Morality vs Necessity: Sidkit Related

[SaberFreak]

I'm sure this has been on a lot of people's mind, even before we got word that Sid had passed.

Since he went 'missing' I've seen threads and posts (some here, but mostly over at the PropSummit) from people who need replacement parts for his kits. They try to get it through his partner when Sid didn't reply messages, but his partner didn't respond either.

Then they tried to ask if someone has a spare, but since each kit only comes with exactly what's needed to build it, that route didn't bear any result either. And very often people who bought a kit found out there're one or two pieces which are missing, or simply do not fit/work. They paid good money for a kit and now they have a pile of parts lying around which they can't do much with.

So my question is, would it be still morally wrong if someone who has one of Sid's full, complete kit compiled a list of what everyone needs in terms of parts, recast those parts, and offer them to those who needs them. And this would be a one-off thing, just to help those who bought kits and need replacement parts.

Of course the best solution is to get Sid's partner who helped him with the kits to make and offer the parts, but so far communicating with him seemed to be rather futile.

I have no need for any of Sid's parts, so I have no stake in this. Neither do I wish to cast any of his parts. I'm just putting this out for discussion, since its a situation I know quitea few people are in, without a clear soluton in sight.

Put forth your argument, but please keep it civil.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Sid's talents were great. Though his own casting morality often came under discussion, his metal pieces were some of the cleanest I have seen. But without even getting into any discussion about, or even taking into account the controversy sometimes surrounding his work, I would put forth that there is nothing wrong with following through on your suggestion.

No one would be shamelessly be profiting from his work, only filling in the blanks he left behind and I don't really see any of our props becoming priceless heirlooms that need to be kept "pure" so as to keep their value. (One thing that could be done is to somehow mark the copies as such.) I don't personally have a need for any pieces either.

 

[rollerboi]

I agree. I see nothing wrong with completing parts [in this particular case only], if attempts to communicate with the partner have failed. Just don't cross the line into copying entire kits.

 

[cayman shen]

Not wrong at all, in fact, a very decent thing to do given the way you're approaching it.

 

[defstartrooper]

Although i see it's meant with good intentions i don't agree that it would be right to recast anyones work.
Keep plugging away at the the partner and if he isn't interested in making the parts ask permission to make your own.
Otherwise suck it up.

 

[Gigatron]

It's an odd situation, to say the least. On the one hand, one of the biggest arguments against recasting, is that it cuts into the original designer's profitablility. Well, in this case, it doesn't really apply. Sid can no longer profit from these kits and his partner, is persona non grata.

So the question is, who are you stealing from? It doesn't look like anybody would be hurt if someone were to make the needed small pieces. They're not stealing profits and they're not claiming the design as their own. The small replacement parts are going to those who already know who the original artist is and I can't imagine that there would be large profits made off of such small parts.




Now as an aside to this, if someone were to recast the entire kit, I think it would only be appropriate if a decent percentage (of the profit) went to Sid's family.

-Fred

 

[cayman shen]

Recasting and selling the whole thing would be ethically wrong despite the fact that no profits are lost. And tacky to boot. Recasting a few missing pieces for those who already own the kit is just someone being cool by helping out people who now have no other recourse.

 

[Clutch]

Where is Rich? loL!

 

[Apollo]

Where is Rich? loL!

:lol That's exactly what I was thinking before I even opened the thread! :lol

 

[Cenobyte]

why not someone sculpt and cast their own pieces and offer them to others?

 

[Wayne R.]

why not someone sculpt and cast their own pieces and offer them to others?

I'm all for that, even if Sid's parts were used as direct reference material or blueprint they'd be made parts rather than repops. Which is where the stigma lies, I can't ever remember reading "Remaker Alert!!!" on here.
Even better if they could be improved upon or refined somehow.
A compatable reshaped buttplate springs to mind.

 

[Kadajiroth]

I don't see a problem with it, personally. As long as it's not the entire kit, and simply the replacement parts that are needed. I'm sure Sid would have liked that.

 

[00MrNotWrong00]

I feel like having something made by an artist that is incomplete because the artist didn't live to finish it is special, I feel like that piece should be kept incomplete as a tribute to the artist.

Now if we are just talking about an item that has not been executed at a higher level and people just wanting a better item than what most are producing, then some one should step up an do a better sculpt, to be the new standard.

From what I understand this guys work was exceptional. People that acquired one of his items should count themselves lucky. If that item is incomplete than I almost feel like that should make it more valuable.

How long has it been now ? Maybe we should give it some more time.

 

[TridCloudwalker]

If someone can get the actual gun parts OR sculpt their own out of strong epoxy (or have them machined from aluminum or steel), I could theoretically have them cast in same metal Sid did. I'm uncomfortable using Sid's actual parts though...besides, it'd be a second gen casting, and if fit is a problem with your oiginal piece, it'll only worse this time around. However, it's an expensive project to start up, and I doubt many pieces would need to be made. If the interested parties can foot the bill, I have no problem commissioning this work to my father's pewter shop. I'm sure all the needed pieces could fit into one small 6" or 9" mold, so you're looking at maybe $100 for the start up fees, and then a cost for the amount of pewter needed for the pieces, which unfortunately costs a lot. Tin prices have been going through the roof the past several years.

I'm not sure if his molds can handle the revolver cylinder or the other large pieces. Those would require extra large molds and they cost a fortune. But any of the smaller pieces are no pproblem at all. It's all just a matter of cost. I'm waiting on the current pewter prices to come in for my and TubaChris' Medal of Yavin run. When I get them in the next day or two, I'll let everyone know here roughly what these pieces would cost.

 

[Grey]

Otherwise suck it up.

This remark is highly ignorant. If you dropped 300 - 400$ for a kit, you are entitled to getting what you paid for. Due to Sid's unfortunate passing, these people can't even get refunded. I am sorry, but 'sucking it up' in these economic times just does not cut it. Atleast not in my case.

From what I understand this guys work was exceptional. People that acquired one of his items should count themselves lucky. If that item is incomplete than I almost feel like that should make it more valuable.

I am going to have to flat out disagree. If I buy a car, only to find out it has no engine, and the dealer has skipped town, I am not going to feel 'proud' that I own this car, I am going to feel cheated. I think people have a right to get what they origionally paid for.

 

[Lear60man]

You would be recasting. Period. Let the man and his work rest in peace.

 

[modeleers]

Curiosity piqued: Whats a Sidkit & would you please show pics of the Parts that need to be reproduced. And please provide something next to them - that would scale the parts.

 

[prototype7]

Just to throw this out - if anyone has an incomplete Mal Pistol that they don't think is worth the trouble pm me, maybe I can help!

... By taking it off your hands that is!

 

[Lear60man]

Curiosity piqued: Whats a Sidkit & would you please show pics of the Parts that need to be reproduced. And please provide something next to them - that would scale the parts.

Sidero was a maker of kits such as Mal Reynolds Pistol, PKD Blaster etc. What made the above mentioned kits so unique was that they were all metal, clean lines and very well priced. He disappeared months ago and we just learned that he had a heart attack and passed away.

 

[temponaut]

Sid can no longer profit from these kits and his partner, is persona non grata.

Forgive me for a question that may be slightly off-topic, but is Sid's partner persona non grata? If so, what has he done to make himself unwelcome? I haven't seen anything about this in any thread anywhere.

By any chance did you mean "incommunicado" rather than "persona non grata"?

If it is indeed a mistake, then out of courtesy to Sid's partner and to Sid it would be nice to correct it.