Topic: How do they get away with it!! (Read 7409 times)

Hellboy Paul · « **on:** May 16, 2014, 12:02:12 am »

Hi All, bought these Cowl vents from a seller on Ebay called smsnook (Model-mods) and thought you guys would like to see them before I send them back...

The seller couldn't even get the dimensions right!!! The vents are advertised as 25mm dia & 60mm high, they are actually 28mm dia & only 50mm high.... Credit where it's due though, he was close!!!

As a side note, I did notice he has listings for fittings "seconds" so I emailed him to see if he had sent these by mistake, turns out they weren't seconds and he then said there is nothing wrong with them (candidate for Specsavers I think)

Paul...

Klunk · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2014, 05:58:37 am »

thats a very poor moulding. Ive looked at some of stuff on ebay, thinks i will stay clear!

ps moulding is pretty easy why not make a master then mould yourself. plenty of videos on you tube how to do it. as a side you could then sell to fellow clubbies and recoup the initial costs

SteamboatPhil · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2014, 07:00:14 am »

Looks like a very odd resin as well

Hellboy Paul · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2014, 07:32:27 am »

Hi Klunk, I tried that and wasn't happy with the result hence buying these.... I have now ordered some from Marks Model Bits instead, fingers crossed they will be better (couldn't be worse, could it??!!)

SteamboatPhil, it is polyester resin, not sure if it is casting resin or normal lay up resin, most probably the latter...

Paul..

Trevor Holloway · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2014, 09:28:56 am »

Have received some cowls (also some ladders, stairs, life boats, propshafts, couplings) from Marks Model Bits and have no complaints.

cuppa · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2014, 09:40:59 am »

The things I have bought from Marks Model Bits have all been good and he is a very friendly and helpful chap. One of the good guys.

Neil · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2014, 05:34:36 pm »

if it's the same guy as I think.........he has a lot more seconds than he has firsts, lol

mark w · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2014, 06:28:14 pm »

Quote from: cuppa on May 16, 2014, 09:40:59 am

The things I have bought from Marks Model Bits have all been good and he is a very friendly and helpful chap. One of the good guys.

I purchased a semi kit from Mark's; was well pleased, arrived to the states in fine shape also

Mark

Hellboy Paul · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2014, 09:38:51 am »

Well the vents from Marks Model Bits arrived this morning and all I can say is WOW what a difference, clean, crisp mouldings with hardly any flash.. Wish I had bought from Mark in the first place!!! However, on the darker side, they appear to me to be the same vents, machining marks and flash lines seem to me to be the same (who has copied who I don't know) but the original poor fittings seem to be just cut down versions of what Mark sent me.. See the pics below...Now I have a dilemma and would appreciate some advice please, as I haven't sent them back yet what do you guys think I should do? Just return them or send them to Mark for him to see?

Paul..

Liverbudgie2 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2014, 09:54:14 am »

On the face of it this appears to be a clear breech of copyright therefore I would report it to Mark, or whoever makes them for him; I would also report it to Amazon, and let them pick it up though I doubt it will have much effect.

LB

john44 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2014, 10:55:10 am »

Hi Paul,
pointless sending them back,the guy already said there was nothing
wrong with them???? just put it down to experience as we all have
had to do from time to time. Mark is a real nice guy and will help with
your projects if he can as said before ( one of the good guys ).

john

Neil · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2014, 11:50:52 am »

However, on the darker side, they appear to me to be the same vents, machining marks and flash lines seem to me to be the same Paul

well I can assure you it won't be mark who has done the copying....I have known him for some years and he is as honest as the day is long on midsummer day........and judging from the pics from the job lots of the other geezers "seconds" many of them are cloned from half a dozen different manufacturer.............you first report it to mark and send him the bits in question so he can take action if he want to............and you also report it to ebay for fraudulent plagiarising.............let those guys deal with it all.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2014, 12:01:08 pm »

Send them to Mark to look at. One reason they are poor quality is that they are copies of moulded items whereas mark's products are made from masters.

These plagiarists need to be put out of business as they are literally robbing honest traders.

Colin

inertia · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2014, 12:47:21 pm »

Sorry boys but you're wasting your time. The xxxxxxx who is copying Mark's stuff will only be making pennies from it and once word gets around that his stuff is rubbish then he won't even make that much. Quality will always win out and Mark's castings are known to be good and original. Similarly bad news travels fast, and exposure on this forum will have done him far more harm than threats of copyright theft.
My own experience with E-Bay ref theft of copyright (in my case a plan) is that they will do as much as possible to make it impossible for you to follow it up (which you have to do yourself - they won't lift a finger to monitor the situation), and when you've gathered all the information for them your case will end up on the desk of some strange section they have in Zurich where no-one understands the meaning of the words "reply" or "action". I think they're probably retired Swiss civil servants.
Dave M

Neil · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2014, 01:17:37 pm »

Quote from: Inertia on May 17, 2014, 12:47:21 pm

I think they're probably retired Swiss civil servants.
Dave M

you mean w...bankers don't you, dave,?

inertia · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2014, 04:55:17 pm »

You might say that - I couldn't possibly comment............

DM

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2014, 05:15:06 pm »

Still, It's up to Mark as to whether he wants to take any action really. Useless though it may well be.

Colin

Tug-Kenny RIP · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2014, 05:33:48 pm »

Mark is aware of the situation.

Ken

Hellboy Paul · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2014, 05:57:25 pm »

Hi All, I spoke to Mark this afternoon and he asked me to send them to him.... You guys were right he is a decent genuine bloke, he even insisted on reimbursing to post costs as well!!!

I know where I will be going in future for all my bits & pieces... ( I like the look of his paddle tug & if it is up to the same standard I won't be disappointed!!)

Thanks for all the advice, it is appreciated...

Paul..

Pat Matthews · « **Reply #19 on:** May 25, 2014, 03:27:25 am »

At the risk of being repetitive, I'll mention (again) my 3D printed cowl vents, available on Shapeways:
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/patmat?section=Ship%27s+Cowl+Ventilators&s=0

Dimensions are true and as advertised! Though they're all Imperial at this point. Thin wall and hollow all the way, you can make functioning vents from these along with a bit of brass tube.

Need something not listed? I am open to creating custom designed cowls with any special features required.

News:

Author Topic: How do they get away with it!! (Read 7409 times)

inertia

inertia