I don't build models to save. Actually, if I'd actually worked (as opposed to hobby-time, not that it didn't take work to build) the time it took me to make the last, I'd surely made more money than necessary to buy the model, and more.

(As it should be, thus proving the economic basis of master-model-making and industrial-like casting, BTW. If not, all models would be hand-crafted).

I enjoy the process of scratchbuilding - it being 40K related is just anecdotal to the point, and that's because I always liked sci-fi, and the over the top of the models and the fluff is funnier - for lack of a better word - than historical. And model trains take too much room to be properly built and run...

I even don't enjoy the painting in itself that much - though I certainly appreciate its value and contribution to the final result -; it’s the actual building - making something from nothing, and pieces of junk, mostly, what I like, and find overly satisfying.

And to the point, regarding the DIY rules: I don't think the missed business for the IP holder is the real problem. I mean, how many scratch builds like yours - or, even like mine - are out around there? And how many more would there be if they were allowed in official games?

Without trying to be the Devil’s advocate (and by Devil I mean the voracious capitalistic corporations, not the real Devil, which is far less scary), I fully understand, and to an extent agree, with a company protecting their business (I do it, too, in real life), it gets slightly more difficult than BtB when a profit-oriented organization meets gamers and hobbyists, but workable nonetheless.

I think the main issue with opening the game to DIY would came from elsewhere, and it’d be a limits problem. Where to draw the line, and, most importantly, who does it? I mean, a Baneblade built by Silveroxide, or Heliodore? (Just to mention two master builders related to the build on topic). Littletower’s? OK, let’s let him get away with his as well. And that not-so-carefully-finished tank over there? Now, I don’t know (and it be even harder if the builder put as much, or more time, enthusiasm and effort on it…) And that shoe-box, with a tank outline drawn on? No? Why not, and who says no?

I know I’d never try to field that shoe-box on a game table. And I’d expect other people to do the same to me, if I didn’t’ know better about the uncommonness of common sense and self regulation skills…

And there is where rules – and a good rule has to be simple, and sometimes simple means a tad unfair, or seemingly too strict, on behalf of an easier interpretation and application – come into play, and hurt some, to the benefit of the more. Unbound shoe box tanks and soda-can buildings can be as bad to the hobby as an IP owner’s rule.

And on the other hand, I always get to choose with whom and when (well, that last part is not absolutely true, given I seldom play, though I’d like to do it more often; just not located in the right part of the world for that, it seems!), and which rules can use some bending tuning.

I don't know what bug bit me and got me to this, maybe it is withdrawal syndrome from going back to work - without any hobby time today - after a four-day-long holiday.