Setting the record straight, again …
The helmet in question was in fact an MR Production Helmet, that 'I' purchased directly from MR when they were still doing business, and put a CONSIDERABLE amount of time and effort into attempting to correct the garbage mistakes that they made with it. It sat on a shelf for more than TWO YEARS, while everyone else and their mothers, exploited the very same helmet, while MR was still in business might I add. I decide, ‘AFTER’ MR went out of business to share the work that I put into it. My very first recast in 10 years. Wow? I’m SUCH a dirtbag, right ? Thinking that people might appreciate my interpretation of the helmet that had been sold to death by everyone else without a single modification, and most cases without even as little as a corrected visor pinch. I offered my interpretation of this helmet at a time that if you didn’t have your own interpretation of it, you were no longer a helmet maker, because sculpts and mystery helmets weren't going to cut it anymore. It was supposed to be THE definitive helmet. I offered my interpretation of it, and for some reason, people preferred it? Go figure? Yet some four years after the fact, I still get my balls broken for it. Again, go figure.
Before this, every other piece and component I’ve ever offered, including helmets, have either been my own sculpts, or purchased rights from private individuals. Always above board. when NO ONE ELSE was, or had ever been. Still seeing pitchforks raised at me some four years later is just ridiculous. I’m so damned tired of it. Get over it. I said it before, I wasn’t the first to recast it, and I certainly wasn’t the last. But I was certainly the ONLY one ever to be vilified for it.
In regards to the topic of this thread, hell yes I had a problem with it. Partly because it’s sad to see it exploited by some anonymous dirt bag. I sold the mold, of MY interpretation of the helmet, to Asok. Gray area or not, argue it amongst yourselves until you’re blue in the face, there was still hard work invested, MY investment. My purchase of $450 from MR, MY many hours of modifications, MY time and materials to make the mold. And it was passed on to someone that I made arrangements with to continue producing it. Therefore recasting it becomes a disrespect to Asok.
But that isn't event what pissed me off the most. Where I took the most offense was the fact that the re-caster kept the ‘FP’ seal on the front of the helmets and worded his auctions as if though HE were ME, or and agent of ME, tricking unsuspecting customers into thinking that they were buying directly from ME. Anyone would have taken issue with this if they were in my position. He eventually modified the wording of his auctions (still quite deceiving), but kept the FP seal. And yes, it still pisses me off. Does anyone here want to argue that they wouldn’t have felt the same?
CarlJohnson, - it sure does sound like you’re another sockpuppet for the ebay dude . But that’s up to the administration to sort out. If you’re not, you’re obviously just ‘another anti-fan’. If you are him, let’s get it right man. Maybe YOU should have gone out and spent $450 on your own helmet , invested some of your own man hours into conjuring up your own interpretation of the helmet, then spent a couple hundred bucks on making a ‘proper mold’, after having possibly first taken a few JC molding and casting courses before using the public at large as guinea pigs while you learn the trade. Recasting like this is still considered riding the backs of ‘others’, and their hard work. I generally don't talk trash about other members works, but those castings are down right embarrassing.
Lastly, cut out the shots about GMH’s still taking 2 years. It’s getting old. GMH back log’s have long since been tied up. And with only a handful of misc regular backorders left to be filled, I've practically returned to normal business. It was a bad chapter for everyone. Mistakes were made. Explanations and apologies have been given. It was a bad year and a half. Most everyone has moved on. It’s **** like this that has made me bitter enough to not want to spend any time here anymore.
Happy belated New Year, to all
Chris