The subject of originality and scratch building has been a hot topic over on the MRR forums. There are things I want to explore but I didn't want to take over that thread so I am starting one here.
People got fired up because a very accomplished craftsman made a copy of an FSM diorama and then offered it for sale on Ebay.
My stand, to be clear, is that it is completely acceptable to do this. One, he is being open that it's a copy of the design (Butchers way).
Two, he's not offering a kit that will compete with FSM. It's a one of artwork and Three, was it a wholly original design in the first place or was it inspired by something else? I suspect it was.
As a kit designer, my opinion on this would likely distress many people. Inspiration and duplication are a strange thing. I can be and am inspired by other modelers work. As you might imagine I am constantly searching and assessing all of the modeling I see, to try to guess what might become popular with modelers and what might be a popular successful kit. I have some guidelines. I prefer small and odd to big and plain (though BIG and odd works occasionally). I hope you didn't think I was trying to hide the fact that some designs were inspired by other peoples models. Ethically if it's a model by another designer, it's off limits. Never, never, never would I copy a commercially available product. It would be easy to copy a successful kit and undercut it. Oh the temptation to take a $200 kit and offer it for $20 (we all have a dark side).
BUT, what if a kit is out of production, never to be seen again? Could that be revived? Should it be?
Our resurrection of the G&D engine house and water tower, (NMRA sanctioned) is an example (also done by FSM and others). That's kind of an easy one. What about using an unidentified sketch of a scene that was likely intended to be built? Or was it just a sketch?
I have been inspired by other contemporary modelers. Most notably Troels Kirk. The proportions, colors, eccentricity, are very much my own esthetic. The fact that he models in paper kind of puts the cap on it. "Kirks books" is an homage to a building on his layout. It's not an exact duplicate but it is pretty close. (it took hundreds of hours of my/our labor to make a reality) AND I have wrestled with making it available.
Ultimately it came down to this. It's an inspiration, it's an homage, it was a hell of a lot of work on my/our part. He ain't selling it.
Let me also say the WE have been copied several times by a competitor. It doesn't feel good even though there is an undercurrent of vindication for believing in a design.
This should be a hot one. Let me know your thoughts.

Some one recently asked about the status of the "Lighthouse model" Well, It's ready for a test build. any takers?
Also I still owe several custom named buildings to folks who won the build contest we had (a wile ago. I haven't forgotten) In that vain I have the Pub that needs a name. Any winners want to claim it?
The Burger stand pix that was sent have resulted in a very nice model. You'll be seeing it soon.
My laptop is still in the shop. as soon as i can get consistently back on line, I'll be showing lots of new stuff. The "Zelmer warehouse" (one of our winners is ready too. Lin will be getting that soon.

Thom

I agree Mase. Look forward to those pix.I started a grain elevator but it hasn't gone far as of yet.
Thom