"Need a moldmaker on NE US." Topic

Have made modifications to a commercial mini that I would like to reproduce for personal use (tried making multiples with greenstuff but that's too slow and depressing). Would like a talk with a mold maker to make the rubber mold from supplied bits.

I understand the CR issues, and invite only those interested in seriously considering it to respond, if any. Like I said, this is for personal use, not commercial use.

It doesn't matter if it is for personal use. You are still pirating someone else's work.

See here: TMP link

The point you may well be missing is that if I were to make a mold for you, it wouldn't be for my personal use. And I would charge you so now it's commercial. Even if you believe the often abused and incorrect personal use argument is correct, you would have to do the molding yourself.

Well I must tell you, I try not to even read the threads that involve IP issues, as I cannot know what information is accurate, regardless of the writers "credentials" and what is not. An since I am not an IP expert, I try to pass on the time investment -- and as those threads usually are LONG, it would be an investment.

But it seems that regardless of the amount of my own work that is going int he mold, if there is any commercial product included ( as there would need to be as my part is mounted to it) I have zero chance of getting anyone to make a mold for me? Interesting.

I will wait for more responses and feedback. But my first reaction is that this would a good reason to give up.

I am starting to wish I had known I had no chance before I invested time and effort into sculpting anything. I guess maybe that explains why no products like what I made are available for me to buy.

If there are ANY question, a reputable mold maker would not touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Can you produce the modifications separately and buy the commercial models to apply them to ?

I don't know what you have in mind but let's say it's additional armour for a vehicle – cast the armour and apply it to purchased models.

I believe you could also continue legally if you were to obtain a release from the owner of the copyright of the original figure granting permission to cast the altered figure.

Like CraigH said.

If you are making a part the fits on an existing mini you should be OK and able to find someone to cast it. If you have recreate any of the original mini to make yours then no legit business would consider it.

well this all depends on how much of the original is still visible. If you used a human figure and have bulked it out into an Ogre and there is little left but the pose, then you've turned the original into a sculpting dolly and making more is not a problem.

If were just talking a helmet and weapon change, then best to cut them off and cast as replacement bits.

napthyme,

You are completely wrong in your assumptions.

no I am not because I am a producer and I know that there has to be a minimum percentage of the recognizable figure left for there to be any copyright infringement

If someone sculpts a new helmet and face on a miniature, cuts the head off and casts them no one not even the original producer is going to be able to tell who's head it is.

Same if you use a machine gun barrel from someone else's gun on yours The barrel alone is not enough call the lawyers over because it could be anyone's.

If this was not true the a lot of scratch builders/customizer's would be in violation of copyright laws for replicating bits of plastic from things not related to the gaming field.

> If this was not true the a lot of scratch builders/customizer's

You have to be VERY careful with that. Someone scratchbuilding for themselves are pretty much home free and can do whatever they want (at least till the DMCA came around). The instant you try to sell something based on another work it gets very iffy.

Thanks for the comments gentlemen, but no thanks.

As the model is OOP and much more valuable whole than in pieces, I will just give up and move on.

Having had the opportunity to drive to work with this thread in my mind, I understand why I have not seen accessories from 3rd parties, and I don't feel like the bother or justifying what I want/need/created. Thus far it sounds as if no matter what I "add" its still not my work, it is someone else's work.

Moreover the company in question will NOT grant permission for anything. They are known for being dicks. But like I said, now I know why I haven't seen products for sale that meet my needs.

Thanks all.