screen accuracy. In my opinion, both companies produce high-quality items for the price. I do collect screen-accurate prop replicas but have been happy with everything I've purchased from QMX and FanSets as well. I suppose it's all about the flavor you're looking for

 

[TJ Sinclair]

Thank you for the in depth and helpful reply, PT109! I appreciate the time and effort.

For me, screen accuracy is nice, whenever possible, but truly accurate replicas tend to be way out of my typical price range. If I were doing fan films, or professional cosplay, that would be another matter. But for just walking around at a convention, these are good enough for me, because as you say, they're well made. As a kid/teen in the 90s, I used to get combadge and rank pins at cons, still have my "Future Imperfect", but the quality varied greatly in what was available, and not all of them lasted long.

Hearing the Fan Sets stuff is on par with the quality of QMX is great, I'm going to head over and pre-order the Pike and All Good Things badges. Thank you!

 

[PT109]

Happy to help! The All Good Things badge looks great too!

 

[drt]

For example, QMX's Voyager badge is very close to the right size and shape but it is highly idealized. The props on the 90s-era shows were resin sprayed with automotive paint and the original molds were sculpted by hand. If I recall, QMX had access to the original prop mold for the GEN/DS9/VOY badge but their final product was machined metal and super shiny.

Yeah, the insignia badges are a weird case - perfect recreations of the actual props would look like cheap knockoffs, so the companies making them need to produce something which are more like how we'd assume they would actually look "in universe", metal and shiny.

 

[Leroy]

Does anyone have the Disco era Enterprise badge from QMX? I have their regular Disco badges, is the quality similar? Worth the buy?

 

[TJ Sinclair]

Does anyone have the Disco era Enterprise badge from QMX? I have their regular Disco badges, is the quality similar? Worth the buy?

They never released it. FanSets seems to be filling the gap.