Sadly I have to agree with Rylo, I really started out doing my own props (The Beldorn Blaster ETC.)
See:
RacProps Issue 7 - This is your Life, A Personal History Richard A. Coyle and here are a few of those old Beldorn Blasters at work:
RacProps Issue 7 - This is your Life, A Personal History Richard A. Coyle
Things went slowly..but I was selling out at first to the older fandom for cosplaying games at cons, (war games) and for fans whom were doing costumes for the masquerade. I was only able to build a small number of models, and wondered how well I would do if I could make more..
Sales dropped off and more and more I was asked to make copies of "real props".
The one thing that did work out was my original props were bought by a prop shop and a few were rented and got into real TV shows and films.
These were my ticket into making props for real. BUT The truth is it was really more my being able to do electronics in the 80s that gave me my career, I often "got the Job" for the model after I got the job to make it light up and do things....
For the 80s and 90s a prop with lights (and sound at cons) was often known as a "Coylized" prop.
Even with my rep, a few years ago I offered a concept Phaser that I had shown to Paramount here and on another site.
I was only seeking 10 orders.
I did not get them.
I have also seen a few frustrated prop makers who did a rethink of such things as Classic Phaers, and others cry why will no one buy...
I really hope both of us are wrong, and would say, Build what you what to have for your self.
Enjoy building them.
Offer them to others, and see what happens.
BUT At this time I cannot even sell "real props" like Logan's Run, Battlestar Galatica, The 6th Day, The Hidden, Timecop, Forbidden Planet and others.
Models that I have done over the 35 years I have been doing props.
Don't put your life savings into this...
I really hope you do alright, but felt you really needed this story and warning.
Rich