Bringing back DISCONTINUED kits?

[Trainboy153]

I just had this idea. I have been looking around online and I have noticed that many old kits have gone out of production and the molds destroyed, lost, etc. So, would it be legal/ethical for somebody to take the sprues of these kits and make new molds with a mold kit? It would be easy enough and would bring back kits from the dead. I dont think there would be a problem. After all it wouldnt be counterfiet because the real molds dont exist anymore. If anybody knows, please tell. It would be cool to bring back some of the good old kits Airfix J94, Revell Hudson locomotive, etc.

[Lego]

No, all old kits should be shredded and fed to rivet counters.

I would prefer companies just designed new models with better detail. What you propose is like putting square wheels on my car when I have round ones already on it.

It would break copyright, you are taking a direct copy of someone else's work. Most copyright is 50 to 70 years in length.

[Trainboy153]

I didnt know about the copyright thing. However, model companies are reluctant to make certain kits. Especially plastic railway kits. Sure they make some german ones But about of ex airfix ones and all the old revell train kits. After all, it is in my username, TRAINboy........

[Trainboy153]

I should have worded this thread better. Now it is Bringing back Discontinued kits.

[Colin]

Discontinued is only so until the copyright holder says otherwise.

As for original moulds, they can be pretty damn expensive and wear over time, so you would need to buy those too, once they star to wear you see flash ... but this can happen with poorly designed moulds too.

And its an ever eroding process ... its high tech business now apparently.

I'm not an expert though.

Eduard had a vid up on their site recently showing their process, if you had seen that imagine what Tamiya's are like?

[Trainboy153]

oh, and i meant homemade moulds like take the sprues from the original, use it to make a mold then cast sprues with that

[Colin]

oh, and i meant homemade moulds like take the sprues from the original, use it to make a mold then cast sprues with that

You would still need their license for what you are talking about, just because that manufacturer might have lost interest in your eyes does not mean there is no property worth protecting for someone ''' greedy lawyers mostly

Ive seen a spree of old tool Revell models on ebay recently, so obviously they (Revell) hold old kits and sprues with high regard still'

How Pacific Coast models and co do their own original research is beyond me? I've almost completed their 1/32 Hurricane and it was not shake and bake, trust me.

I think you need to be extremely well heeled to go intendant on kit making these days

[Trainboy153]

oh, ok. So buying old ones or scratchbuilding are my options. Thanks for the tip.

[Sean]

oh, ok. So buying old ones or scratchbuilding are my options. Thanks for the tip.

If you have deep pockets I reckon 3D printing will be there before too long.

Get some forensic or medical scanning equipment and you can scan an object and start to re-create it, and improve.

Imagine one day being able to download the file to print out the parts you need, or just designed your own.

It will make scratchbuilding more of a autocad exercise than anything else.

Bring it on I say

[Trainboy153]

oh, ok. So buying old ones or scratchbuilding are my options. Thanks for the tip.

If you have deep pockets I reckon 3D printing will be there before too long.

Get some forensic or medical scanning equipment and you can scan an object and start to re-create it, and improve.

Imagine one day being able to download the file to print out the parts you need, or just designed your own.

It will make scratchbuilding more of a autocad exercise than anything else.

Bring it on I say

And 10 years after that, driving will just be....

[Sean]

oh, ok. So buying old ones or scratchbuilding are my options. Thanks for the tip.

If you have deep pockets I reckon 3D printing will be there before too long.

Get some forensic or medical scanning equipment and you can scan an object and start to re-create it, and improve.

Imagine one day being able to download the file to print out the parts you need, or just designed your own.

It will make scratchbuilding more of a autocad exercise than anything else.

Bring it on I say

And 10 years after that, driving will just be....

Well its possible its closer than the Jetsons, both the scanning and the printing gear is hitting the corporate horizon and being exploited for manufacturing purposes, and it will filter eventually down to the hobbyist.

The real barrier for us mere mortals is the £££ - a 3d printer now is less than 1k but I doubt the plastic "ink" is suitable at that price point.

But progress is being made and is accelerating year on year so its a matter of how long not if (the politics of copyright aside).

Just my opinion of course,