Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I'm considering building a unit of Sternguard, and Combi-Meltas would be my weapon of choice...but the Combi-Meltas from the SM Commander boxset are almost impossible to find on bits websites or eBay.

If I were to make my own Combi-Melta (perhaps from this excellent tutorial http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/239553.page) and then make a simple Green Stuff mould and cast it several times, purely for my own use, would this be illegal?

Thanks!

Yes/No/Maybe. Law is frustratingly complex on this. Especially when GW has had WD articles talking about green stuff press molds for purity seals. I'd be more concerned about the amount of detail lost in using GS for the mold on such a complex object. Resin casting would work better. If you're just making one squad of these though, you'd honestly be better off buying the melta pack from GW's website. They're pewter, but still workable.

I had a funny feeling there might not be a straight answer to this question!

I've done a few quick tests using Green Stuff double sided moulds (unfortunately my girlfriend has taken the camera on holiday with her) and been quite impressed with the results. When primed, you can't tell the difference between the original plastic and the green stuff cast.

My only worry about using the pewter Melta pack was how difficult they would be to carve up and build into a combi-melta. They still cost quite a bit too. :S

Well, if you've got the GS skills to get a mould like that to actually work, then more power to you. I'm surprised that the melta barrel vents come out at all. The alternative would be a resin casting kit, which would set you back about 30 USD. For the cost of that, you'd have the actual metal ones and then some pocket change. As you say though, working with metal can be daunting. There was also a tutorial here about converting lasguns into meltas. Since you just need the barrel half of the melta, you might consider that as well.

Well as long as the police don't turn up and arrest me I'll get to work with the Green Stuff and post my results in the near future.

If they turn out decent quality then it'll be a glorious success. If not, I'll be purchasing some of those pewter guns and working from there.

Cheers.

orkyben wrote:I'm considering building a unit of Sternguard, and Combi-Meltas would be my weapon of choice...but the Combi-Meltas from the SM Commander boxset are almost impossible to find on bits websites or eBay.

If I were to make my own Combi-Melta (perhaps from this excellent tutorial http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/239553.page) and then make a simple Green Stuff mould and cast it several times, purely for my own use, would this be illegal?

Thanks!

Strictly speaking so long as these pieces are made for your use only and you dont distribute them then you should be fine. Btw I would also like to see some pictures as im looking to reproduce certain pieces and Im curious about the quality your getting.

The black and white answer is "NO".
Depending on "fair use" and its applications in your country.

GS press-moulds aren't hard to do. Remember the lubricant to make it easier to get the originals out though.

Warm some vaseline and brush a small amount over the original (and the mould if doing a 2 part press-mould).

I would say so long as you do not sell the casts there should be no problem

orkyben wrote:If I were to make my own Combi-Melta (perhaps from this excellent tutorial http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/239553.page) and then make a simple Green Stuff mould and cast it several times, purely for my own use, would this be illegal?

Technically, yup.
If they wanted to too, they could file. On the other hand, you can file even if your claim is bunk. In America, the big guy will often file a nonsense claim just to drain money from the little guy.

But more relevant to your question -- are the police going to show up at your front door? Nope.
Is GW going to sue you -- nope, even they have better things to do with their time.

The only real problem you might have is wether or not they will let you play that model in a GW store. Once the model is painted, no one will probably notice. I wouldn't go around bragging about the way you made your models though.