POSTING 6232 FROM THE "hotractionmodeling" YAHOO Site, 11-17-08 |
Re: CA&E Cincinnati Steel models It's not your fault, Al. All: Let's be clear about a couple of things. Copyright issues are taken seriously these days, and very seriously in our small hobby. I am aware of the issues surrounding some suppliers and vendors regarding recent copyright violations. Aside from a few small, quickly resolved questions, I've been fortunate and have worked to keep IHP out of any serious problems regarding violating or being violated. Some IHP models are made using brass models but it's a small percentage of the huge number of models we offer (about half a dozen HO and N models now), and I don't do it unless it is clear that the importer is OK with it or when I don't believe there is any kind of legal problem with it. One current brass importer has made it clear that he doesn't like to have his models copied, and I have honored that (and will continue to do so). I try to do it with the consent of the importer where possible. I don't know the CA&E car model's history, but if I thought there was an issue with copyright, I wouldn't do it. Yes, it's been a quicker way to get certain models available, but if you had my work load and obligations, you'd look for the occasional shortcut, too. I try to avoid models that have serious accuracy issues, too, or I have modified them to the point where they are accurate, with a lot of time invested in the resulting work. Yes, 'sacrifice' does entail taking apart a model and breaking it down so it can be engineered for casting. It can't be reassembled. And, I'm not the only one who has done it, by the way. IHP is far from a 'lazy' manufacturer. (You need look no further than IHP's GE Silverliner/Arrow MU series as proof of this). The majority of IHP railroad models and parts are originals, made from scratch, OF MY OWN HANDS, I'd say a good 90% of that group. The rest, a few (mostly early) IHP models have been conversions or kitbashes, with the results unrecognizablefrom the original (like my SPV-2000, which at the time utilized a heavily-modified Bachmann Amcoach body, but still required making from scratch the ends, auxiliary roof, all the underbody, and the frame and trucks, or the SDP40F, which resembles the FP45 only in dimensions). I buy components from other manufacturers to use in my cars like trucks, motors, wheelsets, and pantographs, so I've put my share of money back into the hobby industry. I make my own all-new parts like trucks, roof poles and other pieces from my own designs. I even remaster stuff when I think it can be improved. I've spent most of the last 15 years of my life making (and remaking) patterns and tooling for my business, putting plenty of money back into my related parts of the economy. Not just for trains, but almost 30 different ships over the years, too, all scratchbuilt by hand, and ships are much harder than trains to make. I make hundreds of products a year now, I work at this 12-15 hours a day, sometimes 7 days a week, either pattern-making, casting, mouldmaking, assembling, painting, packing, shipping, maintaining a website and a mailing list, marketing, etc. at once. You can call me whatever you like, but I am anything but lazy. Oh, and the need for using brass models as patterns in the future may not even be necessary once our in-house 3D design capability begins early next year (I just got the program in the mail today and will be learning it during that time:-)). So, if someone thought it would be a better idea to make, say, an all-new CA&E car model, send along your drawings and photos and I'll talk with you, too. ANDY REICHERT: I'm usually a pretty tolerant person, but now I've had enough. If you get personal and vitriolic on this board towards me oranyone else in this manner once more, I will delete your membership without warning. AND THAT GOES FOR THE REST OF YOU, TOO! Mike Bartel Subsequently the following postings were removed: 6184, 6185, 6187, 6188, 6189, 6191, 6210, 6212, 6214, 6215, 6217, Posting 6236 was the unsubscribing notice from the poster of message 6178! |