Firefly Alliance Food Bar

[jason1976]

You know the kind we see towards the start of the pilot episode (serenity), when Mal opens the case they heisted.

I know there was a thread about this sometime back ,but I can't find it. So, I'm starting this one, but if you can point me twards the old one, feel free.


In a thread about this prop someone posted a B&W drawing/graphic of the design on these bars. I'm looking for that graphic. (or one like it) I know there is a person or two offering replicas of the prop , but I want the graphic for another project.

 

[Bronson BB]

You know the kind we see towards the start of the pilot episode (serenity), when Mal opens the case they heisted.

I know there was a thread about this sometime back ,but I can't find it. So, I'm starting this one, but if you can point me twards the old one, feel free.


In a thread about this prop someone posted a B&W drawing/graphic of the design on these bars. I'm looking for that graphic. (or one like it) I know there is a person or two offering replicas of the prop , but I want the graphic for another project.

If you check www.fireflyprops.net, you'll find a thread where we've found a guy on eBay who sells some made from the original mold.

Not quite what you're askin' for but...

 

[jason1976]

THANK YOU! It may not be exactly the graphic I'm looking for, but the do have one, or two there. More importantly, I am a HUGE firefly fan, and I didn't even know about that forum (now I have an all new place to waste my time and money. :lol)

 

[oldzey]

http://www.fireflyprops.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=69

I've been bidding on these for a while now, but can never seem to win one.

Definitely a market for them, I say.

Considering the trouble Captain Mal went to to get them (and sell them), I'll be patient. :lol

 

[Deech]

Hum.. that referenced thread seems to be very much a recasters thread...

To get the dimensions, and such, looks like someone bought it from the guy who cast them from the original mold, and started copying it exactly...

I'm not pointing fingers, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around the nebulous definition of "recasting" and this seems like it's it. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

 

[keelhauler]

Hum.. that referenced thread seems to be very much a recasters thread...

To get the dimensions, and such, looks like someone bought it from the guy who cast them from the original mold, and started copying it exactly...

I'm not pointing fingers, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around the nebulous definition of "recasting" and this seems like it's it. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

Well, I know that the folks on that forum are sensitive to the recasting issue and I believe the primary intent with that thread was/is to use the measurements to make foodstuffs - chocolate bars, protein bars, etc. Most of the forum members (myself included) have already purchased food bars from the guy who made them from the original mold.

 

[jason1976]

You know, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'll never get the recasting thing. Some works there butt off, to create, and make a prop for a movie, or TV show. The we start forums like this, where we study those pieces to death, and fuss over every little detail, until we can make as close to an exact copy as possible, in some cases, even making molds, and casting right off the screen used props.

Then someone takes "our hard work" and studies it, and copies, or makes molds and cast our stuff. And we go "Boo Hoo, I've been recast." WE ARE ALL RECASTERS. These, and forums like them should just be called the recasters forums. When you copy other peoples work as a hobby, you shouldn't complain when people copy you.

I know that not a popular view, and that kind of talk will get you band. And I don't want that because I really do love these forums, but no-one is ever going to convince me that we're the good guys, and those that do the same thing we're doing to the pros, are the bad guys.

I get that when some folk wine about recasting they are worried about quality control, and standers. And I can respect that. Though, the sad truth is, I have got some really awful just on these forums, from the big shots, that get hailed as the greats around here. So, I think before we give recasters a hard time, we should raise our own standers around here.(that's not to say I haven't got a few very nice pieces here, but it is few and far between.)

I'm really sorry, but that's just how I feel, and I AM NOT A RECASTER, and I don't knowingly buy form them. Not because I'm against it in any way, but rather, because I don't want to loose my membership here.
Plus, I do this as a hobby, and have no desire to make a living at it. (What I make, or buy, if for me, and me alone.) And, I have too much respect for a number of the members here to do it.

I will say I hate it when a friend of mine, how has one of there original (non replica ) items recast.


Rant over. Sorry to have wasted you time,

 

[robstyle]

I personally dont understand why anyone would want to make food off a mold of the brick in the first place?

 

[jason1976]

I personally dont understand why anyone would want to make food off a mold of the brick in the first place?

Yeah, It sounded kind of fun to me at fist. I though "of course it should be edible." The problem is, you know like any other replica it probably wouldn't be cheep to buy one. So your looking at either:

1. An over priced snack.
2. A prop that will get stale, rot, and/or draw bugs.
3. Melt, or other wise stick to your other props.

I thought it would be fun to have a slice of cheese in my Buffy display (if you don't know why, then watch the last episode in season 4) but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it would be a bad idea.

 

[Deech]

I guess that's some of the intent in that thread, but one that particularly caught my eye was the guy who said, "I can't wait to get my hands on the replicas that come out of this thread" or something to that effect.

I think the recasting issue is two-fold.

First, odds are good the guys doing the original prop were paid to make the one-off and never intend to make another. Therefore, making a copy for fans to have and enjoy, even to sell to those fans, seems reasonably ok.

On the other hand, if someone does the work to make a copy from scratch or to obtain the original molds and make more for fans with the intention of reselling, it seems unreasonable to think it's ok to take his work, copy it, then attempt to undercut or "get in on the action". However, if you do the same amount of work to create your own version of the prop, then all's fair.

I guess it boils down to who's getting paid for what. The original guy is getting paid for the one off, which is fair to him. The second guy is getting paid to recreate it, which is also fair. The recaster is simply stealing the second guy's work and getting paid for nothing, which is not fair at all.

If the second guy knows he's going to lose his ass by devoting time/money and energy into making a prop that some other jerk is going to just steal and recast, then that guy has no real incentive to do it. Then we don't get the chance to get our hands on many of the props that we all love.

 

[RedTwoX]

Just to expand a bit on Deech's post: Basically what we are protecting is the incentive to make a replica of the prop available to the rest of the community.

MemberA puts in the time, effort and money to recreate a prop, build molds, and cast duplicates so others can have a copy in the process recouping the cost of making the master and perhaps some profit as well. MemberB buys a copy, makes a mold, ans starts selling copies of the copy. MemberB didn't have the initial investment in building a master, so he can sell for less and still turn a profit thus undercutting MemberA and taking customers/recoup/profit. So what is MemberA's incentive to make copies of his master available? There isn't any. If anyone else wants one they to have to go to the time, effort, and expense of scratch building a master. So it's in our best interest to protect those who do go out on a limb to invest the time, effort, and money needed to research and recreate that first replica.

Of course, that isn't always the situation. We don't know exactly how this eBay seller got the molds. Did he pay this friend some exhorbitant amount of money? Did the friend give it to him free of charge? If he he paid $1000 for a production mold then he has to sell quite a few bars just to break even. If he got the mold for free he may have broken even on casting material after the first or second auction closed. We don't know. For that matter we only have his word for it that it is a mold from the series production. However, if it really is a cast pulled out of one of the molds used to make these for the show, then that has value to a Firefly Collector. The fact that he is willing to share, even if it's only motivated by his own financial gain, is something those collectors should respect.

 

[PhoenixVader]

I did graphics for this item, not the one he is selling but one I came up with from screen grabs. There is a thread over at Propcircle about it. You could easily cut templates and then make a mold. Not too difficult.

Here are the graphics I came up with. Enjoy

thomas

 

[oldzey]

Thanks, Thomas! thumbsup

 

[Birdie]

Of course, that isn't always the situation. We don't know exactly how this eBay seller got the molds. Did he pay this friend some exhorbitant amount of money? Did the friend give it to him free of charge? If he he paid $1000 for a production mold then he has to sell quite a few bars just to break even. If he got the mold for free he may have broken even on casting material after the first or second auction closed. We don't know.

I do, actually. The owner of the mould purchased it in a job lot of silicone moulds in an auction of assets held by one of the companies who provided props for Firefly which went bust. He wasn't initially aware of what the mould even was.

 

[oldzey]

THANK YOU! It may not be exactly the graphic I'm looking for, but the do have one, or two there. More importantly, I am a HUGE firefly fan, and I didn't even know about that forum (now I have an all new place to waste my time and money. :lol)

I hear ya.

Man am I ever stupid - it was totally in my blind spot. I thought it was the same thing as the Firefly Archive (which I've been through many times).

 

[jason1976]

Just to expand a bit on Deech's post: Basically what we are protecting is the incentive to make a replica of the prop available to the rest of the community.

MemberA puts in the time, effort and money to recreate a prop, build molds, and cast duplicates so others can have a copy in the process recouping the cost of making the master and perhaps some profit as well. MemberB buys a copy, makes a mold, ans starts selling copies of the copy. MemberB didn't have the initial investment in building a master, so he can sell for less and still turn a profit thus undercutting MemberA and taking customers/recoup/profit. So what is MemberA's incentive to make copies of his master available? There isn't any. If anyone else wants one they to have to go to the time, effort, and expense of scratch building a master. So it's in our best interest to protect those who do go out on a limb to invest the time, effort, and money needed to research and recreate that first replica.

Of course, that isn't always the situation. We don't know exactly how this eBay seller got the molds. Did he pay this friend some exhorbitant amount of money? Did the friend give it to him free of charge? If he he paid $1000 for a production mold then he has to sell quite a few bars just to break even. If he got the mold for free he may have broken even on casting material after the first or second auction closed. We don't know. For that matter we only have his word for it that it is a mold from the series production. However, if it really is a cast pulled out of one of the molds used to make these for the show, then that has value to a Firefly Collector. The fact that he is willing to share, even if it's only motivated by his own financial gain, is something those collectors should respect.

First of all, none of this is has to do with what this thread is about, and I helped get it off topic. This trhead was looking for an old graphic of the bare, and since thing some folk (who are on topic) have posted some great stuff. (thank you.) I needed the graphic, not to make a replica, of the bar, but rather because I like the design, and though I might do some EU props out of it. (i. e. a rapper for a different bar, or a label for a can, or something like that.)

Secondly, I will say this. I have always understood way folks hate recasters, I just don't agree. I know we are all about "What the market will bare" and some folk around here, really take that to the max. (with both licensed ,and unlicensed props) However, the reason Wal*mart was the only retailer to show profits in some of the darkest times in our economy, the reason, they are the biggest retailer, and the new standard, is because the take whatever one else does, and under cuts it. (it ant the service, or the quality the keeps the people coming back. That's for sure.) Now a lot of people hate them, and hate what they've done to the good old "Mom & Pop stores" , and trust me I really do too. But, that's just the new way of things. Quantity, over quality. So if I make a prop, and someone can cast if up, and sell it cheaper, then I don't get made, I just look at how I can stay competitive with them, and if I can't then I say "kudos, for besting me" and let the people decide who they want to buy form. I mean, Wal*mart might be huge, but I know folks that wont shop there. How only shop at the over priced, elitists, places, and "to each there own". In the end, the rules here, are the rules, no recasting, and don't buy from those who, and that's probably not going to change, and neither will the fact that off boarder, will keep on doing it. (sorry to have to contributed to throughing the thread down a path that it really didn't need to go down.)

 

[pennausamike]

I personally dont understand why anyone would want to make food off a mold of the brick in the first place?

The foodbars would be a fun novelty treat at Shindigs, since they "were" food in the series.

Mike

 

[oldzey]

I'd eat one.

 

[jason1976]

I saw that these are now our there in mini soap form, but is there a place I can get them in full size. (made of anything.) I haven't seen one on ebay in a longg time.

 

[Goodwolf]

I think that guys molds finally gave up the ghost. Over at Fireflyprops.net we bought a ton of stuff off of him, including, if memory serves, about a dozen or so bars.

I have a rough one (unpainted) that I had bought but got a painted one in a trade and haven't done anything with it since.