Cloning as reference from a refence

[tomNC9VX]

I come across this situation quite often when working with references.

I have a base mesh and want to apply different modifiers on top of clones whilst keeping the editability of the base mesh, so I use clone as reference and stick my modifiers on top of that (array for example)

Now, if I want to create another version, referencing the same base mesh, but with different settings to the array modifier, I have to go back to the base mesh, clone as reference again, and set up a new modifier stack. It would be far more convenient if I could somehow copy the original clone and make it unique only above the reference break-line. I could then alter the modifer stack without it affecting any other instances. Is there any way to do this?

If I copy an instance and then try to make the modifiers unique it makes the whole mesh unique, rather than keeping the instance link to the original mesh.

[RobH2]

If I recall, about a year ago, there was a post about this exact thing. The end result was that it's just the way it works, and while it would be nice if it worked differently as you explain, it just doesn't work that way.

There may have been a workaround in that thread, though. Maybe you can search and find it. I looked quickly and didn't locate it, but I do recall the discussion and the same frustration you mention.