Nested model methods

When a setter is provided, this method no longer seems to work, as noted here. Is there any way to use the new syntax provided in Gradle 2.10, while retaining a setter?

What I’d like to be able to do is this:

model {
    outer {
        // Set properties on inner, where inner is provided by a default object, as it does
        // when the getter is removed.
        inner {
            something = 'Hello'
        }
    }
}
model {
    outer {
        // Replace inner entirely with another instance
        // elsewhere, sharing the reference.
        inner = $.elsewhere.in.the.model
    }
}