Resin Re-casting. Your opinions

[grozny]

I am curious, since many of us now, or have in the past cast and sold hobby products.
How do you look at the current trends in resin re-casting?
Re-casting parts from an old kit is OK?
Re-casting parts from Modelhaus is OK?
Re-casting something from another caster after a minor change has been made is OK?
Re-casting parts from a Revell kit that is currently available is OK?
Re-casting something you bought from Shapeways is OK?
Buying from re-casters is OK, because you just want the product and don't care where it comes from, right?

Let's hear it!

[Excrewchief]

My self won't outright copy another casters work to resell. Unless they say ok ..
To use somebody else's stuff and heavily modify it or should I say use parts maybe if the part I start with is a very poor part to begin with then I might. . If it is very good and that came from someone that makes a living from it probibly not .
With modelhaus closed and if the terms I hear are tru.... probibly from what I hear about the terms they probibly never sell . And they also got there start copying other people's work . So they really can't say much. Plus none of ther stuff has a patent or copy right that I have seen. If they copy mine and probibly will at some time or another. If I just came out with it I would not be happy if it had been out for a while and I had a chance to recuperate my cost and make some return on top I would not be happy but definitely not be like some people you see on other forums . It really a tuff answer patent cost are so high and take so long you really would not likely be able to recover the cost involved .plus when they copy your work it's because it's good right also most people that would copy anything have no net worth to go after and would cost more than you would get.so really all you can do is live with it. Also most people that would copy are not very good . So he buyer gets junk . I know I have had peopleant to fix items they have bought that is very scary I have a friend that broght me one to fix the roof was a 1/4 " higher on one side when it was sitting flat on the table . It was very clear they had made a copy of someone's work and ruined it because of what it was . There was some extreme good quality and some that looked like it was there first attempt. With resin.. and I know I have made some very bad parts but I am not going to sell that to anybody......
There is one guy that all he does is copy people's work and is very proud of it . Watching his vidios is one of the most funny thing because he thinks he is so good. And in the vidio you can see how poor of work he does. And that is hard to do. But it is that bad. If I ever recived anything from him I think I would return it in person across the country . Most of the time he says it's good. Enough for me..I really am suprised. That he is still in business and has venders. Selling his product. He will copy a kit that just came out. Maybe more later but this is a very good subject. Thanks for starting it.

[Maindrian Pace]

Jul 24, 2017 11:42:37 GMT -7 grozny said:

I am curious, since many of us now, or have in the past cast and sold hobby products.
How do you look at the current trends in resin re-casting?
Re-casting parts from an old kit is OK?
Re-casting parts from Modelhaus is OK?
Re-casting something from another caster after a minor change has been made is OK?
Re-casting parts from a Revell kit that is currently available is OK?
Re-casting something you bought from Shapeways is OK?
Buying from re-casters is OK, because you just want the product and don't care where it comes from, right?

Let's hear it!

Depends on several things, with judgement call being a big part.

Parts from an old kit - Yes. That's a big part of the casting market, and how many casters got started.

Modelhaus - Most of their parts are copies of kit parts for restoration of kits and promos. Those parts - Same as old kit parts.

Modelhaus special parts, bodies, and other unique items - No, with the exception of getting permission to do so.

Another caster after a minor change to the body or part - No. There was a recent example of this on the Model Cars forum where some ebay schmo recast the Motor City El Camino after he did a ratty job of adding side trim, and the workmanship was terrible besides. He got lambasted big time, and his auction was pulled for violation of counterfeit rules.

Exceptions: If the caster is long out of business and not available for permission to recast, make a judgement call. If the caster was a known rip-off artist that absconded with several customers' cash and didn't send the goods, I say go for it, and maybe even give the known ripped-off customers a good deal if they are still interested. Inter-hobby goodwill if you will.

Currently available kit parts - It's been done, but not much money to be made there as many builders would rather buy the whole kit for parts, especially if it has many nice parts to offer, or if they are a member of a forum or Facebook group, etc, they can ask for a buy/trade. Selling a handful of small parts is not going to make any difference to a major kit manufacturer's bottom line.

Shapeways or other printed part - I believe that's OK, because that is what many casters do to come up with new parts to offer. They make their own files, which are available only to them, so it's not like you can buy their stuff in the raw and start casting away. Not 100% sure about that, so asking is a good idea.

Buying from re-casters - I wouldn't if the part is available from the original caster, the quality is sure to be much better. If it's unavailable anywhere else, your call.