What to do with fakes

[MercThrasher]

I'm a Brit living in the Czech Republic and the deviousness of my hosts never ceases to amaze. I just bought half a dozen 1:200, apparently Wiking or Grope, WW2 identification models on a local auction site. Luckily enough, I didn't pay a lot for them, because the boiling-water-wingtip test came came up with fakers' droop in all of them. Shame - if they're imitations. they're good ones, very pretty little items, nicely detailed (I'll try and get some pix to the site if anyone's interested). I'm not enamoured of having imitations in my collection, but I'm [expletive deleted] if I'll ever pass a fraud on in the marketplace. Advice, anyone? Consolation prizes? There's a Ju 87, and FW 190, a battered but cute Wal flying boat and a couple of unidentified monoplanes.

If someone could also give me a step-by-step guide for the truly intellectaully challenged as to how to post pix of them, I'd be grateful for that as well.

Thanks all.

TL

[grwebster]

put the photos you want to post on the desktop of your computer, size medium.
go to photbucket.com open an account, for free, select photos on you desktop hit up load.
After photos are in your account album, open them and copy the complete [URL] that means the brackets and everything in between.
then open new post here and past the url code in its entirety in your post.
That is pretty simple, I can do it so most people should be able.
here are the instructions on this site, too http://www.miniatureaircraftcollectors. ... hp?f=3&t=3

[grwebster]

Yes I would like to see photos of these.
I know that some 1:200 model makers like Ron Crawford, a moderator and member here, had his masters made there and also had some problems. pm him, ronc200, for details.
I would not destroy these YET, communicate with Ron and see what he has to say.They still might be interesting for some folks here who build them up.
Back 20 ++years ago the Czech Republic was THE place to find original wartime Wikings, I am not sure why. One friend of mine went over there at that time on a tip and came back with hundreds of Wikings and several original boxed sets, so the real ones may still be around. Do not despair.

[MercThrasher]

Many thanks for prompt replies and degree of encouragement. All read, learnt, and (hopefully) inwardly digested. Will post lots of photos (relatively) soon.

Would those fakes have anything to do with the complicated fortunes of Hardmuth/Koh-i-Nur in Policka by any chance? Coz if they do, I'm in a fairly unique position to find out what went down...

Thanks again

Tony Long

[grwebster]

what about those photos you promised?

[Zoe Brain]

There's a market for 1:200 WWII aircraft for wargaming.
Cheap knock-offs very desirable, at the right price. We don't want the genuine article.

Instead of defrauding people out of $100 for a fake costing $1 to make, they'd be having 100 sales at $10, $900 rather than $99 profit.

If you wish to unload these models at a reasonable price for 1/200 model aircraft - on the order of $5-$15 each depending on size, let me know, I'll take them. I'd also be interested in having more made.

[MichaelB]

1/200 is a popular modeling and collectible market. Any well made model can find a market, especially if it's an odd bird.