A few recent posts discuss the use of existing manufacturers' product for casting of matching items and the sale of same. I am very disturbed about the seemingly wanton advertising for such practice--I may speak too soon but I would hope that some attempt was made to contact the original manufacturer, or his/her successors or assignees.
I own a design firm here in NYC, and have designed and overseen the construction over one hundred restaurant and retail establishments over the last number of years. I have seen my design elements copied exactly and used by other designers/architects/retailers. Any discussion about the practice yields the same response....."everyone steals from everyone". Notions that "imitation is the highest form of flattery" aside, I have fortunately not felt the impact of the activity on my business, that is, I have not lost any clients or prospective business. In my former life as an N-Scaler, and an N-scale manufacturer as well, the practice posed a greater impact. I produced a number of brass detail parts, engaged a NYC concern to produce lost brass castings of the parts. I lent a set of the masters to a "friend" in the business, and in no less than two months saw resin castings of the parts at a train show! The parts were certainly inferior to the final product I was producing, but most modeling budgets will absorb a fairly decent part at a resin price versus a superior part at a brass price....especially in N-Scale. Not surprising that I found myself not only out of the business, but out of N-Scale altogether...not because of any financial impact, just the general disgust with a very few @#$%#/'s in the business. I have thoroughly enjoyed my foray into S-scale (I think the manufacturers and retailers on the list will certainly attest to that), and will continue to pursue the hobby with great zeal. Perhaps my concerns addressed above grow out of my consideration of jumping into the manufacturing pool myself. I've followed with great interest the discussion of Kadee PS-1's in S Scale.....I will not comment either way on the likelihood that such a product will emerge. The bottom line to any new product is capital available and committed to the project. I am fortunate to have more than adequate capital to fund an entire project (Injected molded, brass, resin rolling stock, locomotive, etc.) and will entertain off-list suggestions and comments as to desired product. I would not be averse to actually providing the funds to an existing manufacturing concern for new product(s)....I look to the list for some guidance. I can only hope that a venture won't be met with the same lack of professionalism found in previous efforts in N-Scale. Respectfully, Mark N. Gribler New York, NY [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change your membership, change your message settings, use our CALENDAR, view shared files or photos, view the list archives, GO TO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
