Stolen Models

[grwebster]

I got this email from Chris Sayer TOTS. { christopher.sayer@virgin.net }
>>>>>
Hi everyone,

Yesterday John Pracko contacted Ron and me to draw our attention to some 1/200 resin models of X planes available on ebay. Please DO NOT buy these. They are stolen from Ron's new models and he has not received them himself yet.

Please be wary about any resin models from unknown sources from China or the Czech Republic as some of Ron's older models were being put out in the Czech Republic recently.

This is not a new problem but it is a worrying one. Short run producers such as those mentioned in TOTS are usually keen collectors who produce models that they want themselves. People selling kits do well to break even, those selling finished models can make a small profit but only by effectively paying themselves a tiny hourly rate for all their expert and careful work. If others take away sales it makes it hard to continue to produce new models.

Shed Models works like this. The brass master costs several hundred pounds and the mould several hundred more. Decals and etched brass adds to the cost and even the boxes and foam inserts are about £1.50 per model. The cheapest part of the whole thing is the actual casting. I have 50 models made (60 for the TSR2) and price to break even when 40 are sold (50 for the TSR2). The remaining 10 are for me and to give to others. So far, one model has broken even, two more are close and the others have some way to go.

I remember how angry I was in the days of the old Norfolk Group when I turned up to a show with our Sunderlands, B17s and Marauders only to find a dealer from the West Country there with more of our models than I had. All pirated. In the days when Dennis ran Helmet a large commercial operation persuaded the company doing the casting to supply them with castings of Dennis' post war models which they issued as a their own range. Fortunately those of us who use Peter Comben as a caster not only have the best there is but also someone of total integrity. Recently I was asked to publish a list in TOTS from a Czech supplier but refused because the similarity between some of their models and Ron's models.

If you have any doubts about models offered for sale, please don't hesitate to tap into the expertise offered by TOTS contributors and readers.

Best wishes
Chris