Reproducing props/costumes and licensing issues

[Sumghai]

I've been toying with the idea of making my own Star Trek costume - the uniform based closely on the Sierra 1 variant from Star Trek Online, a TNG Nemesis Type 2 hand phaser and possibly an original 25th Century LCARS touchscreen tricorder.

I'm aiming to design and make everything from scratch as much as possible, since the prices from a number of prop vendors aren't exactly cheap.

This brings the following questions to mind:

• Are the high cost of props from other vendors due to licensing fees they have to pay to CBS / Paramount / the Roddenberry estate? Or is it simply because they are hobbyists having to put up with high capital costs of getting molds made, etc?
• Being the generous type, I plan to freely distribute circuit schematics / dimensioned drawings / CAD files / etc of said props. Would that be kosher?

 

[T'Girl]

high cost of props from other vendors due to licensing fees

I think a big part of the high prices comes from the limited production runs, these are really specialty items and are just not in high demand. If they were in mass production, the per unit cost would be much lower.

Unless you are above average in your sewing skills, it might be in your best interest to hire a local seamstress to tailor the costume for you, my sister in law does this part time and the price could be a lot lower than you might think. (Hard economic time and all).

 

[Sumghai]

high cost of props from other vendors due to licensing fees

I think a big part of the high prices comes from the limited production runs, these are really specialty items and are just not in high demand. If they were in mass production, the per unit cost would be much lower.

Base cost of production spread over lower quantities = higher unit cost. Ah, I see.

Unless you are above average in your sewing skills, it might be in your best interest to hire a local seamstress to tailor the costume for you, my sister in law does this part time and the price could be a lot lower than you might think. (Hard economic time and all).

My mother's excellent with the sewing machine, having made a fair number of clothes from scratch. Might just have to pop down to my folk's place this weekend