Quantum Mechanix

Real World article
(written from a Production point of view)

Quantum Mechanix Inc., abbreviated as QMx, is an American company that was founded in 2006 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

For the general public, QMx produces and retails high quality props, badges, figurines, jewelry, keychains, maquettes, artwork, blueprints, toys, and scaled vehicle models based on a number of entertainment franchises. These licensed properties include Battlestar Galactica, Galaxy Quest and Star Wars, among many others. Some of its products are also retailed by Anovos, ThinkGeek and Loot Crate.

Its QMx FX Cinema Arts division manufactures props and models for the film and television industry, in conjunction with production and restoration services for the public.

Star Trek Into Darkness props and models

The QMx FX Cinema Arts division created fourteen "History of Starflight" filming miniatures that appeared on-screen in Star Trek Into Darkness and were seen in Admiral Marcus' office. [1] In May 2013, QMx announced plans to produce reproductions of some of these ships in two scales for retail release.

The company created all of the Starfleet Academy rings that were used in the film, including the ring used in the Kelvin Memorial Archive terrorist incident. [2]

In an alliance with Hollywood prop-maker Kenney's Custom Props, QMx also manufactured the phaser props used in the film. [3]

Star Trek licensing

Contest for the USS *Enterprise* Artisan Replica

In 2009, QMx announced that it had acquired exclusive licensing to produce a number of products based on the 2009 Star Trek film. This licensing was later expanded to encompass other Star Trek properties from the "prime universe" and later "alternate reality" (Kelvin Timeline) films. Corgi's and Master Replicas' licensing was abruptly terminated before the commencement of QMx's and eFX Collectibles' licenses.

QMx acquired licensing to build "Studio Scale" (36-inch), "Collector's Scale" (12-inch), solid metal "Metalworks" (8.5-inch), and "Mini Masters" (approximately 6-inch) starship replicas, along with high-end prop replicas. The studio scale starship license was procured by Anovos by the end of 2017, terminating QMx's production in this area.

As of mid-2018, the company maintains licensing to produce Star Trek badges, flags, artwork, jewelry, key chains, plush toys, 1/6-scale figures, novelties, and "Q-Pop" figurines. The Metalworks and new "Master Series" lines will also continue to be be manufactured. To gauge public interest, the company showed prototypes of two new types of phaser replicas at the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2018.

The Enterprise Project

Selection of "The Enterprise Project" artworks

To cross-promote the release of the 2009 Star Trek film and the USS Enterprise Artisan Replica, Paramount Pictures' "The Enterprise Project" commissioned twenty-four "graffiti, FX, and pop artists" to "design their own interpretation" of QMx's starship replica. Notable artists who contributed a design included director Robert Rodriguez, actor James Franco and comic book artist Jim Lee. The Enterprise Project's artworks were sent to tour cities around the world, commencing in March 2009.

List of artists

QMx original
Mr. Brainwash
Duncan Lemmon
Robert Rodriguez
House Industries
Ragnar
Harry Knowles
Michael Lau
Bobby Dixon
Jesús Díaz
Amanda Visell
Amy Vatanakul
Olka Osadzinska
André
H5
Turbokrapfen
James Franco
Will Lemon III
Jeremy and Claire Weiss
Afro-Punks
Rafael Burgos
Jeremy Kaplan
Jim Lee
David Rager
Brandon Fayette

Star Trek releases

Home video premiums

QMx produced metal Star Trek insignia badges and 5000 limited edition Metalworks (metal) USS Enterprise models for release with specific retailers' versions of the Star Trek Blu-ray set in 2009.

Metal QMx phaser premiums were included with the Amazon.com-exclusive Star Trek Into Darkness Blu-ray 3D release in September 2013.

Seventeen centimeter-long QMx "Mini Masters" replicas of the USS Franklin were included with certain Amazon.com Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and 4K Ultra HD releases of Star Trek Beyond in November 2016.

Studio Scale starship releases

USS Enterprise Artisan Replica

QMx released a 34-inch long Artisan Replica of the USS Enterprise in 2009, based on CGI models provided by ILM. The production replica featured LED lighting, sound effects, an illuminated mirror base, and was limited to an edition of 250. The standard model retailed for US$6,995.

USS Enterprise Refit and USS Enterprise-A Artisan Replicas

QMx released 34.5-inch long Artisan Replicas of the USS Enterprise (refit) and USS Enterprise-A in late 2011. The 1:350 scale production replicas featured LED lighting, sound effects, a mirrored base, and were limited to a combined edition of 250. In either livery, the standard model retailed for US$6,995.

USS Enterprise-D Artisan Replica

QMx released a 29.5-inch long Artisan Replica of the USS Enterprise-D in 2013. The 1:850 scale production replica featured LED lighting, sound effects, a mirrored base, and was limited to an edition of 50. The standard model retailed for US$9,995.

USS Kelvin Artisan Replica

QMx displayed a prototype Artisan Replica of the USS Kelvin at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. The 1:850 scale production replica featured LED lighting, sound effects, a mirrored base, and was intended to be limited to an edition of 50. [4]

Enterprise NX-01 Artisan Replica

QMx released a 23.5-inch long Artisan Replica of Enterprise NX-01 in 2013. The 1:350 scale production replica featured LED lighting, sound effects, a mirrored base, included Doug Drexler's signature, and was limited to an edition of 100. The standard model retailed for US$3,995.

USS Vengeance Artisan Replica

In 2013, QMx released a 36-inch long Artisan Replica of the USS Vengeance, identical in size to the prop model built by QMx for Star Trek Into Darkness. The 1:1600 scale production replica featured LED lighting, sound effects, an illuminated mirror base, and was limited to an edition of 100. The standard model retailed for US$9,995.

XCV 330 Ring Ship Artisan Replica

QMx released a 12-inch long Artisan Replica of the USS Enterprise (XCV 330) in November 2013. It was identical in size to the prop model built by QMx for Star Trek Into Darkness, was limited to an edition of 25, and retailed for US$1,499.95.

USS Reliant Artisan Replicas

1:250 Scale

In October 2014, QMx released a 37-inch long Artisan Replica of the USS Reliant. The 1:250 scale production replica featured LED lighting, sound effects, an illuminated base, and was limited to an edition of 500. The standard model retailed for US$9,995.

1:350 Scale

In November 2014, QMx released a 27-inch long Artisan Replica of the USS Reliant. The 1:350 scale production replica featured LED lighting, sound effects, a mirrored base, and was limited to an edition of 250. The standard model retailed for US$4,995.

USS Enterprise Artisan Replica

QMx displayed a prototype of their USS Enterprise (TOS) Artisan Replica at the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2015. The 1:350 scale ship featured LED lighting, sound effects and a mirrored base. Many aspects of this ship (including the appearance of aztec paint patterning and blue LED lighting strips along the inside of the warp nacelles) were departures from the ship's standard appearance. It was displayed with a space shuttle Enterprise miniature. [5]

USS Franklin Artisan Replica

The company displayed a prototype of their USS Franklin Artisan Replica at the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2016 which featured LED lighting and a posable base.

Metalworks starship releases

USS Enterprise Refit Solid Metal Replica

Metalworks USS *Enterprise* Refit desktop replica prototype

A 8.5-inch long solid metal USS Enterprise (refit) desktop replica was scheduled for release as a Star Trek Mission Crate (subscription box) gift premium by Loot Crate in 2018. Nonetheless, after extremely lengthy delays and the withdrawal of all QMx products from Loot Crate's releases, it was never sent to subscribers, nor was an explanation or compensation offered.

A Metalworks USS Enterprise from the alternate reality (Kelvin Timeline) was released in 2009 as a home video premium, as seen above.

Collector's Scale starship prototypes

USS Kelvin Collector's Scale Replica

Photographs of a 12-inch USS Kelvin prototype were shown by QMx in April 2013.

USS Vengeance Collector's Scale Replica

A 12-inch USS Vengeance prototype was shown in May 2013.

Mini Masters starships

Mini Masters starship prototypes

Five to six-inch long USS Enterprise (TOS) and USS Enterprise (refit) models were shown by QMx at Toy Fair 2016 and were slated to premiere in the fourth quarter of 2016 [6] but were not released.

A USS Defiant NX-74205 model was also planned.

Mini Masters starship releases

A USS Enterprise-D model premiered as a Loot Crate and QMx release in March 2018 and was available one month later at other retailers.

A USS Franklin miniature was released in 2016 as a home video premium, as seen above.

Master Series figurines

In March 2018, the first Master Series Latinum Edition figurine premiered as a Loot Crate release and became available at QMx's webshop and general retail in the following month. Two more figurines from the series were released in 2018 and 2019 by Loot Crate and/or QMx.