I am not sure if anyone has seen this before or come across this but I ran into something disturbing last night.
I ordered a photo etch set for my Ticonderoga class cruiser from a Chinese seller. I opened it last night and noticed something very familiar with the instructions. They looked a lot like WEM instructions. So I checked on the WEM website and found the relevant fret and I am a bit disgusted.
What these pirates had done is re-arrange the frets so the photo etch parts were in a different order HOWEVER on the instructions the diagram of the fret was the exact same as that on the WEM website because its a literal copy/paste.
I am very disappointed to see this. I know there are pirates on resin parts but I had never seen Photo etch stolen like this.
Here is the ebay link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/CNDRAGON-1-350-Photo-Etched-Parts-USN-Ticonderoga-class-cruiser-/163539565364?_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true
I have emailed WEM informing them of the situation.
And those pirates can go themselves.
You are viewing the archived version of the site.
Go to modelshipwrights.com for the current dynamic site!
Go to modelshipwrights.com for the current dynamic site!
General Ship Modeling
Discuss modeling techniques, experiences, and ship modeling in general.
Discuss modeling techniques, experiences, and ship modeling in general.
Hosted by Jim Starkweather
Copied Photo Etch
Posted: Wednesday, March 06, 2019 - 05:05 AM UTC
Posted: Thursday, March 07, 2019 - 05:28 AM UTC
So looking back at my original post I think it makes not much sense so I wanted to clarify.
These are the frets I ordered off ebay:
These are some of the instructions I got with the set:
This is the fret layout in the instructions I received:
And this is the Original fret from White Ensign Models
The physical fret layout from ebay do not match the instructions however the parts are all present and have same part numbers. The instruction fret layout is identical to the WEM fret.
I am all for trying to find a deal but this is out and out piracy and theft. Please do not buy any photo etch labelled CNDRAGON as I would not be surprised it they have stolen from other PE manufacturers.
These are the frets I ordered off ebay:
These are some of the instructions I got with the set:
This is the fret layout in the instructions I received:
And this is the Original fret from White Ensign Models
The physical fret layout from ebay do not match the instructions however the parts are all present and have same part numbers. The instruction fret layout is identical to the WEM fret.
I am all for trying to find a deal but this is out and out piracy and theft. Please do not buy any photo etch labelled CNDRAGON as I would not be surprised it they have stolen from other PE manufacturers.
Posted: Thursday, March 07, 2019 - 06:09 AM UTC
Someone is always trying to make a buck off of someone else work. How is the quality of the PE? Is it thicker or thinner than W.E.? Most times the duplicate is done with a lot cheaper material than the original.
I have yet to experience this with a Chinese seller but sometimes I worry want will be in the box when it arrives when seeing the price they are asking for it.
Mark
I have yet to experience this with a Chinese seller but sometimes I worry want will be in the box when it arrives when seeing the price they are asking for it.
Mark
Posted: Thursday, March 07, 2019 - 06:16 AM UTC
Quoted Text
How is the quality of the PE? Is it thicker or thinner than W.E.? Most times the duplicate is done with a lot cheaper material than the original.
Mark
Its a bit thicker than the WEM I have used in the past but the detail is all there. I will be honest I actually prefer it to be a bit thicker since it seems more robust.
RedDuster
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: March 01, 2010
KitMaker: 7,078 posts
Model Shipwrights: 6,649 posts
Joined: March 01, 2010
KitMaker: 7,078 posts
Model Shipwrights: 6,649 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 07, 2019 - 07:17 AM UTC
Those guys are now on the list of people I won't deal with!
Thanks for pointing them out Rory.
Cheers
Si
Thanks for pointing them out Rory.
Cheers
Si
Posted: Thursday, March 07, 2019 - 08:58 AM UTC
I have been doing some comparison and it looks like their Spruance Class fret is also stolen from WEM and their KGV is a direct copy of the Pontos set. That one they haven't even tried to change. The Udaloy set is a direct copy of Gold Medal Models.
I did get a reply back from Richard at WEM, he says CNDragon is known to have pirated sets in the past and he is going to try work with Ebay to get these removed.
I did get a reply back from Richard at WEM, he says CNDragon is known to have pirated sets in the past and he is going to try work with Ebay to get these removed.
s4usea
United States
Joined: December 08, 2011
KitMaker: 46 posts
Model Shipwrights: 45 posts
Joined: December 08, 2011
KitMaker: 46 posts
Model Shipwrights: 45 posts
Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 05:34 AM UTC
This is so well known that the Nautical Research Guild has banned any posts concerning Chinese kits from their site, ( http://www.modelshipworld.com) outright. What surprises me is that people are surprised.
Posted: Friday, March 08, 2019 - 06:46 AM UTC
Quoted Text
What surprises me is that people are surprised.
I am surprised at how brazen it is.
s4usea
United States
Joined: December 08, 2011
KitMaker: 46 posts
Model Shipwrights: 45 posts
Joined: December 08, 2011
KitMaker: 46 posts
Model Shipwrights: 45 posts
Posted: Monday, March 11, 2019 - 12:21 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextWhat surprises me is that people are surprised.
I am surprised at how brazen it is.
Sure, it surprised me too at first, as they copied everything down to the box. Now I know, and knowing it I see it all the time, and as I said, over on the NRG's site they won't allow anything to be posted regarding them at all.