Here's what I'm working on just for the hell of it :-)

[kproche]

Design sketches for the Project SG-69 stargate

SG-69 Chevron Closeup of the concept for the chevron/plasma disk overlay for the SG-69 encoding chevrons 1-7 (8 and 9 will be sans plasma disk)

SG-69 Stargate Design Sketch for the entire SG-69 Gate prop

Comments

[kproche.livejournal.com]

well, it's not sooooo bad.

I spent $120 on the 7 plasma disks. $60 on the Abyss Jr (the rippling water light effect)
I already own the blue rope light (the blue dashed ring)

The rest of it'll be built out of 1/2" and 1/4" thick black foamcore in a couple of layers, broken into 9 segments so it'll be small enough to pack when broken apart (with some clever work with adhesive diffraction foil and silver paint marker)

So I'm looking at probably about 300 bucks total for an eminently reusable prop. I can also use all the light components independently for other decorating projects. So I'm not feeling too guilty.