When it comes to collectables in the Star Trek world, one of the most reliable lines of merchandise were pins that fans could wear or display to replicate the brave Starfleet heroes on screen. For many fans, back in the day the go to place for these was Hollywood Pins’ collection as they churned out every Starfleet emblem from all era’s, rank pins and even a few commemorative pins including limited edition anniversary designs and Starships.
Several other contenders have came and gone providing the coveted icons of Star Trek fandom, including the Roddenberry Store and QMX. However, the latest supplier – FanSets – seem to be the most enthusiastic yet.
Starting out with character and commemorative pins, FanSets has become the forerunner for collectables in the market, not just for their Star Trek output, but other licenced properties including heavy hitters DC and Harry Potter franchises amongst others.
Blowing up during the first run of Discovery, FanSets seemed committed to catering to every fan’s favourite. Not just the Kirk’s and Picards, which are often a massive go-to for anyone who takes an action figure license, but focused on everyone and every thing.
Their enamel character pins of course have the Captains, the huge fan favourites that we’d watch week after week. They also have M’Ress, the often forgotten about addition from The Animated Series. They have Queen Arachnia, from that one episode of Voyager. They’ve got the Salt Vampire, Vina… and thats just the full body character pins.
Other additions have included logo’s for the La Sirena and Cerritos bar; Starship pins from the Reliant to Shenzhou; Props such as the Original Series tricorder and the Horga’hn; and more including specific episode and season commemorative pins as well as specially designed anniversary collectables.
Though the real excitement comes from a more recent addition to their line up: The Star Trek Delta Collection.
For over ten years now, the Starfleet Delta market had been dominated by QMX who produced pins for the 2009 Star Trek film, recoloured versions for Star Trek Beyond and more including Discovery and TNG era pins. However, after years of items being listed as “coming soon” we needed a new hero to step into the field.
Starting out with character and commemorative pins, FanSets has become the forerunner for collectables in the market, not just for their Star Trek output, but other licenced properties including heavy hitters DC and Harry Potter franchises amongst others.
Blowing up during the first run of Discovery, FanSets seemed committed to catering to every fan’s favourite. Not just the Kirk’s and Picards, which are often a massive go-to for anyone who takes an action figure license, but focused on everyone and every thing.
Their enamel character pins of course have the Captains, the huge fan favourites that we’d watch week after week. They also have M’Ress, the often forgotten about addition from The Animated Series. They have Queen Arachnia, from that one episode of Voyager. They’ve got the Salt Vampire, Vina… and thats just the full body character pins.
Other additions have included logo’s for the La Sirena and Cerritos bar; Starship pins from the Reliant to Shenzhou; Props such as the Original Series tricorder and the Horga’hn; and more including specific episode and season commemorative pins as well as specially designed anniversary collectables.
Though the real excitement comes from a more recent addition to their line up: The Star Trek Delta Collection.
For over ten years now, the Starfleet Delta market had been dominated by QMX who produced pins for the 2009 Star Trek film, recoloured versions for Star Trek Beyond and more including Discovery and TNG era pins. However, after years of items being listed as “coming soon” we needed a new hero to step into the field.
Every Star Trek fan, at some point in their life whether they’ll admit it or not, has wanted to slap on the badge of their era and just take that brief moment to feel like a Starfleet officer. Then of course, we shove it in a drawer or put it on display and try to remember we’re adults (sometimes).
But a lot of us are also ridiculous perfectionists. And over the years we have bought what can honestly be summed up as a bit crap. Even going back to Hollywood Pins in the 90’s, while they produced some good things such as the Future Imperfect pins and some pretty good rank sets from the movies, they also gave us a paper thin Generations uniform pin and a Monster Maroon pin that looked like it had melted in the sun.
QMX raised the bar with the sets they delivered on. So Fansets moving from enamel pins to one of the most coveted collectables in the Trek world was a big step. And I’ll admit, I was hesitant to jump on board. But thankfully, they delivered!
FanSets Delivery (right) & Personal Display (left)
While the line is only just beginning, what they have on offer so far has impressed a cynical and picky fan like me. The best in their Delta’s set, for me, is their 2399 era Starfleet pin from Picard.
The pin comes in two layers, with the backing in the accurate gun metal grey with a shiny silver hollow delta laid on top. In terms of accuracy, it’s spot on perfect and manages to look better in person than it does on the show. For a company that mostly produces colourfully painted enamel pins, the quality and construction are of a really high standard.
Available in both traditional two-post pin and magnet form, it’s marketed as a collectable and not a prop replica or cosplay piece. Presumably due to license restrictions. However, since I don’t work for Fansets I’d recommend the magnetic pin for anyone looking to spice up their costumes.
Another that impressed from their range was the pin from Lower Decks. Which they should be credited for in bringing to life. In the animated series, the crew’s pin is really just a 2D shape. FanSets, with approval from CBS, have taken that 2D shape and given it some extra dimension, which has transformed what could have been a fairly dull piece into something that takes that simplistic design and transforms it into something more appealing to the eye.
Some products in the Delta line, so far, don’t quite match the appeal of competitors. The Discovery Command pin for example doesn’t have the texture details of the QMX version, and the pin introduced in Generations – while coming with a matte finish more closely resembling the painted plastic seen in screen – does fall into the trap of the overly-wide gap in the backplate.
However, despite one or two stumbles, whats come from FanSets Delta range so far has been excellent. The matte textures on both the Generations and Picard pins have been applied to the All Good Things version, offering the most accurate depiction of the alternate future design so far. And with their plans to expand to other era’s, the products will only improve over time.
FanSets continues to add to their collection. Both in their character pins, and in their delta’s. With their work so far, it’s quite exciting to see where their Deltas line itself will go. They’ve already teased some interesting products, such as 3D models of the 32nd Century pins from Discovery’s third season. However, most of us should be sitting on edge over one promise they’ve made…. The TWOK era pins.
Whether an officially licensed product, made from the original company or independently created, the TWOK pins have never been made to a standard close enough to resemble what we’ve seen on screen.
With FanSets working on creating the pins, with Anovos’ John Cooley, as well as their ability to craft matte-metallics in comparison to Hollywood Pins and QMX’s extreme shiny’s, when FanSets uses their catchphrase #DeltasDoneRight – I not only hope they can live up to that, I believe them!
About the author
A Fistful of Spooky Encounters
Since it's inception Star Trek hasn't just been a sci fi show, but a show that used it's science fiction setting to tell a variety of stories from a large pool of themes and styles. And since we're officially in 'Spooky Season' on the countdown to Halloween, why not take a look at some of Star Trek's best dives into darkness? EMPOK NOR DEEP SPACE NINE, SEASON 5 Deep Space Nine is falling apart and thanks to the war, O'Brien can't exactly ask the Cardassians for spare parts. But he has a plan. Along with Nog and Garak, O'Brien leads an engineering crew to another abandoned Cardassian station to salvage what they can. Only problem is... there's a reason it was abandoned... Possibly the most straight forward horror story in the series, Empok Nor was host to an experiment gone […]
Delta Quarter Promotions & Citations: September 2026
Throughout it’s entire existence SFC has grown, evolved and thrived due to the commitment and passion of our officers and crew. Keen members can make a huge difference within their unit or the fleet as a whole, and we like to ensure members are rewarded and recognised for all they bring to the organisation. Starting this year, we're opening every new period within the fleet celebrating those who have made an impact and engaged in being a positive influence in their unit or in Q2 overall. And while we're getting in a little bit earlier, we'd like to introduce our Delta Quarter awards. While promotion is one of the most visible awards available to members, one of the most vital are our commendations. Commendations are a formal recognition awarded to members of Quadrant 2 who have shown commendable service and […]
Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey: ‘Tomorrows Enterprise’, Strange New Worlds S4E10
Focusing on two timelines, Tomorrows Enterprise leads with Uhura of the present linked to her future as the two work together, manipulating the timeline to their advantage to solve the mystery of an undecipherable alien message, and a certain Scottish engineer who seems to have vanished from the timeline in the future... Writers: Henry Alonso Myers & Robbie Thompson. Director: Chris Fisher. In the present, there's some weirdness for Pike's Enterprise as they investigate a White Hole thats giving off some weird signals and an energy pulse that causes a temporal shift that directly effects Uhura after she hears strange sounds over comms. As she begins to hear things, such as Scotty screaming for help, her future self is going through some oddities of her own. A year in the future, the Enterprise is on the other side of […]
What If…. the Whales Were Never Extinct?
Fondly remembered as the lightest, more comedic entries in Star Trek's film offerings, The Voyage Home is the story of an alien probe coming to Earth to talk to it's whale pen pal, a little bit miffed that they've not had a letter in a while. In the 21st century, those pen pals – Humpback Whales – had been hunted to extinction. Meanwhile, Kirk and his disgraced crew were on the way home to stand trial and through some time warp shenanigans, take a stolen Bird of Prey back to the 20th century, kidnap some whales, and take them to the 23rd century to save the day. The charges against Kirk were a fairly big deal. Previously Kirk had stolen a soon to be retired Enterprise, went against orders and along with support from his long standing command crew barged […]
It’s a Kind of Magic: ‘Once La’an A Time’, Strange New Worlds S4E09
Developed by an alien tapping into the mind of M'Benga's daughter, turning reality into her favourite book, the Elysium Kingdom is now more reality than fantasy. Having morphed from a surreal experience to a flat-Earth like planet replica floating through space, the Elysium Kingdom lives on with it's evil queen continuing dream up new schemes. But the Kingdom's purpose has shifted with it arriving to unsubtly help one of the Enterprise crew... Writers: Onitra JohnsonDirector: Sydney Freeland Not quite by chance, the Enterprise runs into the 'unknown flat planet', a disc-shaped world moving through space with it's own power, air and life. Beaming down, Pike, Spock, Pelia and La'an find themselves in a fairy tale world. Complete with real fairies. And a fairy castle. After running into King Ridley, the part played by M'Benga in the season one episode, they […]
[Retro Review] The Doomsday Machine
Responding to a distress call from the USS Constellation, the Enterprise race to the rescue but they arrive too late to save the day. Coming under fire from an alien entity, the Constellation has been heavily damaged and with only one survivor within it's charred shell; Commodore Matt Decker... Still in shock from the attack, Decker isn't able to say if it was an alien ship, or a creature that tore his ship apart. It doesn't take long to track the aliens flight path. It's not from around these parts, entering the Galaxy and on course towards populated areas that would undoubtedly be next in it's devastating path. Beaming on board with an away team, Kirk aims to try and get whats left of the ship back up and running while getting Decker to safety. But during the transit, the […]
Related
Relay Recap: July 2024
All Features Universe Categories Fleet Alert Comms GORN GIRL recap; july 2025 Picking up on the Season 2 cliff-hanger, Strange New Worlds returned to our screens this month to find Captain Pike and his crew on the edge of war with the Gorn as Season 3 was finally released!Exploring new worlds and new problems, the Enterprise crew are back in action on Paramount Plus and we're keeping ourselves up to date with weekly episode discussion threads on our FB Continuing Mission Group & Weekly episode reviews from Admin ! Explore... Episode Reviews Spoilers Group ACROSS THE UNIVERSE As we look back on Pike's adventures on the Enterprise in the prequel series, Paramount also gave us a look at whats to come next as Entertainment Weekly and SDCC's Star Trek Universe panel gave us a sneak peek at the reopening of […]
Quartermasters Stores Review: Hero Within Field Jacket
These days Star Trek can, and is, a collection of tales with multiple settings. From secretive science experiments, to unimportant Starships. In the 1990's Star Trek was seen as only one thing: A crew exploring space on the Enterprise. And there was even pushback to there being a different Enterprise and crew in the 80's before the launch of The Next Generation. But producers of the time weren't worried about cries of heresy as they came up with a new plan to expand the Star Trek Universe with Deep Space Nine.
